Calcium reactor in basement???

[brandon0921]

Im struggling to keep up dosing 2 part these days, but also completely tapped out on cabinet space under my Reefer 350. I already have an easy avenue to the basement which is where I top off from and I'm wondering if I run a calcium reactor from the basement, will it have the head height to return water back into the sump approximately 10-15' above? Just in the planning stages and I dont have any particular brands in mind, I'm sure the answer varies between products. Thanks in advance for the help, couldn't find much on this searching around.

 

[Doctorgori]

mind sharing posting a wider view? Heck that cabinet is sharp anyway ...

who made that roller gizmo?
Pardon the deviation....

 

[brandon0921]

mind sharing posting a wider view? Heck that cabinet is sharp anyway ...

who made that roller gizmo?
Pardon the deviation....

The roller is a Clarisea sk-5000. Here are some additional pictures

 

[Snoopy 67]

I see no problems as long as you include the use a Masterflex pump. Anything else IMHO would be a waste of time.

 

[brandon0921]

I see no problems as long as you include the use a Masterflex pump. Anything else IMHO would be a waste of time.

How about a Versa? They have a listed head height of 18', not sure how much gets lost going through the reactor, but I only have 10' or so to push.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Too new for me. Masterflex is a proven commercial unit that a lot of reefers use.

 

[jda]

CaRx is a closed system, so no head pressure at all, just pipe friction. Basement CaRx should be fine.

Masterflex is nice, but not necessary at all. Plenty of successful setups without one, including all three of mine.

 

[ca1ore]

Yup, no head differential, just friction. Putting a CaRx below the sump will generate a little additional pressure in the chambers, so keep an eye out for leaks. That additional pressure will help to dissolve the CO2.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Most OEM pumps on CA reactors can’t move water that distance. You’ll need to modify

 

[polleke]

Hi, please be careful, you are putting a significant amount of pressure on you reactor.
I am not sure if they are designed for that.

 

[catalystNfacade]

The roller is a Clarisea sk-5000. Here are some additional pictures

Is that the button switch thing from Etsy? Sorry for not knowing the technical name. How's it work? More importantly how do you install it? Also, what's the timer below it for? And sorry for not being about your post....just joined the Neptune apex folks and am finding it fun. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[jda]

There is not going to be much pressure of a few ounces of water in a closed system in airline tube. Any pressure will be ever-so slight.

It has been somewhat commonly understood that pressurized CaRx will melt media better - it is actual science and has been in every reefing book that I can remember back to the 1980s. However, Dr. Holmes-Farley posted a while back that he doubted that the benefits were worth worrying about under the small amounts of pressure that we could apply - this was just his anecdotal opinon, but I take these things seriously since his anecdotes are not just strewn about carelessly. In any case, just count any pressure as a very slight positive and move forward without thinking about it too much.

 

[DCR]

There is not going to be much pressure of a few ounces of water in a closed system in airline tube. Any pressure will be ever-so slight.

I really appreciate and respect your knowledge and contribution to this site, but I don't think you are looking at this correctly. Unless he puts another sump down in the basement to serve as an air break, the CaRx is going to be exposed to the full head pressure of the liquid lines feeding it and/or returning upstairs. That is likely to be about 9-10 ft or about 4 psig. It may still be OK, but I would be concerned about the flat flanged head and the gasket/o-ring on the top of the reactor at those pressures.