CO2 reactor review

PeterGwee

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Jan 23, 2005
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My tank is an
approx. 20gallon tank (60cm x 30cm x 40cm).

pH is being
measured by an Ecco pH test pen. KH via AP KH test kit (sample with 20ml of
water to get the max out of the kit.)

Surface
movement is pretty heavy by 2 AC fans blowing directly onto the surface water.
(11 cm dia. AC fan). Filter is Eheim 2026 (hahahahaa...very overkilled :p
Outlet is using the normal one point outlet though...thinking of changing it
and hooking up to a spraybar instead.)

Reactor? Which
one? I am currently using the internal one like those taiwan UP brand reactor (reactor chamber roughly around 22cm long, 5cm diameter) with
bioballs in it and water fed into the top by the side. CO2 is fed directly from
the top of the reactor via the input point. I have another DIY external reactor
made from PVC similar to that of Ghazanfar Ghori's design. Its 1.5"
dia instead of 2"...will that make a big difference? The reaction chamber
length is 30cm long. I will try to get time to test this reactor again with the
maxi-jet to see if I can get good response time.

So...an
efficient CO2 reactor should be able to get to 30ppm within an hour or so from
ambient levels without the need to crank the CO2 input rate high?

I do see quite
a lot of folks with inefficient reactors as compared to what you have (from the
comments that yours are able to reach 30ppm within an hour or so from ambient
levels.). They either need to crank in the bubble rate a bit to catch up or
start the CO2 earlier via solenoid to hit the good range. Hope I can get around
it quick. Tom, the reactor that you are using for the 350 gallon tank is the $2 reactor design?


Regards

Peter Gwee
 

Tom Barr

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Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

If the tank is only 20 gal, you should definitely see a change without mixing issues.

I'll email you a basic design later on list.

Regards,

Tom Barr
 

fosteder

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Feb 3, 2005
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Rochester, NH
Re: CO2 reactor review

Could you email it to me also Tom? I have the same size tank (20 G) and my first attempt at a reactor was a disaster. :(

Thanks
 

Tom Barr

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Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

I'll post it in the gallery.
Many pics for the DIY design are missing, perhaps Greg knows what happened to them????

I'll post some Diagrams for everyone, simply drawings that label everything.

I can look at something and tell what it does. Not everyone can, and I've been doing it awhile also:). Very much the tinkerer.

It will not be up till Mon even-Tues.
I'm out of town working in the Bay and away from the diagram.
I mthink if Greg wants, he has a copy and can post it, but he has enough to do at the moment working throuhg the bugs and missing stuff here still:)

But these will be worked out and made better in the coming days, weeks and years.

The site will be permenant, not just a year or two.


Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Greg Watson

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Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

Tom Barr said:
I'll post some Diagrams for everyone, simply drawings that label everything.

I'm out of town working in the Bay and away from the diagram.
I mthink if Greg wants, he has a copy and can post it

I think I have the two diagrams Mr. Barr was talking about posted ... you can check them out here: http://www.barrreport.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=11

Greg
 

Cornhusker

Guru Class Expert
Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

tom's reactor is a great design, i've made two of them, top and side mount and both really work. why they work is beyond me . it seems that saturation is much better and faster. i think the side mount is easier to build and looks better. viewtainer 2.00,pump 11.00, toilet supply tubing 3.00 and your set to go . anyone interested in just how i do it get ahold of greg watson, he will give you my phone #,i think. :) regards,cornhusker
 

chubasco

Guru Class Expert
Jan 24, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

Cornhusker, is it possible to take a pic of it and post it in the gallery? I'm sure
I'm not the only one who would like to see it.

Bill
 

Cornhusker

Guru Class Expert
Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

:) bill, i would be glad to as soon as i get my new camera going. digital cameras are all new to me. regards, cornhusker :)
 

Cornhusker

Guru Class Expert
Jan 23, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

:) bill, i would be glad to as soon as i get my new camera going. digital cameras are all new to me. regards, cornhusker :)
 

chubasco

Guru Class Expert
Jan 24, 2005
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Re: CO2 reactor review

Cornhusker, when you get your camera going (borrowing one, works too ;) )
paste it up in the gallery! Thanks.

Bill