DOes this look correct - Installed a CO2 Reactor 500

[Arkangel77]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15524

That's the unit. DO these pics of it running look correct? I just don't know? I got it used. Does this look right? Sorry for the bad pics. Thanks, Arkangel77

[Nolapete]

looks about right, but I'd turn bubbles down a little. you should get the little tornado in there that I told you about after that. sometimes it takes a little while for it to adjust

[Arkangel77]

SWEET - Thx Bro

[fabsroman]

If turning down the bubble rate doesn't help, try turning it over under water to get all the air out of it. They recommend this in the directions, which I am betting you didn't get since it is used. The regular air trapped in there has a hard time dissolving, so it causes a mess. I've had that problem myself.

Later on, when the clear part gets dirty and/or full of algae, you need to take it off and clean it out. I'm actually getting ready to do that on one of mine right after I type this. The black bottom actually pops off the clear chamber. Also, make sure the black bottom doesn't get gummed up. It has 3 holes in it that the water/CO2 go through at the bottom of the tornado. If those holes get gummed up it will look like you have it right now without the tornado.

If everything is clean and I have all the atmospheric air out of the unit, I can have a pretty high bubble rate and still get a tornado effect. What happens when the bubble rate is too high is that the tornado effect is still present but the excess CO2 gets forced through the bottom 3 little holes and you can see little bubbles escaping into the water. This is the CO2 that did not dissolve fully. Mine will make a hissing noise when this happens.

FYI - I've been using 3 of these units for almost 4 years now and I really like them. I have a 4th unit laying around just to swap it out with a dirty one when I don't have the time to clean the dirty one. Maintenance is really easy on these things too once you figure out how they come apart.

[Arkangel77]

WOW Thanks - I made sure it was clean but I am not sure I flipped it. I will go do that Right now! I will let ya know how it works. Thanks, Arkangel77

[Arkangel77]

PS that was it - Once I flipped it and put in back in place it did the vortex thing! Thank you very Much!

Arkangel77

[fabsroman]

PS that was it - Once I flipped it and put in back in place it did the vortex thing! Thank you very Much!

Arkangel77

You are quite welcome. Anything I can do to help a fellow hobbyist. If you have any other questions about that reactor, feel free to send me a PM.

[Arkangel77]

I will Thx

[Nolapete]

lol, I didn't even know that.