need help on calcium reactor connection!

[h2o]

i am already full of pumps inside my sump, and no room for another for ca reactor. is it ok to share the output of skimmer pump, rio 2100 (yeah i know). Say if i drill a 3/18" hole and make a T, use regular airtube and into the input of Knop calcium reactor? and somewhere in the middle put a check valve.
I know several on this board have reactors, and please give me your input. Also, is a solenoid, reducer and a needle valve required with co2 regulator? i have done search on the net without much suggestion. thanks

 

[h2o]

I do have another eheim 1250 but wonder if it's too powerful for the reactor. also just noticed the rio has an suppose air injection inlet and was wondering if it's okay to use at T in the water. but since you recommed to have an individual pump, is the maxi jet 1200 (295 gph) within the range of right size pump to use. I may able to take out the rio 400 (144 gph) out of the tank and replace with a power sweep.
if you can also kindly explain the function of needle valve, selonoid...etc. I also have a ph monitor and i am just running out of space. thanks.

 

[richard rendos]

Sure you can T off another pump. Some reactors even suggest doing this. I would T off a strong pump, like a return pump, and put a ball valve to control the flow to the reactor. You won't need much flow for a calcium reactor anyway.
Attached is a picture from George Weber's website showing how to do it. You will see a ball valve on the left side with airline size hose coming out. This is what you want.

 

[h2o]

thank you all for the replies. The only problem is: the input of the calcium reactor is only 1/8", so either to T or to have its own pump, I need something that will reduce to that size or at least close to it.
I was at Home Depot for 2 hours and couldn't find anything T, reducer, barb fitting to get that small. As for individual pump, can a Eheim 1250, or even a Maxi Jet 1200 able to stand the pressure and pump into a 1/8" tube?
your reply is greatly apprecitaed, thanks again.

 

[jester]

Make the inlet bigger.

 

[richard rendos]

This is exactly what it says on his web page next to the picture I posted before.
"This picture is of the left side of the cabinet. You can see the manifold, It is fed by an aquaglobe submersible pump. The ball valve to the left feeds my calcium reactor. I feel this is the best way to feed the reactor. There are no extra pumps, which is one less electrical outlet used and I can control the input feed pressure to the reactor."
- George Weber