Aqua Medic CO2 Reactor 1000 Question

[ChiaJesus]

I'm feeling a little stupid today....

I finally learned how to use the gas release valve on my CO2 reactor. No wonder my CO2 levels have never gone up since I first hooked it up a couple of weeks ago.

So I hook some hose to the gas release valve and put the other end of the hose in the tank. I opened the valve and sure enough, all the the air at the top of the reactor finally went away.

So quick question here. Should I leave the gas valve open all of the time? Or only open it on an as needed basis?

 

[fabsroman]

I'm feeling a little stupid today....

I finally learned how to use the gas release valve on my CO2 reactor. No wonder my CO2 levels have never gone up since I first hooked it up a couple of weeks ago.

So I hook some hose to the gas release valve and put the other end of the hose in the tank. I opened the valve and sure enough, all the the air at the top of the reactor finally went away.

So quick question here. Should I leave the gas valve open all of the time? Or only open it on an as needed basis?

I think you asked me about the gas release valve a couple of weeks ago. I must hove forgotten to reply.

Regarding this issue, I leave mine closed and only open it on an as needed basis. About the only reason that you would have gas build up is if the CO2 feed rate is too much for the reactor, or the CO2 tank has something other than CO2 in it that will not dissolve in the water easily. Since setting mine up, I have rarely had to open the gas release valve and the CO2 flow rate on my 120 gallon system is pretty quick. I would have to say it is over a bubble a second easily.

 

[Izzy2]

Co2 build up happens in my reactor 1000 when the flow decreases or max co2 via my ph setting has occured. The controller turns off the magnum hot that produces the flow. My selonoid is stuck in the on position and does not turn off. Co2 builds up in the chamber until the ph increases activating the magnum.

What is your setup? what powers the flow and its rated gph? How do you monitor the co2 in the tank? What size tank? What is the bubbles per minute set at? With these answers I'll suggest improvements.

 

[fabsroman]

Co2 build up happens in my reactor 1000 when the flow decreases or max co2 via my ph setting has occured. The controller turns off the magnum hot that produces the flow. My selonoid is stuck in the on position and does not turn off. Co2 builds up in the chamber until the ph increases activating the magnum.

What is your setup? what powers the flow and its rated gph? How do you monitor the co2 in the tank? What size tank? What is the bubbles per minute set at? With these answers I'll suggest improvements.

Is your solenoid broken? If so, you could buy a new one and add it to the system for a lot less than buying a solenoid/regulator combo, especially if it is a Milwaukee.

If it isn't broken, why not have it hooked up to the regulator? You could get a socket splitter and hook up both the magnum and the solenoid to the controller.

 

[Izzy2]

Solenoid is shot. Yes, it was hooked up originally into a splitter and controller turned off both mag and co2. Yep its a Milwaukee combo system reg, sol and bubble counter.

The system was rigged a year ago and was planning on finding new solenoid. Never did get a new one. I've set the bpm perfectly. Unit builds up minimal between ph intceases.

Work has been slow. Self employed and had to manage my tight funds. Why fix old toys that still function ok and plants and fish don't care.

Sorry CJ for semi straying off topic...

 

[fabsroman]

Solenoid is shot. Yes, it was hooked up originally into a splitter and controller turned off both mag and co2. Yep its a Milwaukee combo system reg, sol and bubble counter.

The system was rigged a year ago and was planning on finding new solenoid. Never did get a new one. I've set the bpm perfectly. Unit builds up minimal between ph intceases.

Work has been slow. Self employed and had to manage my tight funds. Why fix old toys that still function ok and plants and fish don't care.

Sorry CJ for semi straying off topic...

I hear you on that. I am self employed too. And while I made just a little bit more in 2009 than I made in 2008, we had a second child in 2009 so that pretty much did away with any extra money.

If the plants and fish are all fine and you are getting the system to work, I agree, leave it alone. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

 

[laka]

I also had an Aquamedic CO2 1000. It has now retired in my garage. I found it to be too much maintenance regarding constantly bleeding the thing and the bio balls would also need cleaning. I have a 180g tank and now i have a direct feed of CO2 into the powerhead intake. Much easier set up, less hardware, definitely less maintenace (zero) and more CO2 then i ever imagined.
What a waste of money!
Don't believe all the marketing hype.
K.I.S.S

LAKA

 

[fabsroman]

I also had an Aquamedic CO2 1000. It has now retired in my garage. I found it to be too much maintenance regarding constantly bleeding the thing and the bio balls would also need cleaning. I have a 180g tank and now i have a direct feed of CO2 into the powerhead intake. Much easier set up, less hardware, definitely less maintenace (zero) and more CO2 then i ever imagined.
What a waste of money!
Don't believe all the marketing hype.
K.I.S.S

LAKA

How do you feed the CO2 directly into the powerhead?

Personally, I haven't found the 1000 to require too much maintenance/time on my part. I use a sponge in front of the Mag Drive pump to prevent any crud from getting into the 1000, and so far so good. I also made a sprayer bar out of 1" PVC pipe that works pretty good. With that said, I am always looking for new ideas that are cheaper in the long run.

 

[laka]

I noticed my bio balls would start getting grotty after a few months. This would slow the flow rate down. I also would filter the water via a powerhead with a sponge attached to it, but this didn't seem to help.

I now have a CO2 tank and solenoid, bubble counter and 2 check valves. That's it . The CO2 line (attached to an airstone) is placed into the cut out hole of my large rectangular pond sponge that is put on the intake tube of my Eheim 2000lph inwater pump. My bubble rate is i guess 3-4BPS. My drop checker is diagonally opposite my 180G 6ft tank and reads green.
How easy is that. Also eliminates the clutter i had behind my tank.

LAKA

 

[Izzy2]

I've had the 1000 inline to various powerheads or filters. Currently a Mag Hot 250. It has run like a champ for 4+ continuous years. I have not cleaned it yet. It does take up considerable space and the clutter of the extra tubing was a pain to set up. I've got use to it being semi-hidden behind the 75g.

I've since added three Red Sea Reactor 700's to a 33 long, 46 bow and a 37 high. They have a smaller footprint but are still hard to hide in the tanks. I've gotten good at cleaning them monthly in a bleach solution. A light brown film grows inside and seems to reduce their effectiveness.