DIY CO2 Reactor Question/problem...

[KyleT]

My Problem and question relates to This reactor.

As you can tell I put sponges in the bottom of the reactor to help "trap" the CO2, but within 2-3 days the water has already forced the sponges out of the reactor. What would you suggest I do to keep them darn sponges in the reactor?

Also what would you say the best angle for the reactor is? Vertical, Diagonal, horizontal?

And for my final problem, the suction of the suction cups is almost non-existant now. They stick for maybe 25 seconds and then just fall right off. Any suggestions?

Kyle

[Momotaro]

To keep the sponges in, how about a bit of nylon window screen held tight with a rubber band?

Mike

[KyleT]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

To keep the sponges in, how about a bit of nylon window screen held tight with a rubber band?

Mike

That'd work! :roll: Now how could I not of thought about something like that?

[Rex Grigg]

I tried using a reactor modeled on that design for a while and never got good CO2 levels with it. That's when I built my own external reactors.

[SNPiccolo5]

Since this is somwhat on topic, where are some good sites for external CO2 reactor? I tried making one, but it never really worked, I'd like to get a better one, but I'll probably have to wait until Christmas to ask for one (like the AB 1000 or something). Anyone have lots of succcess with a DIY external?

I don't use a sponge in mine, what I do is a utilize the powerhead as a spray bar by continuing tubing out of the bottom and in t a "C" like shape and put holes in the top, works quite well...

-Tim

[Momotaro]

That'd work! Now how could I not of thought about something like that?

At times we are all guilty of looking too hard for solutions!

Mike

[Rex Grigg]

I have built four external DIY reactors and they all work like champs. I know there are some pictures over on the AB forum that show how to build one.

Here is a picture of one of mine.

[digger]

I have a similar internal reactor. I drilled a couple of holes in the bottom of the gravle vac. after inserting the sponges, I ran some fishing line through the holes and over the opening.

[Wasserpest]

Just to add to this... I built my external reactor out of a gravel vac with two caps, inline with the canister filter. So far it hasn't been leaking, although I am a little cautious. Oh yeah, it is totally empty... the large diameter reduces the water speed to keep the CO2 bubbles dancing until they are dissolved. And of course it's made out of clear plastic to witness that.

[Perrush]

Here is mine :

http://users.pandora.be/perrush/!reaktor1.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/perrush/!reaktor2.jpg

I don't use a pump right away on the reactor because then you'll put unfiltert water into the reactor (diffusor) which makes it dirty. I'll pump from my filter into the reactor, just a detail.

Always use the reaktor vertical. Water going from top to bottom, CO2 going from bottom to top.

As your CO2 bubbles are below, your current is to strong. They should rise slowly.

I still use an internal reactor because no leaks this way and I like the transparancy of the reactor so I can control if it's dirty or not and if it still does its work, but I guess you can make an external reactor transparant too.