[UK_Fish]

I've previously used the JBL vario (spiral) CO2 diffuser. According to the drop checker, max CO2 with this diffuser is ~30ppm in my tank. While ok, fish are not affected so wanted to try and get a bit higher to see if it will knock off final bits of algae. Rather than buying another diffuser, decided to make the Barr CO2 venturi diffuser...

My inital effort is here:

Or video:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...t=P5200014.flv

Haven't yet intalled the loop to the intake of the powerhead as am waiting to see if I get a build up of CO2.

Having run it for 2 days, the drop checker is still blue (turquoise) and making no effort to change. Always turned pale green with the JBL diffuser.. I was hoping for yellow! Any obvious issues with my effort that anyone knows of?? I must have missed something in the design...

Thanks for your help. roud:

 

[EdTheEdge]

You might try injecting the CO2 right below the impellar instead of bubbling up from the bottom of the reactor tube. The impellar will atomize the CO2 making it much easier to dissolve. It also adds the atomized bubble right into the water stream which will aid in dissolving the CO2.
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[Darth Sensei]

The link to the video doesn't work for me. I'm no expert, but running full size bubbles into a powerhead would create cavitation noise, would it not?

 

[EdTheEdge]

The link to the video doesn't work for me. I'm no expert, but running full size bubbles into a powerhead would create cavitation noise, would it not?

Just a "squish" when a bubble is obliterated.

Which also serves as an audible bubble counter.
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[UK_Fish]

Sorry, vid link didn't work.. try again:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/rjtaylor/Barr Diffuser/?action=view&current=P5200014.flv

I'm using an eheim pump rather than a powerhead so doesn't have an air-line input. Will using a mini airstone help? Reading some of Tom's post, he says to use full size bubbles as this acts as the bubble counter? Makes sense... Really surprised I'm getting such low CO2 levels as to look at it, all looks good...!

 

[tropicalfish]

Would the CO2 diffusion be better if the CO2 was fed into the pump intake for further diffusion of the bubbles?

 

[UK_Fish]

Would the CO2 diffusion be better if the CO2 was fed into the pump intake for further diffusion of the bubbles?

Shall certainly give it a go but this goes away from the Barr design which I understand many had had success with?

Maybe I'll give a Rhinox diffuser a go instead....