Diffusors & Reactors - What is best?

[Scotty Bils]

Hi there,

I was wondering if someone can advise on what is the difference between CO2 Diffusors & Reactors? Here are some at ASA http://www.aquariumsuppliesaustralia.com.au/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=34 that I have been looking at.

I have a 280 litre tank (48"x18"x20") with a dupla reactor. I have a ph electrode hooked up to a magnetic valve so in efferct run an automated system i.e. the valve opens and closes when the ph reaches a certain point.

Eveyones opinion is appreciated here, what do you think would be the best type of reactor/diffusor for my tank/setup. What has been everyones experience here.

Cheers
Scott :D :D :D

[Davo]

I have used both. I used to have a Dupla reactor S ($200) on my 4x2x2 tank. I sold it as it reduced the flow on my Eheim 2228 filter to a trickle. I bought a RhinoX 5000 diffuser on Ebay for $22 and it was well worth it.

It supplies a fine mist of CO2 and the plants love it. The only negative is that every 2-3 weeks I have to take it out and soak it in bleach to clean the algae and build-up from it. It is not that big an issue as it only has to soak for 2-3 hrs then it is like new.

Regards,
Dave.

[fish_r]

i am really impressed with the dupla S reactor, i'm now getting 100% diffusion.
but i use a eheim 1250 universal pump to run it as yes they will slow down a filter to a trickle thats why ur better off using an inline pump...
imo ur better off using an external reactor on larger tanks. but thats just my opinion...

[ILLUSN]

External Reactors can be concealed and dont take up any tank space, I use a dulpa s and its perfect.

[Scotty Bils]

Well then.....2 out of 3 votes for the Dupla S. It does sound very convincing other than I am going to have to buy a pump to run it as I know it will slow my canister down too much and I dont want that.

Illusn - what pump do you have hooked up to yours? Do you also use an eheim 1250 like fish_r? What would you recommend?

Do you guys then plumb this pump/ CO2 rich water it back into the outlet of one of your canisters using a "Y" piece rather than having another extra outlet in your tank?

What about the Aqua Medic External CO2 Reactor 1000 that ASA sell. Pardon my ignorance but it looks allot like the Dupla S and is only $120. Can someone tell me what the difference is between the two?

Thanks for all replies :D

[Bald_noggin]

Here's a photo of how I've set mine up. I've taken two splits of the main pump. One is setup as a bleed valve to control the amount of water entering the tank and the other feeds the CO2 reactor (Dupla Reactor S also!). Just like fish_r, I'm getting 100% difussion. The output from the reactor is returned into the pump chamber of the sump. The pump is a Ehiem 1262 so it has some spare capacity left over for when the pump ages.

Cheers,
Col.

[ILLUSN]

G'day mate, mines on the output of an eheim 2080 (pro 3) i'm kinda glad it does retard the flow a little, as my discus do tend to "drift" in the current from the spray bar.

reactor 1000 should be just as good as the dulpa S I was going to get one, then Davo sold me his.

[fish_r]

mine is setup like this, that was the old eheim 1048 but i found it wasnt strong enough so fitted a 1250 instead.
and i just use a eheim jet nozzle into the middle of the tank...
if u can get a dupla S for $120 grab it, the cheapest i found was $200 from my lfs, but u can get it for $200 from here too
http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod1346.htm
i have read a cpl of things about the aquamedic ones leaking, but not sure if it was the users or the unit...

[revkev]

Why not make your own CO2 diffuser from pvc pipe all parts from bunnings plumbing and irragation supplies cost about $20 ? to make. water goes in from top, CO2 from top side through bio balls into tank put it on the outlet of cannister filter or pump? can be pulled apart for cleaning if needed.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/revkev77/th_MVC-002F-8.jpg (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/revkev77/MVC-002F-8.jpg)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/revkev77/th_MVC-001F-7.jpg (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/revkev77/MVC-001F-7.jpg)

[fish_r]

i did, pretty similar to ur's, and i tried it for about 8mths. but it worked no wear near as good as the one i bought...

[Tommo]

What About The Tunze CO2 Diffuser Are They Any Good ?


http://www.aquariumsuppliesaustralia.com.au/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2580

[ILLUSN]

I have 2 tunze air diffusers, they work well except.
1. the intake clogs easily with debri (dead leaves and ricca etc)
2.if the unit stops after a power cut, the co2 gets into the pump hosing when the power comes on it either rattles like crazy or just doesnt pump water into the reation tube.
3. it's a pain in the A$$ to mount i ended up using the clips of a jager heater as the stock gear sucked.
4. the reaction tube is way too short for 4bps i extened mine with some old ugf lift pipe.
5. when cleaning the pump (daily activity) the steel shaft has a habbit of falling out and getting lost in your substrate

with thes probs fixed it is an excellent reactor, it just requires daily maintenance. external much better IMO

[Tommo]

Thanks For The Info Once Again ILLUSN :)
Will The External Reactors Work With A FX5 ?
Cheers Tommo

[ILLUSN]

should work ok but y'll have to "T" if off the output. use a 25mm-12mm reduce T junction then use a 12mm-9mm reduceing connector to get the reactor hooked up.

[Tommo]

So Would I Be Better Off ILLUSN If I Got A
Eheim Universal Pump 1048 At 600 Liters/Hour And Used That To Pump Co2 Into The Tank Through The Reactor ?
Cheers :)

[Erk]

Ive been running a DiY external reactor for a few months now, and I dont use an inline pump, although I was thinking about it. I ordered a rhinox5000 diffuser and it just arrived today :D Im going to leave the reactor hooked up, and run the diffuser also

I will let you know how things go....

[TW]

mine is setup like this, that was the old eheim 1048 but i found it wasnt strong enough so fitted a 1250 instead.
and i just use a eheim jet nozzle into the middle of the tank...
Hi fish_r,
Is the pump connected in anyway at all to your filter? If not, how does the water come to & from the tank. Can you show a picture of the eheim jet nozzle you mention, if it's not too much trouble.

[ILLUSN]

So Would I Be Better Off ILLUSN If I Got A
Eheim Universal Pump 1048 At 600 Liters/Hour And Used That To Pump Co2 Into The Tank Through The Reactor

I think Fish_R tried that pump and it didn't work too well, eheim make a reducing t piece part # EH4007990 this will take your FX5 hose (25mm) down to 12mm, and still allow water to bypass the reactor and not impeed your flow too much. then use the eheim hose reducer EH4003980 on each of the 12 mm junctions to reduce the 12 mm to 9mm to run your reactor. you could use cheeper parts from bunnings i guess, I've just got an eheim catalog handy. Either way it will work a treat, and you wont have to bother with other pumps.

[fish_r]

Hi fish_r,
Is the pump connected in anyway at all to your filter? If not, how does the water come to & from the tank. Can you show a picture of the eheim jet nozzle you mention, if it's not too much trouble.

the pump doesnt connect to the filter at all TW
this should help to see how it connects :
the inline Eheim 1250 is perfect for this reactor as the reactor slowed the 1048 down too much. personally i wouldn't recommend connecting the dupla reactor to a filter as it will slow the flow down dramatically.

[TW]

Thanks heaps for those pictures fish_r :D

[Tommo]

Thanks ILLUSN

:lol:

[Scotty Bils]

Thank you verey much guys! No I have to convince the missus that I can spend some more cash on the tank!! :)

[Tommo]

I have to convince the missus that I can spend some more cash on the tank!!
_________________


I Know That Feeling !!

Cheers!