CO2 reactor in line with eheim canister

I built my reactor from the plans at Rex Griggs' site. The reactor is oriented vertically. My output line from the canister goes into the top of the reactor. My return to the aquarium exits the bottom of the reactor. My co2 line enters the reactor about 1/4 of the way down from the top of the reactor. The water flow through the reactor is DOWN through the bioballs. This allows more contact time with water/co2 and I get very little waste of co2 this way. I have a 125g and since I went to this reactor set-up my co2 usage was cut in half, because I was wasting so much trying to mist co2 in the aquarium.

Mark
 
I just found out that i get pressure from the water backing into the line for the CO2 so there isn't much [or any] gas getting into the reactor. I will have to switch the hole from bottom to top so the pressure doesn't affect the CO2 input
 
sardesign said:
I just found out that i get pressure from the water backing into the line for the CO2 so there isn't much [or any] gas getting into the reactor. I will have to switch the hole from bottom to top so the pressure doesn't affect the CO2 input
Click to expand...

With a check valve and sufficient co2 pressure you shouldn't have that problem.

Mark
 
wesleydnunder said:
I built my reactor from the plans at Rex Griggs' site. The reactor is oriented vertically. My output line from the canister goes into the top of the reactor. My return to the aquarium exits the bottom of the reactor. My co2 line enters the reactor about 1/4 of the way down from the top of the reactor. The water flow through the reactor is DOWN through the bioballs. This allows more contact time with water/co2 and I get very little waste of co2 this way. I have a 125g and since I went to this reactor set-up my co2 usage was cut in half, because I was wasting so much trying to mist co2 in the aquarium.

Mark
Click to expand...

I did that exactly last time I fabricated a reactor. It didn't work as well on the output of my cannister. I prefer it on the intake as I get double the misting.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
yes i agree. more psi should over come that.
Click to expand...

I don't want to dose too much CO2 though. More than 1 bubble per second might get me in trouble. Anyone?
 
Of course you will need a drop checker to know for sure, but in a 100 gallon tank, you are going to probably need at least 2 bps and probably more.
 
well the reactor didn't work as I did not measure any CO2 in the tank

before when i was directly injecting the CO2 into the cannister, I was at least getting 15 ppm

i'm not sure why it's not working. i've even tried it on the output of the cannister and there was no improvement. any ideas?
 
I modified your picture to outline the way mine was set up. I had no problem getting over 30ppm in my tank with it.

2147730122_afbf2f0ff9_o.jpg
 
Is this for your 100 gallon tank? How are you measuring your CO2 levels? How big is your reactor? I am a little confused. No matter how you set up your reactor, if it is on the inlet side of the cannister filter, you should get at least some CO2 desolved. How many bubbles per second are you using?
 
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