Well I finally built my very first CO2 reactor after having used a diffuser for the last year or so. I have to say that I was impressed when I hooked it up and it actually worked. It would be wrong if I did not thank Tom Barr and Rex Grigg for all their great information that I found posted on numerous web sites. I basically just combined the elements I liked from each of their reactors and made my own version. This is what I did.
First I gathered all the parts including:
1- 2" reducing T with a 1/2" threaded side port
1- 2" Coupling slip
1- 2" Plug
1- 2" Reducer Bushing with a 1/2" threaded port
1- 12" Clear PVC pipe
2- 12" long 3/16" tubing
2- 1/2" hose barbs
This is what all the parts look like laid out waiting to be assembled:
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The first thing I did was drill two 3/16" holes in the top of the reducer bushing like so:
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Then I inserted a 12" long 3/16" tube in one hole for the CO2 line to attach to and a 3" long tube that I will later attach an extra piece of CO2 tubing to with a valve so that I can release any built up gas at the top of the reactor:
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After assembling all the pieces, this is what the finished product looks like. In this picture you can see the extra piece of CO2 tubing I attached to the 3" interior tube. It has a drip irrigation valve attached to the top which I will use to release any back pressure that builds up. Luckily the reactor has worked pretty efficiently and most of the CO2 injected is being dissolved. I have not had to release any trapped gas as of yet.
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This is the reactor attached to my filter and CO2 System. Using clear PVC pipe allows you to use the 3/16" tube as a bubble counter so you know exactly how much CO2 is entering the reactor:
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Well thats my reactor. Hope it helps anyone trying to build their own. Good Luck.