Simplicity is the thing I look for most, ease of tuning etc. For the skimmer I've found a couple of sites that recommend a pvc cap with a few holes drilled in it instead of the beckett style, they usually have a small air hole above the water level to help get the crazy aeration going.
For the Ca Reactor, simplicity again, make it easy to get the pump on and off, I liked the one I made where there wasn't tubes running all over hells half acre. The water in went into the side of the Ca reactor, and the water back to the pump came from the opposite side but I had a 90 degree elbow so the water back actually came from inside the reactor media. I just covered it with a sponge filter too keep the media out. Worked like a charm, I'll be building another one soon and will take pics this time.
Doug
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