I am a little confused how to choose between the 3/4/584(X) Mazzei injectors. I see the difference in connector sizes, 1/2", 3/4", etc. But other than that I'm not seeing what's different, even if I look at the downloadable PDF schematics.

-Jason

Could someone please answer this question? I would VERY much like to order one. :-)

I'll also be interested to see the answer to this question.

I just went out to their site and read up on them. If you've already chosen your plumbing, I would imagine you just pick the size that matches your plumbing. I'm wondering if the whole input pressure/back pressure thing wouldn't really apply to the aquarium hobby since we force the CO2 into the mazzei.

If you look around the site, you will find extensive discussions about sizing Mazzei's. What you want is a system with a pump with sufficient head to power water through the injector efficiently, creating a strong vacuum on the CO2 line that will largely dissolve the CO2 and provide some mist. The 3 or 5 series Mazzei's have different venturi throat diameters. The smaller throats coupled with a high head pump do an amazing job of dissolving CO2. The larger throats of the 5 series need a larger throughput to do the same, but if your pump (filter, powerhead) doesn't have high head then a larger throat will allow it to still move lots of water. You'll get mist. If the pump is powerful enough, it will be fairly fine mist--as fine as you get with a good quality diffuser, but more controllable.

So look around the site. Think about how you plan to drive the Mazzei, then worry about getting it plumbed into your system.

Jason,

jsr's advice is excellent.

I did a search on 'mazzei' on this site and reread most of the threads.

There are about 6-8 really good ones that speak alot about this.

What size tank/pump etc all play a part in addition to what you want to get out of the mazzei.

From what I understand they are very powerful and can easily be mis-used.

It seems important to be able to control the flow to these devices.

You can always fix the plumbing.

By adding a valve on the loop, it's very easy to adjust the flow and dissolving rate, ultra fine mist.

Regards,
tom Barr

I thought that the Mazzei would just be used inline from my canister filter's output, so this is sounding much more complicated than I thought it was. I was first going to try this on the 20-Long in my kitchen, my "test" tank, but it sounds like a Mazzei is really intended for large tanks with more complex plumbing... And secondary/tertiary pumps, a flow or pressure gauge, and more?

Tom, on your 180 gallon starphire tank, I thought you just put the Mazzei inline on the output of the one Ocean Clear's return to the tank? Just plunked into the return flow, with nothing else.

-Jason

Jason,

You can plumb the mazzei that way (inline with the canister) it is just that the mazzei will REDUCE the flow in the tank and may affect other things like the distribution of your c02.


That is why Tom uses the ball valve/loop and there is usually a separate and/or beefed up main pump.


They are more for big tanks.

FYI, now that I have it correct, my 180 has DC green all over using an aqua medic 1000 with a venturi loop.

Plenty of c02, etc.

Why do you want a mazzei so bad? What is the application?

What is "DC Green"?


It's not that I want one "bad," it is just that having read about it, I wanted to experiment with one. And I was getting confused by all of the specifications. I did, obviously understand the hose connector size (1/2", 3/4", etc) but there seemed to be other things to take into account when choosing the 384/484/584 etc that I was not clear on.

Well, I do not think you are really going to get really effective results using one with a canister filter pump.

They are really under powered.
This is the trade off using a mazzei.

Now, there is a solution and it's along the lines you want........and it'll match the goal you have, but the trade off will be less mist control, but that might okay for you.

Aqua Medic Reducing Tee - 21 mm x Airline Tube (Aquarium > CO2 Systems/Access. > CO2 Accessories )

Note, there's no suction draw, this is not a venturi.
You need good check valves.

However, there is NO head pressure drop at all.
These are what I added to the lower flow systems using canister filters.

They work fairly well, the bubbles exiting are not many and not that large.
However, you do not get the ultra fine mist that comes out of the mazzei.
The high pressure is what creates the energy to shed the gas to bits to form the froth.

Regards,
Tom Barr