well be waiting for those pictures!!
...cuz I have an engineering degree and couldnt quite visualize it!
but if it works it works!!
...cuz I have an engineering degree and couldnt quite visualize it!
but if it works it works!!
DIY Inline CO2 Reactor (REVISED)
Hey everyone,
As I stated a few days ago, I got my first canister filter at Petsmart. The filter is a Fluval 205 and unfortunately has the ribbed intake and output pipes.
My dilemma for this was how to make a inline reactor on the tank, without having 5 different adapters for it.
Thought this might help anyone who was going to make a DIY reactor, as many have already. I actually went to Home Depot and put this together AS I was there and seeing what was the most simple. Turns out, I looked it up and found out that it was almost like the Rex-Grigg style.
I only spent $17.50 on this DIY project compared to the $100+ on a professional reactor. This reactor is going onto a 20G high, that is heavily planted.
QTY.
1...........1.5" PVC tube
1...........90 degree elbow (1.5")
2...........1.5" to 3/4" slip reducer (w/ threaded 3/4" end)
2...........3/4" to 5/8" threaded elbow (w/ barbed 5/8" end)
2...........1.5" straight slip coupler
2............hose clamps
Steps: (Pretty simple design, just a little know how involved, common sense
)
1. cut the PVC pipe to the right length for your tank. I'm making my reactor 14". Drill a small hole 2 inches from the top of the pipe for the C02 line to enter into the chamber.
2. prepare the 2 ends for the 2 slip couplers. then put PVC glue on both ends of the pipe and slide on couplers, make sure they are tight and fully secured.
3. Take the 90 degree (1.5") elbow and prepare the small end of it for attaching it to one end of the coupler.
4. Put the 2 1.5" to 3/4" reducers in place and glue them with PVC glue.
5. Put teflon tape onto the right elbow threads, then screw in tightly.
6. Hook it up and let her run (Make sure the reactor is standing upright with the 90 degree 1.5" piece at the bottom. Place the output pipe on the top barb and then place the other tube onto the bottom barb that goes back into the tank for best results)
***Add bioballs or some other media BEFORE you glue the 2 ends on, Otherwise you won't get them in there, and won't diffuse co2 well.***
The ribbed tubing on the output side (where the reactor will be) has to go otherwise too many adapters and a higher chance of a leak. I'm replacing the ribbed output pipe with a 5/8" ID(inner diamter) clear vinyl tube. This will be held in place with a hose clamp.
Pictures will be coming soon!
Thanks,
Fishykid1
As I stated a few days ago, I got my first canister filter at Petsmart. The filter is a Fluval 205 and unfortunately has the ribbed intake and output pipes.
My dilemma for this was how to make a inline reactor on the tank, without having 5 different adapters for it.
Thought this might help anyone who was going to make a DIY reactor, as many have already. I actually went to Home Depot and put this together AS I was there and seeing what was the most simple. Turns out, I looked it up and found out that it was almost like the Rex-Grigg style.
I only spent $17.50 on this DIY project compared to the $100+ on a professional reactor. This reactor is going onto a 20G high, that is heavily planted.
QTY.
1...........1.5" PVC tube
1...........90 degree elbow (1.5")
2...........1.5" to 3/4" slip reducer (w/ threaded 3/4" end)
2...........3/4" to 5/8" threaded elbow (w/ barbed 5/8" end)
2...........1.5" straight slip coupler
2............hose clamps
Steps: (Pretty simple design, just a little know how involved, common sense
)1. cut the PVC pipe to the right length for your tank. I'm making my reactor 14". Drill a small hole 2 inches from the top of the pipe for the C02 line to enter into the chamber.
2. prepare the 2 ends for the 2 slip couplers. then put PVC glue on both ends of the pipe and slide on couplers, make sure they are tight and fully secured.
3. Take the 90 degree (1.5") elbow and prepare the small end of it for attaching it to one end of the coupler.
4. Put the 2 1.5" to 3/4" reducers in place and glue them with PVC glue.
5. Put teflon tape onto the right elbow threads, then screw in tightly.
6. Hook it up and let her run
(Make sure the reactor is standing upright with the 90 degree 1.5" piece at the bottom. Place the output pipe on the top barb and then place the other tube onto the bottom barb that goes back into the tank for best results)***Add bioballs or some other media BEFORE you glue the 2 ends on, Otherwise you won't get them in there, and won't diffuse co2 well.***
The ribbed tubing on the output side (where the reactor will be) has to go otherwise too many adapters and a higher chance of a leak. I'm replacing the ribbed output pipe with a 5/8" ID(inner diamter) clear vinyl tube. This will be held in place with a hose clamp.
Pictures will be coming soon!
Thanks,
Fishykid1
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
if you have a webpage they are hosted on (flickr, webshots, etc....you can use this site too) you can put the web address between
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tags
theres a button for it too
...what makes this reactor so much easier than a standard RG style one?
...also, you should have splurged and gotten the standard 2" diameter pvc connectors and pipe...the flow through your reactor will be very high
sadly, I think youll be making this one again...and if you follow the standard procedure...it should cost less than $16 (not a big savings over $17 but it counts)
...Im sorry, but it wont work as well as you had hoped
theres a button for it too
...what makes this reactor so much easier than a standard RG style one?
...also, you should have splurged and gotten the standard 2" diameter pvc connectors and pipe...the flow through your reactor will be very high
sadly, I think youll be making this one again...and if you follow the standard procedure...it should cost less than $16 (not a big savings over $17 but it counts)
...Im sorry, but it wont work as well as you had hoped
it doesnt add head (major loss)
it adds "equivalent length" of the smaller diameter tubing so a 1/2" (eheim) tubing into a 90degree turn into a sudden expansion (2" reactor) to a sudden contraction to a 90degree turn is about 10' or 1/2" tubing
or...for the equivalent losses it would mean moving your filter 10' away from your tank and running the pipe
the loss of "head" from a reactor would be the same as the friction (minor) from that extra 10' of tubing...
but at our low GPH, velocities and diameters...its negligible
@Fishykid
I think he means using a threaded cap of PVC...so taht you can screw off the entire 2" opening to clean and not a 3/4" hole...Ive just never had a need to clean out my reactor tho
...finally, going from 1.5" (or 2") to 1/2" or 3/4" tubing would SPEED flow up...that pesky conservation of mass thing
...
A little change of plans! Hopefully for the better over all.
So, just an update. I decided to change the design a little bit. It no longer has an elbow piece at the bottom. I have also added a T shaped piece with a 1.5" to 3/4" slip, then a 3/4" to 1/2" threaded reducer. After that I placed a 1/2" to 1/4" brass threaded reduced, then to a 1/8" brass barbed fitting. Sounds complicated but here's a picture of the finished product. The reactor hasn't been installed but will be sitting in the same location in the back as it is in the front. I'm pretty proud of it, no co2 loss other than occasional small spray of bubbles. Turned down co2 to HALF of what it was and am getting more pearling.
See how many bubbles are just flying around the tank? Now I can actually see how many bubbles are actually pearling plants. (EDIT) The burping has stopped completely. The reactor not making any sounds, again NO bubbles are coming out of the output pipe, only nice fresh co2 enriched water
Sorry, white balance is majorly off.
So, just an update. I decided to change the design a little bit. It no longer has an elbow piece at the bottom. I have also added a T shaped piece with a 1.5" to 3/4" slip, then a 3/4" to 1/2" threaded reducer. After that I placed a 1/2" to 1/4" brass threaded reduced, then to a 1/8" brass barbed fitting. Sounds complicated but here's a picture of the finished product. The reactor hasn't been installed but will be sitting in the same location in the back as it is in the front. I'm pretty proud of it, no co2 loss other than occasional small spray of bubbles. Turned down co2 to HALF of what it was and am getting more pearling.
See how many bubbles are just flying around the tank? Now I can actually see how many bubbles are actually pearling plants. (EDIT) The burping has stopped completely. The reactor not making any sounds, again NO bubbles are coming out of the output pipe, only nice fresh co2 enriched water
Sorry, white balance is majorly off.
Attachments
Very fancy! I'm loving it. I'm getting absolutely no burping. and My pH is at 6.5. regular aquarium water before co2 starts up is at 7.3
The canister burped because of me doing a cleaning, but no bubbles made it to the output pipe...pretty efficient reactor? I'd say so
The canister burped because of me doing a cleaning, but no bubbles made it to the output pipe...pretty efficient reactor? I'd say so
So, I get home from my youth group and half of the fish are chilling at the top and gasping every few seconds. Solution? OXYGEN!!!! how? Well, If you have a 1/8" T barb and a spare check valve, you can also have aeration through the same reactor. So, in other words; A timer for a air pump and a few check valves/ T splitter. BAM a double purpose reactor
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
