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Attempting to make this short…I currently have a 300 gal 8x2x2 freshwater which use to house my vieja synspilum pair. Female died and my beautiful male died of a broken heart shortly after 😭

I no longer have the monster fish urge and want to go planted. I currently have a 30 gallon breeder running co2 and dry ferts which has been successful for the last 6 months, so I want to do a 120 display and use the same plumbing, sump and pump that I use for my 300. Essentially I will keep the 8 ft stand, put the 4x2x2 120gal on1 half and put potted house plants on the other half. My question is

1: can I use this old reef gfo reactor as a cerges reactor? I’d get a 20 or 25 lb co2 tank. Should be big enough at 17” x 4” no?

2: I would run the reactor off my existing manifold from the return pump that has a gate valve to adjust flow, my concern is back flow of water into the co2 line. would a high quality check valve negate that? Thoughts?

 

[Goodwood]

I think the size of your reactor is sufficient. High quality check valve may last longer, I would still keep a few extras for when it does inevitably fail. Make sure that they are co2 specific

 

[burr740]

That should work for a cerges. 4" is a good diameter, fatter is better than longer

The gate valve is a plus, back pressure increases the efficiency of any reactor, bigly

Water is gonna back up into the co2 line regardless when co2 goes off. Gotta have a good check valve

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Your tank actually appears to be 30" tall... 8'x'2x2.5' would give you 300gallons... 8'x2'x2' would 'only' yield 240gallons.

Boy, you could do some fantastic scaping with that much realestate.... Trimming would be hard at 30", but still... the variation in terrain that you could accomplish.... It would just be a stunning planted aquarium...

 

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Your tank actually appears to be 30" tall... 8'x'2x2.5' would give you 300gallons... 8'x2'x2' would 'only' yield 240gallons.

Boy, you could do some fantastic scaping with that much realestate.... Trimming would be hard at 30", but still... the variation in terrain that you could accomplish.... It would just be a stunning planted aquarium...

you are correct it is 8x2x30”. I have considered using it, but the cost of ferts and adding hardness (I have extremely soft water) alone would probably get out of control. Plus getting enough co2, plus massive water changes, plus it being a huge pain to reach into. Also it is center braced at the top middle with about a 30” wide piece of glass which makes access and lighting even more stupid. So I think I am over it in general. And the pothos has taken over the house (some vines are over 50’ long)

 

[Matt at Poth-O-Carry]

And the pothos has taken over the house (some vines are over 50’ long)

Wow what an inspiration! It looks spectacular and the scape is beautiful and stark

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

Amazed by that pothos growth ! Is that a peace lily growing out of the top as well ?

 

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Wow what an inspiration! It looks spectacular and the scape is beautiful and stark

Thanks!

Amazed by that pothos growth ! Is that a peace lily growing out of the top as well ?

it is, and it is ginormous. Even when my fat 13” male was in there it seemed the plant growth took care of a decent chunk of nitrates between water changes

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

you are correct it is 8x2x30”. I have considered using it, but the cost of ferts and adding hardness (I have extremely soft water) alone would probably get out of control. Plus getting enough co2, plus massive water changes, plus it being a huge pain to reach into. Also it is center braced at the top middle with about a 30” wide piece of glass which makes access and lighting even more stupid. So I think I am over it in general. And the pothos has taken over the house (some vines are over 50’ long)

Understood. I feel the same way about Fish Nook 2 years on.... Kind of tired of standing on a ladder to reach the top two tanks... and then crawling around on the floor to work on the sumps... 4 tiers of 20 gallon tanks... I'm over it as well... probably downsizing to just 2 40gallon breeders...