Improving CO2 Dispersment

[The Rockster]

Hi,

I am thinking that my BBA problem, maybe due to my PlantGuild Power Reactor 200, not being efficient. Every 2-3 days the sponge plugs with BBA, mulm or some other debris, causing the main cylinder to fill with a pocket of CO2. Also at app. 3 bps, the d/c stays green (with 4KH solution). I do regularly clean and do filter maintance as well as weekly water changes.
I am looking at purchasing Rhinox 5000 Diffuser to replace the above reactor. My initial question is this....................is this unit intended for corner placement only?
If it is then I would have to mount it in the front corners of the tank, as the back corners have Eheim intake tubes, and the back channel of the tank cover has been cut out to fit these tubes. I was thinking mounting these diffusers in the front corner would detract from viewing the rest of the tank.

Question #2.

We have been advised to mount 2 Rhinox 5000 Diffusers, (with CO2 splitter) in our 72 gallon bowfront tank to optimize CO2 dispersal. Although we do have 2 large ornamental heads, which might be blocking some CO2, we were wondering if this idea was not over kill.

I have read the threads on Rhinox Diffusers, as well as Tom's thread on PlantGuild's reactor,( I am not interested in a DYI project involving CO2, due to my parrots.) in this forum, and still have the above questions.

As always,
thanks for your time and iinput!

 

[shoggoth43]

What about trying the needlewheel mod on a small powerhead? It will likely give you the performance you need and have far less maintenance required. There's a small power cost with them, but you can put it on the same timer as your CO2 so it doesn't run all the time.

-
S

 

[The Rockster]

I really don't know much about needlewheels or the powerheads required to get max coverage of a tank my size.
The small power cost is problably the same as I have now. I am running a small rio pump 24/7, mounted ontop of the reactor.

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

As far as I know, a diffusor can be place anywhere with the suction cup. Many folk place it so the generated mist flows into an existing powerhead or filter output.

I think the plantguild is too small for your tank size.

I don't think 2 discs are too much, it really depends on if the setup you have is delivering the performance you need or not.

If you have BBA a lot, this usually indicates poor c02.....

Not sure what you mean by the following two statements??

Although we do have 2 large ornamental heads, which might be blocking some c02

I am not interested in a DYI project involving CO2, due to my parrots.)

Do you mean parrot cichlids? Why is this an issue for a DIY setup?

You can mount a DIY reactor OUTSIDE the tank, if the concern is that the fish will either bite you or disturb the reactor.

Hope this helps.

 

[The Rockster]

The Ornamental heads are in the tank. They are my g/f's contribution to the fishtank, or they would have been thrown out years ago.......(get my drift?)



I may be too paranoid of the source of CO2 being near my companion parrots, to try a DYI project (making my own reactor, in or out of the tank).
They are very susceptible to death by poisonous gas, (teflon pots and pans are the #2 accidental killer of companion parrots-the teflon chips and burns then turns ito airborne gas; ceiling are fans #1).

In reading about these diffusers, the sellers all claim that the unit comes with suction cups.(PLURAL) I am thinking these are Jap knock offs of ADA Amano pollen glass diffusers. (Corner units?)

One seller suggested purchasing two and installing them in the corner of the tank.
So I was thinking the suction cups are located on opposite sides of the unit, to attach to the corner glass, making it hard to attach to the sides of the tank.

Thanks for the help.....................Happy Father's Day!.....................

 

[VaughnH]

The Ornamental heads are in the tank. They are my g/f's contribution to the fishtank, or they would have been thrown out years ago.......(get my drift?)

Those of us who are really serious about this hobby would immediately remove those heads, say bye bye to the girlfriend, and look for another one who is a planted tank expert. But, of course there is room for minor variations in that attitude.

 

[The Rockster]

Those of us who are really serious about this hobby would immediately remove those heads, say bye bye to the girlfriend, and look for another one who is a planted tank expert. But, of course there is room for minor variations in that attitude.

I'm working on it.

 

[TheKillHaa]

Those of us who are really serious about this hobby would immediately remove those heads, say bye bye to the girlfriend, and look for another one who is a planted tank expert. But, of course there is room for minor variations in that attitude.

oohhh!! amen.

 

[Philosophos]

It might be worth looking at the parrot thing a bit closer. Are people who make their own bread cultures or brewing their own beer ending up with dead parrots? The yeast is essentially the same; lactobacillus can be used for forms of either. The respiration of similar yeasts probably isn't going to look much different.

-Philosophos

 

[The Rockster]

It might be worth looking at the parrot thing a bit closer. Are people who make their own bread cultures or brewing their own beer ending up with dead parrots? The yeast is essentially the same; lactobacillus can be used for forms of either. The respiration of similar yeasts probably isn't going to look much different.

-Philosophos

I wouldn't think yeast is the same as teflon. But I'm not a chemist. I do know that death by teflon and nonstick materials that usually have to chip and burn is well documented and well known in the world of companion parrots. If your interested in this problem just Google it.

Bird death diaries | Environmental Working Group

Right now I am thinking PLANTED TANKS.

 

[cggorman]

CO2 is heavier than air. Unless your birds are roaming around on the floor a lot, I wouldn't think it should be a concern.

...and if it is...I'd STRONGLY suggest going w/o the CO2 altogether. Why risk it? Even the best CO2 equipment will eventually leak due to decomposition of gasket materials, maitenance, loosening of joints, etc.

Not to mention the effusion of gas thru the plastic hoses and outgassing from the water itself.

 

[The Rockster]

CO2 is heavier than air. Unless your birds are roaming around on the floor a lot, I wouldn't think it should be a concern.

...and if it is...I'd STRONGLY suggest going w/o the CO2 altogether. Why risk it? Even the best CO2 equipment will eventually leak due to decomposition of gasket materials, maitenance, loosening of joints, etc.

Not to mention the effusion of gas thru the plastic hoses and outgassing from the water itself.

Nope, the floors and more belong to our 4 cats. Being new to planted tanks, I have leaked my 5lb CO2 tank dry(due to a loose joint ) in 33 days, with no ill effects to the birds, which are family and are in my will (they will live 50-65 years). Actually the planted, Discus tank was on my Bucket List!
I use tygon tubing, and yes, I gave away all my Tfall pots and pans, and bought S/S, years ago..................Better safe than sorry.