Got my order in today, but ended getting some fittings that wouldn't work. This is the updated parts list, but I would hold off until I get them in, just in case.

This is for 5/8" tubing (16/22mm eheim). If you have a smaller canister filter (12/16mm) you would need the 0705T.028 (5/8" to 1/2" reducer).
0710T.028 5/8"elbow (2) $.88
6030.010 1/2" Mazzi injector $22.05
5041N0.05 1/2" Ball Valve
1435.005 1/2" Female hose adapter (2)
0700T.195 1/2" Male hose adapter (2)

I'm going to see how much of this stuff you can get at a hardware store. I usually order from ryah herco, but I'm not sure if they are a wholesaler only? I just put a company name down and say "verbal" when they ask for a PO number.

OK forgot to mention the TEE's on the last post,
1401.005 1/2" insert tee

Got all the parts in, going to test it out this weekend. Doesn't look very pretty.



OK, I really like how the Mazzi injector worked out. The tank gets showered with Co2. I'm scrapping the ball valve design, and like Tom recommended, adding another pump inline to my canister filter output. This setup will look cleaner, all you'll see is the Injector "Y" into the outlet pipe.

The ball valve cut too much flow from the canister. If anyone has any ideas on what kind of pump to select, let me know. Maybe like an eheim 1048 (80 gph @ 3' $50). Or a mag drive (160 gph @ 3', $40) to match my canister flow rate (eheim 2224, 184 gph). What effect does restricting the output on the pump have?

IUnknown - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

OK, so I tested things out and I made a mistake by sizing the pump at the same flow rate as the canister filter. Mazzei's website states that the pressure difference needs to be at least 20%. So I returned the pump and replaced it for one that will do 600gph to hopefully create the difference in pressure. Now the other question I have, if the booster pump is doing 600gph and the filter is doing 200gph, would I place the intake for the booster pump on the outlet of the canister filter (like my diagram on the previous page) or on the intake of the canister filter? I guess I can test both options, keep the outlet flows separate, and see which method keeps the flow to both pumps stable.

Also the other mistake I made was that I put the injector right below the lillie pipe. Maybe I need to put it right after the pump like on Mazzei's diagram,

Mazzei Injector Corp. - Selecting an Injector

definitely closer to the pump though. That allows for higher static pressure, and greater contact time, and saturation. A dedicated pump would help. The Mazzei injectors are about the best in production.

Update: I just noticed, Do you have the venturi, and ball valve transposed in that configuration ? Shouldn't flow control be on the main line to direct pressure to the Venturi valve ? Never mind me I'm just curious by nature ! ;^)

On your original configuration try swaping out the Ball valve and Venturi. Also reverse the two sections of hose on the bye pass end for end. Short section+Venturi+long section. Then re-adjust the ball valve till you begin to draw gas. Again, placing the whole bye pass assb. closer to the pump may improve line pressure. If you're not seeing enough bubbles entering the tank place the assb. next to the lilly pipe. Depends on whether you want disolved Co2 or micro bubbles. HTH. Prof M

P.S. which model Mazzei Venturi are you using ?

Won't the return flow from the booster pump act as a big resistance to the filter flow trying to get by the blast from the venturi output? I would expect to see the filter flow drop close to zero and the booster pump primarily recirculate the same water over and over. If you used an elbow similar to a "sanitary elbow", with the side passage entering almost parallel to the main flow it would work much, much better. The venturi line flow would actually boost the filter flow then.

That it will ! I'd also increase the output to a corresponding larger size. If I were using a secondary pump I'd just run it dedicated. That venturi valve will only handle a few hundred gph.

Nice layout and pics.

I think the issue here is really the size of the tank, it's just so small vs the expense for a 20 gal tank.

Fine for experimentation though............

The cost of the glassware is 10-70$ depending on the brand.
I'm trying out some of the Japanese knock off brands to see if they are better than/equal to the ADA beetles.

I have some very small and some very large tanks.
Each has it's own issue.

The 1600 gallon tank has the venturis and the disc.
The disc send visible mist through the tank and create a large froth with proper placement of the outflows and disc.

While I have 1.5 gallon tanks that have issues with getting something small enough to not be too ugly.


Regards,
Tom Barr

The needle wheel powerheads are also about 40-70$ as well and be used inline in some applications.

The impeller runs 15$ and can be used in a Rio 2000.

Big powerhead really, maybe they will make small ones later.

"I think the issue here is really the size of the tank"

The biggest challenge is properly sizing the volume, and metering the Co2 to accommodate the application.

I honestly believe that if the bye pass is properly configured his present canister is more than sufficient, albeit a bit large for the tank.