C02 reactor question

[doug z]

Do they affect your outflow rate?

Thanks!

[fins_n_fur]

You mean the CO2 diffusers--the thing that the CO2 bubbles go into before being released into the water? If designed correctly, I think that whatever rate you need/choose, they are meant to disperse CO2 into the water slowly in smaller bubbles. You would need get one, again, I think, that is associated with the size of your tank, or rather, the volume of water. Hopefully that was helpful...I've been doing a lot of research on CO2 systems for larger tanks to help get my head around...not quite there, but getting closer.

[doug z]

These things:

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I WILL have to get one, I'm sure..

As the glass diffusers aren't as efficient, and it's one more thing to hide in your tank..

Just wondering about flow....

[Nautilus29]

You are using a presurized system arnt you doug? I would think that as long as your using a pressurized system it shouldnt matter because the co2 will travel through that and then go into your tank just like it would if you didnt have one.

[doug z]

Yes, it will be pressurized..

Wondering about the water flow, though..

Wether it is affected at all..

just curious...

[fins_n_fur]

Yep, that's what I thought you were thinking of...didn't realise they were called reactors too. Big and ugly...I've seen big a$$ plastic things too that go in the tank--probably do a good job but hard to hide and ugly as sin. I've read that you can modify the bottom of your intake pipe filters with a small hole to pipe in the C02 into your filter intake(s) the idea being that the CO2 gets sucked into your filter and then the bubbles are made smaller and diffused in the water by the time the water comes out the spray bar...not sure if this is efficient, but sure not as ugly.

[Nautilus29]

that reacter doesnt actaully go in the inside of your tank does it?? I thought it went onto the back.

[doug z]

You can put the reactors right beside your filter outflow, inside your stand, though, can't you??

[Nautilus29]

Yep, that's what I thought you were thinking of...didn't realise they were called reactors too. Big and ugly...I've seen big a$$ plastic things too that go in the tank--probably do a good job but hard to hide and ugly as sin. I've read that you can modify the bottom of your intake pipe filters with a small hole to pipe in the C02 into your filter intake(s) the idea being that the CO2 gets sucked into your filter and then the bubbles are made smaller and diffused in the water by the time the water comes out the spray bar...not sure if this is efficient, but sure not as ugly.

If you did your filter idea wouldnt it cause it to make "priming" noises all of the time. or wouldnt it be enough bubbles to cause any problems. I know on my 55g tank I had an air hose running and it got caught under my filter intake that sucker made all kinds of noises untill I figured out the problem.

[doug z]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking..

There would be cavitation problems as well..

Pretty sure it goes on the outflow..

Just want to know why you would have to put it on the side or back of the tank, and not out of the way under your tank, beside the filter..

[xoolooxunny]

yes, you can put them near your filter if you run the tubing to do it that way. you dont have to put it in or on your tank, its allowed to be hidden, space permitting.

[doug z]

Ok, that's good news..

[PUNISHER VETTE]

BUILD YOUR OWN

Super easy. Head to the hardware store and get your pieces and some PVC cement and you have a cheap $20 one that works great.

Here is mine that i just built the other day. It definitely doesn't have to be that long but my PVC came in a 2ft piece and i wanted to see if it works before cutting it down to length(about 10") Search the Rex Grigg website for his instructions.
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I'm using a power head as the water pump and even with that the water has plenty of power coming out the other end. So if you're going to be using a canister filter you shouldn't need to worry about it.

[doug z]

Thought about it..

But no.. I'll get something I can return if it doesn't work.. LOL

[Nautilus29]

Thought about it..

But no.. I'll get something I can return if it doesn't work.. LOL

Doug is one of those rich guys that never has to get his hands dirty:hmm3grin2orange: J/K

[fins_n_fur]

Come on, you're a guy--are you not up to that do-my-head-in challenge of Vette's? Are you a man or a wimp, Doug? :hmm3grin2orange: LOL Kidding of course...these "simple" DIY things just freak me...I must have been born without this gene or it mutated into something totally useless or is a yet to be discovered talent LOL

[xoolooxunny]

I wish i did as much hw as he did before i set up my tank . . . At least I got the substrate part right in the beginning!

[PUNISHER VETTE]

um....even if it doesn't work you'll only be out the cost of some PVC which is super cheap... worth a shot if i were you. Plus they say it works better then the bioball ones.

[doug z]

Nah..

Rather not have to find out about CO2 leaking the hard way.. LOL

I DO have way more money that DIY know how.. :)

[fins_n_fur]

Not to hijack Doug-I-Don't-DIY's thread but...
@xoolooxunny - totally spot on...I definitely did on the fish, but not the technical aspect
@vette - dude, where's your tank in that picture or is the CO2 kit in the garage or storage room and you pipe it into the room with the the tank?

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Not to hijack Doug-I-Don't-DIY's thread but...
@xoolooxunny - totally spot on...I definitely did on the fish, but not the technical aspect
@vette - dude, where's your tank in that picture or is the CO2 kit in the garage or storage room and you pipe it into the room with the the tank?


it's right above it on the black stand. You can see the corner of the tanks frame in the picture.
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[PUNISHER VETTE]

Nah..

Rather not have to find out about CO2 leaking the hard way.. LOL

I DO have way more money that DIY know how.. :)

that impossible. no man has enough money then DIY know how or at least thinks he has DIY know how. you must be some kind of robot or something.

[fins_n_fur]

ah, I see. I saw a bit of the red lights in the first pic and with this pic remember the front shot of a pic that you posted before...Clever thinking to leave room enough behind the tank. Smart.

[Nautilus29]

lol doug Sorry I turned this site against you.

[doug z]

Bunch of haters.. ;)

Don't like my writing style, don't like my DIY aloofness.. LOL

[digital3]

I've heard the reactors with the media in it do slow the flow a bit, plus the media gets clogged.

Doug, Rex Grigg also SELLS those reactors if you don't want to build it. It's only 30 bucks!

[doug z]

Media?

You mean the balls?

How do they get clogged?

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Media?

You mean the balls?

How do they get clogged?

I'm pretty sure some sort of flesh eating bacteria builds up and if it gets too bad it just explodes into particles of acid which will melt through anything when it lands....

[doug z]

The balls are full of acid??

What is in the DIY ones?

[PUNISHER VETTE]

The balls are full of acid??

What is in the DIY ones?

nothing. Just gravity doing what it does best.

Water going down+ bubbles going up until they get absorbed and go down with the water.

[doug z]

So, the balls are full of acid, or air?

Or do you mean the ball are full of air, but the DIY reactor is full of nothing?

How does that work? Do you have a diagram of how to put one together?

Where does one get this?

[PUNISHER VETTE]

So, the balls are full of acid, or air?

Or do you mean the ball are full of air, but the DIY reactor is full of nothing?

How does that work? Do you have a diagram of how to put one together?

Where does one get this?


The ball explode into acid.....(not really hint hint.)
I believe they are just plastic balls with little ridges on them. The theory is probably that the water hits them and it cases the bubbles to break up more? i know they are used to bacteria to grow on but that grows in filters, substrate....beats me.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

my bubble counter is attached to my regulator on the CO2 cylinder.

you can see it in the picture posted earlier. It's right next to the solenoid(little black box) which is next to the valves/gauges.

water in the top of your reactor. CO2 in to middle/top of reactor. Both come out the bottom heading for your outlet in your tank.