co2 reactor

[Booswalia]

Me with a few questions again.

What would people recommend to buy for a Co2 reactor. My tank is only 25 Gallons, so I don't want one that's too large.

What's the scoop on those membrane diffusers?

Is there a difference between a reactor and a diffuser?

Tanks

[rdmpe]

If you have a powerhead or canister filter output available, you can make a very good reactor with a gravel vac.

I did a variation of the following ideas using a vertical gravel vac tube and a small powerhead, and it works great.

Here are some links
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/diy_reactor.htm
http://www.easyfishkeeping.com/tropicalfish/diyco2.htm
http://www.buckmanshome.com/reactor.html

[punch]

A reactor uses a water pump to push the co2 bubbles around and into the bio balls to break into smaller particals to be absorbed into the water. A diffuser works much like a air stone in that it releases a fine mist of bubbles to be absorb into the water. With you size tank a diffuser would work. Reactors are said to be better but I always have the problem with the pump getting clogged.

[rdmpe]

I think diffusors run of higher pressure in order to force the gas through the membrane ??? I have also heard that they have to be cleaned (the membrane) every two weeks or so. Not sure tho since I've never owned one.

Punch - do you use one then? Does it have to be cleaned that much?

[punch]

I do have a membrane and the instructions dosn't say anything about cleaning. It does say putin a shaded area of tank so not to get algea on it. If it is to me cleaned a would say just wipe it as I would thing anything harsher might ruin the membrane. as ro running on higher presure I couldn't tell you as I have a tank and
have basicly run the same presure with a reacor and a diffuser.

[aquatic-store]

a diffosor should ocassional be cleaned per thier directions. Aquamedics has thiers on the inside of the package.
marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[punch]

Thanks, I never thought of looking inside the box as it came with the instruction sheet I thougt it would be on that. Now I hope I didn't thro that box away.

[plantbrain]

Punch-
If you plug the powerhead into the light time, every night the powerhead intake is freed of debris. Never clogs. Also a good reason not to use reactors/disc 24/7.

Also, put a small sponge if you clog it often enough. I never have needed to do this yet.

Ceramic disc can be soaked in bleach for 10 minutes, rinsed etc and returned to the tank.
Bells, membranes and other passive forms of diffusion except ceramic disc are only mildly useful IME with tanks 20Gal and above. Better than nothing but if you want good results, folks should consider either disc and clean these monthly or so, or go with powerhead based reactors. You can use internal gravel vac style reactors or externals. These are the main types for larger tanks and make it easier for folks to get enough CO2 into their tanks.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Booswalia]

So far, what I've done, and it seems to be working great, is just feed the line into my Fluval 1 "Plus" Underwater Filter.

It has a place for attaching an air line, so I just plugged the Co2 line into it and it's working great.

http://www.sonnys.ca/tank/Images/fluval.jpg

[aquatic-store]

If you need the ones for the aquamedic ones let me know i will pull one out and let you know what it says

marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[cpr4cpu]

for a 29 gallon I use the venturi intake on my powerhead.
It sucks the air into it, so at the surface it is negative pressure on the CO2 bottle, but at depth (too deep for the venturi affect) then the pressure from the bottle will produce a bubble and shoto it into the tank.

I guess I stay around 25 ppm on CO2 using the pH/KH calculation method, so it works for me. I DO have my system on the timer because I actually had too much CO2 in the AM before the lights came on (40-45 ppm)

[Robert H]

I gave a very detailed account on the post "list of C02 systems" !

[zkt]

About how much fully disolved co2 we talking about here ?
bubbles / min/gal ?

[plantbrain]

Bubbles per second is a typical unit but the orifice that the adds the bubbles is a non standard size.

I generally add about 1 bubble per second from a 3/16" OD rigid airline tube for each 50 gal.

Regards,
Tom Barr

www.BarrReport.com

[Kasakato]

30ppm is about what you are aiming for. You can get this by doing some math with your pH and KH. This program will do it for you: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_aquacalc.htm

[zkt]

Thanks
Ill check that link out