New reactor
 

Wet testing on the new Ca reactor

http://www.islandreef.ca/post/reactor.jpg

Hi,

Looks awesome...makes my DIY jobs look like fisher price. Say...is there going to be a second chamber to this reactor ? It might help reduce the pH fluctuations that you are currently seeing in your tank. It usually helps bring the pH of the effluent of the reactor from 6.5 - 6.8 to around 7.4 to 7.6. BTW, hows the pH problem going ?

- Victor.

Nice work Brad. Would look good on my tank.

Hmm is that a glue drip I see on the bottom? :shock: :wink:

Steve

Victor, this is a really large chamber. I don't think the addition of a second chamber would be worth the effort. I traced most of my pH problems to a defective probe. My pH right now is 8.8, according to the meter. I can calibrate it and it reads fine for an hour, but then creeps one way or the other. Hopefully a larger reactor and a new probe will balance the pH at close to 8.0

Troy, thanks. Maybe one day you can have one just like it on your tank :wink:

Not a one, and it held up perfectly to the wet test. As soon as I get a couple of check valves, itll be ready to go.

nice looking there brad .wanna get paid to make me one ..

Very nice job Brad. :D

Thanks Doug.

Mike, I'll reply to your email.

Re: New reactor
 

Question if you don't mind. How do you machine the inlet to the main tube from the mag pump. From the looks of it the pvc 1/2" fitting is glued somehow to the acrylic tube. Is it leak proof?

Bryan, I threaded and glues the fitting in place. The tube is only 1/8", so threading alone wouldn't be enough. My last reactor just got glued without threading the hole.

Great craftsmanship there Brad :cool:
So I guess you have been pretty busy building stuff, did you manage to have any parts leftover for a skimmer by chance :razz:
Oh yeah, I wanted to mention that I think one of your wingnuts is slightly off center by half a mil :mrgreen:

cheers, Rich

I am leery of trusting threads in material 1/8" thick even with glue. In my experience they can be prone to leaks if they get bumped around. I think I will build a "n" shaped box and mount the inlet from the bottm using a bulkhead fitting. takes some off the height but gives me piece of mind.

Bryan,

What I did with my fitting is place sand paper on the out side of the acrylic, and shape a PVC fitting to match the out side diameter. Then did the same with another fitting and matched it to the inside diameter. Then with a short piece of PVC pipe, I sanwiched the acrylic between the 2 fittings. The hole through the acrylic was a tight fit this the PVC pipe through it. This gives me huge surface area and strength. Has not failled me yet, 1.5 years and counting.

Lee

Brad, what size is that one. I am just firing up my new 6in. by 18in. model. I have a 4in. second stage I was thinking of using, but like you, I think its almost not needed. ? Mine holds about a jar and a half of ARM.

Doug, mine is 6 x ~21, hold 1.75 jars of ARM. I see no reason to add a second chamber. My pH is fine (I also drip kalk) and CO2 is cheap here.

You mean grind the pvc fitting with the sandpaper to match the curve of the cylinder tube?

Doug,

I have a 6" x 18" and a 4" x 18 second chamber. I checked my pH with my probe, I see no difference from the second stage.

Bryan,

Yes I ground 2 fittings for the inside and out side.

Lee

Perhaps I will take the second stage out then. Never liked it there anyways. :biggrin: