Using substrate as a reactor?

carpguy · Dec 28, 2002

I've been looking into building a DIY reactor for a DIY CO2 setup. I just read Luca Brazzi's Built an Under Gravel Jet system thread and I was wondering if it might be a good idea to combine the two. I was thinking I could set up a powerhead and feed the CO2 into the intake and then attach the out flow to a series of perforated undergravel pipes set up across the floor of the tank. I'd get water flow in the substrate and hopefully plenty of CO2 diffusion to boot.

Is this DIY lunacy or a good idea? Any thoughts would be appreciated…

125gJoe · Dec 29, 2002

Originally posted by carpguy
.... attach the out flow to a series of perforated undergravel pipes set up across the floor of the tank. I'd get water flow in the substrate and hopefully plenty of CO2 diffusion to boot.
Is this DIY lunacy or a good idea? Any thoughts would be appreciated…

I don't think it will work. The reason is that the CO2 bubbles will build up (somewhat), in the gravel and not diffuse, but form air pockets and released as a larger bubble straight to the top of the tank wasting the CO2.
If you have large gravel it might work, but I'd go with a Power Reactor with it's 100% (darn close) diffusion.

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Using substrate as a reactor?

carpguy

lots of small fish

125gJoe

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