co2 reactor: intake or outlet of the canister?

[jarthel]

where is the best place to connect a co2 reactor: inlet or outlet of the canister?

also when DIYing a reactor, are the bio-balls really required?

thank you

[bossteck]

Place at outlet as you do not want anything to restrict flow going into your filter, it may result in damage to your pump head. Undissolved co2 may also cause airlock.

Bioballs are basically there to break the bubbles into finer bubbles so they dissolve more effectively. You can replace it with other materials, or if you have a large enough chamber (like the NA reactor), then you don't need anything inside the chamber.

Hope this helps.

[BFG]

What I did when I had my planted tank.

Tank--canister filter--co2 reactor--chiller--tank.

The longer the route from the co2 reactor to the tank would ensure that the water travelling to the tank would have absorb more co2. The shorter the water travel from the chiller to the tank would ensure minimal heat gain or cool loss.

About the bio-ball thingy in the reactor, in my opinion, it doesn't benefit in the reactor as all the co2 would eventually float up and form a huge bubble. But it might slow down the flow in the reactor causing lesser co2 to be absorbed.


Hope this helps!