[Wet Thumb Forum]-Bio balls in DIY reactor

[Bob Hooper]

I was just wondering why everyone uses bio balls in the reactors they make. I know it is basicaly to help hold the bubbles of CO2 until they are completly dissolved in the water. I read in another post that you could use the plastic pot and pan scrubbers instead of the bio balls.I would think that these would offer more nooks and crannies for the bubbles to hang up in until dissolved and still not have to much resistance against the water flow through the reactor.Just wanted some input before putting mine together.
Thanks,
Hoop

[Bob Hooper]

I was just wondering why everyone uses bio balls in the reactors they make. I know it is basicaly to help hold the bubbles of CO2 until they are completly dissolved in the water. I read in another post that you could use the plastic pot and pan scrubbers instead of the bio balls.I would think that these would offer more nooks and crannies for the bubbles to hang up in until dissolved and still not have to much resistance against the water flow through the reactor.Just wanted some input before putting mine together.
Thanks,
Hoop

[ekim]

The bio balls are not really there to hold the bubbles, they make the water more turbulent so it doesn't flow out of the reactor very fast.
IMO the scrubber pads would get clogged up after x amount of time, where the bio balls are not very good at holding small particles!

[Bob Hooper]

Thanks Ekim,Now I will seal my reactor up using the bio balls.
Hoop