I need advice on CO2 Reactor

[Lorazoo]

I am new to all of this and looking to buy a CO2 reactor/ regulator for my 125 planted tank. Has anyone bought the Milwaulkee regulator or the Red Sea Reactor 500? I spoke to customer service from Aquariumplants.com and they basically told me these items were "crap" and tried selling me their stuff. Anyone have an opinion?

I have recently been told that instead of using a recator I could just put the Co2 tubing directly into the intske valve of my canister filter. Any thoughts on this?

 

[reality]

personally I'd just build your own, there's a bunch of plans in this forum. and it'll be cheaper

 

[rrkss]

I've personally had lots of success using this DIY reactor design. Since I could not find a viewtainer I used a 24 oz pepsi bottle. Some hot water with a knife can be used to remove the glue. A simple lighter will melt the plastic eliminating the need for a drill. Took me about 10-15 minutes to build the thing.

http://www.barrreport.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=7

For some photos and a design plan.

 

[beer357si]

I have the Red Sea Reactor 500 in my 10g tank and it works very good, i really dont know how other products compare but from what i see in my tank i like. :clap: :clap:

 

[bartok]

What about noises produced by the Red Sea Reactor 500?

 

[cedwards]

i have the red sea 500 and i like it. i get a lot of tiny bubbles and i have it placed below a power head so they get dispersed. i DO hear the bubbles but it doesn't bother me. it seems to be keeping my CO2 where it should be so i'm happy. you will have to clean the ceramic disc once in a while, it gets pretty gunky and it will stop working as it should.

note that they don't recommend this for more than 50 gallons. you might want 2 in a tank your size.

 

[attack11]

i'm using an aqua-medic reactor 1000 and i love it. you could build one diy that would be similiar, but most plans like the polish of a gas valve; etc.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i use a interal filter. not only am i getting extra filtration but current on the other side of the tank.

 

[Toirtis]

The Milwaulkee stuff is great...I have not tried the Red Sea reactor, but upon examining it, it looks like it should work quite well.

 

[plantbrain]

If you want an external reactor: cost: 10-15$ works every bit as good as any.

Internal or DIY CO2 folks: the internal on my sites works better than anything else made, cost :2-3$ and then the rio 180, for larger tank like this, 2 would be needed.

Option 3: diffuser disc and blast the mist around, you'd need two for a tank this size.


Regards,
Tom Barr