DIY calcium reactor

[FishOkay]

Could this work as a diy modular type calcium reactor. Modular in the sense you could just add an ro housing if I needed more capacity? Sorry for the bad drawing lol.

 

[cilyjr]

Yes and no. I wouldn't just tee off the CO2 like that. You will want to build in some recirculation.

I did something similar to this in the early 2000s. And ended up deciding it just didn't work as well. Here's a link to the thread I followed when I built it.

This is the op. Not my build.

$200, my day off, and my new diy calcium reactor! - Reef Central Online Community

$200, my day off, and my new diy calcium reactor! Do It Yourself

reefcentral.com

Here we go again, DIY Calcium Reactor - Reef Central Online Community

Here we go again, DIY Calcium Reactor Do It Yourself

reefcentral.com

 

[theatrus]

Second the recirculation - without some active mixing you'll just end up with a gas bubble and poor diffusion. Active mixing can be noisy depending on how much gas you're trying to push into the system as well.

 

[FishOkay]

Okay, thanks for the suggestions and I agree. What about this now with those additions? Does that look better.

 

[yury88]

Man, your schemes looks too professional to understand ^^
And you should check how brand models are made. Nothing really that you can add really.

But I your scheme you made some mistakes:
- Co2 goes through peristaltic pump. It high pressure and will explode the tubes in peristaltic.
- Problem with using RO housing with re-circulation- when calcium reactor works its produce small fraction(like sand) that are killing the pump. That's why it should have enough space for sand deposition. You can't just add pump without thinking of this, it will not survive.

 

[FishOkay]

Man, your schemes looks too professional to understand ^^
And you should check how brand models are made. Nothing really that you can add really.

But I your scheme you made some mistakes:
- Co2 goes through peristaltic pump. It high pressure and will explode the tubes in peristaltic.
- Problem with using RO housing with re-circulation- when calcium reactor works its produce small fraction(like sand) that are killing the pump. That's why it should have enough space for sand deposition. You can't just add pump without thinking of this, it will not survive.

Ah okay, so would injecting the co2 after the pump and having a non return after the pump but before the co2 resolve that possibly? But also if I was to change up the type of pump, not sure on the peristaltic pumps capability to do it. But I could potentially pressurise the whole system which may help in co2 and water mixing.

 

[yury88]

Ah okay, so would injecting the co2 after the pump and having a non return after the pump but before the co2 resolve that possibly? But also if I was to change up the type of pump, not sure on the peristaltic pumps capability to do it. But I could potentially pressurise the whole system which may help in co2 and water mixing.

CO2 and peristaltic lines should be separated.
Co2 injection is usually going directly to the recirculation pump.


Actually, you can just have a look at "how calcium reactors work" on Google.
There's a lot of ready-to-go schemes there.
But if you never had a CA before, you should be aware that without a proper automatic with a PH sensor, it will be super unstable.
I recommend you think about balling and/or limewater dosing; it's much easier to build than a calcium reactor.

 

[cilyjr]

Check the threads I posted. This has been done. You can follow those directions.