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Advice on external C02 reactor

Discussion in 'General Plant Topics' started by shogsten, Apr 27, 2005.

  1. shogsten

    shogsten Junior Poster

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    I'm currently running two internal venturi reactors on my 150 and I'm getting kind of tired of looking at them and I would like to build an external reactor. I've been poking around on the net and I've found several designs. What I'm looking for is some advice/reccomendations on what works well. I'm looking for a design that will accept and dissolved a lot of C02. I have a 150g and a KH of 18 so I need an effecient design.

    A kind of silly question what are folks doing to keep water from exiting these external reactors if the C02 hose comes off ? i have no real desired to drain any amount of water from a 150 gallon tank onto the floor.

    Thanks

    Scott Hogsten
     
    #1 shogsten, Apr 27, 2005
  2. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    I use a sump on tanks this size.
    External CO2 reactors work well and DIY are very easy for sump set ups.

    Most will use a check valve in case the CO2 line falls off. Or secure the line extra good.

    I use the latter.

    Efficiency will be related to flow and diameter and length of reactor tube. Adding bioballs will help with the exchange by breaking up the water/gas mix and also provided min clogging.

    12-16" length and 3" dia would be plenty.
    I'd drive it with at least 300-400gph.

    Internals can be hidden easily, add a piece of drift wood or cork to it and attach a plant to this.
    Camo the reactor.

    I'll post a few designs for DIY external reactors, all with venturi's.


    regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #2 Tom Barr, Apr 27, 2005
  3. shogsten

    shogsten Junior Poster

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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    >I'll post a few designs for DIY external reactors, all with venturi's

    Thanks, looking forward to it. I'm having a hard time hiding the internal ones to my satisfaction plus I have almost everything else out of the tank. I had a sump under this tank when I was doing brackish water, but I could never get it as quiet as would like (it's in a family room). I have a very light fish load now and plan to keep it that way so it decreases my need for a sump. I would really like to setup something that is stand alone from the filters and use a circulation pump to drive water through it.

    Scott
     
    #3 shogsten, Apr 27, 2005
  4. Greg Watson

    Greg Watson Administrator
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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    I'm going to be about a month behind in you ...

    One of our subscribers sent me his version of an internal Venturi reactor. I have to say I am pleasantly suprised that so far, after 48 hours, it seems to be able to keep up with my 180 gallon tank (I honestly figured it would require two of them to keep up) ...

    Here's a picture to an external reactor in our gallery (I don't remember whose it is) ... Click Here And I know that Tom has a few designs that he has planned to put together into an article here ... hopefully those designs will provide those of us with larger tanks a greater degree of efficiency than the traditional designs powered off of our filter output ... I know that I have been impressed with the efficiency of this internal venturi I'm testing ...

    Greg
     
    #4 Greg Watson, Apr 27, 2005
  5. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    Yes, I just bought the parts tonight actually and will do a photo shoot and have it up this weekend.

    BTW, Harbor Freight and Tool is selling 80 gph pumps for 4.99$ea.
    Fricking insanely cheap.

    I'll post both the sump version (very efficient and easy to make!) and the hang on verison/s.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #5 Tom Barr, Apr 27, 2005
  6. shogsten

    shogsten Junior Poster

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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    No kidding !! I picked up two at the local store the other day. I picked up a 240gph pump last year (more like 150gph) for doing water changes. I think it was $14.99 looks like the medium sized Rio pump.

    Scott
     
    #6 shogsten, Apr 28, 2005
  7. AZFish1

    AZFish1 Junior Poster

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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    Hey Tom!

    Did you have a chance to put this together over the weekend? Waiting and salivating over here :p
     
    #7 AZFish1, May 2, 2005
  8. PeterGwee

    PeterGwee Lifetime Charter Member
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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    Tom, have you finish building the DIY external reactor w/venturi? :D It sure seems a long long time... :p

    Regards
    Peter Gwee
     
    #8 PeterGwee, Jul 3, 2005
  9. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Advice on external C02 reactor

    Yep, I have not.
    Too many irons in the skillet.
    The first order is the monthly articles. The rest are extras. The parts are still lying here.

    I am going to be busy in FL for the next 2 weeks, so I'll have an article for you and then get to it.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #9 Tom Barr, Jul 5, 2005
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