I'm running Fluval FX5 on my fairly newly established 180. I've ordered an CO2 set up from AquariumPlants.com. They did not however carry an in-line reactor. I ordered a Reactor 1000 from Custom Aquatic as I have dealt with them before and they were good people. My Fluval return is 1" tubing. I plan to put a T in the tubing, step it down (the reactor requires a 1/2" feed) and run the reactor in the direct line. Than I'm going to run the other tube off the t with a ball valve so that I can regulate flow to the reactor. Than I'm going to one again join the two tubes so that I can have just one 1" return into the aquarium. Anyone see a problem with this other than I may have unnecessarily complicated things?
Depending on the flow rate of that filter this is probably a good idea. Too fast of a flow rate and it may blow the co2 through before it dissolves. Alternatively you could probably run another smaller filter just for that reactor. It's a 180 so I'm sure that you could get all the circulation that you can muster up.
I was checking out that filter online. It looks like you aren't messing around. That is a nice filter. As long as you don't put the reactor on the inlet, but put it on the outlet you will be fine. I can't see why it would harm the filter. My concern though is if that reactor will be adaquate for the size aquarium. You may need two or better yet make one large DIY reactor ( 3' footer perhaps out of 2.5" PVC pipe or larger dia if they have it)
BTW the pressure is going to take the path of least resistance. Keep this in mind when you plumb this in. Istead of putting the ball vavle on the reactor side to reduce flow I think you'd be better off putting it on the other side just after you "T" it off. This will make a little pressure to divert some to the reactor. You may also want to get some of those "quick disconnects" and plumb them in on the intake and outtake of the reactor to make it modular in a sense. This way here you can take it out to service it every few months without getting water all over the place.
The way I worded it, it does sound like I'm going to put the ball valve on the line with the reactor, I'm not. I'm going to put it on the 1" bypass. Also I was able to find a schedule 40 reducer that goes right from 1" to 1/2" so that eliminates some of the complexity of the thing.
I have read that someone had a problem with this setup. Something in the directions says that there can be no "loops" in the filter lines. Plumbing a reactor AM 1000 has the input on top and the output below. This created a "loop" that this particular filter did not like.
I have read that someone had a problem with this setup. Something in the directions says that there can be no "loops" in the filter lines. Plumbing a reactor AM 1000 has the input on top and the output below. This created a "loop" that this particular filter did not like.
I am thinking that a loop on a pressurized setup would not matter. I have a bit of a loop on my XP3 with a Hoff/Rex type DIY reactor. But I'm with Blue Ram and think eventually you may end up wanting to put a couple of reactors on both sides of a long tank. Your plan for a by pass sounds solid to me considering the 900GPH flow (probably without media). I saw an FX5 at a LFS when a rep was showing it to the owner. Very impressive filter for the big tanks.
I guess I'll find out Monday. The pump has a chip that operates it's functioning. What I'm doing could create a problem. The only way to find out is to try it. I know there's a big deal made about not exceeding 16' total hosing. My set up won't even come close to that.
It didn't work. There was no pressure coming from the return. All my fish were very unhappy. My Betta loves to sit in the flow. The Glow fish also hang out by the return. Even the Rainbow shark was stressed. This happened before when I redirected my returns. So immediate action was necessary.
In another sense it did work. My Ph (which my Red Sea kit says is 7.2 but the Milwaukee says is 7.5 [yes the Milwaukee is calibrated]) dropped to 6.8 (set point for the Milwaukee). I run about three bubbles a second. As I was saying though, my return had no pressure to it. This evening when I got home I disconnected the CO2 and reconnected the FX5 the way I had it before. Still no pressure! I thought I had screwed up my pump permanently. I took the filter apart and put it back together. Everything is working as it was before the CO2 was added? I assume the computerized pump got all mixed up.
I called Pet Solutions and ordered a Fluval 404 (340 gal flow rate). I'll re-connect the CO2 with it's own designated pump.
Wow. I'll make a mental note not to use that filter on my next big tank. It probably would have worked fine too if not for fact it's computer controlled with chip. The 404 should work fine or even just a large powerhead with quickfilter attachment. Just throwing this out there, but Eheim has a comparable large capacity filter as well that is not computer controlled so it should work better. Don't know if it's an option to take back the Fluvel and go that route. Then you can only use one filter and not have all these intakes and returns all over the tank.
why would you join the two returns again? seems like a waste. having 2 returns allows you to put them in different places and have less dead spots. sorry if this was mentioned already.
I always used a small pump just for the CO@ reactor. Pointed the flow from the big pump towards the reactor to help mix everything up.
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