Running needle wheel pump through reactor

[ua hua]

Well I have decided to put my wet/dry sump back on my 90 gal. I will be buying a new CPR cs-90 overflow box since the overflow box that I have is over 10 years old and uses that u-tube design which I don't like. I will also be buying a new return pump and since I have to buy a pump anyway I have been looking at needle wheel pumps for diffusing co2. Ok so here is my question, I hate the look of the misting co2 in the tank so has anyone tried running a needle wheel pump through a reactor before returning to the tank. I have an Aqua medic 1000 reactor that I can use but don't know if this is going to work. Right now I get false gas that ends up in the top of the reactor no matter what pump I try to run through it and would think this would still happen especially running a needle wheel pump. I can't decide if I will still go with a needle wheel pump if there is no way around the micro bubbles even if I use a reactor also. The pump I have been looking at is the mag drive 9.5 with needle wheel so I think I will have more that enough flow even if going through the reactor and I can slow down flow if need be with a gate valve. Someone that has any experience with running a setup like this feel free to chime in as I plan on ordering this stuff in the next week.

[shrimpNewbie]

if you break up the co2 before it leaves the reactor it will leave in a million little bubbles you're better off just running the reactor with a lower gph pump

[ua hua]

Originally Posted by shrimpNewbie

if you break up the co2 before it leaves the reactor it will leave in a million little bubbles you're better off just running the reactor with a lower gph pump

I have a pump running through the reactor right now and it always has a air pocket at the top by mid afternoon that I have to bleed off. It gets old having to bleed the false gas off everyday so I thought with a needle wheel pump I would get better diffusion of the CO2 but don't want all the micro bubbles in my tank. So does anyone have any experience running a needle wheel pump through a reactor?

[shrimpNewbie]

Even without using it its simple, flow moves smaller bubbles Ali easier than larger bubbles, up the flow you're using and don't bleed the pocket. If you insist on the needle wheel give it a try and post your experience

[shrimpNewbie]

A lot I hate my auto correct sometimes

[ua hua]

Has nobdy tried this? I don't really want the micro bubbles in my tank so would running a needle wheel pump through a reactor stop this or would the bubbles just get pushed through the reactor.

[shrimpNewbie]

I've been trying to tell you it will push em through its like running an air stone in the reactor which has been tested, the bubbles need to be larger in order for it to fight the flow

[brohawk]

+1. I tried an inline atomizer installed before a reactor and the mist/smaller bubbles just passed right on through. It might have lessened the amount of mist in the tank slightly, but I had the same pocket of gas in the top of the reactor by mid day.

[jgb77]

My first reaction is what is the point of this? If you don't like mist then you don't want a needle wheel set up for co2. The mist is the whole point of this type of method. Without the mist, there is no reason to use a needle wheel pump.
John

[jcgd]

Smaller bubbles diffuse faster.

What if you add some foam to catch the bubbles? Add a bleed line to the top of the cannister and send it through a venturi feeding back into the needle wheel so the gas build up gets chopped up again.