Ca reactor feed

[smokinreefer]

what do you guys use to feed your reactor?
i have used 2 different small powerheads and they seem to clog and jam up very easily which leads to fluctuating drop rates.

any ideas to solve my problem??

thanks

[Doug]

What are they plugging on. Mine were always clean. I tried small ones, like the little pond pump thingys. Not very good and my effluent rate was soon changing.

The best I used was a Hagen 301 model.

[SuperFudge]

Shao,

You can tap your main pumps feed line,but i couldnt recommend it if you are using ball valves anywhere else in the output line,it ends up being the same story if you ever adjust these valves.It works well otherwise,and saves another plug for other goodies ;) .

[titus]

Hello,

I'd say gravity feed if possible.

Titus

[smokinreefer]

hey guys,

so marc,
my return lines are 1"...so you mean "T" it off and reduce it to 1/4" to feed the reactor? i guess i would need a valve on the line as well to control the feed into the reactor too?

titus,
how do you propose that? i have 1.5" drains...i cant really visualize how to take a feed from that into a 1/4" line to feed the reactor. could you elaborate please?

also any pictures/diagrams or plans that anyone can post to help me visualize any of these options would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by smokinreefer:
hey guys,

how do you propose that? i have 1.5" drains...i cant really visualize how to take a feed from that into a 1/4" line to feed the reactor. could you elaborate please?

TIA

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">if you can shut down for a bit.. you need to drill a hole and tap it with a 1/4" NPT so it will accept a 1/4 threaded pip to 1/4" compression adapter.. if you can find the adapter with a ball valve that would be better.

Steve

[SuperFudge]

Originally posted by smokinreefer:
hey guys,

so marc,
my return lines are 1"...so you mean "T" it off and reduce it to 1/4" to feed the reactor? i guess i would need a valve on the line as well to control the feed into the reactor too?

TIA

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well you can tee off and do this,but for 15 bucks you can buy the tap,and just tap into a coupler or fitting you already have inline.
Either will work,but
tapping only takes a few minutes,rather than gluing new fittings and such.
Make sure your not tapping just the pipe wall,it is too thin walled to get a good thread,get a coupler with the pipe already glued in it.

You usually wont need to put a valve in there before the reactor,as you have a valve on your effluent output.
also the ends of the lines to the tank are free flowing,so there is not huge pressures involved.
Itll just pressurize your reactor a little more.

But before you do... you dont have those 1" lines tee`d off anywhere else do you ?...like a skimmer or multiple tank outlets ?

[smokinreefer]

marc,
i have a mag12 that is run with 1" tubing that leads to the returns. from the tubing it connect to 1" pvc(behind the tank) that "T"s into 2 returns at the top of the tank.
does it sound like it is doable?

[fishboy]

Here's a pic of how I set up my feed. I'm running a mag 12 with 1" tubing as well. The 1/4 NPT tap is cheap and can be used for other projects. The line is 1/4" OD and the valve is for a underground sprinkler system(bought at Homedepot). There is some risk of cracking the pvc when you tap it so be carefull and/or have some weldon 16 handy.

[smokinreefer]

hmmm....is there any way to tap into flexible tubing??
the only accessable tubing from my return pump is 1" pvc flexable tubing...not pvc pipe.

any ideas.