new DIY downflow calcium reactor

Chin_Lee · #1 04-30-2008, 05:44 AM

Mark
I bolted the lid onto a flange so the holes are all aligned. Then I used a heat gun to heat both sides until slightly soft and then pushed it down on a piece of 2 inch coupling through the flange.

Tony
The probe holder is sticking out through the side of the upflow tubing. I put it there so its out of the way where I won`t need access to the reactor. I used a half inch gland nut that had a male NPT which screwed into a FPT fitting.

The bottom of the media chamber is an acrylic doughnut that has a 2-3 inch hole in the middle and this ring is glued into place. I cut eggcrate to fit on top of the doughnut, then two layers of enkamat, and another doughnut to squish the enkamat down. When I want to remove the chamber, I drain water until its below the flange, unscrew the nylon bolts, and unscrew the top union.

fkshiu · #2 04-30-2008, 05:50 AM

Very nice, Chin. Very nice indeed.

kari · #3 04-30-2008, 12:15 PM

Cool domed top.
What kind of bit did you use to drill thru the tube side wall?

untamed · #4 04-30-2008, 12:48 PM

Nice work. Are you going to be able to pull that probe out easily for recalibration?

Doug · #5 04-30-2008, 01:08 PM

Great looking work Chin. I dont know how you guys do that.

Tom R · #6 04-30-2008, 03:19 PM

Now that is a Calcium Reactor.

Great job Chin.

As per the show Tool Time:

It is the Binford 8000 double capacity powered by a Sedra 5000.

Ar Ar Ar Ar

Tom R

Chin_Lee · #7 04-30-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kari

Cool domed top.
What kind of bit did you use to drill thru the tube side wall?

Kari - i traced out the OD of the 3/4" pipe then drilled and dremel grind until the pipe can fit through snugly. I then grinded down the union and coupling fittings to contour of the OD and ID curve of the tubing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Nice work. Are you going to be able to pull that probe out easily for recalibration?

I'll recalibrate every time I change the media and I'll just unscrew the gland nut with the probe as a whole and then screw it back in. I used gas teflon tape on the threads so its easy to remove.

Jason McK · #8 05-01-2008, 02:16 AM

Sweet Chin. Really like the design. So when you say you have a removable media chamber that is the screws on the bottom and the screws on the top then you can pull just the chamber away from the pump and PVC? That is sweet.
SO what's your retail price and are you taking orders

J