NeonRabbit221B
2500 Club Member
Just wanted to post a link to a new algae reactor build I am making for my 13.5g Evo! My first reactor is kicking butt and alone can process ~7 ppm nitrate and ~.02 ppm phosphate when run for a full 24 hours. Culpera doubles in size within 2 weeks on my 40 breeder (53 gallon system) so after facing nutrient issues in my nano I decided to figure out a way to plumb in its own reactor.
Here is a link to my first build and a pic
www.reef2reef.com
My first attempt was using the acrylic tube that forms the 2nd pass and some 3D printed parts I designed to make a mini version of the reactor. I think it turned out fantastic but the lid seal just won't cut it. After several attempts and a consistent leak in the lid I decided to replicate my first design.. with some upgrades.
So onto the build. The plan is to use an old Berlin Classic (XL this time), an arduino, some RGBW Neopixels and an inline flow meter to dial in the flow. As this is a nano tank I am going to plumb this straight into my Sicce 1.0 which has plenty of excess capacity and I have it throttled back. If this doesn't work out then I have an MJ1200 I can use.
Goals: Add volume to the system, reduce nutrients and monitor flow rate into my tank and reactor. Increasing pods helps too
Parts:
Berlin Classic XL (got it used along with $500 in old equipment for like $5 worth of african cichlids)
Some 3D printed parts
Arduino Nano
58 Neopixels
1/2" flow sensor
Cheap LCD
Silicone, 1/2" black tubing, some super glue, and some inginuity
My first design was made shortly after my 3D printer broke so the electronic enclosure was a specimen cup, the algae grasping shelf was out of egg crate and I held the sucked together with electrical tape. I hope to do it more elegantly this time. Today I finally made some headway in designing custom fittings (old berlin classics use Metric...) and got the electrical soldered and working. Follow along and share your thoughts!
Here is a link to my first build and a pic
Up-cycling Berlin Classic for Algae Reactor
After trying for a month to keep a consistent skim on an old Berlin Classic I got for free I decided to try to convert it into a chaeto reactor. I had an additional one as well and had no reason or possibility to run two old fashioned skimmers on a 40B with a 29G sump so figure one of them could...
www.reef2reef.com
My first attempt was using the acrylic tube that forms the 2nd pass and some 3D printed parts I designed to make a mini version of the reactor. I think it turned out fantastic but the lid seal just won't cut it. After several attempts and a consistent leak in the lid I decided to replicate my first design.. with some upgrades.
So onto the build. The plan is to use an old Berlin Classic (XL this time), an arduino, some RGBW Neopixels and an inline flow meter to dial in the flow. As this is a nano tank I am going to plumb this straight into my Sicce 1.0 which has plenty of excess capacity and I have it throttled back. If this doesn't work out then I have an MJ1200 I can use.
Goals: Add volume to the system, reduce nutrients and monitor flow rate into my tank and reactor. Increasing pods helps too
Parts:
Berlin Classic XL (got it used along with $500 in old equipment for like $5 worth of african cichlids)
Some 3D printed parts
Arduino Nano
58 Neopixels
1/2" flow sensor
Cheap LCD
Silicone, 1/2" black tubing, some super glue, and some inginuity
My first design was made shortly after my 3D printer broke so the electronic enclosure was a specimen cup, the algae grasping shelf was out of egg crate and I held the sucked together with electrical tape. I hope to do it more elegantly this time. Today I finally made some headway in designing custom fittings (old berlin classics use Metric...) and got the electrical soldered and working. Follow along and share your thoughts!
