Cerges' Reactor - DIY Inline CO2 Reactor

m00se · 05-02-2012, 11:52 PM

I think it's unanimous that a cerges reactor would be ridiculous on a 4 gallon tank. Hey, knock yourself (and probably everything else in the tank) out

youknowho · 05-03-2012, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happi

i wouldnt try using this reactor on the smaller tanks, its a over kill.

you can use ZooMed Nano filters on nano tanks, but am not sure how this will work with this reactor or might not even work at all.

Hmm well I wanted to use the Cerges reactor to avoid putting a diffusor in the tank. I've also read that the ZooMed and Finnex nano filters don't provide enough flow to be placed under the aquarium (let alone enough flow for an in-line diffusor). Maybe I'll make a smaller inline PVC diffusor instead of the Cerges. Thanks for the input.

happi · 05-03-2012, 12:07 AM

UPDATE

i have tested this reactor with whatever method i could think of.

1st method: just insert the pvc tube and left the inch from the bottom so water could enter. this wasnt best way to work with such a high flow of my filter 525gph, which was the main reason the bubbles were escaping.

2nd method: put the pvc pipe all the way to the bottom and drilled some holes and results were same as 1st method.

3rd method: sponge or pot scrubber on the bottom, this method works the best and less bubbles coming out now. but still misty type bubbles are coming out, i think am going to remedy this and play around with the setting.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 12:09 AM

4th method: Get 20" long filter then use 1st method

happi · 05-03-2012, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m00se

4th method: Get 20" long filter then use 1st method

i was thinking about it, but not sure where i can find it cheaper and i think it might be smaller in diamter.

EDIT: the cheapest i found was $42 shipped. i think i might go with this one.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 01:11 AM

This is the one I bought.

happi · 05-03-2012, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m00se

This is the one I bought.

thats the same one i was looking at. you got any pic of your setup. does this one have a same diameter as the 10" one? this one kind of looks too skinny.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 01:37 AM

Give me half an hour and I'll get under there and take a shot of it next to a GE Smart Filter. It looks a little narrower but I think that's an optical illusion. I'm running about 4-5 bps with a Mag-5 pushing it into an L shaped spraybar. All 3/4". No bubbles in tank and a green/yellow checker.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 02:13 AM

When you look into the 10" can and see the area outside of where the downtube is, it doesn't look any bigger than the 20"er - I was concerned about that too when I took it out of the box but in reality, the 20"er is actually slightly larger internal diameter. Not a lot mind you, but rest assured it's not less.

Ok, Hope these help you make your decision. Good luck! BTW I liked those guys where I bought it from. I called them and chatted with a nice lady who answered a few questions. Seemed legit.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 02:15 AM

Also, those are water spots on the OUTSIDE of the clear housing. I just noticed those! At first I thought "hey what's that CO2 doing stuck there" then realized what it was....

Cheers

happi · 05-03-2012, 02:29 AM

looking good, i just ordered one from ebay, $44 shipped. i guess i will have to sell the one i have already made from 10" filter.

inkslinger · 05-03-2012, 04:12 AM

m00se hows it working with the FX5 filter , Do you get a lot of bubbles blown into the tank?
I'm planning on a setup like yours for my Eheim 2262 filter for my 110g tank.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 04:24 AM

inkslinger, I'm running a Danner Mag-5 into it then to an L-shaped spray bar. The FX5 is separate.

happi · 05-03-2012, 05:11 AM

m00se

how long does it take for your reactor to disolve all the left behind co2 after the co2 goes off?

so far mine took half an hour to disolve completly. if it takes more than 1 hour or so, then consider this a bad sign.

m00se · 05-03-2012, 05:26 AM

There is no leftover CO2. At 4-5 bps it's completely dissolving. I don't know what the capacity is because I'm not interested in putting my fish to sleep. There is NO gas standing around at the top of the housing. I'm also using the venturi intake that comes with the Mag-5 with the fractionator impeller. I'm using a solid impeller on it though. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. It's nowhere near maxed out as it is.

05-03-2012, 12:07 AM	#288
happi Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 2,368	UPDATE i have tested this reactor with whatever method i could think of. 1st method: just insert the pvc tube and left the inch from the bottom so water could enter. this wasnt best way to work with such a high flow of my filter 525gph, which was the main reason the bubbles were escaping. 2nd method: put the pvc pipe all the way to the bottom and drilled some holes and results were same as 1st method. 3rd method: sponge or pot scrubber on the bottom, this method works the best and less bubbles coming out now. but still misty type bubbles are coming out, i think am going to remedy this and play around with the setting. __________________ Happi's Ultimate Fertilizer http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=179668

05-03-2012, 02:29 AM	#296
happi Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 2,368	looking good, i just ordered one from ebay, $44 shipped. i guess i will have to sell the one i have already made from 10" filter. __________________ Happi's Ultimate Fertilizer http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=179668

05-03-2012, 05:11 AM	#299
happi Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 2,368	m00se how long does it take for your reactor to disolve all the left behind co2 after the co2 goes off? so far mine took half an hour to disolve completly. if it takes more than 1 hour or so, then consider this a bad sign. __________________ Happi's Ultimate Fertilizer http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=179668

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05-02-2012, 11:52 PM	#286
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	I think it's unanimous that a cerges reactor would be ridiculous on a 4 gallon tank. Hey, knock yourself (and probably everything else in the tank) out

05-03-2012, 12:09 AM	#289
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	4th method: Get 20" long filter then use 1st method

05-03-2012, 01:11 AM	#291
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	This is the one I bought.

05-03-2012, 01:37 AM	#293
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	Give me half an hour and I'll get under there and take a shot of it next to a GE Smart Filter. It looks a little narrower but I think that's an optical illusion. I'm running about 4-5 bps with a Mag-5 pushing it into an L shaped spraybar. All 3/4". No bubbles in tank and a green/yellow checker.

05-03-2012, 02:13 AM	#294
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	When you look into the 10" can and see the area outside of where the downtube is, it doesn't look any bigger than the 20"er - I was concerned about that too when I took it out of the box but in reality, the 20"er is actually slightly larger internal diameter. Not a lot mind you, but rest assured it's not less. Ok, Hope these help you make your decision. Good luck! BTW I liked those guys where I bought it from. I called them and chatted with a nice lady who answered a few questions. Seemed legit.

05-03-2012, 02:15 AM	#295
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	Also, those are water spots on the OUTSIDE of the clear housing. I just noticed those! At first I thought "hey what's that CO2 doing stuck there" then realized what it was.... Cheers

05-03-2012, 04:12 AM	#297
inkslinger Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Taunton ,MA Posts: 1,603	m00se hows it working with the FX5 filter , Do you get a lot of bubbles blown into the tank? I'm planning on a setup like yours for my Eheim 2262 filter for my 110g tank.

05-03-2012, 04:24 AM	#298
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	inkslinger, I'm running a Danner Mag-5 into it then to an L-shaped spray bar. The FX5 is separate.

05-03-2012, 05:26 AM	#300
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	There is no leftover CO2. At 4-5 bps it's completely dissolving. I don't know what the capacity is because I'm not interested in putting my fish to sleep. There is NO gas standing around at the top of the housing. I'm also using the venturi intake that comes with the Mag-5 with the fractionator impeller. I'm using a solid impeller on it though. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. It's nowhere near maxed out as it is.