Rikerbear
Valuable Member
I was doing my regular evening net surfing when I happened upon a DIY reactor using PVC pipes and parts. I took their idea and modified it for my needs and based on the parts I could find.
My IM Nuvo 16 gal nano has a very small area that I can use for a reactor....the one sold by IM is just to expensive for my budget(save money on equipment spend more on critters is my moto)
I used a 3 in diameter pipe, end cap (drilled for pump) - hot glued a pump intake filter inside the end cap over the hole - now when I plug the pump into that hole it is covered by the filter, thus keeping any carbon , gfo, or whatever media used from backing up into the pump.
On the top end of the pipe I cemented on a plug/cover with a 1/2'' female threaded end....to that I screwed in a 1/2" to 1/4" reducer...cemented in a small piece of 1/4" pvc...and elbow...another short piece of 1/4" pvc....another elbow...and the final piece of 1/4" (Didn't get a pic of the top cap....but can post one if needed)
The main drawback is not being able to see the media tumble, but I can certainly hear it and it sounds very active :wink:
I am using a 260 gph rio and filled the main pipe up 1/3 of the way with GFO....cut a small 3/4" poly fiber circle and stuffed it in the pipe to keep media out of the tank.
I cable tied the pump cord to the body to help hold it in place and keep the pump from slipping out of its hole on the bottom.
Slipped it into place and plugged it in.
To replace media all I have to do is snip the cable tie, pop the end cap off, clean, add new media, pop it back together and set it back in the sump.
Total cost (not counting the Rio pump) $7.....and I have enough left over to build another for carbon.
I may pull it out and shorten the body by a couple inches....it is sitting a bit higher in the sump than I like
My IM Nuvo 16 gal nano has a very small area that I can use for a reactor....the one sold by IM is just to expensive for my budget(save money on equipment spend more on critters is my moto)
I used a 3 in diameter pipe, end cap (drilled for pump) - hot glued a pump intake filter inside the end cap over the hole - now when I plug the pump into that hole it is covered by the filter, thus keeping any carbon , gfo, or whatever media used from backing up into the pump.
On the top end of the pipe I cemented on a plug/cover with a 1/2'' female threaded end....to that I screwed in a 1/2" to 1/4" reducer...cemented in a small piece of 1/4" pvc...and elbow...another short piece of 1/4" pvc....another elbow...and the final piece of 1/4" (Didn't get a pic of the top cap....but can post one if needed)
The main drawback is not being able to see the media tumble, but I can certainly hear it and it sounds very active :wink:
I am using a 260 gph rio and filled the main pipe up 1/3 of the way with GFO....cut a small 3/4" poly fiber circle and stuffed it in the pipe to keep media out of the tank.
I cable tied the pump cord to the body to help hold it in place and keep the pump from slipping out of its hole on the bottom.
Slipped it into place and plugged it in.
To replace media all I have to do is snip the cable tie, pop the end cap off, clean, add new media, pop it back together and set it back in the sump.
Total cost (not counting the Rio pump) $7.....and I have enough left over to build another for carbon.
I may pull it out and shorten the body by a couple inches....it is sitting a bit higher in the sump than I like
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