Problem with ISTA Reactor

G

GillesF

Member
Nov 1, 2010
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Antwerp, Belgium
Aaaah ok, that sucks.

Do you use a solenoid on your CO2 system? This will also shut off the CO2 during a powercut. Not so good for the plants though ...
 
S

sandeepraghuvanshi

Prolific Poster
Nov 8, 2011
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GillesF;84233 said:
Aaaah ok, that sucks.

Do you use a solenoid on your CO2 system? This will also shut off the CO2 during a powercut. Not so good for the plants though ...
Click to expand...
No, I don't use a solenoid.
 
H

Htomassini

Guest
That's the problem. All reactors are made to work with a solenoid. How do you cut out the co2 at night? That reactor is pretty good at dissolving co2 so you may be putting too much co2 at night. If you don't want a solenoid then plug your canister into a pc battery back up unit. It will run your canister for at least 3 0 mins to over hour depending on your filter and ups.



Henry tomassini
www.theplantedaquariumstore.com
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
H

Htomassini

Guest
The reactor is doing what it's supposed to do. Mix co2 with running water. You stop the water flow and it will flood the reactor with co2. Do you have this on the intake or outflow side? If you have it on the outflow side and you have it mounted vertically the co2 should be creeping upward to the outflow pipe and into the tank. Normally a gas will not flow down. Do not connect this on the intake side.


Henry tomassini
www.theplantedaquariumstore.com
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
S

sandeepraghuvanshi

Prolific Poster
Nov 8, 2011
73
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Htomassini;84346 said:
The reactor is doing what it's supposed to do. Mix co2 with running water. You stop the water flow and it will flood the reactor with co2. Do you have this on the intake or outflow side? If you have it on the outflow side and you have it mounted vertically the co2 should be creeping upward to the outflow pipe and into the tank. Normally a gas will not flow down. Do not connect this on the intake side.


Henry tomassini
www.theplantedaquariumstore.com
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

The connections are made as shown in the manual.
The reactor is mounted vertically, the inflow is from the side of the reactor, the outflow is from the top of the reactor.
When gas starts accumulating it should come out from the outlet side and not back towards inflow side into the Canister.
The Manual or the website do not state anywhere that a solenoid is required for proper functioning of the reactor.
This should have been mentioned on the product description.
As of now I have taken out the reactor and it is lying useless for me.
 
B

Biollante

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 21, 2009
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Surprise, AZ
The More CO2, The Faster Dutchy Ends Up With A 1st Floor Apartment

Hi,

I use CO[SUB]2[/SUB] reactors very similar to yours and know of no requirement for a solenoid.:calm:

A solenoid would be one answer to the power outages. Power off solenoid closes, no CO[SUB]2[/SUB] to “airlock” the canister filter.;)

A check valve on the output side of the canister filter should prevent the CO[SUB]2[/SUB] from backing up into the filter and dump it into the tank instead.:D

Another answer is to use a separate pump, an inexpensive submersible pump in place of the canister filter output the power goes off so does the pump, the CO[SUB]2[/SUB] ends up in the tank.:)

Biollante
 
H

Htomassini

Guest
Solenoids are usually mounted on the regulator before the needle valve, red sea makes one that can be used on the plastic tubing. You did not answer my question regarding the reactor, did you mount the reactor so the water comes from the outlet side of the cannister filter?
 
S

sandeepraghuvanshi

Prolific Poster
Nov 8, 2011
73
0
6
Biollante;84436 said:
Hi,

I use CO[SUB]2[/SUB] reactors very similar to yours and know of no requirement for a solenoid.:calm:

A solenoid would be one answer to the power outages. Power off solenoid closes, no CO[SUB]2[/SUB] to “airlock” the canister filter.;)

A check valve on the output side of the canister filter should prevent the CO[SUB]2[/SUB] from backing up into the filter and dump it into the tank instead.:D

Another answer is to use a separate pump, an inexpensive submersible pump in place of the canister filter output the power goes off so does the pump, the CO[SUB]2[/SUB] ends up in the tank.:)

Biollante
Click to expand...

I have already started using a small submersible pump in place of canister filter out put, the problem is no longer there.
Sometimes the easiest of solutions can be elusive.
@ Htomassini
The input of reactor is connected to output of canister.
 
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