Co2 injection: What's the most efficient method?
- Thread starter fablau
- Start date
Wow, I see... quite a difference. But still do you think the fact to have such a stable PH curve could be due just to the "size" of the reactor?
I never tried the AM-1000 but did try the 2" PVC route and a lot of bubbles would just make it through the reactor. That's when I moved to a Cerges reactor 20" and that helped tremendously but it was very tall. the reactor I run now is shorter but it makes up for the lost height with girth slowing the flow through the reactor. I'll bet I get way more contact time then you do with the AM-1000/cerges combo (I take it yours is just a 10" cerges).
Yes, my cerges is 10" plus a 3" cap. I am curious to know what kind of enclosure you use for your reactor. Is that a modified home-filter or a completely custom made one? Also, what needle-wheel pump do you use to drive the reactor? Sorry, but the more info you give me, the more questions arise!! Thanks 
No worries Fab. Here it is a little dark as we are watching a movie. The pump is a Waveline DC-6000. I have it converted to the skimmer configyration that adds a Venturi and needle wheel impeller. In the skimmer configuration the flow rates are greatly reduced. The benefit of the DC pump is that the flow can be adjusted via the controller, the manufacturer claims 6 set points but it go's up in half increments so it's actually 12. I have had this pump running for 3 months now at the second set point. An other added benefit is that the pump runs much cooler.
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/waveline-dc-pumps-gen2
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/waveline-dc-pumps-gen2
Wow, thank you so much! I didn't even know about those pumps... I'll consider them too. Was the reactor made by yourself? It looks perfectly done!
I see... ok, thank you for the info, I will think a little bit about a possible new setup. Your help and provided info have been tremendously helpful! Thank you again very much!
Ltb420, today I got my Micro-Pore Hog which I ended up buying it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
But it doesn't seem to work well. Bubbles are getting out only around the air intake, and their size is big (!!)... do you think it is defective? Did you have a similar issue? Airpump should be powerful enough, I am using a Aqua-Supreme Ap-4 (2.0 PSI)... ideas?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
But it doesn't seem to work well. Bubbles are getting out only around the air intake, and their size is big (!!)... do you think it is defective? Did you have a similar issue? Airpump should be powerful enough, I am using a Aqua-Supreme Ap-4 (2.0 PSI)... ideas?
How was the packaging for yours? Mine came in a box but I have seen some in bags. My bubbles are a lot smaller than the regular ceramic air stones. A lot of tiny bubbles make it to the return pump and into the main tank. I also see just a bit of air leaking from the end cap, and those bubbles are large, but I don't see a lot coming from there If your losing a lot of air from the end cap it may not have been sealed properly and I would have them send a new one. In the picture I posted befor I'm using a pump that puts out 2psi and 6 litters of air per minute. Your pump from what I could find puts out 4.5 lpm but that should still be sufficient to run that stone.
Mine was in a box, and my pump is rated 2.0 PSI (on its own box). I am afraid I have to send it back then, since I see just big bubbles coming out around the air intake, and no bubbles at all coming from the rest of the stone. Ouch!!
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Yes, I think so too. I have ordered a new one, a different one, hopefully will work fine:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004P19YXE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And I'll try to return this one... bummer indeed!!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004P19YXE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And I'll try to return this one... bummer indeed!!
Yes, it is actually large.... I will see how I will be able to arrange it. I will keep you posted. Thanks!
I haven't received the micro-pore stone yet, but in the meantime something interesting happened... for two days I haven't looked at my reactor, and the second bleed (placed about 2 inches under the top) got clogged, and then gas built up into the reactor to fill it almost completely with Co2... and that happened for two days.... guess what? The PH drop curve was exactly like yours! Have a look at the attached screenshot of those two days.
The PH dropped a little bit less (probably because the reactor became a little bit less "efficient' with all that gas built up inside), but the PH (and probably the Co2 concentration inside the tank) was perfectly stable for the whole day!
Why's that? I'd like to have that curve and that stability, but without having to "build-up" gas inside my reactor! Thoughts?
The PH dropped a little bit less (probably because the reactor became a little bit less "efficient' with all that gas built up inside), but the PH (and probably the Co2 concentration inside the tank) was perfectly stable for the whole day!
Why's that? I'd like to have that curve and that stability, but without having to "build-up" gas inside my reactor! Thoughts?
From what I can take in you may just need to adjust the level that the bleed line is set at. At this point I would reset the reactor with the bleed line closed and check where the gas bubble is at when the graph bottoms out. That should be close to the level you should set the bleed line at.