AC 500 Reactor Works

[Nolapete]

I cranked up the bps yesterday to see if I could get the AC 500 DIY cheap reactor to drop 1 pH and it did. It takes a lot of bps, more than I can count, but the pH is finally into the green part of the scale. This ISN'T the most efficient use of CO2, but it does indeed work and provides a quick and easy 2 minute construction and setup reactor. It's most likely the cheapest reactor out there at 60 cents given that you are already using an AC 500/110 or for that matter any of the AC HOB filters with the same size extension tube.

[rwilliams254]

Right on.


...where's the DIY link. :)

[Nolapete]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118212&highlight=Aquaclear

[rwilliams254]

Oh yeah...that one.

[geofied]

Nola, that looks like a novel approach to avoiding the "goosh" impeller sound when the CO2 hits it. I've been avoiding putting my CO2 into my AC HOB's though because I'm afraid that even if the CO2's in the water it will escape through the waterfall return portion (with or without much agitation). My fear is mostly that any exposure to air will allow escapage due to pressure difference.

Any reason you haven't tried a submersed reactor like this one?
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-CO2-Diffuser/2/

I made one based on these plans last week and it has been working great. I'm just thinking you would get more bang for your buck with this sort of reactor.

The other thing I tried this week was using a tiny in-tank filter as a reactor. I picked up this filter on a whim: http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01001300021501. I was able to pull the CO2 tube into the bottom intake of the mini filter, which is just a sponge filter. It did work, but since it was DIY CO2 there was a pause for a couple of seconds and then a "goosh" (quieter than with HOB's however) and a zillion tiny bubbles were launched into the water. I think adding some kind of screen or sponge to the output of this filter might help it "react" even better.

[bkw1982]

geo i tried one like tht and it was ok but the sponge had to be cleared about every month. the one i have now is external based on the smae design.

i got a larger vacum tube and mounted it on he back of my tank and still use the rio 600 to pump water from the tank to the V-tube to my hob filter to my tank. I dont use any bioballs like i used to because of the diameter of the tube and the sponge is not needed because i have 2 Vtube caps on both ends. i use the elbow and the connector to run co2 into the V-tube, connector has a stem to connect my c02 tube, so it doesnt have to hit the filter, im happy with it....oh and it leaves room in my tank

[Nolapete]

Nola, that looks like a novel approach to avoiding the "goosh" impeller sound when the CO2 hits it. I've been avoiding putting my CO2 into my AC HOB's though because I'm afraid that even if the CO2's in the water it will escape through the waterfall return portion (with or without much agitation). My fear is mostly that any exposure to air will allow escapage due to pressure difference.

Any reason you haven't tried a submersed reactor like this one?
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-CO2-Diffuser/2/

I made one based on these plans last week and it has been working great. I'm just thinking you would get more bang for your buck with this sort of reactor.



I built one just like it and it didn't work as well as the AC filter one. Just as many bps and not the same pH change. Also, I don't want another thing in my tank taking away from its appearance.



The other thing I tried this week was using a tiny in-tank filter as a reactor. I picked up this filter on a whim: http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PROD_ID=01001300021501. I was able to pull the CO2 tube into the bottom intake of the mini filter, which is just a sponge filter. It did work, but since it was DIY CO2 there was a pause for a couple of seconds and then a "goosh" (quieter than with HOB's however) and a zillion tiny bubbles were launched into the water. I think adding some kind of screen or sponge to the output of this filter might help it "react" even better.I keep the level of the tank right at the output level of the AC, so I get minimal surface agitation (no bubbles) and there's no escaping blurps of air, just a few tiny bubbles. With the air stone in the pipe, there's no filter noise. The bubbles are micro fine.

The AC reactor is just a temporary solution anyway. I'm working on a DIY 2 liter bottle external vortex reactor. I've just been too busy to work on it lately and needed something quick.

[geofied]

I built one just like it and it didn't work as well as the AC filter one. Just as many bps and not the same pH change. Also, I don't want another thing in my tank taking away from its appearance

Cool, good to know. I'm able to hide my reactor horizontally behind the plants in the back, so for me it is less visible than my HOB intake and heater, etc.


I keep the level of the tank right at the output level of the AC, so I get minimal surface agitation (no bubbles) and there's no escaping blurps of air, just a few tiny bubbles. With the air stone in the pipe, there's no filter noise. The bubbles are micro fine.

I do my best to keep the level up, but with the hot weather and fans in the house it drops as much as a 1/2 inch per day. Also, I was still concerned about the top of the waterfall where there is exposure to air (area of greater pressure to one of less, water-air).


The AC reactor is just a temporary solution anyway. I'm working on a DIY 2 liter bottle external vortex reactor. I've just been too busy to work on it lately and needed something quick.

Sweet, make it happen.