Dual Venturi Diy External Co2 Reactor

So do you only use one or the other of the "venturi outlets" (the one on top vs. the one on the side)? Or can you use both of the short airline pieces to create 2 venturi loops?

Do you only need the second outlet 2" down if you are using the smaller top outlet as a relief valve?

Thanks.

-Mike B-

 

Is there a way to construct a venturi loop without the placing the end of the loop on the intake side of a canister filter/pump/impeller? Can the end of the venturi loop be fed into somewhere after the canister filter/pump? Somewhere on the return line?

I ask this because I am using the pressurized Rainbow Lifeguard Modular Filters with a Quietone 3000 pump and I dont think that the microbubbles will be able to be forced through the micron pleats in the mechanical module. And that it would just create a bubble that I would need to bleed out of the module.

Is there some way I can still use the venturi loop with this type of setup/filter? Or will it only work with the suction that is created by the intake of the pump and smashed up by the impeller?

Thanks for your help and patience.

-Mike B-

 

What would we ever do without you! I just built a reactor based on your design and I am veryyyy happy with the results! I get a lot more mist I can barely see 'have to go up real close and look real hard' perfect bubble size. I even like hearing the water inside churning sounds as if co2 and water is getting truly mixed in and my plants are telling me they love it! Crazy pearl even more than before!!

I have this setup on a 90g w/ sump. My reactor sits in the sump with is own pump feeding water in and the misty water output hose I have inserted into the bulhead that feeds my system pump so nothing is wasted or circulated in the actual sump.

I have used many reactors in the past and this is the only one that has ever worked well for my demanding system!

 

I agree with you 100% on this! Simple but very effective....keep the ideas rolling TBarr!

The output coming from my reactor gives a new meaning to what we call 'misting'

 

HI, just woudring how the degassing works? will the extra gas go back through the intake of the pump and goes back to the reactor again?
hani

 

The extra pictures are good. They give me the idea to make this in a sort of HOB kind of way. I really want better mist than my glass diffuser, but I dont think this will work with my pressurized, pleated filter module. I have a quiet one 1200 pump I could use, but I think the 300gph w/ 0 head would be too much for my 29gal.

Any ideas??

By the way, how long is the clear 2" pvc tube?

Thanks!

-Mike B-

 

YES! Thank you so much for that post! This is exactly what I have been wondering. I thought that putting the loop after the filter, and point it with the flow might work. I'm glad to hear that I can use the venturi loop that way. That is exactly what I wanted to hear.

I tried to place a diffuser into a reactor that I made, but the reactor was too narrow and short, and the flow was too much. Very tiny bubbles did shoot out of the outlet, but not enough. And I had to crank the bubble count. Even still, the co2 concentration never got high enough.

I will make one the correct way now. Wider tube, and a makeshift venturi loop after the filter.

Thanks again.

-Mike B-

 

AM 1000 mod?

Hi Tom,

I have an AM 1000 for my 180gal (dual overflow) driven by a 500 gph Mag drive pump.

This unit has a gas exchange ball valve used to release gas buildup. I have NOT seen the need for this on a daily basis regardless of time of day???

1. Am I doing something wrong that it should require more frequent de-gassing?
I've done it before, but not that it needs it daily.......The reactor stays full of water as the pump runs through it all the time, but the c02 is NOT run 24/7 and run a little less than the lights. 1/2 off before lights off and 1 hr before lights on.....

2. Is the modification to REPLACE this ball/check valve with a longer piece of rigid tubing and connect this with flex tubing back to the OUTFLOW of the pump?

3. Won't this just send water from the reactor back to the filter if the reactor is full of water as mine always is? Is the intent to send just GAS through the venturi, or gas enriched water?

4. How did you connect the return loop back to the filter output line? Looks like you grafted it in somehow???

5. The output of the reactor is stuck into the large sponge filter surrounding the intake of my 1800 gph pump that splits to both outlets to tank. Is this adequate? I was concerned about hooking a 500 gph restricted flow (due to reactor) into a much larger pump, that I would be killing the bigger pump by limiting intake.

Sorry if these questions seem obvious or silly..........

I appreciate all of your time and patience.

I have made many other improvements you have suggested to improve my c02 usage and they have all worked well. I think this may be even more optimal if I can understand it lol

BTW, I started EI this week and will keep all posted. New 6500k MH (from 14k) bulbs and drop checker expected by end of this week, so all hardware changes will be done and I can FINALLY verify my C02 levels. Hope to post some before/after pix!

My plants all pearl much more now, even algae and crypt leaves at the very bottom of the tank. This is a big improvement from before, where only leaves close to the surface would pearl......

Thanks again to you Tom and all others who have contributed to my knowledge base and tool kit and have answered my many questions.

 

I'm a little confused. All designs I've seen b4 for the CO2 inlet have showed the injection point of CO2 within 2" of the TOP of the reactor, normally from the side. You suggest using 12" long 2" diameter pipe and a 12" length of rigid airline inserted on the inlet side of the reactor. This will obviously put the CO2 injection point at the BOTTOM of the reactor. Obviously the gas doesn't just exit the reactor. I trust your design much more then that! But does that mean that my reactor is even more inefficient then I thought? I do get quite a bit of mist (large bubbles at times) in my tank. Could this have something to do with why? I also moved my reactor to in intake side of my canister at the suggestion of several folks @ The Planted Tank. You reference putting it on the outlet side, down stream from the venturi return port. Again, was I guided incorrectly?

 

Mod done - EZ

Hi Tom,

The release valve on the AM 1000 already had a nipple ending on it. I slipped some c02 tubing over it and connected the other end to the strainer of the pump that drives the reactor, so it is just PRIOR to the impeller and sent back to the reactor. I then just opened the ball valve and let it rip.....

Is this the venturi loop you mention?

This was way TOO easy. Now I am thinking I did something wrong

The tubing from the release valve has a constant stream of water going through it.

Is this expected? Or is the expectation that gas only will flow?????

My entire reactor is always filled with water (see prev reply for details),

Thanks again for all of your help.

Tank is looking better all the time

Sorry I am struggling a bit with this......

 

You did it right, Gerry. That is how it is supposed to be hooked up, but for some reason, your reactor doesnt build up gas half way through the day. Either it is really efficient and dissolves all the co2, the flow is really strong and pushes everything out of the reactor--so no gas builds up, or you aren't injecting enough co2 to have a buildup in the reactor later on in the day. Since there is no buildup, only water is flowing through your loop. Usually it will be co2/gas or a mix of gas and water. BUT, if your co2 levels are ok, dont worry about it. If the gas ever does build up, your venturi loop will certainly work (at least how I picture it, it will).

Good luck!

-Mike B-

 

I have a stupid part question, I apologize in advance. I had a hard time finding a part like your 1/2 threaded elbow that is half white. Does not appear necessary, but just wanted to double check to make sure I was not missing something obvious, looks like I can just connect with tubing. I got an extra of the 90deg black elbow. As an FYI to everyone, I also found that Lowes had everything I needed, Home Depot in my area (DC area) did not even carry the 2 to 1/2 bushings threaded bushings