Reactor fittings

[gregzz4]

What do you guys use to connect your Maxi-jet pumps to 'RO style' canisters with the quick release fittings ?

I'm looking to buy a couple of these style units
http://www.jlaquatics.com/images/aquafx/reactorone_1.jpg (http://www.jlaquatics.com/images/aquafx/reactorone_1.jpg)

[Delphinus]

I don't use those, but if I did, I'd use 3/8" tubing as I think that's the size that slips over the end of the maxijets, and then use 3/8" JG fittings on the canister. They might be a bit more obtuse to source but you should be able to get 3/8" to 1/4" NPT if that is the size the canister needs.

Failing that (the more specialized pushfittings can be hard to find sometimes) I would use a 3/8" to 1/4" reducer coupler (pushfitting or whatever) and basically 3/8" from the maxijet to there, then 1/4" or whatever size the canister requires.

[gregzz4]

Thanks for the input Tony

Hopefully someone who has done this will chime in as I don't want any surprises

[Delphinus]

What's your main concern?

I've done enough crazy things with maxijets, and those style of canisters, that I am speaking with *some* authority on the subject (I know a thing or two about a thing or two :) ). I just don't use those canisters for media reactors currently as I have TLF's and Vertexes up to the wazoo/yingyang/something-or-other.

At least with the canisters I have worked with, the pushfittings for input and output are threaded into a tap on the canister. So it's just a matter of getting ones the right size. Most are 1/4" tubing but you can get 3/8" pushfitting to 1/4" threaded adapters.

Hope this helps :)

[gregzz4]

My biggest concerns are what fitting come with the unit (1/4"?) and how to adapt to the MJs
You say 3/8"
I assume you mean ridgid line, and J&L doesn't sell it

I'll deal with it when the time comes, but I was hoping for some solid info about what to buy so I can just install them without running around looking for stuff

[hillegom]

Greg, you can buy those canisters with 3/8 NPT fittings that would fit those 3/8 john guest quick release thinga ma bobs.
So what are you wanting? Looking for? 3/8 john guest or 3/8 tubing? or canisters with 3/8 NPT openings?

[Rogue951]

Greg, you can buy those canisters with 3/8 NPT fittings that would fit those 3/8 john guest quick release thinga ma bobs.
So what are you wanting? Looking for? 3/8 john guest or 3/8 tubing? or canisters with 3/8 NPT openings?

what he said,
I bought my dual reactor from BRS and it came with everything. The quick press in fitting that went on the end of the MJ1200 and right to rigid tubing.
I've seen home depot (or rona) have these fittings but never saw the sizing. just noticed them hanging by irrigation/kitchen fridge(ice maker) plumbing.

[Reef Pilot]

Not sure exactly what you are looking for, but I got everything I needed at Home Depot when I converted my old RO canister set to use as reactors. I run them in series T'ed into my return pump, so no Maxi or other pump necessary.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=102101&page=2

[Delphinus]

Sorry I just looked at maxijet and it looks more like you need 1/2" ID tubing that can slip over the nozzle. J&L has that: http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=pl-tub012

Unfortunately until you have the items in hand it's hard to imagine up a wiggle-room-free shopping list of items for you. If you buy a kit from BRS I'm sure they'll send you everything you need. If you source your own parts (I think I've seen replacement canisters for RO filters at HD running around $20-30ish but) then you might need to get creative a little bit.

As for stepping down the 1/2" to 1/4" you can should be able find adapters for that. The HD nearest to me has a surprisingly good selection of John Guest style pushfittings ranging in size from 3/4" down to 1/4" and various combinations thereof.

Or you can get creative. One time I got fed up looking for the bits I needed in my junk plumbing drawer so I just took some 1/2" vinyl tubing, stuck the 1/4" tubing into that and then just used silicone in the gap to hold them together. Ghetto FTW! :lol: It never leaked for me.

Hope this helps..

[gregzz4]

Thanks everybody :wink:
I was scratching my head last night wondering where you were going with the 3/8 tubing idea
I'll just have to open a box and see what's up and think I'll use 1/2" hose barbs

[gregzz4]

I pulled the trigger today and bought a pair of these single reactors from J&L

FYI, the adapter in the pic (next to the valve) is for connecting the included 3/8" ridgid line directly to a maxi-jet. The 3/8" - 1/2" quick connect adapter pushes right on the pump output :smile:

[gregzz4]

The pic referenced above is for the pic in my original post

http://www.jlaquatics.com/images/aquafx/reactorone_1.jpg (http://www.jlaquatics.com/images/aquafx/reactorone_1.jpg)

[hillegom]

I don't have any reactors so cannot comment on the flow required.
However if you use the reducer, from 1/2 to 3/8 then the flow from the maxijet will be throttled down.

[gregzz4]

The reduced flow is OK to work with
As it stands, I'm using a pair of MJ 600s on my current TLF 150s and have a Tee and valve on each as it's too much flow and the Carbon and GFO would get beat to crap at full flow

There'll be a post in my build after these are running