Show us your DIY Nilsen Reactor

Pro_builder · 12-15-2003, 08:52 AM

We would like to see the DIY Nilsen/Kalkwasser Reactor, with Pics and material lists and instructions, for others to get ideas from for there project.
TIA

ReefLady · 12-15-2003, 09:07 AM

Is there an echo in here?

Quote:

Again, I'm sure we can offer pics & materials, instructions are a little harder. We used some instructions that are available on the net (will post more later), but tweaked this and changed that. I think I'll let this one fall into Openbrain's hands (okay, I'll post the pics) ...

^^ ditto.

middletonmark · 01-13-2004, 11:13 AM

Echo!

reefer_wannabe · 01-14-2004, 12:17 AM

If this works, I'll have a picture of the Nilsen reactor I just finished last night posted here. It was actually a very simple build. I started from scratch, so the overall total price is a little high, but had to buy the dosing pump and I went with the magnetic stirrer.

The plumbing parts I purchased all from a farm store close to my home, except the acrylic tubing, which was purchased from Aquatic Eco-Systems. The parts list goes like this:

18" 4.5od acrylic tubing
(1) 4" - 2" reducer
(1) 4" stool flange with plug attached
(1) 1.5"pvc slip X MPT adapter
(1) 1.5"pvc slip X FPT adapter
(1) 2" long piece of 1.5" pvc tubing
(1) 2" x 1.5" FPT adapter
(1) 1.5"pvc MPT plug
(1) 16" piece of 3/4" CPVC pipe
(2) 1/4"MPT X 1/4" hose barb
(1) 4" glass circle
(2) pieces of 1/4" clear hose cut 3" long
PVC cement, 100% silicone rubber sealant, thread tape, 1/4"MPT tap, 7/16" drill bit, 4 zip ties

Fasten the piece of glass to the bottom of the stool flange.* This step and glass may be omitted if not using a magnetic stirrer. The glass keeps the stirrer bar from wearing the PVC stool flange.* Using PVC cement, glue the acrylic tubing into the stool flange. Attach the 4" x 2" reducer to the top of the acrylic tubing. Drill 2 - 7/16" holes in the 45 degree portion of the 4 X 2 reducer. Try to center them, but not critical. Tap holes with 1/4"MPT tap. Seal threads on 1/4" x hose barb fittings with generous amount of silicone sealant and screw them in, leaving the barbs pointing out. Cement the 2" x 1.5"FPT adapter into the top of the 4" x 2" adapter. Cement the 2" piece of 1.5" PVC tubing into the remaining 2 adapters. Screw the cap into the top of this, and screw the whole piece into the top of the 4 X 2 adapter using thread tape. Use thread tape on the cap, also! Cut a 45 degree angle on one end of the 3/4" CPVC tube and glue onto the inside if the 4" X 2" adapter over the input side 1/4"MPT X 1/4" hose barb. You may need some super glue for this step. That's basically all there is to it!

I built mine by looking at pictures and using my imagination. I used some of the instructions from Kay, some from other pictures I saw on the web, and my imagination on how I thought it should look and work. Mind you, this may not work for you, but it did for me! Hope this helps some folks out.

reefer_wannabe · 01-14-2004, 12:20 AM

And here it is during a spin........

wooddood · 01-14-2004, 07:58 AM

saw them in the pics gallery this morning,again great job bill.

reefer_wannabe · 01-14-2004, 08:31 PM

Thanks, wooddood! This is my 1st real big DIY (besides the MH and stand for 55). I had fun doing it and it works exceptionally well. I'm really glad I did it, except when I look at the "bottom line"!!!

Spooda420 · 01-14-2004, 10:38 PM

Looks like something Ive used before...err... anyone have web site for us people who arent acrylic inclined? with lots of pics? and step, half step, steps and the thought process behind it all.

thanks

Pro_builder · 01-14-2004, 10:44 PM

spooda420 here is a thread that has all kinds of links to sites that have all DIY They are cateragorized.
Links to Pages with DIY info.

Spooda420 · 01-14-2004, 10:50 PM

how in the heck did I miss that thread?!?!

thanks man, now all I need is a few spare days to build it!

Pro_builder · 01-14-2004, 11:21 PM

no problem that is what I am here for

jgalafa · 01-15-2004, 09:57 AM

Well its not as good looking as Stoneys or Teri's but here it is.
It's my first DIY.

Pro_builder · 01-15-2004, 09:59 AM

looks good.

dgasmd · 01-15-2004, 10:04 AM

That is pretty big and probably has an oversized pump for it. You think? Funny, tons of reply and only 2 pictures.

jgalafa · 01-15-2004, 10:11 AM

Its 3' tall, 4" diameter and has a mag 250 on it.

12-15-2003, 08:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Show us your DIY Nilsen Reactor We would like to see the DIY Nilsen/Kalkwasser Reactor, with Pics and material lists and instructions, for others to get ideas from for there project. TIA __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-13-2004, 11:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
middletonmark Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	Echo! __________________ smile smile smile

01-14-2004, 12:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
reefer_wannabe Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rantoul, IL Posts: 34 View Gallery Karma Komment	If this works, I'll have a picture of the Nilsen reactor I just finished last night posted here. It was actually a very simple build. I started from scratch, so the overall total price is a little high, but had to buy the dosing pump and I went with the magnetic stirrer. The plumbing parts I purchased all from a farm store close to my home, except the acrylic tubing, which was purchased from Aquatic Eco-Systems. The parts list goes like this: 18" 4.5od acrylic tubing (1) 4" - 2" reducer (1) 4" stool flange with plug attached (1) 1.5"pvc slip X MPT adapter (1) 1.5"pvc slip X FPT adapter (1) 2" long piece of 1.5" pvc tubing (1) 2" x 1.5" FPT adapter (1) 1.5"pvc MPT plug (1) 16" piece of 3/4" CPVC pipe (2) 1/4"MPT X 1/4" hose barb (1) 4" glass circle (2) pieces of 1/4" clear hose cut 3" long PVC cement, 100% silicone rubber sealant, thread tape, 1/4"MPT tap, 7/16" drill bit, 4 zip ties Fasten the piece of glass to the bottom of the stool flange.* This step and glass may be omitted if not using a magnetic stirrer. The glass keeps the stirrer bar from wearing the PVC stool flange.* Using PVC cement, glue the acrylic tubing into the stool flange. Attach the 4" x 2" reducer to the top of the acrylic tubing. Drill 2 - 7/16" holes in the 45 degree portion of the 4 X 2 reducer. Try to center them, but not critical. Tap holes with 1/4"MPT tap. Seal threads on 1/4" x hose barb fittings with generous amount of silicone sealant and screw them in, leaving the barbs pointing out. Cement the 2" x 1.5"FPT adapter into the top of the 4" x 2" adapter. Cement the 2" piece of 1.5" PVC tubing into the remaining 2 adapters. Screw the cap into the top of this, and screw the whole piece into the top of the 4 X 2 adapter using thread tape. Use thread tape on the cap, also! Cut a 45 degree angle on one end of the 3/4" CPVC tube and glue onto the inside if the 4" X 2" adapter over the input side 1/4"MPT X 1/4" hose barb. You may need some super glue for this step. That's basically all there is to it! I built mine by looking at pictures and using my imagination. I used some of the instructions from Kay, some from other pictures I saw on the web, and my imagination on how I thought it should look and work. Mind you, this may not work for you, but it did for me! Hope this helps some folks out. __________________ Bill http://www.cimaonline.us Join a local society or club today. You'll be glad you did!

01-14-2004, 12:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
reefer_wannabe Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rantoul, IL Posts: 34 View Gallery Karma Komment	And here it is during a spin........ __________________ Bill http://www.cimaonline.us Join a local society or club today. You'll be glad you did!

01-14-2004, 07:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	saw them in the pics gallery this morning,again great job bill. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

01-14-2004, 08:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
reefer_wannabe Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rantoul, IL Posts: 34 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, wooddood! This is my 1st real big DIY (besides the MH and stand for 55). I had fun doing it and it works exceptionally well. I'm really glad I did it, except when I look at the "bottom line"!!! __________________ Bill http://www.cimaonline.us Join a local society or club today. You'll be glad you did!

01-14-2004, 10:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 484 View Gallery Karma Komment	Looks like something Ive used before...err... anyone have web site for us people who arent acrylic inclined? with lots of pics? and step, half step, steps and the thought process behind it all. thanks __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

01-14-2004, 10:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	spooda420 here is a thread that has all kinds of links to sites that have all DIY They are cateragorized. Links to Pages with DIY info. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-14-2004, 10:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 484 View Gallery Karma Komment	how in the heck did I miss that thread?!?! thanks man, now all I need is a few spare days to build it! __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

01-14-2004, 11:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	no problem that is what I am here for __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-15-2004, 09:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
jgalafa Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 50 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well its not as good looking as Stoneys or Teri's but here it is. It's my first DIY. __________________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

01-15-2004, 09:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	looks good. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-15-2004, 10:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
dgasmd Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 466 View Gallery Karma Komment	That is pretty big and probably has an oversized pump for it. You think? Funny, tons of reply and only 2 pictures. __________________ Water is what keeps a ship floating, but it is also what sinks it.

01-15-2004, 10:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
jgalafa Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 50 View Gallery Karma Komment	Its 3' tall, 4" diameter and has a mag 250 on it. __________________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

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