DIY Phos reactor

Does anyone have any pics, I'm thinking of making one myself.
I read an artice that someone used an empty RO Housing and a refillable housing for their phos reactor do you think that would work? like what is attached

Refillable cannister 10"-Clear

Clear 10" x 1/4" Housing with Cap

Any feed back would be great.

Dustin

 

Here is a pic of my old phos reactor:


The trick is to get the feed to the bottom where there is that diffuser then pull it out from the top. You might be able to do it with that second one you posted.

 

FYI - These reactors are cheap (<$40) - may be worth just buying one:
Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor 150 (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Filters > Inline/ Specialty > Phosphate Reactors )

But it you feel like building something, I know that feeling.

 

I wonder if you can take that idea and make a mini de-nitrator with it? Luna

 

I have a 2in acrylic one right now setting on a counter if interested I'll send it to you for cost materials only about 50.00 my first or second attempt until I got them figured out but one day I had a idea dig out a old 29.00 red sea fluidized bed filter and use that ! worked better and no hassles at all then Phosban brought out one 30.00 or so .. So I'd suggest you do yourself a favor and buy one , Like I's tell anyone if you need a plan you really don't understand the technology or mechanics and its an expensive learning curve , I knew how they worked and wound up with a old bed filter .. Reinventing the wheel is not that difficult to do but how much will it cost in $$$ let alone the time and frustration . I'm not trying to discourage anyone but its a case of simple economics to me..

But with what you have posted thats 25.00 plus dollars then you have to construct a diffuser to keep the media in a fluidized state that Polymer canister won't do if you allow ferric oxide to settle down it turns to a solid block of rusted iron . But time you get the proper adapters another 10.00 and then to a pump adapter of some sort say 5.00 and then can you regulate the proper flow rates ?

Like people building a skimmer sure they can and do but at what cost to say hey I made this ? Its not as good as the one I had before But I made it.. Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to sound like a smart A$$ at all But for 30.00 or so the parts will cost you more . And I see this more then you'd think . But hey this is just free advice .. keep us posted

 

Hey Tangster, a 2" H de-nitrater? Isnt that a little small? Luna

 

I fed mine from the bottom . Mine will work great with Phosguard but ferric oxide is a horse of a different color that can have no bypass or dead spots or it will settle out and set up like steel.. What do you use now Matt if thats your old one . Wanna sell it ? Let me know my son just asked me about one a little bit ago ..

 

I started making then from 1.5 ABS and 18 " high then I went to 2 inch for many yrs and then simple for the ease if inserting the coil with in the chamber I went to 3 inch . But 1.5 is fine Its like with De-nitritifying bacteria in a aquarium the system only will produce so many space or surface area is never a issue and they are so little that a million could set on the head of a pin.. Not to mention all the surface area with in that chamber of the 1.5 pipe chamber .. The all the surface area of the coiled tubing as and then few bio balls or old fishing line to old bottle caps thats plenty large .. I made one for Guy I work for a doubter and Biologist on a 1400 gal system they had a huge NO3 problem .. I offered to make one all I got was No they don't work and they are always stopping up. Well they could not get them under control added a diastolic doser to add Vodka ( Until about totally wiped them out , I made a 3 inch coil 22 inch tall with the stuff inside I got a hell we'll need 10 of them that sized .

Well with in a month he came and said he the NO3's are coming down at 65 ppm now then the next trip 2 weeks later down to 30ppm and with in 3 month totally gone zip 0 no NO3 to be found .. I asked you still want 10 IN one 5 ft tall ? LOL My son in Lay ran a 1.5 inch one for 9 yrs on this very 180 well water loaded and never any NO'3 to be found.. People just over think it and over do it.. Mine is a older 2in less high then a 40 breeder by 4 inches ? never any NO3

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I was just kicking around the idea of making 3 phos reactors, one for each of my three tanks. I thought if I could put charcoal between the cannister and the 10" housing. Then put the ferric oxide inside the cannister, with a flow of 100gph to keep the ferric oxide suspended in the cannister.

Trying to find a cheap way to incorporate charcoal filtration and a phos reactor, not necessarily in the same unit. Just tried to go cheaper than $40 x 3. Any other cheap suggestions, my ears are open.

Thanks,
Dustin

 

why not just take a 1.5' section of 4" pvc and slap 2 end caps on it. then put an in with a tube to the bottom and an out at the top and fill it full of carbon. then just gravity feed it and let it spill into a sump?