I have no problem plumbing in a loop but unfortunately there isn't any room. I have a union right after the return pump and from there there is next to no room before a 90 which then feeds the return back into the tank. I ran into the same problem on my reef (I bought the same stand and aquarium, just smaller). To install two reactors, I had to loop a horizontal section way out and then bring it back.Just make a DIY Rex Griggs style reactor and plumb to the output of the pump you already have in your sump. If you just have a straight PVC pipe running directly up into the tank it should be super easy to just plumb in a loop to a section of 2" PVC to use as a reactor then come back up and connect back to your existing output.
If you really don't want to mess with the plumbing (which IMO you should - this would be the easiest) then you could run a second pump with a reactor looping back into the sump like you mentioned in option 2. I don't think you would lose much CO2 at all (if any) doing this method but you would need to buy another pump...
What's wrong with that? You spend $3 on PVC vs $40+ on an extra pump?I have no problem plumbing in a loop but unfortunately there isn't any room. I have a union right after the return pump and from there there is next to no room before a 90 which then feeds the return back into the tank. I ran into the same problem on my reef (I bought the same stand and aquarium, just smaller). To install two reactors, I had to loop a horizontal section way out and then bring it back.
I see your point but I do already have the extra pump which means I won't have to cut up my existing plumbing. Either way, is it safe to assume that I won't lose any CO2 in the water that is being pumped back into the tank up through the PVC from the sump? The return will be submerged in the tank. Thanks for your help.What's wrong with that? You spend $3 on PVC vs $40+ on an extra pump?
Great...thanks for the confirmation that this will work. One question though, have you ever put the drop checker in the DT? I assume the sump water would be fine...it is CO2 loss between there and the tank that I was worried about. I assume you don't have much though, otherwise your plants would show it.I have my atomic diffuser directly in front of the intake on my sump pump. It sucks in the CO2, pumps up 6 feet, and spreads it within the 125g tank via 4 loc-line diffusers. I have a drop checker in the last compartment before the return section of my pump and it shows exactly the right color. So this is a very effective way to disperse CO2 and GreenLeaf also recommends this method.
I had it in the tank for a few days but my girlfriend didn't like looking at it so we moved it to the sump. When it was in the DT, the color was perfect. Where it is in the sump, however, the water is fully circulated before it hits that point. It is just before the return section so for the water to get to the drop-checker, it has to go through the pump, up to the tank, through the tank, through the drain plumbing and through 2 other sections of the sump.Great...thanks for the confirmation that this will work. One question though, have you ever put the drop checker in the DT? I assume the sump water would be fine...it is CO2 loss between there and the tank that I was worried about. I assume you don't have much though, otherwise your plants would show it.
