CA Reactor plans

I'm looking for a good CA reactor plan. I have most of the tools needed (if not it's the perfect excuse to go out and get some new tools , and I've been told that I'm somewhat handy...so why not try building my own and learn something in the process, right?

thanks

 

Google

Does that help any?

I see used ones without Co2 tanks for around $150 on craigslist and RC often . . . it might be cheaper to go that route.

~Will.

 

Thanks, I'll have to check craigslist...you're right, if I can find a cheap one it will save me a lot of time.

I know someone that recently got out of the hobby, he had a reactor on his 125 and selling me the entire setup for $300, it's about 8 yrs old.

I don't know anything about CA Reactors, do these things wear out over time?
What should I be checking on a used reactor?

thanks

 

the media needs to be changed periodically, and I think the Co2 tanks have an expiration date of 5 years. check the date on the tank to make sure its still good.

~Will.

 

I picked up a used Korallin C-1502 reactor. I got the entire kit for $300, including a full C02 tank...see pic below. Anyone know where I can find some good instructions on setting up this thing?



Here are a few updated pics of my tank...playing around with the camera.

 

I setup the korallin c1500 CA reactor, I using CaribSea course media. Per directions I set the regulator to 10 bubbles/minute and ~40 drops of effulent/minute.

Questions:
1) It's been running for 4 days now and my pH doesn't seem to go above 8.0 (when I was dripping kalk it was at 8.2), what should I do?

2) The effulent coming out of the reactor is clear, is this normal?

3) With each bubble of the bubble counter, the CO2 is sucked into the CA pump, it makes a sound similar to if you drip water onto a hot surface, is this how this stuff works or is this a sign that the C02 is escaping?

I will test my other parms when the lights come on in a few hrs and post the results.

 

Did you see this DIY calcium reactor thread?
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/coveys-calcium-reactor-34935.html

I always thought that was a cool one. There is another one in the sticky at top of this board index too.

 

The tanks don't have an expiriation date, per say. More like a re check date for pressure and structural strength.

Every 5 years the tank needs to be tested.

 

Well, one issue many Ca reactors create is a lower ph than you had previously. To that brand of reactor, adding a second chamber to keep the effluent ph higher bu reclaiming all the CO2 let out will alleviate that issue. Excess unused CO2 will lower ph. Otherwise, buy/ make a kalk reactor. The kalk will raise the ph. At bare minimum, do as I do and add kalk to your top off water reservoir. But the brand of reactor I have is very efficient on CO2, and as such does not really lower the ph in the tank.

 

Thanks Korkn. I was trying to get out of the Kalk business, I've been dripping kalk for over a year now...it worked great, I got really good coral growth but I just got tired of mixing it and messing around with the powder everyweek so I decided to get a CA reactor...I don't want to have to deal with both a CA reactor and Kalk so I'll have to play around with the reactor a bit to get it working correctly....I'm looking for a "set it and forget it" for at least a few months before having to tinker around with it again. I know, every once in a while I expect CO2 to build up in the changer and I'll have to release it.