Small in tank CO2 reactor for 10 gallon

[Guttboy]

Hi everyone!

Ok dont laugh but I am going to show you my 15 gallon high reactor in a picture here. Its not the greatest as it was my first attempt. I would really really appreciate it if you guys have ANY suggestions on a SMALL efficent reactor I can put in a 10 gallon. Pictures to follow.

Pictures are appreciated as I am not the best "instruction" guy....a pic is worth a MILLION words to me...LOL....

[Guttboy]

Here is a picture of the 10 gallon that it would need to go in.

Mike

[Buck]

I would just use Flourish Excel... a reactor? dats just too much work for a 10 gallon

If you really feel the need though I would look into a small external that way there you have no equiptment to hide.

[mydiazclan]

Nice job! I'm the same way about pictures. If I can see it an visualize it I know I can build it. I know your looking for help on the ten gallon, but I just had to give you a thumbs up on the reactor.

[mario]

For my planted 10 gallon tank I just run my DIY CO2 line into an AquaClear HOB filter. I assume that I do not get 100% efficiency, but my CO2 levels are at aroun 15ppm. I really like this method because there is no extra clutter in the small tank.

[digger]

I have an internal reactor in a 10 gallon, but it takes up so much room. Has anyone had any luck with a small external reactor powered by a powerhead?

[Guttboy]

Well Guys....

I broke down and put in the Hagen Nutrafin CO2 system. Took a long time to produce any action....now after 24 hrs getting about 3 bubbles per min. I like the way they go up the grid and reduce in size! Pretty cool to see the CO2 dissolve that way. Will keep you posted on the CO2 dissolve rate!

Mike

[Buck]

I broke down and put in the Hagen Nutrafin CO2 system. Took a long time to produce any action....now after 24 hrs

Dang man.....
Considering Post #1 was at 10:25 AM on the 21rst and your decision was allready made (22nd, 4:55 PM "been on for 24 hours" ...... why ask ? :shock:


Ummmmmmmm , hello?

Anybody home? :down:

[Fiona]

Some LFS sell the Hagen Nutrifin CO2 bubble counter-diffuser-thingy (not the full kit with the cannister and yeast packets) for $20 Canadian. I use it in my 25 gallon with DIY CO2. :lol:

[Guttboy]

Dang man.....
Considering Post #1 was at 10:25 AM on the 21rst and your decision was allready made (22nd, 4:55 PM "been on for 24 hours" ...... why ask ?


Ummmmmmmm , hello?

Anybody home?

Well Buck...considering my time was limited that weekend and I got a response from you

I would just use Flourish Excel... a reactor? dats just too much work for a 10 gallon

I decided to go with a small internal like the hagen....it is small enough to fit in the tank....one of the reasons for posting was also to show the internal reactor that I made. Im sorry I made you SO upset. I will try to limit my questions to PM's seeing that you got very upset. And yes someone is home here.

Respectfully,

Mike

[m.lemay]

Children, children.... lets be nice! :lol:

Marcel

[GDominy]

heh heh... I was going to say something but it looks like marcel beat me to it...

[metallhd]

Well at the risk of continuing the thread in acrimony might I nudge it thuswise?

I have a 10 gallon with plants only with exactly the same DIY CO2 setup as pictured here except that I have a little pop (er, soda) bottle with the neck cut off as a simple reactor, and a hose feeds right into the bottle via a little hole near the open 'bottom'. I find the actual bottom of the bottle makes a nice bell that 1) holds it up and balanced and 2) provides a foolproof method for dissipating ALL the CO2 since it has nowhere to go but into the calm water immediately underneath it. I have found about 4 inches of bottle is plenty, there is not enough pressure in my system to require any more volume.

My question is about that pressure - I noticed in the pics above that the line from the small 'cleaner' bottle is disconnected - is this due to pressure problems? I originally had the hose straight from the big bottle to the tank and it worked very well right from the get-go, so I tinkered and added the second chamber and an airstone and now my bubble rate is zilch, leading me to wonder why I did it in the first place but also what I need to do to fix it besides the obvious of course :roll: All connections should be airtight so I am assuming the added volume is eating the pressure, but any ideas on boosting it in such a simple system?

Thanks for your thoughts . . .

[Guttboy]

Metallhd,

The bottle with the line disconnected was my first "bubble" counter that did not have an airtight seal. I used Rex's solution of drilling an 11/64" hole in the top and pulling the tubing through that. Worked like a charm.

My setup has changed a bit. With some recommendations found here, I am now running the airline tubing up the intake of my whisper 20 filter. The bubbles go right up with the water and get smashed by the impeller.

Two thoughts on this....I dont think it is as efficent as my powerhead reactor because the pH is hovering around 7.5 whereas with the powerhead reactor it was down as low as 7.3.

Second, this method is by far the least obtrusive in the tank....as a result my DIY project (powerhead)...however short, is shelved for the time being.

For those of you using the plans for the first one I made...there is really no need for the airstone and as Rex pointed out it can just lead to clogging.

Mike

[Buck]

Ohhhhh man..... ops:

I do sincerely apologize to you Mike for my remarks earlier in this thread, that was indeed uncalled for and rather harsh. I would have apologized sooner but somehow the continuation of this topic eluded me after I made that stupid remark and it was just brought to my attention.

Not at all an excuse but I remember that the part that got me was that it just seemed that you were at the store buying your Hagen as I and others were taking the time to read and make suggestions to what I thought was a question. Your mind as I said, seemed it was allready made up. :hehe:

Again, sorry if I offended you bro and I apologize, it wasnt really meant to be as harsh as it sounded... believe me...

Thats why I would never make a good politician... my mouth engages before my brain...
If ya lived closer I would buy you a beer and shake your hand but instead all I can do is say Sorry bro... ops:

Your Friend,
Buck