State-of-the-art external CO2?

sns26 · Post by **sns26** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:45 pm

I use an external DIY PVC reactor. It's 3" diameter, about 18" high, and it's fed by an Eheim 2028 canister filter.

It works, I guess. I can grow things, anyway. But it sure seems inefficient. And loud. It gurgles like heck when I have the CO2 running strong. Is this still the best approach for external dissolution?

jweis · Post by **jweis** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:07 pm

I use an external reactor I bought off of AquariumPlants.com. It is silent and efficient.

sns26 · Post by **sns26** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:41 pm

Which one? Their website has about 30 different ones for sale.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/category_s/191.htm

Post by **krisw** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:17 am

I just started using the UP atomizer. You have to run it at a much higher PSI that I normally would, but it's quiet (just a small fizz sound), and produces lots of small bubbles. I've only been using it a few weeks though...

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:25 am

If you don't want bubbles floating around the tank the external reactor is still the way to go.

jweis · Post by **jweis** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:35 am

sns26 wrote:Which one? Their website has about 30 different ones for sale.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/category_s/191.htm

Here is the one that I have: https://www.aquariumplants.com/SearchRe ... PRODSEARCH

It is silent and there are no visible bubbles. When my new kittens don't chew a hole in the CO2 line, my CO2 tank lasts 18+ months.

Post by **krisw** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:14 pm

Only thing I'd look to adjust on their EXT5000 would be to remove some of the 90-degree angles in the plumbing. Seems to have a sweet spot in terms of flow-rate too:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showt ... 171&page=2

Others have built a similar style one DIY style:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showt ... p?t=165975

sns26 · Post by **sns26** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:57 pm

Yeah. I think I'll make one of those--commonly called a cerges reactor. Can't be caught *buying* hardware. I'll pay for spiffy sticks and dirt, but not plastic.

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 10:34 am

Looks like a HD water filter casing with some plumbing "improvements". Should be easy to replicate, and get rid of a bunch of those angles to improve flow rate. I'd make it with its own pump and leave the filter out of the loop.

tug · Post by **tug** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:51 am

I found this over at Tom's site, Cerges Dwell Time Reactor - Build Video Part 1.
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.ph ... deo-Part-1

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