View Full Version : Looking for a good CO2 diffuser/reactor
I was diffusing my CO2 by placing the line into the intake of my old power filter, but I have gotten rid of the power filter and am awaiting my new Eheim canister filter. I am now looking for a new (and hopefully low cost) way of diffusing my CO2. I've looked on the net and haven't found too many ways to diffuse the CO2 using a canister filter. I am then looking at some other options. I have looked at some different DIY plans(http://www.plantedtank.net/co2reactor.html) and am thinking of trying it. I was also looking at the Plant Guild's Power reactor on Aqua Botanic. Any advice on what I should try? Thanks to all!
I run the air line into a tube connected to the bottom of a Hagen 402 Power Head. That way I can see how many CO2 bubbles are feeding into the powerhead. I stuck a piece of siphon tubing(about 7") into the out-flow of the powerhead and bought a small siphon which I connected to the other end of the tubing. Then I stuck an Aqua Clear sponge into the larger siphon tube and it works great! The bubbles come out in a mist. Roughly the whole system cost about 18 dollars. Buy the power head at Big Al's. You'll save about 1/3 that way. This system if for a 55 gallon tank. If you have a smaller tank you can pick up a smaller powerhead and do it even cheaper.
Len
djlen -- wow, sounds like a good setup! I don't suppose you have any pictures?
125gJoe
03-02-2003, 5:50 PM
In my Opinion....
These are the Best Reactors out...... : IMO
CO2 Diffusion (http://www.floridadriftwood.com/CO2_reactor_info.htm) :)
plantbrain
03-02-2003, 6:23 PM
Err ...best _internal_ CO2 reactors all of which look suspiciously like something I made about 10 years ago.
I'll tell you this, the suction cups on the Rio's stink after a few months and the vertical pump placement is better with those better suction cups on the side.
You can make a similar thing from a gravel vac tube and a powerhead for about than 20-30$
Ghori has an external reactor from PVC that works well according Ghori and cost about 10$ and then you don't have that tube in the tank.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Unfortunately, I'm sooooooo poor I can barely afford to feed my fish, let alone take pictures of them. But I enjoy looking at other folks' shots.
It's really easy to put together, and if you don't want to spend a lot of bucks, I think it's the way to go.
Len
125gJoe
03-02-2003, 6:30 PM
Originally posted by plantbrain
Err ...best _internal_ CO2 reactors....................You can make a similar thing from a gravel vac tube and a powerhead for about than 20-30$ ........Regards,
Tom Barr True --- I paid an extra $10 as at the time, I didn't have the time for a DIY.. Excellent CO2 reactor.. :)
Plantbrain -- do you have a suggestion for a good powerhead? Djlen uses the Hagan 402. I also have a 55, so that should work for me, yes? Also, you said,
"Ghori has an external reactor from PVC that works well according Ghori and cost about 10$ and then you don't have that tube in the tank"
Where can I get more info about this? I ran the name "ghori" on a search through the forums and also on the net and didn't find anything.
Thanks to all! Lots of great advice!
tfish, Tom Barr(Plantbrain) builds one that hangs on the outside of the aquarium and is supposed to be a real good unit. I think it goes for about $40.
The quote from Tom that Joe refers to is the one I use, only mine is a home made version.
Len
NJ Devils Fan
03-02-2003, 8:37 PM
This is what I did to make my DiY CO2.
I just took a 2 liter bottle, filled it half way with warm water, put 4 tablespoons of sugar in and 1 teaspoon of yeast. Then, I drilled a hold in the cap, placed an air tube through it, sealed it with hot glue, then screwed it on the bottle tightly. It works very well.
Total cost: $0.
NJ Devils Fan -- I have my DIY CO2 set up ready with 2 bottles. I am now looking for a way to diffuse the CO2 into my water to the best capacity. :)
Well, I've done a quick bit of research on the Hagen 402. Sounds like a great powerhead! I'll give it a try with a DIY! Thanks for the ideas!
plantbrain
03-03-2003, 12:15 AM
Most powerheads are fine, smaller generally is less obtrusive.
Most use those rio pumps since they are cheap and effective.
I've used Hagen's in the past.
My personal fav is the Maxi jets.
If you are cheap, you can use a 16 oz soda bottle and stick a pump on top of that and melt the plastic or add some vinyl tubing to squeeze the connection together. Cut the bottom off. Bubble the gas into the chamber.
Cost: just the pump.
Lots of folks simply bubble the CO2 into their filter.
G's design is simply the input tube on the canister has a 2"x12" PCV tube with a few bio balls in it and a 1/2" to 2" bushing to connect the filter tubing to and it hangs vertically going down into the filter.
No bubbles get into the filter since they are all caught in the larger diameter tubing before hand. The gas gets compelety dissolved. You feed the gas into the filter intake etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr
NJ Devils Fan
03-03-2003, 6:41 AM
I just have my CO2 tube that comes from the bottle connected to an air stone. Works fine.
One thing I forgot to mention is that where the air line goes into the bottom of the power head I use one of those disposable air "stones". It acts to distribute smaller bubbles into the power head for added absorption into the water. They come in coarse and fine.....get the fine. The reason I use the disposables is that regular airstones, in my experience tend to disintegrate over a short period of time when used with CO2
GulfCstAquarian
03-03-2003, 1:44 PM
I built this external CO2 reactor out of a Tap Water Purifier, for those that might have one sitting around...
FASTRAKR
03-03-2003, 3:06 PM
If you go to http://www.aquaticscape.com/default.htm and go to 75 gal then to the co2 tab there is pictures of his setup.
Ordovician
03-03-2003, 4:14 PM
I really like my eheim diffuser. I just have it sitting right under the intake for my filter and I hardly ever hear it "burp" like I did befor I got it. I did however take that rediculous high pressure check valve off of it so that I could run at lower pressures.
plantbrain
03-04-2003, 11:14 AM
Even the best experts and the most anal retentive people that check everything all the the time have lost entire tank loads of fish using Eheim disc.
I never lost any fish with them but I was lucky. I know of at least 7 personal instances where entire fish loads were lost as a direct result. Adding a needle valve to all gas systems is _mandatory_. Regular cleaning is also a must for good performance with any diffuser disc.
Those things have some seriously bad mojo.
I'll never use one of those as long as I live and breath.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Ordovician
03-05-2003, 12:17 AM
I don't see how it can be that different from a setup with a powerhead or a simple bubble to the intake method. I use a needlevalve, I took off the retarded high pressure check valve and added a normal one, and I change the tank before a it gets too low. I have used it for over a year now, and I have yet to lose a fish. I agree that running any pressure system w/o a needle valve is crazy, but i just don't see how my setup is any different w/the high pressure check valve and a needle valve attached.
plantbrain
03-05-2003, 10:44 AM
Reactors and other method require needle valve. No other way.
Eheim Disc yes, they have that bad check valve also, but many folks used them without needle valves in the past. Those are the ones that lost their fish when the main gas tank lost pressure.
Dumps don't occur with needle valve due to the bottle neck effects of the device.
The disc needs maintained and cleaned in order to function well(ideally monthly) and use a needle valve if you use one. Do that, and they work pretty good.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Ordovician
03-05-2003, 11:04 AM
I've noticed the disc''s performance gets worse over time if I dont' clean it. I generally clean it whenerve I take the filter apart which is about every two months.
I guess that I could probably inject it into my powerhead and not use the disc, but I'm getting good results right now. And I just hate to fix something that isn't broken(pardon the cliche). Thanks for the tips Tom!
BluEyes
03-05-2003, 12:13 PM
FASTRKR - those photos look almost like the DIY setup I have on my 20g. some PVC, some plastic bits, a bit of time...
Take a look on my site (in sig) and I have photos of the whole deal...
The one difference is I'm using yeast CO2, so I bubbled the co2 into the powerhead to prevent water backwashing into the yeast bottle because there's less pressure involved (it did when I put co2 right into the reactor)
Okay, so I looked at the one reactor made of PVC pipe that hangs inline with the filter -- very cool! A bit overwhelming for me though. I thought I would try the powerhead with the gravel cleaner tube setup. I just got a small Aquaclear 201 and as soon as I turned it on, my danios started zipping around but my big congo tetras swam over to the other side of the tank. They will not swim on the side with the powerhead. What a bunch of babies! I do love them though and don't want them to be secluded to just one side of the tank. I am thinking that maybe I will take back the powerhead and give the PVC setup a go. That one website that FASTRAKR provided has some pretty good pics. Those should help. Any suggestions or ideas?
Thanks!
BluEyes
03-06-2003, 12:22 AM
nah, building a PVC reactor is easy - hanging it somewhere is the hard part! I ended up stocking mine on the side of an aquaclear HOB filter, with the powerhead inside the filter box. Less stuff in the tank, and I turn it off with the lights...
A few ideas, though - use straight hose fittings, not angled like I used. The sides of my reactor are clear, so it gets some algae now and then, and it's a PAIN to clean!.
also, use teflon tape on all the threaded parts, and make sure the glued-together bits are sealed good before putting it in operation. Really sucks when there's one tiny mystery leak later on!
nvision
03-07-2003, 2:50 AM
i've just finished building a reactor very similar to the vortex 200, with an acrylic tube, rubber cap, and a rio50. i'll post some pics as soon as i get my camera back. i feel kind of guilty though, like i now owe vortex some money...
p.s, i'm hoping that that rubber cap would not be affected too much, if at all, by the co2.
Nvision -- Do tell more! :) What did you use as the acrylic tube? Gravel cleaner kit or did you use something else? And where did you find the appropriately sized rubber cap? Very curious! I'd be interested in any more details that you can offer. I'm going to try to put something together this weekend.
nvision
03-07-2003, 2:31 PM
tfish, if you can find a local Tap Plastic store, www.tapplastics.com (http://www.tapplastics.com/), you should really check it out. they specialize in acrylic plastic and got tons of stuff and little simple gadgets that you normally never even think about nor use... until you really need to use them.
i bought a 24" clear tube (more than enough to make 3 or 4 reactors) along with some rubber caps which were sold separately for less than 5 bucks. then i went to petsmart and bought a rigid air tube and an airstone. i've then decided not to use the airstone though, so i can actually count the bubbles coming out. but that's pretty much it. go home, add some elbow grease and drill 2 holes, one on the tube and another on the rubber cap, and that's it. your powerhead goes into the tube and the air hose goes thru the cap from the top.