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james37128
11/26/2008, 08:29 AM
I have slowly ordered all the parts and pieces I need to build my calcium reactor. Turns out I would have probably saved money on buying one, instead of building... I will definitely post pics as I build this but first I have a few questions.

My setup is a 120 gallon (40 gallon sump, 160 gallons total) mixed reef with a small/medium amount of calcium demand. The calcium falls from about 450 to 400 and the alk changes from about 11 dkh to 8dkh in around a week. Now that's not bad, but then by the time I get around to testing and adding my two part it's usually been MORE than a week (not good, not good at all I know.) So hopefully this CA reactor will allow me to go a month without testing, then test and have to add very little (hopefully none) calcium, baking soda, or MAG for that matter...

I will use PVC, being in Japan takes away the availability of decent priced acrylic or clear pvc. The pvc will be 100mm which is approx 4 inches in diameter. I understand the negatives that come with not being able to see your media, but with a media change every 6 months I am quite sure I'll be fine.

I will be splitting off my return pump with a T to feed the skimmer I plan on having a gate valve on that to control how much water gets fed to the skimmer, then another plastic airline valve where it returns to the sump to do the very fine adjustments (if necessary.)

The circulation pump is a eheim 1250, setup for reverse flow.

I am planning on a dual chamber to help buffer the pH in the effluent before it returns to the sump.

My question is about chamber sizes, I need your opinions? Should the second chamber be smaller than the first? Should the second chamber be skinnier (maybe 2 inch pvc) since it will have so little flow going through? Should the first chamber be over 20 inches tall? If taller, how much taller?

james37128
11/26/2008, 09:01 AM
I never made a build thread, so I thought I would share the tank with everyone. Lemme know if you see any big flaws.. Oh and I know my 2 finger leathers/colt coral whatever you want to call them are not looking good, I moved both of them earlier today. They were fine before the travel in my fingers, just need some time to recupe.
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james37128
11/26/2008, 08:35 PM
Nobody has an opinion? "20 inches is a good height" or "you should make it 30 inches if you can"

redmarble
11/26/2008, 10:27 PM
Most "commercial" units have the second chamber the same size as the main unit. I have see some calcium reactors with smaller diameter second chamber. I have never seen a second chamber larger than the main chamber, though.

I have a Reeftek 12" calcium reactor with a second chamber being a MRC 12" chamber- both are 6" diameter tubes.

redmarble
11/26/2008, 10:32 PM
You might want to study the dimensions and capacities of other calcium reactors- it'll give you an idea of what to build as they've done the R&D for you, so to speak.

I'll be watching your DYI

james37128
11/26/2008, 10:55 PM
I have been looking at alot of other reactors. There are not a lot of dual chamber reactors out there.

With the single chamber reactors the ratings change drastically from one reactor to the other, with the same size or very similar (18 inches tall with a 5 inch chamber to 20 inches tall with a 4 and a half inch chamber). Either way there is no company out there that rates (the similar of) a 4 inch chamber 20 inches tall, at under 120 gallons, even heavy stocking and very high lighting. That's what I am going to go with for the main chamber, 4 inch diameter and 20 inches tall.

The second chamber I still can't decide if I want to use a lower diameter pvc. I think it would benefit the same even if it were a 2 inch diameter pvc and 20 inches tall. All the second chamber is really for is to buffer the pH before it returns to the tank, there isn't much going on there. Also with the larger diameter chamber with very very little flow, now you have a possible stagnant water issue.

james37128
11/28/2008, 11:46 AM
I have decided on a skinnier second chamber, maybe 3 inches, not that much smaller.

Today, I went off to my LFS and picked up some ARM. I know alot of people have had problems with ARM but It always seemed to be the small granule stuff. So today trying to decide which media to use, I went ahead and went with ARM and I bought the large granule stuff, most of the pieces are right around 1/2 inch. Has anyone had experiences with this stuff? good or bad? I will try It anyways since I spent 120$ on 3 jugs of it, but still would like to hear an opinion.

pdelcast
11/28/2008, 11:55 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13833942#post13833942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james37128
I have decided on a skinnier second chamber, maybe 3 inches, not that much smaller.

Today, I went off to my LFS and picked up some ARM. I know alot of people have had problems with ARM but It always seemed to be the small granule stuff. So today trying to decide which media to use, I went ahead and went with ARM and I bought the large granule stuff, most of the pieces are right around 1/2 inch. Has anyone had experiences with this stuff? good or bad? I will try It anyways since I spent 120$ on 3 jugs of it, but still would like to hear an opinion.

It works extremely well.

The main issue with the smaller stuff is that eventually it turns to mush, and you need to replace the whole lot. The larger "monkey bones" media lasts a lot longer, and doesn't seem to collapse into a mass of mush.

pdelcast
11/28/2008, 11:58 AM
Lovely tank BTW --

As for calcium chamber size -- I really think the biggest issue is how often you want to maintenance the reactor. I built a 6" x 25" DIY calcium reactor, and I only maintenance it about once every two months (and this is on a 500+ gallon system)

So, it's basically the larger the reactor, the less often you will have to refill/maintain it.

james37128
11/28/2008, 12:03 PM
Awesome, I am glad it is working for you! Arm seems to be getting a bad rap because of their small stuff. I really thing the "monkeybones" are going to work well.

Thanks for the compliments, it's always nice to hear someone compliment after all the "blood, sweat, and tears."

By maintain the reactor, what exactly are you talking about? I thought basically you just add the media, dial it in, then its good until you have to refill media. Well besides giving it a weekly shake and maybe minor adjustments to Co2.

james37128
11/28/2008, 10:41 PM
Here is a really quick sketch of the plans, anyone see any problems?

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Tvrpzq98rKshRBjZp8TY-w"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STDHrIPVAoI/AAAAAAAAAfM/hegHzXf7Yfk/s800/calcium%20reactor.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/james37128/Reactor">reactor</a></td></tr></table>

james37128
11/28/2008, 11:13 PM
I just decided to add a TEE effluent line going from the 1st chamber to the second, I will add a ball valve on one side and the other side will go to the second chamber. This Way I will be able to measure the effluent ph in the first chamber for setup then periodically to make sure it's in the correct range.

redmarble
11/29/2008, 12:44 AM
Will you be including pics of the "in progress" build?

james37128
11/29/2008, 02:43 AM
Of course! I was expecting to get a small package today with a few more things I need, but no luck and I am dependent on those to really get started.

BlueCorn
11/29/2008, 10:14 AM
[moved]

james37128
11/29/2008, 10:16 AM
Thanks, hopefully I'll get a bit more feedback here.

james37128
12/01/2008, 03:13 AM
I have made some progress on the calcium reactor, Really waiting on USPS still to get the ball rolling... I decided to go with the same size chambers, I think that will make it a bit easier to make a stand/setup. Also the extra media can't hurt anything...
The reaction chambers.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOmSXp4EQI/AAAAAAAAAgY/3tDj2MXScZU/s800/IMG_1623.JPG
Everyone loves their dremels right?
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOlttHa29I/AAAAAAAAAgI/CTlFGPRKmbE/s800/IMG_1613.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOl1o6KYmI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/t_HBhLLJcdA/s640/IMG_1622.JPG
5kg co2 tank
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOmZY95QpI/AAAAAAAAAgg/_7Xc-PpwIUI/s640/IMG_1625.JPG
Japanese regulator which is different size then American, I was really worried about not having any gauges to tell pressures, but this thing is really precise, and it has the little gauge on the tank to show when its empty. I was really worried when I got it, but I set it up and started some bubble action in a cup of water, and the quality of control surprised me, I think the regulator is preset to allow a maximum of 0.3 MPa (whatever that means, if someone knows please enlighten me!) and it has the one control to put it exactly where you want.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOmdM7zTlI/AAAAAAAAAgo/drQrvtt8lOY/s800/IMG_1626.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOmhQk6YCI/AAAAAAAAAgw/aM7vDVvm9Yw/s800/IMG_1627.JPG
Now if that control wasn't precise enough (I really really did not thing it was when I purchased it, so I bought this other needle valve sold by a different company who makes regulators here in japan.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CzYy5_TosPw/STOmtNPKQxI/AAAAAAAAAg4/KN_madFS0Bg/s912/IMG_1628.JPG
Hopefully I will have it complete by the end of this week, I will be leaving for 2 weeks and won't actually get it running until I get back. I would really like to get home and go straight into fine tuning it, I may set it up without any co2 going to it while I am gone, I have yet to decide.