Urgent! any good co2 reactor to recommand?

**yeoyl87** · 28th Aug 2007, 07:23

Mine just gave way today. House flooded, almost can use to film Pirates of the Carribean :eek: Now I need to replace a Co2 reactor fast. Any good recommandation? Where to buy? Best is can roughly tell me price

**Aeon** · 28th Aug 2007, 10:13

ISTA Max Mix. I got mine from NA. Biotope also have. Call to ask first

**illumnae** · 28th Aug 2007, 10:25

i second Aeon's recommendation. i am currently using the ISTA Max Mix after being recommended it by NA, and i must say it's doing a very good job. from what i can see i'm having no CO2 loss at all

**yeoyl87** · 28th Aug 2007, 10:31

my ista mix max cracked!!! The bottom screw cap cracked...

I didn't dropped or anything. The screw cap will also leaked water after 6 mths usage time. I used the white tape to solved it but then the problem came back to hunt me again...

**yeoyl87** · 28th Aug 2007, 10:43

you all bought the M size or L size? both seems the same to me and I don't think the extra length could do anything extra. Did you all put a sponge inside like the picture on the L size ISTA mix max?

Any better recommandation? If not then maybe I get another mix max again.

**illumnae** · 28th Aug 2007, 10:52

I got the L size, but i just installed it straight from the box without a sponge

**stephen chung** · 28th Aug 2007, 11:02

I am using the smaller one. I have the sponge put it. There is an O ring inside the bottom screw cap, maybe is missing from yours.

How is the thing crack? Maybe you can ask tcampell about this...

**yeoyl87** · 28th Aug 2007, 11:14

I have the O ring. Somehow after long usage, water will seep through the joint. I solved the problem by using the white tape. My screw cap got a crack so the water start to spurt out from there.
Whats the use of the sponge?
How to clean the rotating wheel? I wanted to clean the wheel but I don't know how to open it.
I sometime encounter snails being stucked inside and end up got to dismantle it to take it out.

**stephen chung** · 28th Aug 2007, 12:10

The O ring will get harden after long use. I use food grade silicone grease to protect them from getting harden..

I also heard from Ian from I aquatic, He makes Acrylic tanks. He told me that not all plastic can be use for making tanks some will crack after awhile. I don't know how true is that as I am no polymer engineer..

**Aeon** · 29th Aug 2007, 06:44

If crack, use silicon to seal. But I still think ISTA reactor better. Those UP brand or green color type, you connect hose also can crack. Efficiency, ISTA beats all hands down, only making it fill with water is tricky but you'll get the hang of it.

**Shadow** · 29th Aug 2007, 08:18

I prefer DIY reactor using drinking water filter canister (AMDUS). It is same as the DIY reactor that NA sell. Is the ISTA reactor can be open to clean the inside?

**yeoyl87** · 29th Aug 2007, 08:30

Originally Posted by Aeon

If crack, use silicon to seal. But I still think ISTA reactor better. Those UP brand or green color type, you connect hose also can crack. Efficiency, ISTA beats all hands down, only making it fill with water is tricky but you'll get the hang of it.

I was thinking of that also. However, my screw cap got a roughly 1.5cm crack and since this reactor is external, I don't want to risk another flood. What I do is I turn on the canister filter, follow by turning the Mix Max upside down and the reactor will be fully filled

Originally Posted by Shadow

I prefer DIY reactor using drinking water filter canister (AMDUS). It is same as the DIY reactor that NA sell. Is the ISTA reactor can be open to clean the inside?

Ya I saw some of those on sale by forummer. Hows the performance? I like the solid feeling of it. Thick plastic. I think the reason why my mix max crack is because I screw too tight. The irony is that if I don't screw tight, it will leak. So far, I cant pull out the inside of the Mix Max for cleaning.

**Aeon** · 29th Aug 2007, 08:50

I just tried cleaning my ISTA reactor today. Very difficult to clean. The top part (impeller) seems like cannot dismantle, didn't want to try to hard in case I break anything.

Maybe tcampbell can advice us on the cleaning.

**Shadow** · 29th Aug 2007, 09:23

Originally Posted by yeoyl87

I was thinking of that also. However, my screw cap got a roughly 1.5cm crack and since this reactor is external, I don't want to risk another flood.

HAve you tried to permanently glue it using epoxy glue, those that need to mix first?

Originally Posted by yeoyl87

Hows the performance? I like the solid feeling of it. Thick plastic. I think the reason why my mix max crack is because I screw too tight. The irony is that if I don't screw tight, it will leak. So far, I cant pull out the inside of the Mix Max for cleaning.

What do you mean by performance? CO2 disolving rate? If so then since it is DIY, you can improve the performance by toying here and there. For example, I put air stone to make the bubble smaller and faster to disolve. I also put bioball so that the CO2 buble will be trap longger.

The drawback is it is big compare to ISTA or other external reactor

**yeoyl87** · 29th Aug 2007, 23:00

Originally Posted by Shadow

HAve you tried to permanently glue it using epoxy glue, those that need to mix first?

What do you mean by performance? CO2 disolving rate? If so then since it is DIY, you can improve the performance by toying here and there. For example, I put air stone to make the bubble smaller and faster to disolve. I also put bioball so that the CO2 buble will be trap longger.

The drawback is it is big compare to ISTA or other external reactor

I was thinking of that too. The reactor is not very expensive so I don't find it worthwhile to buy epoxy (epoxy cost half the price of the reactor if I am not wrong) to repair. You need to clean and wash the reactor at times. So I think permanently sealing it is not viable

.

Bro Shadow, got any picture of your DIY? Is it hard to DIY?

**EvolutionZ** · 29th Aug 2007, 23:09

im interested in getting the external reactor too.. anyone know whats the price like? can pm me? thanks

**Aeon** · 30th Aug 2007, 15:32

Less than 20 bucks I think for the L size.

**blackBRUSHalgae** · 2nd Sep 2007, 14:22

The impeller part always get dirtied and because that it seems almost impossible to clean that part, I threw mine away and bought a ceramic diffusor. Never have any problems since.