Can someone who has a Greenleaf's Atomic C02 diffuser, let me know the pro's and con's or how they like the performance of this Vs. some other system. I am researching for possible addition of C02 to my planted 75 gal aquarium. Thank you in advance.
I used a ceramic diffuser for a while, but I found it crumbersome to maintain. After a while the surface would be covered with algae and also get blocked. Then you had to treat it with a cleaning solution to clear. I also accidentally touched the surface on a few of them blocking the bubbles. The bubbles also didnt completely dissolve and looked like 7up . I gave in and got a CO2 reactor. This works much better for me!
I have one and absolutely love it. As soon as I made the change from an in tank diffuser, my plants went crazy. High quality at a good price. My advice is to buy two of them...so you can take your time when it comes to cleaning them...although, every six months or so isn't that bad.
I am sure this was a fluke, but mine had a catastrophic failure at the seams. Thankfully I was home when this happened, as it would have drained my tank rather quickly had I not caught it. As I said, this doesn't seem to be a common problem based on reading reviews, but certainly worth mentioning.
I have used a similar model by Up Aqua for about 8 weeks now on my 75 gallon and works very well. I have it on the output side of one of the two Marineland 350 Magnum filters I run on that tank. One of the filters is unrestricted output flow and the other filter has a Hydor ETH 300 watt in-line heater along with the CO2 diffuser on the output. Even though both of the accessories have a 'straight through' design that allows me to utilize a 4' brush for cleaning the tubing and the accessories without disconnecting them from the tubing I do have reduced flow on that one filter. The diffusers are available on Ebay for about $20 shipping included and are available in three sizes: 8/12mm; 12/16mm, and 16/22mm. I am using the 16/22mm on the 5/8" output hose and it was easy to install and a good fit.
4 foot brush with 1" X 4" head for easy cleaning of canister filter tubing and accessories with 'straight through' design
I have used both the GLA in tank atomic diffuser and Inline Atomic diffuser and both work great. The inline works better as it only has to be cleaned once every 6 months or so. However, I grew tired of the Sprite water affect and having micro bubbles all over everything in the tank. I switched to a Griggs style reactor 2 weeks ago and it is my new go to. My plants are doing better than ever and there are no micro bubbles in my tank.
Whenever you put something in line there's always a greater risk of something happening. I guess that's the downside as well as reduced flow to some extent.
Also went with a reactor. First time mine appeared to need cleaning I thought to myself "well this is one bit of maintenance I don't care to ever do" and immediately built the reactor. No more bubbles in the water, one less thing to clean. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind working on my tanks, just don't have the time i used to and like to minimize things that require disassembly super often
I kind of wondered about that as well. Which C02 (brand) reactor did you install.
I don't believe I can do an inline anything although I have a higher than rated for my tank
Aquatop Canister CF400, I believe someone said I couldn't add anything as it would
stall it down quite a bit or something? Thanks, I think I'll steer away from the diffuser
as well.
Bump: I like your 4' brush idea. Where did you find that one?
There's nothing wrong with using a diffuser in the tank (unless you don't like the look). You buy two, so when one gets dirty you soak the other one in 50/50 bleach and it's clean. I've actually soaked them during water changes and then put it back after the water change. There's really no 'real' maintenance on them. A water change is 100 times the work. What are doing soaking it in a little container? If you want to keep it clean longer when you do a water change and the level drops below the diffuser put some excel in it and let it soak while you do the water change.
A reactor will indeed slow down your canister filter a bit. But I just used a spare Bulk Reef Supply GFO reactor I had laying around. Removed the sponges and just run it in reverse. It's literally a prefabricated Cerges reactor that required zero diy. Just $5 in parts (pvc T, barbed fittings for the canister hose, barbed fitting for the co2 line) and its up and running
I would think if you cleaned it more like monthly? that might not clog up as much. Still undecided
on what to get. I can't add an 'in-line' anything since my canister filter won't allow that and their
seems to be a lot of different C02 reactors out there too, and some may leave a bit to be desired
so I am still researching but need to get something going here and give a try anyway. thanks for
all the inputs your guys!
Pro's
sufficient for what you want to achieve
easy install
goes right in tank
takes very little space
better than any other diffuser/s out there besides the inline one and replica's suggested like up aqua, some replicas suck ass
Con's
clogs, needs cleaning
if your going high co2 intake plants you need more than one
requires 30 psi
diffusion purposes may not be enough but I'm assuming it will be from where your coming from
you want to utilize it in a way so you make the best out of it
the purpose of these diffusers is mist interaction with the plants so put it under your outflow, it'll work as a reactor if you put it under your intake and bubble/s will build in your canister.
a cerges reactor is a really easy build, i bet someone can link you here to all the parts
rex grigg, a little harder to build, can be purchased from prominent seller here nilocg.
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