impur Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Currently i run GFO and GAC in a mesh bag inside a HOB filter on my sump. The water splashing is relatively loud, so i decided to build a reactor that would be more efficient and quieter. Total cost so far is about $30 and I have enough materials to make 2 of these. I don't plan on more than 10 bucks for additional plumbing parts. Here is what i came up with Parts: 3" acrylic tube Weldon #17 3" PVC slipXthread 3" PVC threaded plug some scrap 1/4" acrylic I didn't like how tall the PVC slipXthread fitting was, so i cut it down on the slip side leaving about 1/4" for the acrylic tube to connect to. I glued the other end to the scrap acrylic and plan to mold that into a hanger The first time i glued the tube to the top was my first attempt at gluing acrylic. It had some leaks, so i went around the outside to try and fill in those holes. I had to do that part twice, but finally its leak free All glued up minus the standpipe and in/out plumbing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 I plan to make a diffuser plate like i did on my CA reactor to help disperse the water coming in and keep it from channeling thru the media You can see the diffuser plate i made here. Its a PVC reducer with a bunch of holes drilled in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Very nice. Are you going to start selling these? dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Need a top and bottom diffuser plate and some generic foam, I think premiumaquatics has the tap in bulkheads with barbs. Looks good. We need to hook up, two weeks till I leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Nah i won't be selling them. I will eventually have 2 cubes so 1 for each. Either that or Nyles gets the other one when i'm done since we talked about it previously. Nyles - yah i had thought about have 2 diffuser plates. Shouldn't be a problem. I could even make them out of a couple layers of gutterguard. I think i'll just use CPVC for the bulkheads to keep costs down. Will work just as nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I would but some HYDOR style foam. Should work better, you will be amazed it what phosban can get through, guarantee it can get through gutterguard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 good job miles! Looking forward to the finished product. I just bought a reactor from 2 little fishies. Haven't hooked it up yet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thanks! I'll be finishing it up this weekend and will get more pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Next step...DIY All in one cube!!! Like the Red Sea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 LOL just maybe!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Looks nice, Miles. I would probably use an electric drill, instead of the corkscew tool on on your Victornoix knife, but maybe that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 No wonder it was taking so long! DOH! I'm off to Jerry's today to get the plumbing and finish it up, i hope. I'll have more pics too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Snorkelwasp Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 cant you just get a 2 little fishes reactor ready to go for like 30-35 bucks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 New they are around 40+ shipping and you still need a pump. I will have made 2 for under 40. Plus I have enough weldon 16 to build whatever i want out of 2 sheets of acrylic i've had forever. Not to mention I enjoy doing this type of thing. So the value is much much more to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 20, 2008 Author Share Posted April 20, 2008 Well i hit up HD today and found just what i need. It wasn't what i was expecting, but ended up much better! i had hoped to find a reducer coupling that would go from 1.5" to 3" and i could cut off part of it to match the ID of the reactory. Then i would drill a ton of holes in it, and i would have to reduce the 1.5" side to 1/2 as well. Anyway here is what i came up with. All told i will be making 2 of these for $46 and some change. Not bad IMO. Funny how the most unlikely thing works perfectly Plastic sink strainer 1/2 hole in the middle 1/2 CPVC male adaptor backside with locknut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 20, 2008 Author Share Posted April 20, 2008 Perfect fit A little crooked but you get the picture Bulkheads. I'll glue these in with weldon I just need to get a couple feet of cpvc. HD only sells it in 10 footers. I only need 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Well look at that. Fits perfectly. You gonna use 2 strainers per reactor, correct? One where you have it now and one for the top to hold the 2nd sponge. Wait...hold on, i'm confused. Which is the top and which is the bottom again? Is the one with the acrylic sheet the top? Are you planning on cutting it down? Now what pump are you gonna use to run it? Gonna split off the return pump? What about a ball valve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 Yah, who woulda thunk it. (laugh) The acrylic sheet is the top, that will be formed into a hanger. I will use 2 strainers per reactor to form a type of basket. I won't cut this one down, but i might cut the other one in half and make 2 more. I don't think it needs to be that long. But it will be nice to have the ability to just load it up with media. I will split off my return or use one of the drains from the display to feed it. I will use a valve to adjust the flow thru the reactor. I got the bulkhead for the supply line glued in yesterday. I'll get a pic when i get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 28, 2008 Author Share Posted April 28, 2008 I'll have to do some small grinding to reduce the size of the sink strainers so they fit perfectly. Its only gonna need a buzz with the dremel. But anyway here it is, ready for action. I'll put it online tomorrow or tuesday and update with more pics. I think to start i'm going to just us a MJ400 feed pump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Sweet set up there. Looks like to much work for me no time as it isDOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Hey, looking good. I'm curious to see how you fill and empty that thing. Looks complicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted April 28, 2008 Author Share Posted April 28, 2008 The downtube isn't glued so it pulls right out Just unscrew the plug, and pull the basket out. Scott- thanks, i've only got maybe 3 hours of work into this total. That includes shopping time but not gluing time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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