A new Ca reactor

[Tomoko Schum]

Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me :violin:

I got a new calcium reactor for my birthday!

 

[JSB]

Happy Birthday! Did you give up on your other one? I thought your regulator was the issue.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

The old one is fine except that it is difficult to open. It's a DIY reactor converted from a large whole house filter. I cannot open it myself to add more media after 6 months of use despite the big wrench that came with it (and a few choice words to go along with it.) I always have to bother Reilly to get it open. So, Reilly gave me the new calcium reactor.

The problem with my old system turned out to be the combination of Swegelok's low pressure metering valve and a needle valve for the effluent flow control. Replacing the old regulator did not change anything unfortunately. I got them working okay now.

I also got the feeling that not all coarse media are made equal. The problem started happening actually when I switched the media last time. The current media seems to dissolve much faster than the previous media (different brand), making the effluent more concentrated with the same bubble rate.

 

[JSB]

Well, congrats, and Happy Birthday again. That looks like a nice unit. For me though, I would have to add an auxiliary stand to fit something like that on my tank. Honestly, having no place to put it is the only thing keeping me from adding one. I'm envious.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thanks. As organized as you are, your real estate under the tank is quite limited to squeeze anything into it. I have a taller, skinny calcium reactor sitting in my attic. I wonder if you have enough space even for something like that or a small Korallin system. You may need to hide a 10 lbs CO2 cylinder somewhere like behind the stand.

 

[JSB]

I think, by removing my dosing pumps, and possibly moving my LED driver behind the stand I can get a reactor in there, but a 10# CO2 bottle is simply a non-starter. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a regulator with a solenoid that will fit my paintball CO2 bottles that I use for my mini-kegging system. The regulator I have for those bottles is strictly manual. I would have to change out the bottle more often, by I could simply set an alarm on my controller to notify me when the pH went up in the chamber. and with small bottles like those, it is easy to keep a spare or two on hand.

I have considered a new larger stand to house this stuff, but that means a larger tank, and more lights and more rock, and more animals, etc. (Or I would use it as an excuse, anyway).

 

[Chameleon]

nice reactor! hope it works well for you

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thanks, Cameleon.

Scott -

There are a few regulators with solenoid valves available for a paintball cylinder as you may know well.

 

[pickupman66]

Looks nice Tomoko. Ive heard good things on those. hope you enjoy it.

make sure to get some of the ARM media. I prefer the larger chunks. And once you get one media. stick to it. as you said. some dissolve faster. I noticed that on mine so instead of changing the drip rate, I just upped the set point on my controller. my reactor sits right around 7.0 ph. with a steady stream output this works great for my tank currently. if I need more, I can increase teh flow just a but or lower the set point a touch.

 

[JSB]

Thanks, Cameleon.

Scott -

There are a few regulators with solenoid valves available for a paintball cylinder as you may know well.

i thought I posted this earlier, but it is not here now. Hmmmm!

So, Tomoko, do you have a link to any of these solenoid regulators as I have not stumbled across one.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Here's a link for one: Dual CO2 Regulator & Needle Valve & Solenoid For Paintball | ThatPetPlace.com

By the way, thank you for the PM. I did not even know that the helicoptors were above us although I heard about the escapees in the morning.

Pickupman -

Coarse ARM was what I was using and then switched to ReBorn by Two Little Fishies. The ReBorn seems to dissolve very fast.

 

[JSB]

Thanks, Tomoko. Now that I see that, it appears that I was not looking for the right thing, well not using the right language anyway.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I suppose that you are going to use a pH monitor and let your controller control the dosing.

 

[JSB]

Yes. I already have the extra probe, but I will have to give up my ORP. I don't use ORP for ozone dosing or anything but an overall indication of water quality, so it won't be missed much. I do like seeing the high numbers though.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Which controller are you using?

 

[JSB]

Neptune APEX.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

My new Ca reactor is working great so far.

Anybody interested in a DIY calcium reactor that was converted from a large whole house filter. It works great. It holds enough media for over 200 gallon tank. I am asking for $50.

Since it's just a reactor portion of the system, you will need a small external pump such as MagDrive 2 or Eheim 1048 and a CO2 set-up.