$200, my day off, and my new diy calcium reactor! - Page 7

em21701 · #**151** 05/18/2005, 11:20 AM

The water already exits from the highest point, I think because the tees in my recirculating loop face upward the gas has a tendency to collect there.if I turn them so that they face down the issue will go away.

Scott S · #**152** 05/18/2005, 12:03 PM

DJ88's DIY version recircs undissolved CO2.
http://www.melevsreef.com/dj88.html

OxInYourBox · #**153** 05/18/2005, 11:13 PM

Picked up the unit and various PVC fittings to build my unit this weekend and show a few reef club friends.

Quick question-Looking at the lid of the canister how did everyone plumb the stand pipe into the top? A pic would be great.

Dizzyswimmer · #**154** 05/19/2005, 05:52 AM

t a g

em21701 · #**155** 05/19/2005, 08:11 AM

We each used some kind of gasket in the bottom to force the pipe into the top of the reactor lid. WMTasker used a rubber gasket of some kind, I used a short length of airline tubing. The media will hold it in place while you screw the lid on. I'd give you a pic but my reactor is full now.

johndonaldson3 · #**156** 05/19/2005, 08:23 AM

tag

WmTasker · #**157** 05/19/2005, 08:44 AM

whats all the tag stuff for? If you want to follow the thread just go to the bottom of the page and click on the link that says "Subscibe to this Thread"

WmTasker · #**158** 05/19/2005, 08:49 AM

Oxinyourbox

I cut my stand pipe to be 10 3/8" long. Once I got the little gasket at the bottom, it was a perfect fit in the canister.

MadTownMax · #**159** 05/19/2005, 09:25 AM

I noticed earlier someone in the thread commented about CO2 gas escaping through the regular 1/4" hose y'all are using.

There is black (shiny) 1/4" hose that is resistant to CO2 gas, and it won't degrade over time to become brittle and "leak" CO2 like the common water hose you guys are using.

impur · #**160** 05/19/2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MadTownMax
I noticed earlier someone in the thread commented about CO2 gas escaping through the regular 1/4" hose y'all are using.

There is black (shiny) 1/4" hose that is resistant to CO2 gas, and it won't degrade over time to become brittle and "leak" CO2 like the common water hose you guys are using.

Could you provide us with a name for this hose? Where to get it?

MadTownMax · #**161** 05/19/2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by impur
Could you provide us with a name for this hose? Where to get it?

I guess you can get green or blue also -

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CO1511

I've gotten it from Home Depot before as black 1/4 hose, with the use listed as "fish tanks"

- no kidding

impur · #**162** 05/19/2005, 01:25 PM

Nice thanks!

OxInYourBox · #**163** 05/19/2005, 01:49 PM

Cool. Thanks! That's what I guessed everyone did with regards to the top. I'm going to mess with it a bit and see if there is another way to do it (doubting it but worth a try when I get the time).

Will update with what I find.

WmTasker · #**164** 05/19/2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OxInYourBox
Cool. Thanks! That's what I guessed everyone did with regards to the top. I'm going to mess with it a bit and see if there is another way to do it (doubting it but worth a try when I get the time).

Will update with what I find.

Cool

Let us know what you find out.

Jiddy · #**165** 05/19/2005, 05:24 PM

Can someone make a "grocery list" of everything needed now that you guys seem to be past the mod'n stage?

Just wanted to say this invention/thread is great!

Scott S · #**166** 05/19/2005, 06:38 PM

Go back to page one, nothing different as far as parts, just the way they were plumbed.

8BALL_99 · #**167** 05/19/2005, 07:47 PM

For the standpipe in the center... I heated it with a propane tourch then once the pipe got soft I stuck it in the lid so it would fit up into the hole.. I then cut the pipe to the right length.. My standpipe goes about 1" into the lid and fits very snug..

Scott S · #**168** 05/19/2005, 10:53 PM

I tested my standpipe by "fitting" it first. I then tried to blow through it (without success) which told me that it was sealed. And then I proceeded to put my holes in it.

grochmal · #**169** 05/20/2005, 07:44 AM

How snug is very snug?
The pipe comes out, right?

Quote:

Originally posted by 8BALL_99
For the standpipe in the center... I heated it with a propane tourch then once the pipe got soft I stuck it in the lid so it would fit up into the hole.. I then cut the pipe to the right length.. My standpipe goes about 1" into the lid and fits very snug..

em21701 · #**170** 05/20/2005, 07:48 AM

I re-plumbed my reactor last night and I appear to have eliminated most of my problems. I moved the water intake from the output side of the pump to intake side before the CO2. I moved the CO2 input closer to the pump and I turned all the ports downward. my effluent is now gas free. I'll post some pics later. I also made a bracket and humg the reactor on the wall next to my tank.

craby · #**171** 05/20/2005, 08:21 AM

8BALL_99,
You may have a problem if the stand pipe does not come out of the lid when you go to refill the media. If it doesn't, then you'll need to grind it down. It will seal where it seats on the tapered part @ the bottom of the neck on the lid.

I am going to add a venturi like DJ88's design for CO2 recirculation & tap the lid @ the top of the recess in the lid where CO2 collects w/ a 1/8" npt to 1/4 JGF. I'll post Pics when I am done.

Other than that, I have had it up & running for a few days now & it's running like a champ.

em21701 · #**172** 05/20/2005, 11:24 AM

The connections going clockwise: effluent out, tank water in, co2 in. The CO2 now recirculates properlyand the effluent is bubble free

TroyPierce · #**173** 05/20/2005, 12:40 PM

em21701, I like the use of hard PVC plumbing like you've done. In looking at your picture, I'm wondering if the view is from what will be the back of the unit while it is in-use? The reason I say this is, when you need to refill the media, will you be able to get the wrench in there to loosen the housing? I know from experience that unless you're the incredible Hulk, you probably won't be able to remove it without the wrench.

Given that you have unions on both sides, I guess you could take the plumbing off but I'm kinda lazy and wouldn't want to do that if I didn't have to.

I'm planning on making one of these and would like to mount it on the back of my stand, using a bracket on the top, but I'll need to figure out a way to keep access for the container wrench.

I was just wondering if you could make a bracket or box to screw into the top and use that as a shelf for the pump. This way, instead of turning down, the plumbing could turn up and sit on top of the lid. Would this cause any problems for a circulation point of view?

Something else I thought about mounting on the top is a peristaltic pump. Here's a thread with some info. Again, my hope was to build this into something like a box on top of the reactor and let it pump it's little heart out.

gath2 · #**174** 05/20/2005, 03:22 PM

Looks great em21701. More pics please

8BALL_99 · #**175** 05/20/2005, 03:36 PM

Hey guys,, My stand pipe can be removed. I just did it that way so it would fit snug up into the lid.. My reactor is up and running and has been for several days.. I simply place the standpipe in the bottem container. Then I filled the container with media and screwed the lid onto the reactor.. My pvc stand pipe has a taper on it now so its a breaze to screw the lid on Plus it fits snug so it doesnt leak... Hope that kinda of explains it a lil better. I guess I should have posted pictures of mine to