DIY recirculating Vertex Biopellet reactor

[SchnitzelReef]

Well I decided to build my own recirculating bio pellet reactor. After looking at a few threads online, I realized it was pretty simple. A pump, a valve, and a couple Uniseals.

Parts list :
-Vertex 2.0 reactor (bought this brand new for my current tank, but realized it was too damm big) $100
-sicce syncra 2.0 $95
-2x 1/2" uniseals $4
-spears schedule 80 double union ball valve $30
-1/2" pvc and a few fittings.$10

Reed dynamics sells a similar sized reactor for $400, so I would say I'm doing pretty good. In all honestly, I bet it will take me an hour to drill the holes, measure and cut pvc, then glue everything together. Plus I think the vertex reactor looks way cooler then the reef dynamics reactor....we all know how important that is.
Here's the parts I've got so far

Already had a step bit that I've used for previous projects, gunna use that to drill the reactor for the uniseals.

Thanks to the guys at coral gazers for hooking me up with all the parts. Makes it a lot easier to do builds like this when I can get everything I need at one shop! [MENTION=3382]Clifford[/MENTION] @bluerocket

 

[xmas_one]

Nice, are you going to use anything special on the bottom for the tumble?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Vertex reactor already has a nice valve for adjusting effluent

1/2" uniseals

Spears is the best.

Sicce pumps are awesome, this model has 1/2" threads. Not as common as u would think

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Nice, are you going to use anything special on the bottom for the tumble?

Gunna just add a 90 pointing towards the bottom of the reactor and see how that works. Most of the guys I've seen that build DIY BP reactors did it this way, and had no problems. Pump is 500gph, so it should rock those pellets with ease. I think that is the key, having a powerful pump. This reactor should be able to tumble 1000-1500ml of pellets. (Obviously way overkill for my system)

 

[thunderii]

careful when you drill the holes to reactor... I drill bit too large for my uniseal and I had to use silicon to fill the gap and it's ugly.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Well I got the wrong size valve and uniseals, it was supposed to be 3/4" not 1/2"

Here's a quick mock up of the plumbing. Just need to drill the holes, glue it, and I'm gunna paint the pvc so it looks cool.

Water inlet, no need for a feed pump.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Copied reef dynamics plumbing. Will obviously look way cleaner when it's painted and installed

 

[Fly5150]

Looks good.


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[SchnitzelReef]

Looks good.


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Seeing the colors of the vertex reactor and the bubble king skimmer, what color do u think I should paint be pvc? Was gunna do red. What u think?

 

[Fly5150]

Red pipe and white fittings, or red fittings and white pipe would go with your theme.


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[xmas_one]

Don't paint it dude, that's g-fab.

 

[Fly5150]

What happened to your red/white sump by the way?


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[BeanMachine]

Don't paint it dude, that's g-fab.

Yeah I wouldn't paint it. If you do go that route, do lots and lots of coats and let it dry for a while. I've painted PVC before and eventually it gets scratched and looks terrible.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Don't paint it dude, that's g-fab.

I painted my pvc on my display tank and it turned out bitchenn.....I'm not painting it gold. Lol

Ask [MENTION=5090]Spinner[/MENTION] how painted pvc looks.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

What happened to your red/white sump by the way?


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It's still in development lol

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Yeah I wouldn't paint it. If you do go that route, do lots and lots of coats and let it dry for a while. I've painted PVC before and eventually it gets scratched and looks terrible.

I use krylon fusion, and it works great on pvc.