will000
08-05-02, 18:35
i'm writing this on behalf of les
Dear Interested DIY Calcium Reactor Builder,
I have enclosed a drawing of the calcium reactor and some details of the parts etc required. The dearest items are the gauges and the CO2 bottle. However you can get gauges from a welding suppliers and Machine Mart do a set for about £20 in the UK. You will need to get a needle valve fitting to adjust the flow of CO2 to the bubble reactor. Machine Mart doesn’t sell these but welding suppliers should be able too.
Gauges from aquarist shops etc cost about £70 so Machine Mart is a better bet. You will need some CO2 black flexible tubing. Bioplast do some if you can find a supplier. A bubble counter costs around £12 Aquamedic sell them. CO2 bottles can be bought from specialist fire extinguisher suppliers or they can be hired quite cheaply from people like Beermaster as supplied to pubs etc
The Eheim 2213 canister is available form Animal house in the UK. I hope they are available to those living outside the UK. I notice it is not advertised in their catalogue any more but as far as I am aware is still available and costs about £30 with lid etc. Note this is not a power filter but just the canister with a lid on. It also comes with a bottom strainer.
You will also need some RO tubing to take the supply of aquarium water to and from the reactor. You will need some John Guest tank connectors, which go on the lid of the canister that you have to drill to take them. Also you will need 2x1/4” in line taps by John Guest the tank connectors are also John Guest fittings.
Use sharp wood bits to drill the plastic and drill it slowly. Use silicone sealer to seal the tank connectors into the lid. The taps are needed so you can shut off the flow of water to and from the reactor. The tap from the reactor back to the sump or aquarium is used to adjust the drip rate of water out of the reactor. The Eheim 1048 is used solely to mix the water in the reactor like a washing machine so to speak. The coil of soft flexible tubing delivering CO2 coiled inside the top of the reactor is there to facilitate the removal and refixing of the canister top.
You will also need another pump connector to fit into the bottom outlet of the canister to make a connection with a short piece of tubing to the pump. A hockey stick type rigid 12mm pipe is used to connect the pump to the top of the canister lid.
You can use many calcium medias the cheapest and very good is aragonite coral gravel by Bio Marine from the USA. I have to say that it all works exceedingly well and once set up cost very little to run and maintain.
I am sure it would be possible to convert some external power filters to make a calcium reactor along the lines of the one I have shown you here with just a little bit of thought and some DIY skills. I am not aware of anybody that has converted a power filter but I am sure somebody will have.
Study the diagram closely and familiar yourself with the various inputs, outputs, connections and parts before commencing any work. Do ensure all connections are made waterproof by using silicone to help seal bulkhead adaptors etc.
I hope the information will be of a great help to you.
Les Melling
http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/uploads/post-3-76635-Jpeg.jpg
Dear Interested DIY Calcium Reactor Builder,
I have enclosed a drawing of the calcium reactor and some details of the parts etc required. The dearest items are the gauges and the CO2 bottle. However you can get gauges from a welding suppliers and Machine Mart do a set for about £20 in the UK. You will need to get a needle valve fitting to adjust the flow of CO2 to the bubble reactor. Machine Mart doesn’t sell these but welding suppliers should be able too.
Gauges from aquarist shops etc cost about £70 so Machine Mart is a better bet. You will need some CO2 black flexible tubing. Bioplast do some if you can find a supplier. A bubble counter costs around £12 Aquamedic sell them. CO2 bottles can be bought from specialist fire extinguisher suppliers or they can be hired quite cheaply from people like Beermaster as supplied to pubs etc
The Eheim 2213 canister is available form Animal house in the UK. I hope they are available to those living outside the UK. I notice it is not advertised in their catalogue any more but as far as I am aware is still available and costs about £30 with lid etc. Note this is not a power filter but just the canister with a lid on. It also comes with a bottom strainer.
You will also need some RO tubing to take the supply of aquarium water to and from the reactor. You will need some John Guest tank connectors, which go on the lid of the canister that you have to drill to take them. Also you will need 2x1/4” in line taps by John Guest the tank connectors are also John Guest fittings.
Use sharp wood bits to drill the plastic and drill it slowly. Use silicone sealer to seal the tank connectors into the lid. The taps are needed so you can shut off the flow of water to and from the reactor. The tap from the reactor back to the sump or aquarium is used to adjust the drip rate of water out of the reactor. The Eheim 1048 is used solely to mix the water in the reactor like a washing machine so to speak. The coil of soft flexible tubing delivering CO2 coiled inside the top of the reactor is there to facilitate the removal and refixing of the canister top.
You will also need another pump connector to fit into the bottom outlet of the canister to make a connection with a short piece of tubing to the pump. A hockey stick type rigid 12mm pipe is used to connect the pump to the top of the canister lid.
You can use many calcium medias the cheapest and very good is aragonite coral gravel by Bio Marine from the USA. I have to say that it all works exceedingly well and once set up cost very little to run and maintain.
I am sure it would be possible to convert some external power filters to make a calcium reactor along the lines of the one I have shown you here with just a little bit of thought and some DIY skills. I am not aware of anybody that has converted a power filter but I am sure somebody will have.
Study the diagram closely and familiar yourself with the various inputs, outputs, connections and parts before commencing any work. Do ensure all connections are made waterproof by using silicone to help seal bulkhead adaptors etc.
I hope the information will be of a great help to you.
Les Melling
http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/uploads/post-3-76635-Jpeg.jpg