CalcFeeder Basic/Pro - latest generation calcium reactor

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by HippieSmell

Are the push tube connectors on the solenoid replaceble with something else, like threaded adapters? I don't want to go torquing on it and risk damage.

Anyone have an answer to this?

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hmm, we never had similar question - if you will not use too much power you shouldn't damage it.
By what you want to replace it?

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by wishntoboutside

Here is a shot of mine up an running so. The alk has only swung by .2 in the last 4 days so I think I am pretty close. This has been a challenge for sure. I should have set this up without the extra chamber at first as it would have been easier to test the PH on the outflow. The extra chamber has been doing its job of bringing back the PH. I did add a bubble counter to my unit from an older Knopp reactor. My Co2 regulator does not have a one so it was impossible for me to determine how much was going into the unit. To me this helped a bunch. Presently the flow rate coming in to the reactor is 2.05 liter per hour.

Could somebody give me a quick overview of how this works - mostly how water moves though the unit. I did a cursory pass through this thread and didn't see that.

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hmm, we never had similar question - if you will not use too much power you shouldn't damage it.
By what you want to replace it?

I want to replace the push tube connectors with a threaded adapter. Then, I can put it between my regulator and needle valve, which is 1/4" threaded.

Will the push tube connectors just unscrew from the solenoid?

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Could somebody give me a quick overview of how this works - mostly how water moves though the unit. I did a cursory pass through this thread and didn't see that.

The Aquabee pump circulates water from the CO2 chamber through the pump outlet at the bottom of that chamber to the bottom of the Reactor chamber where it flows up through the media then out a small tube at the top, falling into and down through the top of the CO2 chmaber again in a cycle.

The peristaltic pump draws water from the sump into the top of the CO2 chamber. Water then can exit the top of the Reactor chamber and into the sump, or go from the top of the Reactor chamber to the bottom of the degassing chamber, up and out the top of that chamber and back into the sump. Alternatively you could pull water from the Reactor or degassing chambers and into the sump.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Originally Posted by HippieSmell

I want to replace the push tube connectors with a threaded adapter. Then, I can put it between my regulator and needle valve, which is 1/4" threaded.

Will the push tube connectors just unscrew from the solenoid?

Yes, you need to simply unscrew them from solenoid.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

The Aquabee pump circulates water from the CO2 chamber through the pump outlet at the bottom of that chamber to the bottom of the Reactor chamber where it flows up through the media then out a small tube at the top.

Small tube is the one under the white bracket that connects the CO2 chamber to the main reactor chamber? So circulation between the two chambers is significant?

Just trying to work out how this id different or better than what I have. Thanks.

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Yes, you need to simply unscrew them from solenoid.

Excellent, thank you.

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Small tube is the one under the white bracket that connects the CO2 chamber to the main reactor chamber? So circulation between the two chambers is significant?

Just trying to work out how this id different or better than what I have. Thanks.

You got it. The tube under the white bracket. Circulation is as good as the Aquabee can pump water through. That tube is never full so any circulation limitation is from the pump, and or resistance of media and not the diameter of the tube.

[ca1ore]

Many thanks. One last question if I may. Do you think that having a CO2 reaction chamber drives superior performance versus direct CO2 injection to the main substrate chamber?

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Yes, you need to simply unscrew them from solenoid.

It was easy to remove, but I'm not sure what size the fittings are. Is it metric?

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Many thanks. One last question if I may. Do you think that having a CO2 reaction chamber drives superior performance versus direct CO2 injection to the main substrate chamber?

I can't answer that as I haven't owned a reactor with injection into the substrate chamber. Perhaps someone with experience can comment. Or Przemek can explain the science or logic behind the design.

[ca1ore]

OK, thanks. I've been using a MTC ProCal for 15 years and it seems to be struggling to keep up. Looking for options.

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by HippieSmell

It was easy to remove, but I'm not sure what size the fittings are. Is it metric?

Any help with sizing is appreciated.

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by lionfish300

It had been 2 months since I set up my reactor. I have emailed back and forth with Tomasz about my pH rise due to air. I have and I am sure all of us that own this reactor do the same check and double triple check the connections, open and closed the reactor and gas chamber so many times. For me it work fine for three to four days ten pH go up. I am afraid to kill my corals that I work so hard to keep all these years. So instead of hook it up to my sump I have both in/out tubes in a separate container to keep an eye on pH. I will check my controller tube to see if I have the same problem as you John. Thanks for posting this

After installing the new tubing my ALK was stable for a few days, then started to decline. This was the same thing I experienced previously. I should have checked the PH but didn't. I decided to remove all the Reborn media in the reactor and replace it with the ARM. At this point I can not say with any confidence that Reborn media will work with this reactor. I did leave the Reborn in the degassing chamber. Hopefully I can at least use it there and it's not a total waste. I will be watching ALK levels daily and will also measure PH.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hi John,
John, please check how your main valve is set - we had similar report from Rob but after adjusting it - pH dropped to 6.1 and is stable.
Im outside of office however Tomasz from service will be more than happy to answer you.
br

Przemek

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hi John,
John, please check how your main valve is set - we had similar report from Rob but after adjusting it - pH dropped to 6.1 and is stable.
br

Przemek

What main valve are you referring to on the AC2?

[mrtint]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

@mrtint
We are checking that wrong informations provided on our website - probably they were published based on first versions of CalcFeeders released in last year after Interzoo Expo in Nurymberg.
We are checking it now, if there will be any problems please let us know - we will find solution for you.
Thank you for understanding.

Regards

Przemek

I'm sure you will take care of the problem but I'll see what my options are to fix the problem. My first thought was to take AC-1 apart and re configure in a straight line so pump sat in middle of tube cylinders but it looks like cylinders are glued to plates and the top tube connecting the two cylinders has been drilled thru cylinder and glued..... so this option is not a good choice. So I will need to mount remote. Here are my questions.
I will need to mount this outside the house next to my water change unit. I'm lucky I live in Southern California so huge Temp swings are rare. I will build a cabinet for it to keep direct sun from hitting directly and growing mold

1) does the optical sensor use a standard 8mm jack that I can buy an extension to plug into controller (this way I can keep the controller indoors under my stand
2) will the reactor perform different being outdoors?
3) would it be best to keep the controller,degassing chamber and C02 tank and regulator INDOORS under stand and only have the AC-1 out doors or should I keep it all together outside except controller


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PacSun Service]

Originally Posted by mrtint

I'm sure you will take care of the problem but I'll see what my options are to fix the problem. My first thought was to take AC-1 apart and re configure in a straight line so pump sat in middle of tube cylinders but it looks like cylinders are glued to plates and the top tube connecting the two cylinders has been drilled thru cylinder and glued..... so this option is not a good choice. So I will need to mount remote. Here are my questions.
I will need to mount this outside the house next to my water change unit. I'm lucky I live in Southern California so huge Temp swings are rare. I will build a cabinet for it to keep direct sun from hitting directly and growing mold

1) does the optical sensor use a standard 8mm jack that I can buy an extension to plug into controller (this way I can keep the controller indoors under my stand
2) will the reactor perform different being outdoors?
3) would it be best to keep the controller,degassing chamber and C02 tank and regulator INDOORS under stand and only have the AC-1 out doors or should I keep it all together outside except controller


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello.

You could mount Calc feeder outside but as You said better will be to cover it from direct sun light.
Regarding connections to calc feeder pump controler - we use jack 3,5mm stereo for optical sensor and jack 6,3mm for solenoid valve. You can extend this cable with regular audio extension cables.
CO2 bottle should be close to mixing chamber so better if bottle will be outside also.

Best regards

Pacific Sun Service

[robbous]

Having a few issues already with my AC4 unit PacSun should really consider shipping their distributor in the United States extra parts so when we have issues we don't have to wait so long for them to come to us to continue to use this reactor

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by robbous

Having a few issues already with my AC4 unit PacSun should really consider shipping their distributor in the United States extra parts so when we have issues we don't have to wait so long for them to come to us to continue to use this reactor

Please elaborate.

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hi John,
John, please check how your main valve is set - we had similar report from Rob but after adjusting it - pH dropped to 6.1 and is stable.
Im outside of office however Tomasz from service will be more than happy to answer you.
br

Przemek

Originally Posted by Johnseye

What main valve are you referring to on the AC2?

Since there hasn't been a response I'm going to assume you were referring to the AC4 which Rob has, although I have an AC2 and there is no main valve with that model.

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by HippieSmell

Any help with sizing is appreciated.

The push to connect fittings are m10x1.0. Thanks me!

[robbous]

Originally Posted by HippieSmell

Please elaborate.

I just think spare parts should be available through USA distributor

[HippieSmell]

Originally Posted by robbous

I just think spare parts should be available through USA distributor

They should, but this isn't a spare part. I don't want to use push connectors on the solenoid, so I'm swapping them out. I needed to know what the threading was.