My DIY CO2 Diffuser/reactor

essabee · 09-06-2007, 09:34 AM

I always wanted the best utilization of CO2 in the aquarium. Using the venturi of a power-head was an easy but wasteful process. So what I had done is used a 1/2" elbow and a 1.5L pet bottle to trap the bubbles. When I used a 1/2" elbow the power head would not suck CO2 from the DIY system unless a pressure had built up. That meant that some CO2 would remain unutilized. Today I used a 1" elbow, and although my DIY is depleted today, this gadget is still drawing CO2.

mistergreen · 09-06-2007, 11:03 PM

cool, I think I'm going to make one too. I have an old vacuum siphon tube I can use... And I guess the elbow joint doesn't have to fit exactly on the powerhead.. or does it?
I'll go browsing the hardware store to see what I can find.

essabee · 09-07-2007, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistergreen

cool, I think I'm going to make one too. I have an old vacuum siphon tube I can use... And I guess the elbow joint doesn't have to fit exactly on the powerhead.. or does it?
I'll go browsing the hardware store to see what I can find.

I used a bit of tape around the powerhead output and a 1/2" reducer for a snug fit.

mistergreen · 09-07-2007, 04:47 AM

tape? i that going to last? I might try silicone.

essabee · 09-07-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistergreen

tape? i that going to last? I might try silicone.

Try epoxy putty, I went with tape for trying it out.

mistergreen · 09-08-2007, 09:50 PM

I just made one and I didn't have to use glue or tape at all. Everything fits tightly and snuggly. The hardware store is a great place.

Do you know if a reactor is more effective if the output/reactor part is above the substrate or is actually in the substrate.

tropicalfish · 09-08-2007, 10:14 PM

Perhaps you could try running the CO2 into the powerhead intake. Suction on the CO2 tube would be slightly weaker, but the bubbles get chopped much smaller.

mistergreen · 09-08-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tropicalfish

Perhaps you could try running the CO2 into the powerhead intake. Suction on the CO2 tube would be slightly weaker, but the bubbles get chopped much smaller.

I do that and the reactor.. I want to see how high I can take with this CO2 reator.

09-06-2007, 09:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
essabee Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Posts: 240	My DIY CO2 Diffuser/reactor I always wanted the best utilization of CO2 in the aquarium. Using the venturi of a power-head was an easy but wasteful process. So what I had done is used a 1/2" elbow and a 1.5L pet bottle to trap the bubbles. When I used a 1/2" elbow the power head would not suck CO2 from the DIY system unless a pressure had built up. That meant that some CO2 would remain unutilized. Today I used a 1" elbow, and although my DIY is depleted today, this gadget is still drawing CO2. __________________ If you have a choice, you have a problem, till you elect your choice. No choice, no problem, only consequences, learn to live with them. Last edited by essabee; 11-27-2008 at 04:43 AM.

09-06-2007, 11:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,342	cool, I think I'm going to make one too. I have an old vacuum siphon tube I can use... And I guess the elbow joint doesn't have to fit exactly on the powerhead.. or does it? I'll go browsing the hardware store to see what I can find. __________________ Algae happens.

09-07-2007, 04:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,342	tape? i that going to last? I might try silicone. __________________ Algae happens.

09-08-2007, 09:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,342	I just made one and I didn't have to use glue or tape at all. Everything fits tightly and snuggly. The hardware store is a great place. Do you know if a reactor is more effective if the output/reactor part is above the substrate or is actually in the substrate. __________________ Algae happens.

09-08-2007, 10:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
tropicalfish Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 913	Perhaps you could try running the CO2 into the powerhead intake. Suction on the CO2 tube would be slightly weaker, but the bubbles get chopped much smaller. __________________ Rena Filtstar #137!

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