External Reactor

[oldmantan]

Not sure if you guys would call this a DIY reactor.

I have connect 2 internal reactors to the outside of the tank, running the outflow hose into the bigger one where CO2 is injected, then allowing the water to flow into the smaller reactor. The CO2 inlet of the second reactor has been sealed with silicon.

All hose are fastened using pipe faster. and the joints of each parts of the reactor are joined with white tape used for water pipes.

Diffusion rate is still not 100% though. Currently, my CO2 is on 2 bubbles per second.

Rgds

[blue33]

Diffusion is not 100% because you have connected too many reactor causing the water spin to slow down thus the CO2 is not mix well.

[bossteck]

This sort of reactor are not suited for external use.
There is a small risk of the top and/or bottom part of the reactor popping loose.
If that happens and you're not home...

[limsteel]

I have done this before... Quite safe if you force fit all the joints with White Sealing tape and then add 1 more layer of heavy duty masking tape.

Problem I face is constant nagging from my wife for 1 week SOLID...

[oldmantan]

yes. its for internal use so i used the white tape.

seems to be alright for my office tank. i had done the same and added silicon to for the top and base parts. it has lasted 2 years so far.

should i remove the smaller reactor?

[Viper007]

Not sure what you do make sense... An external reactor will cost about 2 red notes. And the mix is very complete.

[medicineman]

^
^
Exactly like above

Try the one from mizuworld.com
Look for ista max mix reactor, I think this one should be a better option when you want to put it as external reactor. The build quality simply much better.

[oldmantan]

wow. sounds good, looks good. pardon my ignorance.

ill go check it out. thanks!!

rgds

[bossteck]

yes. its for internal use so i used the white tape.

seems to be alright for my office tank. i had done the same and added silicon to for the top and base parts. it has lasted 2 years so far.

should i remove the smaller reactor?

And this is in your office. Please take care that the joints and seals are really secured.

I don't think you should remove the smaller reactor, 2 is better than 1, provided they are secured of course.

Cheers

[CK Yeo]

Flood risk lor. Not much cheaper or efficient. There are better designed external reactors that are quite affordable nowadays.

ck

[Shadow]

You dare to do that for office tank? unless you are the boss

by the way which have the most external reactor selection? I'm curently DIY my self since the one I saw at LFS look so fragile.

[neon]

In fact I diy two of my DIY CO2 reactor : 1 internal and 1 external.

The external one is using PVC pipe : 42cm(L)x 5cm (diameter) , filled with bioballs. Reaction is 100%. Connection => filter -> CO2 reactor -> chiller -> tank

The internal one I want to achieve Tom Barr mist method, and I used the same small green reactor like yours, except I inter- connect two of them . I drilled a small holes in the middle for CO2 injection , and put two bioballs in each of reactors. One of reactor upper end connect to a power head, the lower end interconnect to the other reactor, and water will exit from the second reactor upper end. I connect two tubes into the 2 CO2 connectors for CO2 input , the powerhead as the venturi effect .

[Viper007]

You dare to do that for office tank? unless you are the boss

by the way which have the most external reactor selection? I'm curently DIY my self since the one I saw at LFS look so fragile.

Btw, when I was at NA the other day I saw a similer DIY reactor as yours...

[oldmantan]

sorry been out of action for a while. the one pic i attached earlier is the reactor i had used for my home tank.

the reactor i use for my office tank is similar with only 1 of those reactors. it is simpler. same thing, had used the white tapes, cable tied the tubes, added in the control valves at both ends (in case the tubes come loose), then silicon all possible leaks.

did all these after one of the tubes got disconnected 1 night and i had to call in the carpet cleaners (the tank is right smack in the middle of ofc )

so far so good for the last 2 years.

attached 2 pics for your comments.

rgds

[oldmantan]

and btw, thanks to bro medicineman, i have removed that weird external setup for my home tank. am using the ista max mix reactor he recommended. still get small bubbles like before, but at least i am assured it wont leak or break down.

cheers

[Viper007]

and btw, thanks to bro medicineman, i have removed that weird external setup for my home tank. am using the ista max mix reactor he recommended. still get small bubbles like before, but at least i am assured it wont leak or break down.

cheers

Bro, remember to use a tape to tape up the base area. One of the bro here the base cap came off for no reason and flooded the living room.

[oldmantan]

ok roger that. thanks for all the advice peeps.