Ca Reactor my 1st DIY (pics)

[ckusnierek]

Ok I planned this reactor months ago, put it on the back burnner, then resurected it last week.

It's a simple dual chamber reactor 5" 1st chamber and 4" effluent chamber. Both 12" tall. I used 1/4" acrylic for the base and both top peices. Cast Clear 1/8" wall for the chambers.

This will be a down flow reactor with a spray bar. I have the main reactor built. I have not glued anyting yest I want to make sure all is well before I apply the weld-on.

All I have left to do is drill the top of #1 for the recirc in and PH probe holder and the top of #2 for the 1/4" JG return to tank.

And I still need to make the media plates.

I have not decided what pump I will use yet. Choices are:
MAG 2 (not great inline)
Eheim 1048
Quite one 1200

Any suggest are apprecieated.

I 100% CNC Machined this reactor for "perfect" fits. I put a 1/8" wide 1/16" deep groove on the base and cap for the chambers to recess into for a cleaner stronger joint.

Here are some pics from lastnight. Today I plan to make the media plates, glue all the acrylic (weld-on 3) and the PVC fittings (weld-on 16)

By the way I used blue just because I though it would be different and I really like it...


The reactor "dry fit"
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1967.jpg

Close up of the top blue base clear top
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1968.jpg

Top Down
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1971.jpg

My only mstake was the diameter of the thumb screws was a lil larger than I thought and these two hit. I will turn them down and it will not be a problem...
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1972.jpg


Added these grooves to the base and top . They will make the loin cleaner, stronger and more water tight. It also took the guess work out of spacing and locating the chambers for glueing...
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1978.jpg


What do you think?

[Esquare]

Very Nice! Where did you do the CNCing? I’ve been looking into CNC and am getting the hankering to build one.

[ckusnierek]

I did all the CNC work myself I work in a machine shop...

[ZURCSREEF]

Very nice!

I basically want to do the same thing, but with 5.5" tubes, but same concept with the design.

I need to go work for a machining shop for a few days. :P

-Mike C.

[ckusnierek]

My origional plan called for dual 6" chambers but:
with a 6" chamber I would have had to cut the lid 7" wide. 6" was off the shelf and much cheaper. and I could have even gone doen to 3" for the effluent chamber and it still would have been just as effective at bringing the PH up...

[ckusnierek]

Got the media plates done and figured out the spray bar. Might start glueing tonnight?

[eznet2u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13004639#post13004639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ckusnierek They will make the loin cleaner, stronger and more water tight.

What do you think?

I think everyone should have a Clean, Strong and water tight Loin. :)

Looks great! Looks like a Mini Me version of mine. I would go with the Ehiem, very quiet and reliable.

[ckusnierek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13008639#post13008639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eznet2u
I think everyone should have a Clean, Strong and water tight Loin. :)

Looks great! Looks like a Mini Me version of mine. I would go with the Ehiem, very quiet and reliable.


TYPO :)

Should say joint....

but your right either way..

[edenboy1]

What is CNC

[One Dumm Hikk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNC

Computerized Numerical Control. Simply, it is a computer controlled router when referring to a CNC router.

[ckusnierek]

IT's DONE!!!!!!



Got it all plumbed lastnight and water tested it all night I actiall put it under a little pressure and when I opened the valve this am the pressure bleed off...

Gonna det the CO2 and media in there this afternoon,...

Here are some pics:



Here I'm just usung tube to close all the JG's off:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1979.jpg




Kinda a mess with plumbing but functional and with this one being a prototype I did not care tooo much:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1980.jpg




Top of reactor O-rings holding a seal nice. There is 1/2" pece of acrylic in the ph probe holder and I put the holder a lil close to the union oops...
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1981.jpg

[MSU Fan]

geez - nice work!

[tundra1000]

The things I would do if I had a cnc machine-
We have one in the tooling department but they are always backlogged. Oh well. Great work, let us know how it works. On a side note I see you have seahorses in your fuge. I had wanted to do a small seahorse tank tied in to my display but crossed off the idea due to the the differences in temperature requirements. How is it working for you.

[ckusnierek]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13025817#post13025817 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tundra1000
The things I would do if I had a cnc machine-
We have one in the tooling department but they are always backlogged. Oh well. Great work, let us know how it works. On a side note I see you have seahorses in your fuge. I had wanted to do a small seahorse tank tied in to my display but crossed off the idea due to the the differences in temperature requirements. How is it working for you.


I ran into the same issue, temp. I do not have the tank ties into the SPS tank. An I only have pipe fish in it.

[ckusnierek]

The reactor is up and running GREAT! Been up for 4 days now no problems Ca/Alk is stable (testing nightly) I need to dose about 100ppm Ca to get it where I want it and to have it in balance with the Alk....

Here is a pic It was on top of my sump sover over the weekend while I dialed it in and made sure there were no leaks now its under the tank...
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x283/ckusnierek/100_1986.jpg

[atwinparadox2]

would you ever consider making one of them to sell?

[spear reef]

I wish I had the tools to do that
looks great

[nightOwl]

Very nice work. I like the blue on it as well.

[nightOwl]

Very nice work. I like the blue on it as well.

[ckusnierek]

Thanks Everyone!
I have had a few people ask me about making them...
Actually there is only about 50$ in the whole thing (reactor acrylic and plumbing) It's hard to beleive that MRC and the other sell them for 300,400 even 500$$$$

My entire reactor setup cost less than $350 that included a Pan world pump, Reef fanatic Ph controller, CO2 tank and regulator....

[nightOwl]

Thats promising...I have always wanted to create one but the acrylic tubing is so expensive. Is there anyway you can list out the parts you used. I may actually give this one a try as it is not that big.

[ckusnierek]

1 of : 1/4" x 12" x 12" - Blue Plexiglass Acrylic Sheet - #2050
$5.99
1 of : 1/4" x 6" x 12" - Blue Plexiglass Acrylic Sheet - #2050
$7.58
1 of : 4" od x 3 3/4" id x 11 7/8" long - Clear Extruded Acrylic Tube
$6.99
1 of : 5" od x 4 3/4" id x 11 7/8" long - Clear Extruded Acrylic Tube
$8.99
1 of : 6" x 12" - Clear Acrylic Plexiglass Sheet - 1/4'' Thick Cast
$3.19
Total acrylic…………….. $32.74

I got all the acryli from estreetplastics.com
There is roughly another $15-$25 in CPVC and fittings

I used extrubed tubes they have little lines but I did not want to spend the $$$ for cast...

The Pan World Pump was $64 from Premium Aquatics and the thumb screws were $7 for 100 from Mcmaster Carr and I used 4" and 5" 1/16" O-Rings for the seals...

It took me about 1 hour to do the CNC work and another hour to glue it up and about 6 hours to plumb the CPVC :) I had a hard time deciding the rout for the plumbing and I'm still not happy with the asthetics but it works!@@@

[ckusnierek]

The tubes were actually really cheap being extruded and the 11-7/8" were off the shelf I wish I had paind for the 18" still less the $15 a tube...

[nightOwl]

Sweet thanks for posting. Is that 1/2 cpvc? Also what's the max tank size this little baby will support before I start to get excited about my next DIY project...lol.

[ckusnierek]

I have it on a 75g heavily stocked with SPS

I would think it should work up too 200+ considering I the MRC CR-1 has roughly the same volume.. and its rated for 300g