Thanks John. And yes, I also agree with using the bio-pellets. In a long run it’s cheaper to run and easy to maintain.
Here’s my TLF Mod if anyone interested:
You should have 2 pice of the center tube, one long and one shorter one. On the long one I cut about a 3" piece of the tube. I then take the bottom screen and put the screen top of the long tube, then the 3" piece then the other screen. Then of course the smaller tube that connect to the outlet tube that drain out back into the tank.
The kind of a drawback to this is that when you turn off the pump some of the plastic pellets may siphon back into the tank. If I know that I’m getting ready to turn off the pump I just put a fish net at the end of the tube where it drain into the tank, the fish net will catch all of it.
would a check valve on the output line help keep the pellets from coming out? the spring type are restrictive, but maybe a swing style would work… thats if you’re worried about it. my power goes off quite often here
[quote=“saltcreep, post:122, topic:4187”]
Thats a nice mod ::
would a check valve on the output line help keep the pellets from coming out? the spring type are restrictive, but maybe a swing style would work… thats if you’re worried about it. my power goes off quite often here[/quote]
I guess I can try to find a 1/2" check valve and try it out. Never thought of that, good idea John, Thanks.
[quote=“Mburke, post:123, topic:4187”]
SO you have no screen on the bottom and both screens placed above the pellets. Right?[/quote]
That’s correct Mike. The pellets constantly tumbling no clogging either. I just adjust the valve for how fast I want it to tumble. Works like a charms.
grainger has them A, and it says theres a store in newcastle, maybe save on shipping.
I’m not sure about the flow rates… if you need more maybe use a 3/4 with a 1/2’’ reducer. this may affect the swing action though… i’ve used swing valves before, i think the 1/2 would be fine unless there is crazy flow from the reactor effluent…
the “spring style” valves do restrict a lot of flow though
Not that kind John. It’s a quarter inch tubeing, not PVC. I was thinking something like inline air line check valve type. TLF makes them for their kalkwasser stirrer 300 so that the powder don’t drain back into the fresh water. Have you seen something like that?
I’m not sure A, i was thinking this kind would work if you just screwed a nipple on to plug it inline on the tubing or just plugged on the end of the output…
but then again, things always work out better in my head ::
Well A, I installed my new mag 3 pump on my TLF 150 reactor with bio pellets. and it seems to keep the pellets mixing nicely. valve full open , but i did keep the finer bottom pellet screen an inch off the red bottom baffle plate. that seems to make a stabile, uniform flow of water up through the baffle and through the screen and pellets nice and even. they all tumble. so far so good. i added another 1/4 cup pellets too. the tank is looking good. only a month after my white out.
Sounds good Ken. I guess that could be another type of modification to these type of reactor. Have you notice lots of mum coming out of the reactor? I know that you have a mechanical filter at the exit end of the reactor, has it been cloging a lot to where you have to change it all the time?
Well, a bunch came off the pellets when i first started the mag 3, because it tumbles them faster than before, so more mulm got rubbed off. they are clean now, so what comes off should be microscopic. no, i dont have a filter on the exit hose from the reactor. it goes straight back to the sump. But you are correct A, strong tumbling is the key to the pellets working correctly. the bacteria coating that grows on the pellets continually rub off and can be removed by the protein skimmer, or make good coral food. so a high rate of tumble keeps them clean and from sticking together.
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