MY DIY Ca Reactor Build Thread :) Lots of pics

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 03:23 PM

So I have decided to build my own Ca reactor.

Planning 2 6" chamber 18" tall.

Mag 2 pump.

Here are the prelimiary drawings and blue prints....

More to come

LOT OF PICS.....

manufacturing prints as PDF's below..

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 03:25 PM

Pics

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 03:26 PM

more pics

(I love pics)

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 03:32 PM

Right now I'm still planning and gathering materials...
Plan to start building in a week or two.
I will CNC machine all componets for a precision fit.
basically a standard Ca reactor
6" x 18" chambers
main chamber down flow
second chamber up flow
I will probally just buy a bubble counter since there so cheap now.
CO2 will be injected before the recirc pump.
PH probe in second chamber controlling the reg. seleniod.

Sand $ · 04-03-2008, 03:41 PM

WOW! very impressive. Did you do a cost comparison build vs. buy?

Steelhead · 04-03-2008, 03:48 PM

You Gotta Love Solid Works.

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelhead

You Gotta Love Solid Works.

yep!!!

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sand $

WOW! very impressive. Did you do a cost comparison build vs. buy?

well buying a decent one thats dual 6x 18" is 250.00-300.00 minus hardware. the cost on mine will be roughly $70

monkeyreefer · 04-03-2008, 06:03 PM

feel like building 2? i want to get mine out of the sump.

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyreefer

feel like building 2? i want to get mine out of the sump.

Lets see how the first goes...

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 06:49 PM

More specifics on the reactor:

the base will be grooved .125" by .187 deep so that the chambers recess 1/2 way thru the base weldon will be used. the media base riser will slip into each chamber and the drilled media base will fit ontop osfthat. again all glued with weldon. the top plate will be a reverse of the base with 8" circles on 7" center to center. The top plate will have 10 3/8"-25 tapped holes on a 7" bolt circle. Either nylon or stainless bolts will be threaded into the top plate. the cap are just 8" x 3/8" black acrylic. with slightly larger than 3/8' holes on a 7" bolt circle. there will be a .125 wide by .090" deep groove on this peice for a o-ring that will keep them water tight. Wing nuts will hold the cap on. I may also tap the cap for a bleeder valve to let out trapped air.

As far as plumbing and fittings. I will use 1/2" pvc from pump to chamber and chamber to chamber. By drilling the acrylic and using glue...

Tasher80 · 04-03-2008, 07:22 PM

You said the PH probe will be in the second chamber. You should really put the PH probe BETWEEN chamber one and chamber 2. You should either drill a hole in the top of chamber 1 and use one of the marine things (I will try to find a link) or make a T adapter between chamber 1 and 2. If you put the probe in chamber 2 then you won't be able to read the PH correctly since it will take longer for the PH to stabalize in chamber 2.

Tasher80 · 04-03-2008, 07:31 PM

I I stole this pic from TDWYATT's thread. I hope he doesn't mind. This is the T adapter I was talking about.

ckusnierek · 04-03-2008, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the info!
I really dont know all that much about the specifics about the plumbing and hard ware and such. I've done alot of research about the physical reactor chambers. I'm sure I will be needing alot more advice once I get the plastics machined and assembled...

aquawolf · 04-03-2008, 08:28 PM

This sounds like a really cool project. I will be tagging along to see how it turns out. Who knows, you might find yourself needing to make 50 of them.