Tiny super efficient CO2 reactor - Page 22 - DIY Aquarium Projects

tbonedeluxe · 10-21-2009, 11:02 PM

I just got mine out of the mail today,on ebay for $10 shipped.Thanks everyone for all the info and feedback.
Same question as jjm619." Does it matter if the elite is right below hob filter? Thats where i put it for now,sideways with vents pointing up.I also am using a fine air stone through the bottom.

tug · 10-22-2009, 04:06 AM

Very nice! Not sure I would call it a reactor. In the strictest sense of the word it's more of a great diffusion method. Maybe someone could correct the title of the thread from reactor to diffuser. Think of ways to maximize CO2 levels around the whole tank like a power head. If your adding CO2 and the bubbles are just gassing off to the surface they wont be of much help to your plants. Diffusers are great if the bubbles are circulating around the plants. If you want fewer bubbles and more CO2 in solution then thats a reactor. They both benefit from good water flow throughout the tank.

mikslik · 10-22-2009, 06:24 AM

Thanks for the post, I'm going to try this on my new 30 gallon

tug · 10-23-2009, 02:10 PM

Do you have the Elite? Great, might be a nice reactor. How large is the reaction chamber? If you've attached the sponge. Could a 1/2" line go between the sponge and the pump? There are a few of these designs - lots of powerhead adaptations out there. Run a line, (1/2 inch) with all those bubbles, using a small spray bar, capping the end. It would be very cool. Does anyone know what size fitting the sponge is attached to?

sukhkawal · 10-30-2009, 11:00 PM

WoW. i got a headache. just read 22 pages of this thread , word for word. wheres niko, he hasnt posted recently, but anyway , gonna buy this tomorrow, and set it up, i might post some pictures later for the people who might be confused. Thanks niko, you saved me. i was about to buy a wooden airstone and run it under a powerhead. but your idea is gold, wonder how you came up with it. Hope everything works out. GN all

niko · 10-31-2009, 07:30 AM

Sukhkawal,

You don't need to buy the Elite filter. You can use any powerhead. But you must put a sponge over the outflow.

The sponge traps the CO2 bubbles and at the same time lets water run through. So the trapped bubbles stay put and have no choice but to disolve in the water.

Using the Elite is good because it's cheap, easy to turn into a CO2 reactor, small size, black in color (hide well), and the strainer on the intake is big so snails don't get sucked and stuck on it. Using any other powerhead will require more DIY to take care of the things the Elite happen to just have by design, out of the box.

Once again - the Elite filter is enough to provide CO2 for a heavily planted 75 gallon tank. So don't assume you need a bigger powerhead or something. The water flow in a planted tank must be very good to allow the CO2 from the Elite to go everywhere. Don't expect to have measly water flow and good plant growth.

--Nikolay

sukhkawal · 10-31-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Sukhkawal,

You don't need to buy the Elite filter. You can use any powerhead. But you must put a sponge over the outflow.

The sponge traps the CO2 bubbles and at the same time lets water run through. So the trapped bubbles stay put and have no choice but to disolve in the water.

Using the Elite is good because it's cheap, easy to turn into a CO2 reactor, small size, black in color (hide well), and the strainer on the intake is big so snails don't get sucked and stuck on it. Using any other powerhead will require more DIY to take care of the things the Elite happen to just have by design, out of the box.

Once again - the Elite filter is enough to provide CO2 for a heavily planted 75 gallon tank. So don't assume you need a bigger powerhead or something. The water flow in a planted tank must be very good to allow the CO2 from the Elite to go everywhere. Don't expect to have measly water flow and good plant growth.

--Nikolay

well, i was going to buy an expensive powerhead, but this seems much more effective. i have a 36 gall. bowfront with emperor 280 hob filter, and for now will be doing DIY co2. so do you think i will have to buy another powerhead to increase water flow?

sewingalot · 11-01-2009, 09:13 AM

I just had to say a big THANK YOU to Niko for posting this. I was pushing 3 bps on my previous inline reactor and I still didn't have good diffusion. After a few hours, I had to lower the bubbles down to 1 bps for the fish and the plants are super healthly looking!

niko · 11-01-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sukhkawal

well, i was going to buy an expensive powerhead, but this seems much more effective. i have a 36 gall. bowfront with emperor 280 hob filter, and for now will be doing DIY co2. so do you think i will have to buy another powerhead to increase water flow?

Usually with HOB filters you need to increase the CO2 supply a little because the HOB filters stirs the water near the surface and some of the CO2 is lost.

I can't say if you are going to need additional ways to move the water. Try with jsut the Elite only first and see.

--Nikolay

sukhkawal · 11-01-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Usually with HOB filters you need to increase the CO2 supply a little because the HOB filters stirs the water near the surface and some of the CO2 is lost.

I can't say if you are going to need additional ways to move the water. Try with jsut the Elite only first and see.

--Nikolay

cool, thanks for the help, and i appreciate you still updating your thread even after TWO YEARS

and BTW, i always fill my tank all the way to the top, so my hob filter doesnt stir up the water.

.

so here are the tips i got from all the previous pages.

1) add an airstoen before putting co2 tube into filter. (increases efficiency).
2) add sponge to the filters output (increases efficiency).
3) make sure co2 tubing is not too close to impeller, or it can suck air,gas,liquid from co2 bottle.
4) To avoid the CO2 from accumulating in the filter when the pump is off, mount the pump sideways. So the gas can escape through the strainer bars.

hey niko, please update first page on thread and add these tips, add any i missed, and change if necessary. THANKS