--continued from previous post--

I don't think the air is degassing the co2 INSIDE the Mazzei injector. I don't think it's being lost (significantly) at the surface of the water/tank. I don't think I'm losing co2 because of the surface skimmer (I had good levels using the RhinoX diffuser and the skimmer). Could I have TOO MUCH surface movement? The drop checker returns blue/blue-green at night a LOT faster than it takes it to reach a yellow-green in the morning. This is really the only other place besides the Mazzei suction port, that comes in contact with air/oxygen. But I don't really think too much surface movement is the problem, again because things were working fine before I added the Mazzei. The surface quickly ripples across the entire surface from the lilly pipe, but the surface tension of the water does not break. Neither is there any splashing or turbulence in the surface skimmer tube. Nor is the surface tension broken in the skimmer. The water glides down the throat of the skimmer for only an inch or so to the water level inside the tube. What's the deal?

Anyone have any tips for increasing the efficiency of these Mazzei injectors? Or any tips in general for using the Mazzei?

I really need to figure this out because I'm starting to see BBA and have a lot of melting leaves and stems that I assume are due to the inadequate/fluccuating co2 levels during this week that I have been tinkering with the injector. I'm mad because I thought I could increase the mist in the tank by using the Mazzei, and its obvious that I can, but everything was humming along just fine before I made the change. I was using the RhinoX 3000, and getting great co2 levels and ok mist, but I hated it being in the tank, and I had to clean it all the time to keep it working properly. The Mazzei is definately the way to go. It can produce TONS of mist, it can quickly drop the ph, it is OUT of the tank, and when appropriately matched to the size of the filter/pump - doesn't really diminish the amount of flow into the tank or cause an increase in the backpressure of the plumbing. Mazzei Corp. even makes really small injectors that could be used on smaller tanks, given the tank has an appropriate pump, tubing, and fittings. There are also many way they can be plumbed into the system to get required pressure differential across the injector. The Mazzei website has pictures of these setups, as well as performance tables for each model of injector. Their webpage is: http:\\Mazzei Injector Corporation - Fertilizer and Chemical Injection, Wastewater Aeration, Ozone Systems

-Mike B-