[adechazal]

Hey all, I use an aquamedic 1000 reactor powered by a Maxijet 1200 powerhead from my sump. The outlet of the reactor drops back in the sump and actually sits in the intake hole of the main pump. I get a buildup of CO2 in the reactor which fills all but about the bottom inch of the reactor. I read about, and at one time implemented, the feedback loop where the vent line runs back into the input of the powerhead to recirculate excess C02 but this led to a bunch of fine bubles being ejected into the aquarium and didn't reduce the buildup much.

My question is, does it matter that there's a buildup? Am I dissolving less CO2 into the water by having a buildup? It seems to me that water sprinkling through a reactor full of CO2 would get about as saturated as possible. This setup is for a 180g and my BPS is at about 2-3 which isn't all that fast so I'm not sure why the buildup develops.
Aaron

 

[ray-the-pilot]

Hey all, I use an aquamedic 1000 reactor powered by a Maxijet 1200 powerhead from my sump. The outlet of the reactor drops back in the sump and actually sits in the intake hole of the main pump. I get a buildup of CO2 in the reactor which fills all but about the bottom inch of the reactor. I read about, and at one time implemented, the feedback loop where the vent line runs back into the input of the powerhead to recirculate excess C02 but this led to a bunch of fine bubles being ejected into the aquarium and didn't reduce the buildup much.

My question is, does it matter that there's a buildup? Am I dissolving less CO2 into the water by having a buildup? It seems to me that water sprinkling through a reactor full of CO2 would get about as saturated as possible. This setup is for a 180g and my BPS is at about 2-3 which isn't all that fast so I'm not sure why the buildup develops.
Aaron

What you are seeing is not CO2. Other gasses like O2 and N2 can be mixed in with your industrial grade CO2. Also gasses can come from your tank water and find their way to the reactor. Since they are not very soluble in water they build up in the top of the reactor.

The reactor comes with a "false gas" valve at the top. Use this to periodically dump the gas that builds up in the reactor. I do this when my controller is off and no CO2 is going to the reactor.

You should do this regularly as the "false gasses" reduce the efficiency of the reactor.

 

[inkslinger]

the best thing to do is a loop from the bleeder valve from the AM1000 an run it to a T before the pump , Aqua Medic makes some T's that fit a co2 hose line and come in 3 sizes I use the 16/22 for 5/8 hose and this helps dissolves the co2 even better .I get better pearling from my plant's and you use all your CO2