CO2 injection

[vic21]

Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I am in the process of setting up a presurized CO2 system and I am curious about the appropriate way to introduce the CO2 to the tank. I am seriously considering simply routing the injection line into the pick up of the XP5 and calling that good. My one concern is the XP5 is a canister with the impeller built into the top of the canister and I am concerned about gas build up in the top of the tank and the likely resultant cavitation of the impeller.
Comments and other methods solicited.
Cheers;

 

[kyle3]

I've heard of people doing that and it suposedly distributes well but can have a negative affect of some kind that i can't remember over time

the best CO2 diffusers are the glass diffusers- not too expensive either, i plan on getting one here's a link

 

[vic21]

CO2 difusser

Hi:
I have looked at those glass difussers. I am not convinced they are the best as they have a problem with becoming quite algeaed and somewhat unattractive. Also, I bough the tank for fish, not hardware. I am also evaluating an inline difusser (DIY) on the outlet (clean) side of the filter. This way will likely work real well but, it is just another "thing" to clean and as it is inline on a canister filter underneath my aquarium it will not likely be that handy to get at. There is also some concern about breaking the outlet line as that will result in a possible siphon. I can't decide what to do. It is real interesting, the rest of the decisions relative to the CO2 presurization issue were made with relatibely little pain. This one is just becoming a pain in the ***!
Cheers and thanks for the reply;

 

[Lauren]

Injecting into your filter is clean looking, however, as you assumed, gas build up can happen. It can suddenly belch a large amount of Co2 into your tank, or it can damage the filter.

I have to say, though, if you aren't willing to clean the Co2 inlet, are you really up to keeping a planted tank? Water changes, trimmings, pruning, fertelizing? I like the intake diffusers, because I have a room issue around my tank. I think the glass ones are some of the best you can buy, however, especially if you don't want much hardware in your tank. They take up the least amount of room if not injecting into a filter and sump, and are the least low tech of the options.

 

[vic21]

The tank is a 125g that has 0 ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte. I don't think that maintenance is an issue. Simplicity is the issue. I have not read any reports that spoke very highly of the glass difussers.

 

[nursie]

Tom Barr is a proponet of limewood diffusers. You could try that. I am just starting up too, and went with the glass diffuser becasue it came with the set up, and I positioned it under the spraybar, and it does waft the CO2 around the tank.

 

[vic21]

Thanks:
I have sent a P/M.
Cheers;

 

[raymond_h2002]

Breaking the outlet line? How so?

Use metal hose clamps on all your hose connections, and use a brass check valve on the co2 inlet. that should keep you pretty safe.

I think having a reactor on the outlet is pretty low maintenence.. clean water is what's flowing through, so there's not much to clean.

 

[carpguy]

I had a DIY inline on my outlet side for years and it never needed cleaning. Clear as a bell when I took it down.

I'm experimenting now with an inline diffuser hybrid. No luck so far. Model 3 (the limewood version) will be tested tomorrow. Still gathering for parts for model 4.

Properly set up, you shouldn't have any trouble with the line mysteriously separating. The cabinet is a relatively easy place to go way over the top on redundancy. A couple of quick disconnects will do the trick if you decide you need easy access.

On the intake side of the coin, I don't see large pockets of gas building up in the filter: there's a lot of stuff in there and a high flowthrough. You are likely to hear every single bubble hit the impeller. The acidity may beat the impeller down overtime.

 

[vic21]

CO2 injector

Carpguy:
Thanks. I was having a brain stall. CO2 is very hard on plastic and the impeller is plastic. The corosive quality of CO2 is greatly enhanced with the addition of water = carbolic acid. That would be why it is recomended that one use CO2 line from the bubble counter rather than plastic air line. The CO2 inline location, if that is what happens, is now decided. It will be on the clean (outlet) side of the canister.
Once again thank you for the brain jolt, it is much appreciated.