co2 misting or reactor?

[timwag2001]

i've read tons of threads and arcticles on people who prefer either or.
what do yu prefer? which do you think works best?

mr. barr, i've read an old thread from you called co2 revelations. do you still feel the same about having a fine mist?

opinions?

 

[Jaykit]

Is CO2 misting a line just into a powerhead? If it is I would say both combined. I used to have a reactor funnel into a powerhead.

 

[timwag2001]

yeah sure. you could mist by putting a line into a pwerhead.
i was really talking about a ceramic diffusor or something like it. but i guess that would be the same.

 

[Bk718]

reactor = zero waste
but i still use the ceramic

 

[timwag2001]

what has my interest in this is one of tom barrs old threads from The Planted Tank. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/general-planted-tank-discussion/21340-co2-revelations.html and http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/g...iscussion/21609-co2-revelations-part-2-a.html.
from what i've read it would be harder for the plants to take in dissolved co2 than it is to take in an actual co2 bubble under the leaves

 

[Riiz]

Recently , I switched from a reactor to a Hagen Elite diffuser (mister basically) and I'm liking the simplicity and the extra flow from not having a reactor driven by canister and again the hagen acually moves a bit of flow too. And after going through this experiment I'm starting to think the Hagen has the edge, just due to the micro bubbles coming into contact with the plants themselves. I think I'm getting better growth from a couple of plants but maybe I'm just noticing it more, the growth isnt too conclusive atm.

 

[FISHSHROD]

I removed my reactor (1000) yesterday and ran the co2 into the intake of my fx5. I wasn't able to get the amount of co2 into the tank with the reactor that I wanted. With it running into the fx5 I was able to raise it right up easily. I also disconnected the ph controller and have it running on my light schedule for now. I will monitor it closely and see if it works this way .

 

[coach_z]

I prefer the reactor style because IMHO ceramic diffusers break it up into little bubbles that float right up to the top and then gas off (unless the one i had just simply was broken). So i would say 3) run into powerhead, 2) reactor, 1) canister

 

[timwag2001]

mr barr. if you're around could you tell me if my theory is legit. if i mist air through the venturi on a powerhead and those tiny little bubbles land under the leaves, while i'm dissolving co2 into my tank through a reactor... would the co2 enter the little air bubbles and be kinda like diffusiing the co2 through a glass diffusor? i know the bubble wouldnt be 100% co2 but it would be co2 in gas form.

 

[plantbrain]

It's a theory.
I do not know if it's true or not, nor have any way to tell if the CO2 was [aq] or a gas[g] when the plant took it in or not.

I can measure the effect of gas bubbles breaking up the boundary layers by using other gases, say N2 and how much that might lead to enhanced growth. the difference if the CO2[aq] is the same in the growth rate, would be due to CO2 in the gas form, perhaps..it would strongly suggest so, but does not prove it.

It would be very tough to prove.
I'm not sure how to do that.
Need someone more clever than myself to solve that one

In practical terms for hobbyists, it's a very easy way to add plenty of CO2 into plant beds and see where the plants/CO2 go, respond etc.

Easy to snip the Rio impeller into 1/3rds and bend back to get a needle wheel that's cheap and easy to modify.

Regards,
Tom Barr