Dual venturi DIY External CO2 reactor

[Mooner]

I get a lot of bubbles coming from the top venturi. Is it because a large bubble is accumulating at the top?

The build up of gas in the top of the reactor is normal IME.

I'm running both the external reactor and in a separate tank the modified impeller power head for comparison.

I've had limited success using the venturi loop to degas the reactor during the day. As suggested to me by others I was using to small of a pump to run the reactor. I'm am currently adding a larger GPH pump to test it out.

How's yours doing using the venturi loop with the 400GPH pump?

I'm currently running a 211 GPH. From what I've seen on a 30 gal it might take a 300-400 GPH to suffice. I did run more tubing on the output of the reactor which is more than the design called for.

[punky]

Sorry mate mine is 400l/h not gph. Do you think I am running a low pump? I get pretty much good flow on the output since the tubing is short. My reactor resides hanging on the side of the aquarium.

I have not had problems degassing the reactor although the pump seems to stress itself a bit when lots of bubbles start coming out.

[mrscary13]

I have a 24 gallon Nano Cube with a rio 1400 (375 gph) and I was wondering if I could run one of these from the output on the pump to the flow nozzle or would it affect the output of the nozzle too much.

[Mooner]

Sorry mate mine is 400l/h not gph. Do you think I am running a low pump?

Oops, I missed that, sorry . Thats about 105 gph and I'm at 211 gph. Well if it's working you are having better luck than than I am. Mine seems under powered on a 30 gallon and tends to lockup. Now I just run without the venturi loop and it does fine.

Note: My bps is higher due to a sump, therefore more gas to deal with in the reactor.

I get pretty much good flow on the output since the tubing is short. My reactor resides hanging on the side of the aquarium.

I did notice that once the plants filled in circulation in the tank dropped, as they said it would. Adding a power head in the tank corrected that. Hence the suggestion to just use a needle wheel

I have not had problems degassing the reactor although the pump seems to stress itself a bit when lots of bubbles start coming out.

Main thing is proper level of CO2 throughout the tank with good circulation. There are several good ideas out there and it takes a bit of tweaking.

[punky]

Yes, I have to agree about the reduction of flow when plants grow a lot. I will buy a 200gph for the reactor though and use the 105gph for circulation inside the tank.

[punky]

I plugged in a 200gph and now it is working as it is supposed to. Much better flow and no "almost lock ups" at the end of the day.

What I have been wondering is that I got the powerhead at the left of the tank and the output from the reactor is on the left too.

Should I extend the output of the reactor to the right to create a sort of flow path?
Would there be any difference in CO2 distibution in the tank?

[tedr108]

I had my input and output on the same side (and Tom's photo shows the same thing) -- I don't think it makes much difference really. Actually, having the input/output on the same side means your little pump doesn't have to pump water thru a long length of tubing, so you probably get better flow/circulation by having them on the same side.

[Mooner]

Should I extend the output of the reactor to the right to create a sort of flow path?
Would there be any difference in CO2 distibution in the tank?

I did this thinking I would get better circular flow. It does tax the pump a bit. Then I used a larger pump to compensate.

[Mooner]

Just reporting on tank with overflow.I've been using the Rio 1000 on the Barr reactor now for awhile. I am reporting excellent results. I'm now able to run the venturi loop full open. I've been able to adjust CO2 to any level needed and it's chomping the gas build up with no gas lock or air gap what so ever. FYI.

You might simply need more than a Rio 600, try a Rio 800-1000 etc, or a maxi jet 1200 etc(not as bulky).

Regards,
tom Barr

Great advise, thanks

[rusticitas]

Does someone have a photo of this reactor in place? I am confused about how it fits into the system overall. I assume that the output of a canister filter connects to the bottom barb connector... but the top barb connector seems to just be a loop through the Rio pump which only has 1/4" tubes coming out of it. So, where the heck does all that flow go?

I need pictures to give me the correct context.

Thanks!