Easy and Simple Aquaclear HOB CO2 reactor

Nolapete

Nolapete

Monster Tank Builder
May 29, 2007
5,274
1
0
New Orleans, LA
I'm using this with pressurized CO2, so I have no clue if it will work with DIY CO2.

You will need a small airstone approximately 3/4" for this to work. I used a 59 cent blue one from PetSmart as it will be cheap to replace when needed.

Aquaclear HOB power filters have an extension tube that connects to the main intake tube. The extension tube has a slip fitting molded into it so that it can slip on to the main tube.

Using a heated ice pick or knife blade, melt a hole just below the slip fitting on the extension tube slightly larger than the stem of the airstone you are using. Clean off any residual plastic on the inside of the tube from making the hole.

Slide the airstone stem through the hole from the inside so that the airstone is in the tube below the slip fitting and the stem is protruding out.

Attach the tubing from your pressurized CO2 to the stem. Attach the extension tube to the main tube.

I have my bubble counter inline and set at about 3-4 bubbles per sec. There are only a few tiny bubbles that escape from behind the sponge in the filter. I'm considering putting another sponge on top, but I don't think it is necessary.

I'm still playing with the bubble count to get it right, but this morning I had a .6 to .8 drop in pH.

I'll post a pic when I get home today.
 
Looking forward to the picture.
 
What advantage does that have?
 
In relation to what?

I'm currently dosing around 4 bubbles per sec and the pH is down from 7.8 to 7.0 I've been making tiny adjustments to try to get 1.0 change.

The advantages:

Cost 59 cents and 2 minutes to make.
Works pretty efficiently with minimal CO2 loss.

Once I add another sponge on top of the one in the filter, I should have no CO2 loss.
 
OIC.

Maybe I shouldn't be questioning seeing as I don't run CO2.
 
Until recently I had been bubbling CO2 into the intake of my AC 30 (no airstone though) and I found that switching to a Hagen Ladder has improved my CO2 levels dramatically. Perhaps the airstone makes a big difference but I was also pretty tired of hearing the rattling noise of the bubbles hitting the impeller constantly. Do you have similar noises with the smaller bubbles produced by the airstone?
 
Nope, no noise at all. The bubbles are micro-fine when they come out of the airstone. I'm sure it isn't at efficient as the vortex reactor I'm working on, but you can't beat the price. I'm guessing that it is about 75% efficient which isn't that bad.

I've been thinking about modifying the filter to contain the CO2 better. Still tossing around ideas though.
 
Mgamer20o0 said:
are you using a sponge to slow the splash so your not gassing off all your co2? thats a good short term but i would ditch the AC as soon as you can.
Click to expand...

Evidently I'm not gassing off much based on the pH response. I am going to add a second sponge though to block any tiny bubbles from escaping.

It's not a longterm solution though.
 
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