clear PVC order

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

is anyone interested in getting this stuff with me 4inch cpvc pipe for aprox 30$ft.
i need 4ft and i have to purchase 10ft pipe.
this is for DIY calcium reactor for me. :confused: [img]smile.gif[/img]

why would you use clear pvc at $30/foot when you can get clear cast cell acrylic(a much better product) for $32-34/foot and you can buy it in 5 or 6 foot lengths???just wouldnt make sense to me!

[Seaquest]

Hi

I agree, clear PVC is nice stuff to work with especialy when building large format protein skimmers, but for a calcium reactor that going sit under or behind a cabinet I don't see the attraction. Cell cast acrylic is a much more sensable product to use. I can get 8 inch clear PVC pipe here in Toronto for $27 a foot, I guess not everything is the best in the west. Good luck and shoot us a photo of your reactor when it complete. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Seaquest]

Hi

I agree, clear PVC is nice stuff to work with especialy when building large format protein skimmers, but for a calcium reactor that going sit under or behind a cabinet I don't see the attraction. Cell cast acrylic is a much more sensable product to use. I can get 8 inch clear PVC pipe here in Toronto for $27 a foot, I guess not everything is the best in the west. Good luck and shoot us a photo of your reactor when it complete. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Delphinus]

Is cell cast acrylic just rolled acrylic? Because I just found some 4" OD clear acylic tubes, must have been 6, 7 feet (at least 1' "taller" than me and I'm 5ft-something), and they're like $80 per that length. How much pressure is a Ca Rx under? The reason I ask is that the wall thickness looked only about 4.5" and I don't know if that makes these tubes inappropriate for a Ca Rx or not.

Cast cell arcrylic is just what it says it is! It is cast in a mold and only pure acrylic is used. It is of the highest quality! The cheapest you will find it is around $30/foot for 4" OD with 1/16th-1/4" wall thickness

[Delphinus]

Cast cell arcrylic is just what it says it is!

Ok, maybe to someone familiar with working with acrylic knows exactly what that means. I don't. Sorry that I'm sooooo stooooopid. How do I know if something is "cast cell" or if it's something else besides asking someone who knows what the difference is?????? How do I know by looking at a tube of clear acrylic if it's suitable for use in a Calcium reactor? BTW I was mistaken I said it was wall thickness 4.5mm I was thinking of something else, the tubes I found were 4"OD and 3.75"ID, which makes it 1/8" wall thickness which is more like 3mm. Is this stuff OK to use for a Calcium reactor or not????

[ 07 March 2002, 10:17: Message edited by: delphinus ]

[Aquattro]

Tony, I used extruded acrylic (1/8" wall) for my reactor and it's fine. The tubing cost was very cheap. As long as the surfaces are perfect and you bond it properly, it is more than strong enough. Cast will give you a bit more clarity as it doesn't have any ripples in it from processing. I built my reactor with pump for about $100. I found a used tank for $100, you just need to look around. J&L has regulators and needle valves that are decently priced. Email Allen for pricing.

[DJ88]

I have used extruded as well Tony.

Works fine. Cell cast is what the big companies use as it looks better.

[Delphinus]

Oooohhhhh OK I think I am finally starting to understand. Yes this stuff did have ripples so I guess that makes it "extruded" versus "cell cast" would mean it is much cleaner looking...

Thanks for all the explanations (and I really am sorry for being soooo stooopid it just takes me a while to catch onto some things :D ) I am not used to working with plastics *at all*.