Trying a new Calcium Reactor design

[newtosa]

I built one of JimD's kalkreactors last month, but I haven't hooked it up yet. I took pics, and I'll post them when I move to the new tank (I'm transferring a 75g full of too much stuff to a 150g in the next few weeks). Getting the "KalkTower" hooked up will be one of my first goals for the new tank. In typical fashion, I over-built this thing, and it is literally as tall as I am. :-o

Anyway, as soon as that one is up & running, I'm adding a CaCO3 reactor. Many of you know I was after the one Troy V. has now - we'll all miss shopping at Vinh-Mart.... After 3 or 4 months of obsessive reading, I've mustered the confidence to DIY one. This one is pretty much the opposite of my KalkTower: small footprint, small re-circ pump, and pretty short as Ca reactors go. Here it is:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144438
I couldn't be happier that this one is square instead of cylindrical, and the materials will be a fraction of the cost as a result.

Henry - I noticed you on RC asking about this one. You want to get together and build a couple? Anyone else who wants to try this one is welcome to join us. And Troy can stand around and laugh at us as we try to build what he's been so happy about this week.

Dean

[Chris]

Hey Dean,

If possible keep us updated on your costs.

I'd like to see a finished product and your review once you get it running.

Chris 8)

[Tim Marvin]

I wonder if having the corners will cause it to have circulation dead spots? I also wonder if this will be bad for CO2 build up? The build up can cause the media to break down too fast. Keep us posted....

[Jeff Post]

The design has a CO2 recycle hose that prevent CO2 buildup at top of the unit.

[matt]

I followed this thread on reefcentral too. After taking the DIY calcium reactor MACO course, I'd offer the following unsolicited advice!

1. Use 3/8" cast acrylic, NOT extruded. Cyro GP would be the best, probably. Use 3/8" because the square design is not nearly as strong as a cast tube would be, and 1/4" might cause problems down the road.

I would also consider reinforcing your seams with weldon 40; that's the 2 part stuff. If you just use weldon 4, make sure your edges are as close to perfect as you can get them. (i.e. router/shaper finish) Use .001 steel wire as a spacer to get a good flow of weldon in the joint.

2. Go a bit higher in your circulation pump than you would; maybe a little giant or iwaki; something that will really keep water moving to avoid dead spots.

3. Please let me know how it works out. We actually discussed this design during one of the MACO chats as part of the course. The instructor, who's been designing and building reactors for many years, thought that the square design was risky due to the pressure that can build up in a calcium reactor. I know, theoretically there's no pressure, because the in/out flow is the same, but it does happen; maybe the C02 gets a little high, something gets clogged, etc....

Good luck. My reactor is finished; I'm just waiting on the pump which I ordered about 10000 years ago, it seems.

Matt