DIY CO2 reactor not working

Alec · 11-04-2009, 04:47 AM

Hey guys,

So i built Rexs' reactor, however, it doesnt seem to be working. I know my CO2 tank is putting out X amount of CO2, yet my drop checker never seems to change color. My CO2 ran all day and no change in drop checker color (a bluish-green color (not completely green). I have a 55G. In the reactor i can hear the water falling after the CO2 has been turned on for a little bit. Yesterday, when i leveled the reactor a bunch of bubbles came out, leading me to believe that the CO2 is not diffusing correctly. What do i do????

jefft72 · 11-04-2009, 05:58 AM

Do you have a bubble counter on your CO2 regulator? If so, how many bubbles per second are coming out?

Can you post a picture of your reactor just for reference? There may be an issue of the gas not dissolving as it should, but I am not sure we have enough info yet to determine that.

I know that in my experience when I do a water change and have to prime my filter again I do hear water falling inside the reactor, but that generally only lasts a short time as water fills up the column. My bubble counter runs ~3bps and my drop checker is a nice green at the end of the day. Anything higher than 3bps will send my fish gasping for O2 within a few hours.

You didn't mention it, but you may need an additional power head to properly circulate the water in your aquarium.

Alec · 11-04-2009, 08:58 PM

So my bubble counter reads about 2 bps. My reactor is hooked up to my eheim 2217, which shoots water along the backside of my 55G. Like i said, i can hear a falling water sound and if i invert the reactor bubbles come out of the spray bar. Also my drop checker does not change color. Its a turqoise blue.. always..

Here is a picture of my setup:

What should i do? I feel like i set it corretly, however, it doesn't seem to be working!

Alec · 11-04-2009, 10:48 PM

I set up the CO2 right below my drop checker to make sure it was working and it slowly began to change green. I dont know what to do about my reactor

jefft72 · 11-05-2009, 12:32 AM

You could try to increase the bubble rate from your regulator. Test it on a day when you will be there to monitor your fish health as you increase CO2. I have cranked mine up for a short time during testing till my fish started gasping at the surface and then I backed it down.

Perhaps additional flow using a powerhead to circulate the co2 saturated water?

Alec · 11-05-2009, 12:47 AM

I would think i would be getting good flow from the 2217. Its blowing some of my plants around. Is it possible the CO2 is being lost before it hits the other side of the tank? Should i try bioballs? They look like they are loud. Also, the more i crank the CO2, the louder that "falling water" sound gets. Im guanteed the CO2 is getting trapped somewhere.

jefft72 · 11-05-2009, 03:11 AM

I would not suggest using bio balls as they would only serve to reduce flow. Have you increased the CO2 flow and let it run for a duration of time?

It is my experience that my 55g tank using a Rena XP3 wtih a very similar reactor hooked up in the same fashion as your needs a good 3bps. Any less and the drop checker doesn't turn the light green shade.

Just to clarify, you do have the reactor hooked up in line on the output side of the filter, correct?

Alec · 11-05-2009, 04:12 AM

Yes, sorry it must be ambiguous. The intake is actually the output from the 2217. Does your reactor make a falling water sound? I feel like thats the problem. Ill incrase my bubble count tomorrow

jefft72 · 11-05-2009, 04:28 AM

Yes, my reactor will have the falling water sound typically when I do a canister cleaning or large water change and the reactor has lost some water or air has entered.

The falling water sound goes away after a while though.

**smoq** · 11-05-2009, 11:41 AM

My reactor also have the falling water sound (reactor is hooked up to 2217). I would say increase the bps rate to 4-5 bps and watch your fish closely if they're not gasping for air near the surface. I have to have almost constant bubble flow to get the drop checker turn yellow (don't know if it's usual) and the tank is 75g.

Alec · 11-05-2009, 11:16 PM

Increasing the BPS didnt change the color of my drop checker. The falling water sound is present ONLY when i have teh CO2 running

**Riiz** · 11-05-2009, 11:59 PM

Maybe too many drops of pH indicator in the drop checker? How are the plants doing, despite the color not changing in the drop checker?

Alec · 11-06-2009, 12:56 AM

Ok, so i changed my bubbles per second and now the drop checker is starting to change green! I can also see tiny bubbles comming off a lot of my plants. Exciting. Ill have to see it is too much CO2.

11-04-2009, 04:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	DIY CO2 reactor not working Hey guys, So i built Rexs' reactor, however, it doesnt seem to be working. I know my CO2 tank is putting out X amount of CO2, yet my drop checker never seems to change color. My CO2 ran all day and no change in drop checker color (a bluish-green color (not completely green). I have a 55G. In the reactor i can hear the water falling after the CO2 has been turned on for a little bit. Yesterday, when i leveled the reactor a bunch of bubbles came out, leading me to believe that the CO2 is not diffusing correctly. What do i do????

11-05-2009, 11:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
smoq local fisherman (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 955	My reactor also have the falling water sound (reactor is hooked up to 2217). I would say increase the bps rate to 4-5 bps and watch your fish closely if they're not gasping for air near the surface. I have to have almost constant bubble flow to get the drop checker turn yellow (don't know if it's usual) and the tank is 75g. __________________ 75g tank journal&album DIY 75g stand manual&Journal EHFIPIMP #325 Eheim classic 2213&2217 and proffesional II 2028. Now I am true pimp VICTOR and DUAL STAGE REGULATOR PIMP CLUB MEMBER #46

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11-04-2009, 05:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
jefft72 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 15	Do you have a bubble counter on your CO2 regulator? If so, how many bubbles per second are coming out? Can you post a picture of your reactor just for reference? There may be an issue of the gas not dissolving as it should, but I am not sure we have enough info yet to determine that. I know that in my experience when I do a water change and have to prime my filter again I do hear water falling inside the reactor, but that generally only lasts a short time as water fills up the column. My bubble counter runs ~3bps and my drop checker is a nice green at the end of the day. Anything higher than 3bps will send my fish gasping for O2 within a few hours. You didn't mention it, but you may need an additional power head to properly circulate the water in your aquarium.

11-04-2009, 08:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	So my bubble counter reads about 2 bps. My reactor is hooked up to my eheim 2217, which shoots water along the backside of my 55G. Like i said, i can hear a falling water sound and if i invert the reactor bubbles come out of the spray bar. Also my drop checker does not change color. Its a turqoise blue.. always.. Here is a picture of my setup: What should i do? I feel like i set it corretly, however, it doesn't seem to be working!

11-04-2009, 10:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	I set up the CO2 right below my drop checker to make sure it was working and it slowly began to change green. I dont know what to do about my reactor

11-05-2009, 12:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
jefft72 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 15	You could try to increase the bubble rate from your regulator. Test it on a day when you will be there to monitor your fish health as you increase CO2. I have cranked mine up for a short time during testing till my fish started gasping at the surface and then I backed it down. Perhaps additional flow using a powerhead to circulate the co2 saturated water?

11-05-2009, 12:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	I would think i would be getting good flow from the 2217. Its blowing some of my plants around. Is it possible the CO2 is being lost before it hits the other side of the tank? Should i try bioballs? They look like they are loud. Also, the more i crank the CO2, the louder that "falling water" sound gets. Im guanteed the CO2 is getting trapped somewhere.

11-05-2009, 03:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
jefft72 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 15	I would not suggest using bio balls as they would only serve to reduce flow. Have you increased the CO2 flow and let it run for a duration of time? It is my experience that my 55g tank using a Rena XP3 wtih a very similar reactor hooked up in the same fashion as your needs a good 3bps. Any less and the drop checker doesn't turn the light green shade. Just to clarify, you do have the reactor hooked up in line on the output side of the filter, correct?

11-05-2009, 04:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	Yes, sorry it must be ambiguous. The intake is actually the output from the 2217. Does your reactor make a falling water sound? I feel like thats the problem. Ill incrase my bubble count tomorrow

11-05-2009, 04:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
jefft72 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 15	Yes, my reactor will have the falling water sound typically when I do a canister cleaning or large water change and the reactor has lost some water or air has entered. The falling water sound goes away after a while though.

11-05-2009, 11:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	Increasing the BPS didnt change the color of my drop checker. The falling water sound is present ONLY when i have teh CO2 running

11-05-2009, 11:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
Riiz \|,,\|(-_-)\|,,\| (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: So Cal - Inland Empire Posts: 207	Maybe too many drops of pH indicator in the drop checker? How are the plants doing, despite the color not changing in the drop checker?

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11-06-2009, 12:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
Alec Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 91	Ok, so i changed my bubbles per second and now the drop checker is starting to change green! I can also see tiny bubbles comming off a lot of my plants. Exciting. Ill have to see it is too much CO2.