Feb meeting

[tsalter]

Kicking around ideas for a feburary meeting. I figure that I can do a DIY demo.

Is there something that people want to build that I can demonstrate and people can leave with something?

Possible ideas

kalk reactor

Top off setup

lighting

(sump making, calcium reactors, skimmers) would be an all day thing

I dunno let me know

T

[mogulski]

i'm out with weekend evening meetings

[tsalter]

Not a prob we can do it a week night

[SHOmuchFUN]

Yeah, now that I'm not working Tues/Thursday nights... Those times work for me now. Just wasn't sure about everyone else. Seemed like everyone made it that could on the weekend meeting last time, so I figured it was a good time. Sorry Jonathan...

I'm up for any sort of DIY project. A kalk reactor would be cool, but I'd be more into making a new sump or a refugium.

[Brad A.]

kalk reactor

[tsalter]

Kalk reactor seems most plausable to me. I am going to price it out. Shouldn't be too much if we do a powerhead version. I'll come up with a price.

T

[Brad A.]

kewl

[lamphere]

i dont have a sump, so i would be intersted in that. i'm new to reefing so I want to learn everything i can, so i'll be happy either way.

[tsalter]

Sumps are easy diy out of a normal tank. all you do is cut acrylic dividers and silicone them in. Erik's sump is setup that way. My sump is just a big plastic cattle tank.

To make a good sized sump out of acrylic is doable but a little harder because you have to be somewhat precise on your cuts and the joints are pretty long.It is somewhat easier just using a normal tank and adding dividers. It is not undoable by any means especsially if you don't care if the joints are ugly. You can always use thicker glue.

We can show you how sumps work (plumbing etc) and building the kalk reactor will give you an idea about working in acrylic. Then you can use that knowledge on a sump or whatever.

T

[tsalter]

it looks like @$75 for a diy acrylic kalk reactor including a new $20 maxijet 1200.

We can order the maci as a group before we make the reactor or bring your own.

I believe that is with shipping. I added on an extra $5 for some small stuff but didn't price it indivdually. It could be anywhere from $70-80 total as I was guessing on some shipping that wasn't calculatable over the web. This will be a nice quality unit with clear acrylic tubing.

I priced out the numbers for 6 of them. Is there enough interest to do six? It is easier if we can make a multiple of 3 because that is how the tubing is sold.

Let me know if you are pretty sure you are in for one so I can get an idea.
Thanks

T

[SHOmuchFUN]

Do you think that with my setup, it may be a better idea to run a kalk reactor rather than a calcium reactor? If I could get away with just a kalk reactor, that may be worth it...

But if not, I really don't need both?

[tsalter]

I believe people with calcium reactors use the kalk reactor to stabilize PH. kalk brings ph up clacium reactor bring ph down. So they use both in unison somehow (aquacontroller possibly). I don't think you would be able to keep your levels with just kalk. I believe brad uses kalk because he maxed out his calcium reactor and he still has to dose b-ionic too.

I don't know if you need both but the "fact" that it is supposed to participate out phospates is something to consider.

Tom

[SHOmuchFUN]

Yep. Well, you can count me in, but I don't need a pump. I have a few maxi-jets kickin' around. I think mine are 900's, which should be plenty.

[tsalter]

Excellent,
I pmed patrick cause i believe he was interested in one before and possibly Brad so that makes 4 of us. Hopefully we can add some more people.

[hands40]

I'm down to do a kalk or calcium reactor. Sounds like fun.

[tsalter]

Cool,

If you haven't made anything in acrylic. The kalk reactor is a good learning project. You would be able to take on a calcium reactor after that with the right tools.

So we have so far..

Brad
Erik
Hands40
Lamphere
Me

Possibles
Patrick?
Tom B?

[Brad A.]

We need to do some education around using kalk. Kalk is great at boosting ph, ca and alk, BUT, it can nuke your tank if not dosed right.

We talk about it more later.

[lamphere]

I dont need a kalk reactor but would love to learn how to make one. My system doesnt use that much calcium. But would be nice to know if i ever want to try some sps.

[tsalter]

If it turns out okay you could always put it up for sale in the classified here if you don't need it.

Brad- good plan, later it is

T

[lamphere]

true, i didnt think of that.

mike

[SHOmuchFUN]

Originally posted by tsalter
If it turns out okay you could always put it up for sale in the classified here if you don't need it.

T

That's probably what I'm going to do. I don't think I need one either, but I'll give it a try for a little while and if I don't end up needing it, there are thousands of people here that do.

-E

[nolofinwe]

what's the total we're looking at? I dropped 5 bills on a new tv yesterday, so I'm grounding myself for a few weeks.

[tsalter]

Patrick

Looking at $55-60 w/o maxijet stirring pump

$75-80 complete working kalk reactor


to get it working with your tank

$15+ for a feed pump that would take water from a bucket of ro and then pump it
into the tank. Some sort of gravity top off set up or whatever to get water to the reactor.

Money won't be needed till begining of next month.

t

[lamphere]

Tight budget here too. gonna have to pass on making one, still would like to attend to see how its done though.

[tsalter]

10-4

t

[fishfarmer]

Count me in for one too.

Al

[nolofinwe]

Only 15 bucks for a feed pump?

[tsalter]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=M3-AQUALIFTERPUMP&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Check out this little pump. You don't want to feed a lot of kalk this pump does something like 2 gals a day max. I checked out a bunch of threads. Just put one end in the ro bucket and then connect the other to the kalk reactor. put a little valve in there and you can control the flow rate. You could always do a float topoff so that it turns on when your water is low

T

[tsalter]

Okay,

So we have

Me
Brad
Al
Erik
Hands 40

maybe
Patrick

I am thinking a via aqua 1300 would be better than a maxijet for those who are going to buy a pump. It has 1/2" threads so you can attach hose barbs easily and doesn't require too much extra sealing. $18 at marine depot. Same price as the maxijet.

T

[Waterbury Guy]

I don't use a reactor, but I'd be interested in seeing it.

[tsalter]

Cool, Yeah the meeting is open to everyone. Even if you are not making a reactor.

Tom

[tsalter]

I posted a new thread about reactor money. Check it out!!!!!

[fishfarmer]

Tom,

Any thoughts on when this meeting will take place?

Al

[tsalter]

Al,

I am thinking possibly Sun Feb 27th? or Monday night the 28th. Brad is working until feb 18th I believe so I wanted to do it after that. We (renae and I) have school vacation starting the 19th and were planning to go to hilton head on vacation but I think we will be back by the 27th. We haven't booked tickets yet as we might drive so dates are a little uncertain. I will try to figure it out for sure today.

If anybody has a good or bad day let me know

T

[fishfarmer]

Those dates work for me.

[tsalter]

Cool, lets tenatively say Sunday afternoon 3:00 ish if that works for everyone. If not monday or tuesday night or later on that sunday. We should be back from vaction by then

Tom