CO2 diffusing methods?

[Roujin]

So I will be buying Kevinly's 2211 and it's got me thinking how CO2 is being diffused into my tank.

I've got a 10g heavily planted with a Hagen Nutrafin CO2 system and a Current USA Satellite Dual 2x40 Watt 20" PC. All is ok and happy but I'm only running a Whisper 10 HOB.

I was thinking of getting a glass ceramic nano diffuser for my CO2 or or a ball reactior that will hook up to the outlet of the 2211.

What would you guys suggest? Also I was thinking if packing the 2211 with course to fine pads, some Seachem matrix and purigen. I would appreciate any suggestion you guys can share.

Cheers!

[kevinly]

I was thinking of getting a glass ceramic nano diffuser for my CO2 or or a ball reactior that will hook up to the outlet of the 2211.

I have currently have a ball reactor set up to the 2211 I am selling you. If you want I can sell you that for how much I got it for, which is $15. I haven't even setup my co2 system yet so the reactor has been just sitting in the water and basically brand new also. I really like the reactor cause it matched the eheim really well.

Here take a look at the reactor yourself

[Roujin]

I'll take a look at it when i come over there. Does this one have a ceramic airstone? Will the spray bar of the 2211 fit it in case i need to dial down the outflow current into the tank. Would you do it all for $60?

[kwc1974]

I am not a big fan of the "ball reactor" that sits in the tank. If I had a 2211 I would use a external reactor or a ceramic diffuser in the tank.

The problem I have with the internal ball reactor is that it is bulky and takes up too much room in the tank for my preferance. It will work and add co2 very well but from an asthetics point of view, not my cup.

There are some external reactor that works really well or you can do a DIY reactor.

[Darbex]

The calaqua one that you sold me Kevin is awesome.

[kwc1974]

Yes, it is a very effecient design when it comes to diffusing CO2
Kind of regret selling it, but glad it went to a good tank and is being used. It would probably be gathering dust at my house right now.

[Roujin]

Hi Kevin,

I am planning on buying this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nano-CO2-diffuse...d=p3286.c0.m14

How do you clean the gunk that builds up on the surface of the ceramic disk?

[kwc1974]

Aquaticmajic is well know in the hobby, and not for being good. They have a problem with shipping plants, both in health terms and leagalities for shipping in the US. That being said, I have bought hardware from them several times in the past with no problems and would recommend them, but with caution.

The nano diffusers look great. And I would keep two for you tank. Let be explain.
Put one in the tank and one as a spare. Every two weeks swap out the diffuser with the clean one (this will eliminate any CO2 diffuser sowntime), then clean the dirty diffuser.

And before you ask, diffusers are easy to clean. I prefer a passive method as scraping or brushing the ceramic can clog the pores. This is the method that I use.

1. use a light bleach solution to clean algea, rinse well
2. use a lime/calsium solvent (CLR) This can be poured directly onto the ceramic diffuser. rinse well
3. soak in water with a declorinator.
4. air dry till needed for next use.

[insomniaclush]

Hi Kevin,

I am planning on buying this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nano-CO2-diffuse...d=p3286.c0.m14

How do you clean the gunk that builds up on the surface of the ceramic disk?

I've been using those same diffusers for a while now. They are pretty good at breaking down to bubbles to microbubble but there life span is quite short. A couple of years ago I bought like 10 of them @ once (because it take moreorless 30days or so to ship to Houston) and I change them out every 6-8 months. For the $$ they are a good buy for glass diffusers.

[wesleydnunder]

I know a guy in upstate New York who injects his co2 into the intake of his Eheim and lets the filter act as a reactor. He's used this system for 6 yrs with no adverse effects.

Mark

[kwc1974]

I've been using those same diffusers for a while now. They are pretty good at breaking down to bubbles to microbubble but there life span is quite short. A couple of years ago I bought like 10 of them @ once (because it take moreorless 30days or so to ship to Houston) and I change them out every 6-8 months. For the $$ they are a good buy for glass diffusers.

Are you cleaning the diffusers????

I have had some that lasted years. These should not have a short lifespan, in fact just the opposite.

[Roujin]

I've purchased these from Ebay so we'll see how that goes. I'm going to put it under the spray bar so the micro bubbles will get cycled back into the tank.

I've thought about injecting it into the intake of my filter but not being able to see the bubbles is disconcerting to me. Also, i don't want want my CO2 delivery to be affected if the filter looses power.

[kwc1974]

I've purchased these from Ebay so we'll see how that goes. I'm going to put it under the spray bar so the micro bubbles will get cycled back into the tank.

This is a good plan, you should get a great dispersal.

FYI the way I did my tank was I placed the diffuser under a spraybar that was mounted vertically instead of horixontally. This allowed for any bubbles that may have past the first jet to get another chance to get caught by other jets.

I've thought about injecting it into the intake of my filter but not being able to see the bubbles is disconcerting to me. Also, i don't want want my CO2 delivery to be affected if the filter looses power.

This is the same reason I do not do this. Nothing like blowing out the gasket after a power failure.

[wesleydnunder]

I didn't state that right. He doesn't put the co2 hose directly into the filter intake, but puts the wood diffuser next to the intake so that it sucks the co2 into the filter. In the event of power failure to the filter, the wood diffuser simply releases the stream into the tank.

kw, even if the co2 hose were somehow put inside the intake, how would that blow a filter gasket when the power came back on?

Mark

[kwc1974]

kw, even if the co2 hose were somehow put inside the intake, how would that blow a filter gasket when the power came back on?

Not everyone wisely uses a solenoid for CO2 injection. I have heard of other people who have directly place the co2 line int the intake. The stories of air locking a filter or CO2 build up in the filter housing causing too much pressure.

But even then, mechanical parts fail.

I myself am having a problem with power outage. Even though I am using a solenoid and my CO2 is on my outlet, I am having an issue with CO2 displacing the water in my filter and air locking the housing. This is not a pressure problem for me since I am using a 2260 and this housing is ment to take pressure. But if I was using a 2217 I would blow a gasket due to this excessive pressure and a flood would ensue.

I think my problem is two fold, I suspect my solenoid is stuck open and I need a check valve between my filter and CO2 reactor. The check valve would fix the problem period, but I need to take a look at the solenoid as well.

I does not make logical since, you would think the gas would just passivly pass through, but it is happening. And trust me the pressure caused by the gas build up is pretty high.