Similar situation
My water starts out at 8.2 pH and KH of 9 to 10.
You are borderline on the water, but I think that you'd find the Hagen system to be not quite enough due to the size of the tank.
Knowing this, I'd vote for DIY. With access to a good workshop, you've got it made.
I made a reactor based on the vortex reactor for sale by PlantGuild.com. Mine gets airlocked if it is left unplugged and gets CO2 into the water pump, so there may be some trick to positioning the pump so that the gas does not flow into it when you have it off, as in cleaning the tank. There are other plans for other ways to do that, it sort of depends on the filtration you have and what parts you have laying around. I had a large spice jar and bought a small water pump for $8 online. If you have a powerful canister filter, you might use some of that flow to run through an inline external reactor, or a gravel tube type reactor which is the same thing intank, with a bit less flow restriction.
I think many people progress from one thing to the next trying to get to the point that gives the results they need. Some are fine just using a fine misting airstone, others feed into the filter intake. That's a good place to start. Meanwhile, start collecting whatever parts you can find to build a better reactor, just in case you later need it.
Do include a bubble counter as it will help contain a foam over and keep it from getting into your tank.
My water starts out at 8.2 pH and KH of 9 to 10.
You are borderline on the water, but I think that you'd find the Hagen system to be not quite enough due to the size of the tank.
Knowing this, I'd vote for DIY. With access to a good workshop, you've got it made.
I made a reactor based on the vortex reactor for sale by PlantGuild.com. Mine gets airlocked if it is left unplugged and gets CO2 into the water pump, so there may be some trick to positioning the pump so that the gas does not flow into it when you have it off, as in cleaning the tank. There are other plans for other ways to do that, it sort of depends on the filtration you have and what parts you have laying around. I had a large spice jar and bought a small water pump for $8 online. If you have a powerful canister filter, you might use some of that flow to run through an inline external reactor, or a gravel tube type reactor which is the same thing intank, with a bit less flow restriction.
I think many people progress from one thing to the next trying to get to the point that gives the results they need. Some are fine just using a fine misting airstone, others feed into the filter intake. That's a good place to start. Meanwhile, start collecting whatever parts you can find to build a better reactor, just in case you later need it.
Do include a bubble counter as it will help contain a foam over and keep it from getting into your tank.
