Water flow speed through CO2 Reactor?

[The Gipper]

1. Anyone have a CO2 reactor in a wet-dry sump? Care to share where you got it or if you made it, what were you rdesign considerations?

2. It seems that a slower flow of water through the reactor would promote better absorption (not sure thats a correct term!). What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Mark

 

[Matak]

My reactor is the tube that connects my pump to my RFUGF. It is a cheap fluval sponge filter. It has just enough flow to keep the CO2 bubbles in mid tube, which seems to be just about perfect.

 

[plantbrain]

Take a 3 or 2 inch piece of PVC, cap both ends and fill with bioballs etc and cut about 12-18" L.
Run CO2/water froth into the top and have the water exit out the bottom.
Feed the CO2 gas into the pump intake.
Have outflow go right into the suction side of the return pump.

Should work fine for up to about 300 gallons, maybe more.
Use a 200GPH pump or larger for a 100+ gallon tank.
Should cost 10$ or so + pump cost.

Generally, more flow is better, at least with the reactors I make and with this design. At some point you'll exceed the design limits but do you have a 300 gal tank? If not, try a maxi jet 900 or so. That's ebough and 18 inch tube is more than enough for the most CO2 consumptive 300 gallon tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr