[m00se]

I have lurked here for 6 months and learned more about aquariums in that time than I have 40 years prior with the seat of my pants and trial and error - I want to thank you folks for sharing your blood sweat and tears so unselfishly, that others may share and learn by you.

Here's my question - this is on a 6 month old 30 gallon tank that I just put a new CFS 500 canister filter on. Last week I bought a used CO2 regulator, solenoid, and 10 lb tank that the seller used with a Cerges reactor, that he threw in the deal.

After spending several dollars and hours at Lowes, I think I am ready to plumb the Cerges in. After mulling over several ideas and being almost ready to make the cuts, I got cold feet and thought I better run it by you guys before I set upon the job.

I would like to plumb a Cerges reactor into the output of my new CFS 500 canister, but I would also really like your advice!

I was planning to splice the return vinyl hose and put two T's in it. The first T to the intake of a Quiet One 1200 (295 gph) pump, through the Cerges, and then back to the other T in the return hose. Sort of like this:

I am concerned that the QO might pull more volume than the output of the 500 and cause cavitation or other problems with it. I would like to use filtered water though, and this is the only logical way I can see to do it. Another thought was to add a gate or ball valve on the return of the reactor to control flow through the reactor loop. Obviously I want to get as much saturated water into the aquarium as necessary.

Another thought I had was that I could just plumb the QO independent of the 500 and run it's output to it's own spray bar, but then I'd wind up having to clean that whole pump/intake/mess every water change, and I want to be lazy.

Any thoughts on this idea? Good, bad, ugly?

Thanks so much!

 

[Craigthor]

I would ditch the pump but set it up how your piture is. replace the pump with a ball valve so you can control the flow through it. Taht or remove the tee all together and just plumb the reactor inline after the output of the cannister.

Craig

 

[m00se]

Thanks for your thoughts Craigthor,

I would plumb it inline like so many others here have done, but I'm afraid that with the batting in the canister per Gunner's mod and the spray bar, I won't get nearly the flow rate that I have right now (which is ideal). I don't see how any water would divert to the reactor with just a T in the line. There would need to be some kind of pressurized source. I am leaning more and more towards a ball valve in there, but with the pump included. I wish there was a 3/4" valve other than the standard pvc ball types - they're so big and clunky, and way overkill for our uses.

 

[Craigthor]

Then if you want to have another pump it will need to be setup clsoed loop for the reactor, running it inline with the filter isn't reccomended.

Craig

 

[OverStocked]

I ran mine inline, with no diversion or flow control. THe cerges doesn't need fine tuning or the like.

There is no good reason to run another pump, and it will likely just cause more problems than solutions. The flow reduction is minimal with the cerges inline. I run it on my 75g with no problems at all.

I would highly recommend you try it out this way(since it would cost you no more to do so) before wasting the time and money on setting it up otherwise.

 

[m00se]

I think, after much fat chewing and stubborn consternation, I am going to run it as a separate circuit independent of the CFS500. I knew the answer to this problem, but sometimes I'm just too pigheaded to concede to my better judgement.

Now on to making the new spray bar!

Thanks again for your valued input all.

 

[cggorman]

Should have healthy flow in that 30 gal. Might have to throttle back one or both circuits.

 

[m00se]

Ok, I just completed fitting, gluing, and painting a spray bar I made out of 3/4" CPVC, some street els, and shortened (tanked tubbed and blueprinted LOL) T fitting. Waiting for the fumes to gas off a little and tonight I'm going to plumb it into the QO 1200. I'm confident that there will be plenty of flow with that pump. I'm gluing a ball valve in there just in case I need to throttle it back. Just hope I don't have to clean this thing every week is all.