My DIY Nano Carbon Reactor

jpeggerling · 04/06/2009, 10:40 AM

Yesterday I decided to try to build a little Carbon reactor for my AP24. This this is what I came up with and it worked.

I took a old siphon hose and connected it to a small pump. The I cut two peices of acrylic using a 1.25" hole saw. I drilled small holes in each of the peices. I placed one of them down at the bottom of the chamber and the other I connected to a thin peice of PVC. That way Im able to pull the top peice out to change the carbon. I tested it before putting in my tank and it seemed to work perfect. The carbon tumbles really well. It fits right in the back chamber of the AP.

Here are couple pix.

Jadams · 04/06/2009, 11:02 AM

Very interesting...Nice DIY!

chrishet · 04/06/2009, 01:12 PM

Nice work...looks like a Sapphire Reactor! I heard that you should not let carbon tumble though...it can break apart and the fines can get loose into your tank....perhaps simply load it up with carbon.

jpeggerling · 04/06/2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrishet
Nice work...looks like a Sapphire Reactor! I heard that you should not let carbon tumble though...it can break apart and the fines can get loose into your tank....perhaps simply load it up with carbon.

Thanks Guys- I heard that it was good to have it tumble.... How does the carbon sit in most reactor? I have never owned one so I dont know

chrishet · 04/06/2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpeggerling
Thanks Guys- I heard that it was good to have it tumble.... How does the carbon sit in most reactor? I have never owned one so I dont know

check out this video of the BRS reactor, that can run both GFO and Carbon...they recommend not letting the carbon tumble as I suggested.

BRS Reactor Video

jpeggerling · 04/06/2009, 02:45 PM

I see!! Thanks man. I fixed that buy just adding a little more carbon and pushing down the top peice of the unit.

chrishet · 04/06/2009, 03:40 PM

BTW, I got motivated by this post so I mod'd my Sapphire reactor to now run GFO and Carbon....I'll take a pic later but it seems to be working very nicely.

truthdesigns · 04/08/2009, 05:50 PM

sweet John nice build!
I have heard you do not want Phosphate media to tumble
but not carbon but chrishet has a point:0)

cerobbins · 04/08/2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by truthdesigns
sweet John nice build!
I have heard you do not want Phosphate media to tumble
but not carbon but chrishet has a point:0)

It really depends on the media. Most media will tell you the best way to utilize it on the label. Most po4 medias work best when the top layer is tumbling, but that again probably does not apply to all of them.

jpeggerling · 04/08/2009, 08:24 PM

Thanks Justin- I have seen a huge change in my tank since I have been running this. I see the biggest diffference has been how clear the glass has been. I was having to clean it just about everyday before. Its been 4 days and I have not had to clean it once.

chrishet · 04/08/2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cerobbins
It really depends on the media. Most media will tell you the best way to utilize it on the label. Most po4 medias work best when the top layer is tumbling, but that again probably does not apply to all of them.

GFO is hard but will clump together and form a ball if it does not tumble...you probably do not want to tumble aluminum oxide, like Phosguard, or it will produce fines...Carbon will turn to dust if it tumbles.

flores.m88 · 10/28/2017, 05:13 PM

Curious about this and I know it’s old but does the water just spill over the top?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ejb · 10/29/2017, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flores.m88

Curious about this and I know it’s old but does the water just spill over the top?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah the water would exit through the top

04/06/2009, 10:40 AM	#1
jpeggerling Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,183	My DIY Nano Carbon Reactor Yesterday I decided to try to build a little Carbon reactor for my AP24. This this is what I came up with and it worked. I took a old siphon hose and connected it to a small pump. The I cut two peices of acrylic using a 1.25" hole saw. I drilled small holes in each of the peices. I placed one of them down at the bottom of the chamber and the other I connected to a thin peice of PVC. That way Im able to pull the top peice out to change the carbon. I tested it before putting in my tank and it seemed to work perfect. The carbon tumbles really well. It fits right in the back chamber of the AP. Here are couple pix. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 24 Gallon AquaPod, 250 MH Sunpod, 1/15 HP Prime Chiller, 30lbs MMR, MIXED REEF

04/06/2009, 11:02 AM	#2
Jadams Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,475	Very interesting...Nice DIY! __________________ Jeremy

04/06/2009, 01:12 PM	#3
chrishet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Greensboro, GA Posts: 945	Nice work...looks like a Sapphire Reactor! I heard that you should not let carbon tumble though...it can break apart and the fines can get loose into your tank....perhaps simply load it up with carbon. __________________ Regards, Chris * Imaging the Cosmos, Astrophotography by Chris Hetlage * Current Tank Info: 70 Gal Shallow-Rimless Custom Build In-progress, Apex Controller, Canon 5D

04/06/2009, 02:45 PM	#6
jpeggerling Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,183	I see!! Thanks man. I fixed that buy just adding a little more carbon and pushing down the top peice of the unit. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 24 Gallon AquaPod, 250 MH Sunpod, 1/15 HP Prime Chiller, 30lbs MMR, MIXED REEF

04/06/2009, 03:40 PM	#7
chrishet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Greensboro, GA Posts: 945	BTW, I got motivated by this post so I mod'd my Sapphire reactor to now run GFO and Carbon....I'll take a pic later but it seems to be working very nicely. __________________ Regards, Chris * Imaging the Cosmos, Astrophotography by Chris Hetlage * Current Tank Info: 70 Gal Shallow-Rimless Custom Build In-progress, Apex Controller, Canon 5D

04/08/2009, 05:50 PM	#8
truthdesigns Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,861 Blog Entries: 1	sweet John nice build! I have heard you do not want Phosphate media to tumble but not carbon but chrishet has a point:0) __________________ -Justin "Beauty is within an ocean behind glass" Current Tank Info: 18 gallon custom nano.

04/08/2009, 08:24 PM	#10
jpeggerling Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,183	Thanks Justin- I have seen a huge change in my tank since I have been running this. I see the biggest diffference has been how clear the glass has been. I was having to clean it just about everyday before. Its been 4 days and I have not had to clean it once. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 24 Gallon AquaPod, 250 MH Sunpod, 1/15 HP Prime Chiller, 30lbs MMR, MIXED REEF

10/28/2017, 05:13 PM	#12
flores.m88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 5	Curious about this and I know it’s old but does the water just spill over the top? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk