So I've seen rex grigg's design and tom barr's. The difference being that tom's design has a second hose (venturi he calls it). So what is the purpose of this second venturi hose? Is it there to release any built up CO2 in the top of the reactor? What are you supposed to connect this second tube to? I have searched but have not really come up with an exact answer. Also is this extra venturi hose necessary?
Question about reactor design
- Thread starter lipadj46
- Start date
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Like Aqua Medic 1000 it has what it's called a Bleeder Valve, The best way to use this
is crack the valve open an run a line before the pump to get the gas reuse again {venturi}.
Aqua Medic an Eheim both sells a Tee that can be use to hook up you co2 line to the intake of your pump. And you don't get a build up of gas in your reactor .
http://www.aquacave.com/reducing-tee...medic-436.html
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=PF-TL5470W
is crack the valve open an run a line before the pump to get the gas reuse again {venturi}.
Aqua Medic an Eheim both sells a Tee that can be use to hook up you co2 line to the intake of your pump. And you don't get a build up of gas in your reactor .
http://www.aquacave.com/reducing-tee...medic-436.html
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=PF-TL5470W
Last edited by a moderator:
The idea being that the pump will then mist the bleed gas, which will then feed back into the reactor, and pass right through the reactor out into the tank as mist.
I never saw a mist but had good pearling in my plants, With a gas pocket it will be
a lot of noise in the reactor and the co2 that is left in would still mix in after your co2 shuts off
{might gas your fish} ?
a lot of noise in the reactor and the co2 that is left in would still mix in after your co2 shuts off
{might gas your fish} ?
makes sense thanks. without a venturi does gas build up in the reactor to the point of causing issues or does it just waste gas?
If a large amount of gas (say, more than 2 inches) builds up, it can cause issues with dry running your pump in the event of a power failure (i.e. power shuts off, gas is able to backflow into the impellor chamber of your circulation pump, power comes back on, pump runs dry, pump burns out). A check valve can be helpfull here (I currently don't have one installed but have been speaking to Tom et al about what to use; I am keeping a careful eye on how much build up I get).
As inkslinger mentioned, once your CO2 shuts off the build up gas will eventually dissolve into your tank and be gone by the morning.
The build up gas will progressively have an impact on flow rate too.
Oh, and as for the misting, same as inkslinger, I didn't find a lot of mist going back to my tank, I generally found that it would either dissolve inside the reactor second time round or end up churning it's way around and around the venturi loop.
If your AM1000 will be somewhat underwhelmed, then the venturi loop idea could work fine for you. If you are pushing the AM1000 pretty hard, I'd probably leave it off as the churning does get pretty noisy and there is also the risk of dry running the pump toward the end of the photoperiod.
Scott.
scottward;64631 said:If a large amount of gas (say, more than 2 inches) builds up, it can cause issues with dry running your pump in the event of a power failure (i.e. power shuts off, gas is able to backflow into the impellor chamber of your circulation pump, power comes back on, pump runs dry, pump burns out). A check valve can be helpfull here (I currently don't have one installed but have been speaking to Tom et al about what to use; I am keeping a careful eye on how much build up I get).
As inkslinger mentioned, once your CO2 shuts off the build up gas will eventually dissolve into your tank and be gone by the morning.
The build up gas will progressively have an impact on flow rate too.
Oh, and as for the misting, same as inkslinger, I didn't find a lot of mist going back to my tank, I generally found that it would either dissolve inside the reactor second time round or end up churning it's way around and around the venturi loop.
If your AM1000 will be somewhat underwhelmed, then the venturi loop idea could work fine for you. If you are pushing the AM1000 pretty hard, I'd probably leave it off as the churning does get pretty noisy and there is also the risk of dry running the pump toward the end of the photoperiod.
Scott.
Thanks for the info, I just got my reactor and regulator built last night and started injecting CO2 this morning. I ended up building a reactor (2" PVC 15" long) without the venturi loop for now and will add it later or just build a second reactor.
Currently I am at about 2-3 bps and have 30ppm CO2 via a drop checker I made. This is in a 55 gallon and now I am in the process of buying and seeing what I can grow. I ripped out about 4 pounds of water wisteria and am trying to grow that as a carpet for now. I have some italian vals and some other long grassy looking plants (working now so can't look up the proper names). I also have some neat swords, a flame, some tall sword with very long leaves, then I have some anumbias and large java ferns. I also bought a bunch of trimmings from someone over on planted tank forum so that should be here today. I am looking to buy more trimmings too from hobbiests to see what plants I like and can grow well. Right now it is amazing the difference CO2 makes. I came home from work yesterday and there were streams of gas pouring out from my swords and the java ferns were pearling underneath, pretty cool. I think I need to buy some iron suppliments though.
I am also seriously considering taking out the playsand and putting in a mineralized top soil with a playsand cap. I may try malaysion trumpet snails first though to stir the substrate.
I am also seriously considering taking out the playsand and putting in a mineralized top soil with a playsand cap. I may try malaysion trumpet snails first though to stir the substrate.
Last edited by a moderator: