How to plumb a Cerges reactor into CFS500?

[m00se]

I have lurked here for 6 months and learned more about aquariums in that time than I have 40 years prior with the seat of my pants and trial and error - I want to thank you folks for sharing your blood sweat and tears so unselfishly, that others may share and learn by you.

Here's my question - this is on a 6 month old 30 gallon tank that I just put a new CFS 500 canister filter on. Last week I bought a used CO2 regulator, solenoid, and 10 lb tank that the seller used with a Cerges reactor, that he threw in the deal.

After spending several dollars and hours at Lowes, I think I am ready to plumb the Cerges in. After mulling over several ideas and being almost ready to make the cuts, I got cold feet and thought I better run it by you guys before I set upon the job.

I would like to plumb a Cerges reactor into the output of my new CFS 500 canister, but I would also really like your advice!

I was planning to splice the return vinyl hose and put two T's in it. The first T to the intake of a Quiet One 1200 (295 gph) pump, through the Cerges, and then back to the other T in the return hose. Sort of like this:



I am concerned that the QO might pull more volume than the output of the 500 and cause cavitation or other problems with it. I would like to use filtered water though, and this is the only logical way I can see to do it. Another thought was to add a gate or ball valve on the return of the reactor to control flow through the reactor loop. Obviously I want to get as much saturated water into the aquarium as necessary.

Another thought I had was that I could just plumb the QO independent of the 500 and run it's output to it's own spray bar, but then I'd wind up having to clean that whole pump/intake/mess every water change, and I want to be lazy.

Any thoughts on this idea? Good, bad, ugly?

Thanks so much!