Atomizers, reactors, diffusing CO2 in general

[Jim Miller]

Jim

So you're saying this might be the problem on the outflow there. Would putting a straight tee with flexible tubing work much better. That would be fairly straightforward.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd65 ... 5-1505.jpg



Thanks

On the Cerges there is the first 90* that you have on the outside and on the inside there is another immediately at the entrance. Depending on how close to the bottom the internal pipe goes there is likely quite a bit of turbulence at the bottom of it as well.

The Cerges only redeeming feature IMO is that it is compact. If you have the room I think a traditional long RG is best without the flow killing 90* elbows it is always shown with.

BTW, I'm also interested in seeing how the UpAqua performs. It looks like the design passes the water through the interior of the ceramic bit with the CO2 flowing from outside to the core. Also interesting to hear that works on the intake without causing problems.

Someone on TPT mentioned that being in the dark under the tank stand makes it much less prone to algae.

Let us know how it works!

Jim

[fjf888]

Will do and thank you everyone for all the feedback.

[fjf888]

"The Cerges only redeeming feature IMO is that it is compact. If you have the room I think a traditional long RG is best without the flow killing 90* elbows it is always shown with."


Thanks again, taking the elbow out improved the flow noticeably (takes up a lot more room though), however I still believe the cerges is slowing the mag 5 flow down quite a bit, so I think I now agree with your assessment of it. I have a model I built that is a copy of the one off Tom Barr's forum, but I'll only go back to that if the up aqua atomizer is not as good as advertised.

[SCMurphy]

I just bubble the CO2 into the intake of my return pumps in the sumps. How to set up the flow from the tank to the sump is another question.

[fjf888]

That I have not done anything with. I have a 72gallon all-glass reef ready bowfront. I had original grand ideas of converting to a reef tank, but my planted tank has cured me of that for now. The overflow was not terribly noisy so I didn't think I was losing a bunch of CO2 from the weir. I'm not sure what else I could necessarily do with that than raise the intake pipe a little.

I seal the (well maybe more like cover, but tightly) the return side of the sump with a plastic trashbag, its real attractive , fortunately the cabinet is closed. I use to bubble CO2 into the intake of the mag 5 just putting the co2 line just under the mag 5 prefilter sponge, but that didn't seem to be terribly efficient either.

If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Thanks

[mhossom]

the cerges is slowing the mag 5 flow down quite a bit,

Have you thought about changing the Mag5 impeller out for a Mag7? They are the same housing and motor. The only difference in the two pumps is the length of the blades on the impeller. I may even have one sitting around for you to try.

[fjf888]

the cerges is slowing the mag 5 flow down quite a bit,

Have you thought about changing the Mag5 impeller out for a Mag7? They are the same housing and motor. The only difference in the two pumps is the length of the blades on the impeller. I may even have one sitting around for you to try.

Might take you up on that. I actually bought a mag 7 when my original mag 5 broke but returned it because the sump and plumbing couldn't handle it. I think now though I could make it work.

[fjf888]

BTW, I'm also interested in seeing how the UpAqua performs. It looks like the design passes the water through the interior of the ceramic bit with the CO2 flowing from outside to the core. Also interesting to hear that works on the intake without causing problems.

Someone on TPT mentioned that being in the dark under the tank stand makes it much less prone to algae.

Let us know how it works!

Jim

Just got it in the mail today the 16-22mm. Going to install it tonight so its ready for CO2 cycle tomorrow.

[Jim Miller]

What does the water path look like? Can you see straight through the 5/8" bore?

jim

[fjf888]

What does the water path look like? Can you see straight through the 5/8" bore?

jim

yep clean through. Current seems to be double what it was with the reactor. I can see my plants swaying. I'm curious to see how it works in the short and long term.

Funny aside, I had to improvise a little, precisely because of the 5/8", my tubing was 3/4" should have ordered the next size up, noob mistake. Fortunately, I had 5/8" to 3/4" hose adaptor, thank you Lowes, my wasting time in the plumbing aisle and buying stuff I didn't need finally paid off.