My first DIY Ca ractor is taking shape

[eleyan]

Check it out, my first Ca reactor project just passed the leak test. Thanks to reefer for donating the acrylic pipe for the ractor chamber and to all of you for your helpfull info. I ended up surveying some different designs and building something that fit under my tank. Next is getting the CO2 equipment (if anyone has anything FS/FT check out my post in the wanted section)

I guess I'll be taking orders for building reactors soon :) LOL

Thanks

[samiam_orami]

That is so COOL ...
I'm inspired !!!

[matt]

Looks good! I use those 3 way elbows as a convenient way of plumbing in the CO2 input, too. I'm curious about how you attached the PVC fittings to your flanges, and how you bonded the acrylic tube to the PVC flange.

[reefguy]

How did you do that and how much did it cost you? Thats awesome and if its cheap enough, I'll build one for my tank!

[StephenA]

That Looks Great. Looks like the ones in the store. How much do you have in it?

[reefer]

looks great! btw.... i'm curious too..... how did you bond the acrylic to the pvc?
8)

[eleyan]

Ok, The total cost is:

Acrylic pipe -- free from reefer otherwise I think $50-$60
end caps -- $6 each
3/4 pvc pipe -- $1
different pvc fittings -- average $0.5 each needed about 10
via aqua pump -- $12 from drsfostersmith
pvc cement and primer -- $5
easy release fittings for effluent and will need one for CO2 soon -- $2-$3 each
to see it running with no leaks -- priceless

so total cost if you were to buy the acrylic pipe yourself would be around $100. If you use a regular 4" or 4.5" PVC pipe you can probably save $40.
I used regular PVC cement to hold everything. I've read on some DIY sites that you can use special acrylic cement, but they said that using the regular PVC cement is also fine. On the fittings to the pump I used the thread tape (I'm not sure if that is the technical name for it, but its the white tape you wrap arround threads). The only thing I ended up tapping and threadding is the effluent fitting on the top which is one of those easy release fitting like the ones on water fillters. I also drilled holes in the caps for the bulkheads for the pump and used PVC cement there too.
You guys are welcome to stop by and see it.

[matt]

Might want to keep your eye on the acrylic/pvc joint. PVC cement is definitely not designed to bond to acrylic. Maybe it will work; hope so. It's methyl ethyl ketone, or something like that. Acrylic solvent is methylene chloride, or something like that. If you have problems with it in the future, weldon #40 is designed exactly for that; bonding pvc to acrylic.

Also, an alternative to tapping and threading the effluent output would be to drill a larger hole in the endcap, then use PVC cement to glue in a 1/2"slip by 1/4" thread bushing.

You're gonna feel great when you get it up and running, and your tank CA and Alk levels are perfect!

[eleyan]

Thanks Matt, I'll keep an eye on it.

[matt]

Oh yeah, I thought of something else. (Great, you say...) If your effluent output is at the highest point in the reactor tube, that's exactly where CO2 will accumulate, and get sent directly to your tank if the effluent output is there. To correct it, you can cement a short PVC "collar" to the inside of your lid, right around the hole for the effluent. This way, the effeluent will get drawn from an inch or so below the top. The CO2 will collect around it, but not get drawn into the effluent output. I can't see from your photo if you've already got this or not.

Matt

[reefer]

i'm glad that piece of acrylic went to a good cause 8)

and if ya want..... i just found another 6" length of 4" acrylic tube laying around (i'm moving at the moment, i finding everything i've misplaced over the last few years of living here.... haha) .... if ya want it... you can have it also ;) maybe you could make yourself a small 2nd reaction chamber or waste contianer!

[eleyan]

reffer, that would be great. I'll PM you.

Matt, Thanks for the pointer about the co2 accumelation. I do have it at the highest point, so I need to add the PVC elbow like you suggested.

Thanks

[matt]

Not an elbow. Just a short collar; cut an inch or so of PVC pipe, and glue it in on the inside of your lid, surrounding the the hole.

[eleyan]

The hole I drilled is in the side of the lid, so I need the elbow to get some depth

[matt]

I.C.... Yep, you're right.