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

[gibson981]

Originally posted by Covey
I've never seen a single pass CR ever. This CR works quite well as is.

Neither had I, until I read this;

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~cap/raid/careactors/waterfilter/

The main problem with the item in this link is that there are no pictures. The person who wrote the piece has a link in it as to why a single pass is good. I wasn't completely sure about the whole thing yet. I asked people about it in another thread and someone posted a link to this very thread that we are posting in right now. I will probably just go ahead and build a recirculating one like the one in this thread. It can't be bad if so many people here on RC like it.

[sleizure]

AHHH!

My Calcium reactor has sealed shut, and I broke the handle trying to get it open. Now tell me, how does the lid come off? Any ideas on how I can get this puppy open?

[Jagermeister]

I've had luck using one of those big, red pipe wrenches. Just need something to give you some leverage.

[Covey]

Yep a big strap wrench should work.

[mduvall219]

had to jump on the bandwagon and build one too.
my ph is down to 7.4 but it is still dissolving the media
thanks for the great diy

[/IMG]

[Qwiv]

I made one of these. When it was time to buy the regulator, I ended up getting a great deal on a reactor setup complete. So I have one of these for sale to anyone that wants on, without builfing it. I have everything, minus the regulator. PM me if interested. I have Mag 2, CO2 Tanks, Tubing, etc.

[Myrddraal]

Bringing this one back from the dead....

Is anyone still running one of these two years later? Any best practices or lessons learned to share? Thanks!

[cooper9177]

working perfectly I would highly recomend the build I will post a pic of my tank later.

[finless]

awesome!

[Covey]

Same here mine is at a year and a half.

I had to replace the leaky POS MAG3 for a Quiet One. Other than that this thing works great.

[ooba]

What is the purpose of the secondary chamber that some people have added?

[tcmfish]

probably to raise the ph of the effluent and to raise calcium levels

[ooba]

? Is that humor, or a serious answer? hard to distinguish dry wit in text.
isn't that what the main chamber does?
So the second chamber acts as an auxiliary calcium reactor?

[TroyPierce]

As the effluent comes out of the first/primary chamber the ph is pretty low (6.8 - 7.2). The second chamber allows the natural buffering action of the media to raise the ph and in the meantime, it disolves more Calcium.

In the primary reactor, CO2 is constantly being added to lower the ph, make it more acid, but in the second chamber, the acidic effluent disolves the media, just like in the primary reactor but since no new CO2 comes in, the ph rises on it's way to the sump.

My unit is working fine. I had a bad Milwaukee regulator and had to replace it. I bought a JBJ unit and so far so good.

[Jagermeister]

It's a serious answer.

Inside the main chamber you need to lower the pH enough to dissolve the calcium media. The effluent leaving the main chamber has a low pH which can disrupt the pH of the tank its being discharged to. People add a second chamber full of media that helps to raise the pH of the effluent before it enters the main tank. While raising the pH more calcium and alkalinity are dissolved.

[ooba]

ahhhh, so desu neh? thanks, i appreciate it. Im just at the beginning of my tank, had concluded that a calcium reactor was for now out of my price range and i hadn't read up on them (i was just planning a manual dose daily). What a great DIY!

[B.friend]

I am going to lowes today and building a Dual Chamber~ WOO HOO

[finless]

Nice build. I built one this afternoon. Got to let the glue dry and get my bottle filled and I'll be up and running! Thanks for all the info everyone.
It goes perfect with my DIY tank, skimmer, sump,waterchanger,top off and kalk reactor.

[Covey]

Finless you might want to rotate the plumbing if you still can I think your CO2 is going to build up in that over the top loop.

[ouuduy]

whats the canister made out of

[B.friend]

I Picked mine up yesterday and most of the plumbing today. Has anyone setup the CO2 so it is recirculated through the main chamber.
With a T from the water going to the tank back into the intake at the bottom of the chamber excese CO2 is Pulled Back into the chamber and reused. Just my thoughts as I was walking through Lowes.

[Covey]

The design recircs co2 as it is but some people have done the tee as you mentioned. Look thru the thread as I think someone tapped and replaced the red button with a co2 line.

[finless]

The co2 is right above the suck in side of the pump then the water inlet is above it .(left side) water out is right side. Do you think the co2 will still build up?
Also I did the cutting of the groves and drilled holes to recerculate the co2.

[finless]

I guess I could always turn the plumbing down so the co2 will go up toward the suck in side of the pump

[finless]

I guess I could always turn the plumbing down so the co2 will go up toward the suck in side of the pump