2$ power CO2 reactor

P

plantbrain

AC Members
Apr 27, 2001
1,988
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Davis, CA
www.barrreport.com
I found a simple to make, cheap method to costruct a power CO2 reactor for 2$ plus the cost of a small power head. You can buy these small part's holder's at OSH/ Orchard's supply called viewtainers which can have the hold needed for the power head melted into th side or you may cut a small hold for a snug fit pointing the power head downward from the top. The venturi is connected to about 2 inches below the top of power reactor to small hold for venturi action of the CO2 when it builds up to this 2"(or any height you desire) size before it begins to waste the CO2 as a mist.

This is essentially what I sold as an internal but this is out of soft acetate plastic and is easy to work with.

You bubble the CO2 in from the bottom and this acts as a bubble counter.
A lighter can be used to burn a hold into the plastic if you want a side position for the power head or to make holds for suction cups for top mounting of the powerhead.

I'll post some pics later, but at 2$, it works as well and is slightly smaller than anything else and if anyone can beat the price, well, you might want to sell them.

Here is the part:

http://www.viewtainer.com/

You can use my old design or copy other internals off the web. Most DIY'er get the idea with these pics.

Adding the venturi loop will help increase the efficiency when you need it and waste CO2 when you don't when the tank has already built up to saturation levels of CO2.

These work very well and are easy for the beginner to use and are also very good for DIY CO2 users, add a small hole(3/16") opposite the power head side or about 2.25" down if you use the venturi loop at 2" for burping when the power head is shut off at night(for semi automatic control).

Holes to make:

Hole for the power head inlet(Make it smaller than the powerhead's pipe outlet, then use a lighter to make it slightly smaller so you can get a very snug tight fit/silicone it/epoxy etc)
I like the side mounting personally but top mounting can be done and you will need a sponge to prevent the water from flying out oif the bottom or you can use an elbow(better))

3/16" for venturi loop 2" down from top
3/16" burp hole 2.25" opposite venturi
3/16" CO2 "in" on top of tube for CO2 bubble input(you may wish to se a 4" piece of rigid 3/16" airline tubing for this

Hey, it's 2$ and you can try it.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
this is scary. a few days ago i saw these at home depot and the same thought came to my mind! i wasn't proactive enough to go the nine yards though in rigging it up though.

thanks for sharing. your write-up seems simple enough; hope your suggested schematic catches on, it's really not that hard to do.
 
Here's a repost of mine...
I know this belongs in DIY but it's on topic here. Just an fyi...I used an empty Flourish bottle with a microjet pump to make a simple working reactor. I tried injecting into the filter (too noisy), tried the inline reactor (worked but a p.i.t.a. to clean). If you're into DIY...I cut the bottom of the bottle out, carefully cut the screw top part off, used a piece of rubber (like a washer) to wedge the "adapter" of the pump into the top. Drilled a hole in the top (off center obviously) for an airline connector I siliconed into it (inlet for CO2) and threw a couple boiballs inside and a piece of sponge to block off the bottom. Also a couple holes on the sides to attach suction cups to. The pump slides off and on to the adapter easily, the color of the bottle blends with my dark background, and it all comes out for an easy clean.
 
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