Lets see your DIY Calcium Reactor!

[Ratherbeflyen]

I'm thinking about building my own calcium reactor and looking for some inspiration from those that have come before me.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Mine is a Schuran style one with the addition of a float switch to be fully automatic. The project is on a pause for a vacation, but will resume in early March. You can see the thread outlining my ideas at DIY (Schuran) Jetstream stlye automatic Calcium Reactor

Here is a mock up of the parts to show the basic flow pattern (some of the fittings have been since replaced in later updates).

One of the changes, is a move to all SCH 80 parts for the body and using flanges.

 

[mmcjcc]

I built this reactor last year. It's been working pretty well so far.

 

[mmcjcc]

I built this reactor last year. It's been working pretty well so far.

Here it is 1 year later. I originally didn't have it hooked to my Apex for PH control, which was a mistake. As a result, it has likely used more media than it should have during this period. Now that I have it tuned in, I'm pretty happy with the performance, especially for the $300 or so I spent to build it.

 

[Vette67]

Here’s mine. Been up and running for 20 years or more. My original reaction chamber, with the media in it, cracked 10 years or so ago, so a friend of mine that is good with acrylics built that for me. Other than that, it’s all run on the Iwaki recirculation pump that is probably 20 years old as well. It’s not too pretty, but it works...

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Here it is 1 year later. I originally didn't have it hooked to my Apex for PH control, which was a mistake. As a result, it has likely used more media than it should have during this period. Now that I have it tuned in, I'm pretty happy with the performance, especially for the $300 or so I spent to build it.

That is a huge reactor. How big is your tank?

 

[GoVols]

@Ratherbeflyen

Super cool thread!!

 

[mmcjcc]

That is a huge reactor. How big is your tank?

Yeah, the reactor is overkill. The display tank is 300 gallons, but I figured I had the room for a large reactor for adding on more grow out tanks at some point. I have a fish room below the display in the basement, so space was not an issue. It was a fun project.

I'll add that building a reactor is fairly easy if you have some basic plumbing skills. It won't be as pretty as a commercial reactor (well mine is not for sure), but will likely work almost as well. The most expensive part of course is the clear tubing and the pump. I already had the co2 reg and tank from a smaller reactor that I had.

One thing that I would like to add at some point is a peristaltic pump to pull water through the reactor. I have a fear that the output line could potentially get clogged, resulting in a pressure build up in the reactor. I'm not sure how well it would hold up to any sort of pressure without leaking. I have a Apex leak detector under it to at least alert me if something goes wrong with it, along with a needle value on the inlet side to control the flow through the reactor.