Dual Pellet Reactor

[BIGBIRD123]

Well, I am working on a dual pellet reactor to make it work in limited space. it will be run by an Eheim 1262 pump directly into the skimmer. I want to determine if this process will need to have a co2 scrubber or not.

Dual reactor in production...

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/020-4.jpg

[2Quills]

Tagging along...

Looks like a good project. Sorry I don't have any input on the co2 scrubber. Is the skimmer going to be plumbed on the intake or output side of the reactor?

[BIGBIRD123]

The reactor will be fed from the eheim and the out-put directly into the skimmer

[Europhyllia]

aren't you dripping kalk? I bet the kalk will be sufficient

[BIGBIRD123]

Every other day...just want to make sure the ph stays stable...

[ErikH]

Great job dude! It looks very nice. Are they both for pellets?

[txg8gxp]

Looks good...

[BIGBIRD123]

Yes, I will use both for pellets. I can use the same amount of pellets as a larger reactor but give them more room to get fluidized. I am trying to fix some of the problems others have had with either not enough flow or too much. This is an experiment...just a concept I have...

[ErikH]

That's a good idea! What sized fittings are you going to use? What sized pump?

[Europhyllia]

As far as flow goes and problems I got some good input from Dave at Nextreef. Some of it just takes time (like the pellets tend to get super gunky at first and that clogs up stuff fast; if you can shake them down in the early days you will be surprised how easy they tumble even when you have a bunch of pellets a few weeks into it)
Looks like a great project.
Here's my thoughts on the CO2 scrubber: it takes the CO2 out of the air. It helps because you are not adding more CO2 to your water (Often indoors CO2 levels are way higher than normal because we keep windows closed, etc. to preserve AC) but it doesn't really remove the excess CO2 that the bacteria create and release into the water. I think the kalk is probably much more efficient at getting rid of that.
Depending on your nutrient input (a lot for me :D) you still might be dragging towards the lower end of acceptable but with the kalk keeping alkalinity decent even a lower pH should be fine (I know you've already seen the Randy Holmes Farley article on low pH or I'd link it ... again lol)
I am dripping kalk every night using my RKL controller. When pH drops the kalk goes on. Easy enough.
I think it will really depend on how much nutrients your bacteria have to convert. In my case I really need to drip every night (and still supplement some with two part so it's not like it's resulting in excess alkalinity or calcium so it's all good)

[BIGBIRD123]

I am using 5/8" ID acrylic piping with 3/4" fittings. I am using an Eheim 1262 (900 gph) on a "T" with a ball valve. With the head pressure from the T and 90's, it should generate about 350 gph to each chamber, which has been the consensus amount of flow. If it is too much, I can valve it down. I agree with the kalk Karin but it works better to maintain alk/cal/ph levels after you have achieved the desired levels. I am looking forward to low nutrient levels to combat the ulva outbreak. I can't get any of my fish to eat it.

[Gseclipse02]

. I can't get any of my fish to eat it.

bring some in and ill see what i can get to eat it

[BIGBIRD123]

Ordered my pellets tonight, looking forward to getting this going. I will leave my fuge running for at least 2 more weeks to not shock my system.

[txg8gxp]

Cool, I think you will like the results.

[BIGBIRD123]

Here are some more pix of the reactor...

water test
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/004-13.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/005-10.jpg

completed with the feed tubes removed and no barb fittings
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/007-11.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/009-6.jpg

I have also figured out what to do to keep the ph up.

[txg8gxp]

Looks great. Man, I need some more tools......

[BIGBIRD123]

I am building a large one too for the upgrade and have the modded TLF for my frag tank...

[Big_Pun]

you know steve i never had a problem with my ph dropping, i have my outlet tube directly infront of my skimmer pump. skimmer did start producing heavy milky skim as soon as the pellets starting kicking in, i had to empty it daily

[BIGBIRD123]

you know steve i never had a problem with my ph dropping, i have my outlet tube directly infront of my skimmer pump. skimmer did start producing heavy milky skim as soon as the pellets starting kicking in, i had to empty it daily

I understand but most reports claim to have ph problems early on and even a co2 problem to the extreme of having fish die...

[fishypets]

Any updates on this project?

[hobogato]

the original poster has been banned. therefore, this thread is now closed as he can not update it.