Grrr. My biopellet reactor died

[Spyd]

I have read about numerous issues with multiple recirculating reactors. IMO they are not worth it at all. Stick to the easy to use, hassle free reactors like the Vertex models. All I did for the reactor was made a DIY screen at the top of the reactor to prevent the pellets from leaving the reactor as they shrunk. It is truly set it and forget it from there...

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Spyd

I have read about numerous issues with multiple recirculating reactors. IMO they are not worth it at all. Stick to the easy to use, hassle free reactors like the Vertex models. All I did for the reactor was made a DIY screen at the top of the reactor to prevent the pellets from leaving the reactor as they shrunk. It is truly set it and forget it from there...

Yes, that is what I did initially with mine, with material from Michaels. But now Vertex makes that screen filter and I bought that, too. Works good.

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Yes, that is what I did initially with mine, with material from Michaels. But now Vertex makes that screen filter and I bought that, too. Works good.

I was just about to post that they now make those screens. Great idea though, as i'm sure almost everyone using them for pellets had the same issue.

[asylumdown]

well since buying a new reactor of a comparable size would be in the 100-130 range, plus I'd then have to buy a pump, I need to work with what I've got. Though for anyone else who comes across this I definitely recommend either a recirculating design that has large diameter effluent lines, or not going with the recirculating variety at all.

Well my dad had sold his large drill press bus he still had a small desk sized version that was more than up to the job of drilling through the plastic cap. With the bulkhead, valve and fittings Denny hooked me up with at Concept yesterday, I was able to do this:



The inlet line, while larger than the effluent line, is still a pretty small hose, so my flow through is still going to be limited by the amount of water that can be sucked in to the reactor. At least now to clog and shut down completely I'll need to produce enough mulm to block a 3/4 pipe. If this ends up being limited in functionality due to the inlet line, I should be able to modify it to a larger hose as well.

[Stones]

Nice work! I'm sure this should alleviate your clogging problems. Your intake line shouldn't need to be scaled up because your reactor uses the recirculating current to keep the pellets tumbling as opposed to the intake water being used for that purpose.

[denny_C]

good job buddy i knew you could do it

sorry i never got back to you my inbox has been a mess all day lol

[lastlight]

nice work on the reactor but considering the issues you had getting those counters in place you should be beaten like a rented mule for working with primer and cement on them!

[BlueTang<3]

Originally Posted by lastlight

nice work on the reactor but considering the issues you had getting those counters in place you should be beaten like a rented mule for working with primer and cement on them!

I was about to say the same lol,