Cerges' Reactor - DIY Inline CO2 Reactor

[m00se]

Originally Posted by starquestMM

Only downside is it was $63 for the clear version (3/4" fittings).

The other downside is that it won't work any better than the narrow 10" unit. I tried one. It wasn't better. You want contact time, and that comes from a taller 20" unit, not a wider one. Go for the online $38 job.

GL

[xxnirvana69xx]

Anyone that used the T for the co2 connection, can you give me the sizes of fittings for it? That's the only thing keeping me from building this...

[sketch804]

I believe the T is 3/4 inch on the ends and the screw top is 1/2 inch or @least that's what I used. The brass pieces I just lined up at the shop, not sure but I think 1/2 to 1/8th inch and then the 1/8th inch nipple.

[xxnirvana69xx]

Originally Posted by sketch804

I believe the T is 3/4 inch on the ends and the screw top is 1/2 inch or @least that's what I used. The brass pieces I just lined up at the shop, not sure but I think 1/2 to 1/8th inch and then the 1/8th inch nipple.

I guess my Home Depot and Lowes suck lmfao. If I could piece that together I'm set. I also need to decide if I want to try to fit my 5/8" hose over the 3/4" fitting or clamp it down to the 1/2".

[sketch804]

Originally Posted by xxnirvana69xx

I guess my Home Depot and Lowes suck lmfao. If I could piece that together I'm set. I also need to decide if I want to try to fit my 5/8" hose over the 3/4" fitting or clamp it down to the 1/2".

Ya I was at one of the two places piecing the whole thing together, took it home and made it in 15 mins..Good luck!

[inkslinger]

Originally Posted by xxnirvana69xx

I guess my Home Depot and Lowes suck lmfao. If I could piece that together I'm set. I also need to decide if I want to try to fit my 5/8" hose over the 3/4" fitting or clamp it down to the 1/2".

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165975&highlight=ext5000

[snakebite]

Perfect, I'm hoping to make one this weekend.

Couple questions -

1. The reactor goes into the output hose correct?(pictures abit confusing on here)
2. My output is about 4"-5" below the water. Should I extend my output so it's closer to the ground so co2 can stay in the water longer?

[leros]

What is the consensus on using a Cerges reactor on a high flow line? My sump's return line is about 600gph and I'd like to put a reactor directly on it.

[inkslinger]

Originally Posted by leros

What is the consensus on using a Cerges reactor on a high flow line? My sump's return line is about 600gph and I'd like to put a reactor directly on it.

I use my 20 x 4.5 Big Blue Reactor on my Eheim 2262 filter and have no issues with it in my 110g tank.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...hlight=ext5000

[happi]

Originally Posted by leros

What is the consensus on using a Cerges reactor on a high flow line? My sump's return line is about 600gph and I'd like to put a reactor directly on it.

co2 will escape quickly from the reactor and you will see more bubbles in the tank instead of complete diffusion of co2.

[sketch804]

so happi, what do you suggest for a sump or a high flow filter?? I wanna use one@work but the mist is killing me..i run the line into the return pump right now and I only get but so much diffusion. Thanks!

[happi]

Originally Posted by sketch804

so happi, what do you suggest for a sump or a high flow filter?? I wanna use one@work but the mist is killing me..i run the line into the return pump right now and I only get but so much diffusion. Thanks!

i don't know much about sump, but, i do know that it will take out lot of co2. with the high flow filter you must use 20" or higher housing and use a sponge inside it, this will help the co2 from escaping and you also get better diffusing this way.

[Kathyy]

I was getting a few bubbles out of the 20" Cerges with the Rio 2500 even though there was more than 10' of PVC to the spraybar but now no bubbles even though the Cerges is nearly directly underneath the bulkhead going to the tank from the sump. No idea how that could be but it is. Rio 2500 is supposed to have 530 gph at 4' head. I count 4 90* elbows including the ones in the reactor itself so the pump might be producing 400 gph through the Cerges. http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

Putting a reactor on the return will cut its gph right there. The Rio was keeping 2 U tubes full when I just had the CO2 line stuck in the pump's intake but when I put the Cerges on the second U tube kept getting bubbles in it due to flow that wasn't quite adequate.

[leros]

Originally Posted by happi

i don't know much about sump, but, i do know that it will take out lot of co2. with the high flow filter you must use 20" or higher housing and use a sponge inside it, this will help the co2 from escaping and you also get better diffusing this way.

I suspect that my sump wont' be causing much CO2 loss. The way my Herbie overflow is setup, no air at all goes into my overflow. It's practically a full siphon.

[TexasCichlid]

I'm considering building one of these as my Sera Flore 500 is cutting too much of my flow, and not dissolving my CO2 very well. Still getting microbubbles. I have an Eheim 2028 on a 60p aquarium. Should I get the standard 10" housing or go for the big boy 20" housing? I want no bubbles from the CO2.