DIY Ca reactor, round or square

[das75]

Figure since I've had a full bottle of CO2 sitting around for a few months, I should get started on that reactor.

See lots of DIY ideas but only came across a single square design. I thinking square as easier for me for cutting, bulkhead attachments etc.

Some inherent problem with a square or rectangular shape I'm missing?

 

[Anonymous]

tagging along, same project on the drawing board...

 

[Anonymous]

For mass production, round one is easier in term of labor cost. But there are advantages of using a rectangular/square design, and for most case, there is very little difference other than a more uniform percolation thru the cross section if it is round (more difficult for the substrate to dissolve around the corners.).

 

[Acrylics]

Yep, as ck points out - there's no magic reason they can't be made square. Take any round design and simply change the round tube to a square tube. Just more expensive to make square cuz it takes more operations to do it, so more work = more labor = higher cost. But for bulkheads or driling/tapping, square is better. O-rings are more of a PITA but just use buna/neoprene for the gasket if needed. Slightly thicker material should also be used, 1/8" wall round tube is stronger than an 1/8" square tube so use 1/4" or thicker if'n ya can.

CKnowlto,
You wouldn't by chance be the same Chris I knew growing up on Winchester Ct in the '70s, would ya? thought I'd ask

James

 

[bleedingthought]

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=95468

 

[Christeon]

Square will hold more substrate in a smaller space I'm going to build one very similar to the one linked below. I even plan to line the pump up on mine

http://melevsreef.com/dj88.html