CO2 Reactor Set-Up -- Is This Correct?

Here's a picture of my Dupla CO2 reactor. I installed it according to the diagram drawn by the vendor, but I don't think it's right.

For reference, the left tube of the Eheim filter is the tank return; the right tube is suction.



You can see the reactor on the left side of the photo. The CO2 is injected in the top. Currently, water flows in from the bottom connection on the reactor, and then flow out of the top tube.

The problem is that CO2 is injected in the top and then it immediately goes out the top tube and into the tank, basically bypassing all the reactor media.

My feeling is that the water from the filter should enter the top tube, as does the CO2, and then flow from the bottom of the reactor out to the tank.

What do you think?

Hi Jeremy,

I set it up this way because Cal at Hawaiian-Marine drew a detailed sketch and said it should be this way. He totally knows what he's doing, but I'm certain he made a mistake. I haven't talked to him since he sent the diagram, so I'll call him tomorrow.

I would think the reactor should be on the outflow side of the canister as you never want to restrict the intake side (right?). You'll see there is a flow diverter on the outflow side that, when turned, allows me to control the amount of water being fed to the reactor (again, Cal included this in the diagram). Currently, if I don't close this valve a little, water does not flow through the reactor.

Thanks,

Darin

Problem solved!

I just reversed the input and output hoses to the reactor and it works prefectly. Thanks.

I just set it up a day ago....



It's 36x24x24.

Thanks. Inter-American in Canada made the tank. They're very inexpensive too for starphire glass (ultra clear, low iron stuff).

The only mistake I made was having them put in "smoked" glass on the back panel. When viewed from the front it looks like I have blackwater. I'm probably going to paint it black.

I'm still trying to find the *right* rock arrangement to put in the tank. I like the long rock in the tank right now, but would like to find a nice sized piece of petrified wood to replace the existing african driftwood in there currently. It just doesn't look quite right the way it is now.

I'm probably going to add a few more plants, maybe smaller crypts. in the mid-ground.

What fish should I put in besides SAE's and maybe a bristle nose? I'm thinking perhaps a bunch of rummy nosed tetras and maybe a few Altum angels.

Jeremy -- is your reactor mostly filled with water when working? Are you supposed to have a good amount of water moving through the unit, or just a trickle? Just trying to figure out how to best use it.