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Author Topic: my diy calcium reactor  (Read 7226 times)

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Offline Reefinmike

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my diy calcium reactor
« on: January 10, 2007, 23:32:31 »
this is what ive been working on for the past few weeks... slowley. i am glueing everything tomorrow and just waiting for the media to come in. i am going to be running it off a reefkeeper2 which i just got and have running on my tank(worth the money)

bigfalcon36

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2007, 23:39:13 »
Very nice, may I ask what material you used...clear PVC or acrylic?  Did you have the pieces cut for you?  Also, have you cut rubber gaskets for the top pieces?

Offline ohioreef

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2007, 02:06:28 »
If you don't mind, could you type up a detailed "how to" and email it to me? I'd like to add it to our DIY page.

slandis3

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2007, 03:35:32 »
So how much do you have in it so far?

Offline micki

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2007, 05:24:10 »
Cool!

Offline scott wilson

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2007, 09:03:27 »
has it been pressure tested?

Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2007, 20:37:26 »
i have not glued it yet, it shouldnt need to be "pressure tested" as it will not be under pressure, i am controling the amount of water going through it off my main return pump rather than having a feed pump and a valve on the output.

ohioreefer, i will see what i can do for some diy pics, ill just take different pics with labels on each part and dirrections on how to do things

bigfalcon- it is thick walled extruded acrylic, i am looking for the rubber tomorrow, i hope i can find it at a craft store... i really dont know where to find rubber sheeting... i could ghetto rig it by letting a bead of silicon dry on one side lol

slandis, here is a price breakdown

acrylic tubing- $60
acrylic plate- $15
john guest fittings and valves- $25
nylon screws- $8
weldon 16 acrylic glue- $4
getting tube edges machined in a shop- $35

CO2 tank- $70 from www.beveragefactory.com
CO2 check valve- $20
10lb CO2 fillup $15
30lbs korallin media $60
eheim pump(free, had it laying around) originally $120
miluake Co2 regulator- $70
reefkeeper 2 with expansion socket and ph probe $370

so that puts me at $752 without the pump and $872 with the pump. it may seem like a lot(believe me, i feel it) but i know in the long run it will be an excellent addition because it will cost me about $30 a year to refil co2 and top off media, and its all automated "set it and forget it". i used a very good pump, good media, a good regulator and design that should be very efficent, and able to put out huge abounts of CA and CO3


by the way i have the tubing for two more of these reactors if anyone wants it... $60... not making any money on it, just my money back

bigfalcon36

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2007, 21:32:23 »
What are you using to join the acrylic?  If you dont have any Weld on, I recommend you use that.  It's extremely nice to work with and will usually leave a clean finish.

slandis3

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2007, 21:35:41 »
boy, for a high you sure do have a lot of money to spend on your tanks

Offline Joel

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2007, 21:44:00 »


Geer gas has a better price on Co2 and tank. They are in fairborn.


Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2007, 21:54:28 »
bigfalcon- i am actually using elmers school glue.















no... im using weldon 16.

slandis- i got the co2 tank and controler for a christmas present, the pump i had laying around

joel- ooh well, i wont be needing CO2 probably for another year anyways.

Offline Joel

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2007, 22:20:35 »

When you (or anyone ) need a refill or need a tank, try Geer Gas.

They are much cheaper than most the welds shops. They were literally 1/2 the price of Weiler welding.

Offline verper

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2007, 06:04:50 »
When you (or anyone ) need a refill or need a tank, try Geer Gas.

They are much cheaper than most the welds shops. They were literally 1/2 the price of Weiler welding.

Good to know.  Thanks

Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #13 on: January 12, 2007, 14:47:13 »
damn, $7 to fill up a 10lb tank ::)

Offline aquavista99

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2007, 20:39:06 »
Mike, do you have any pictures of your DIY calcium reactor in operation? If so, how is it working out for you. You sure did spend a lot for this project, huh?

Offline Joel

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2007, 07:52:37 »
Holy Sheeight!!!! $872.00?!!!!!

Here's a thought;

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=21026&cat=647&page=1     Tried & true for $267.75
                                                                                                                    & includes a pump
 
http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17305&cat=348&page=1     Includes bubble counter  $89.99

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17307&cat=350&page=1     15 lbs for $34.99

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17451&cat=375&page=1     $189.00 and it includes the
                                                                                                                   probe & Calibration Solution,
                                                                                                                   the reef keeper does not

That totals $581.73 for a system ready to go with out the hassle of building it your self, no worries about if it is a good design, no worries about leaks, it has a warranty and it'll handle a system up to 500 gallons.

Offline micki

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2007, 07:57:55 »
OUCH!  I never did the math!  WOW!!!

Offline aquavista99

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #17 on: January 28, 2007, 10:06:39 »
Hey Mike, keep us updated on your new DIY calcium reactor. Would like to see pictures of it in action....looks nice.

I am going with the GEO 618 Calcium Reactor from Phishy Business.  It will do the job well (for aquariums up to 350 gallons) and GEO is known as one of the best. You  could go with the next size up for really large aquariums for about $50 more.   Total on that is about  $350 + $392= $742
You would get:
GEO 618
 1-10lbs Co2 Tank
•3-10lbs Gen-X media
•1-Maxi-Jet 1200 (or add the Eheim 1048 for $50 more)
•1-Reef Fanatic Co2 Regulator w/selenoid
•1-Milwaukee SMS122 pH controller

http://phishybusiness.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=18_160&products_id=23

http://phishybusiness.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=468

myreeftank

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #18 on: January 28, 2007, 11:05:32 »
I go to Huber Heights to a Fire Store they fill the tank for next to nothing, Got a large tank for $50. welding places just are to high and the CO2 is not as good, you really need to find food grade

Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #19 on: February 05, 2007, 19:46:55 »
i finally completed the reactor and have it running today. for the area where my ph probe needs to go in the effluent and maybe an airstone, i took an old ro housing, took the top off, drilled and tapped a hole in the bottom and in the top, water enters the bottom where there is the ph probe and then exits the top and if need be i can throw an airstone in to get rid of extra CO2. it is driven by a 300gph quiet one pump which i must say is quiet. so far i am very happy with how its turning out.




Offline micki

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #20 on: February 05, 2007, 19:51:29 »
Wow that's some media now!  :)  Looks good.  Keep us posted on how it does.

bigfalcon36

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #21 on: February 05, 2007, 20:50:45 »
Very nice!

Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #22 on: February 05, 2007, 21:55:24 »
yes it sure is. it only took two gallons of media. i got ARM from marine solutions for only $18... cheaper than online!!!!!!!!! and i bought 3 because i was sure id use more than 2, but i can top it off for a while.

Wow that's some media now!  :)  Looks good.  Keep us posted on how it does.

Offline aquavista99

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #23 on: February 14, 2007, 17:00:33 »
Looks good, Mike! What products/devices are you using to monitor PH and calcium now that your reactor is up and running?

Offline Reefinmike

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Re: my diy calcium reactor
« Reply #24 on: February 14, 2007, 20:44:32 »
typically a pH probe is used to control the amount of co2 in the reaction chamber. i myself have not hooked it up to my REEFKEEPER 2 by DIGITAL AQUATICS although i planned to originally. i have noticed that when you have a steady bubble count the pH will remain consistent. the hardest part of the reactor from what I've read and in my experience is tuning the reactor to your tanks calcium and carbonate intake but once its all set good, it seems it is fairly maintenance free. i have been toying with the idea of making a kalk reactor so that my pH will always stay where i want it. for now my probe lays on a bed of cheato in my sump next to his friend Mr chilli coral living a very unfulfilling and unproductive life.

 

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