CO2 diffusion and hiding hardware

[George Farmer]

I'm not happy with my cumbersome Dennerle Flipper diffuser. It is large (designed for a 300litre tank - mine is 125litre) and due to my "open space" planting, it is all too visible.

Those of you who know me a little will know how I hate to see equipment. Steps I have taken to hide equipment so far -

1. Fluval 204 external filter inlet and output positioned inside my Juwel internal filter box (with internal filtration still working). For this I had to remove the Juwel heater. Now I rely on my 25W substrate heater cable on a thermostat (thanks smithrc!) This may seem too little heat but my house is warm all year round. I will buy an external heater (in-line with external filter) soon as back-up, set on a slightly lower temp to heater cable in case of heater cable failure.

2. Juwel filter output tube cut down.

3. My heater cable is a bright white - very unpleasant against my black background, running down the left rear side of the tank. I managed to hide this by wrapping larger diameter black silicon tubing (Deltec) around it. Now it is barely visible.

Now to my diffuser. I plan to simply run my pressurized CO2 output tubing directly into my external filter inlet. The bubbles will dissolve inside the filter chambers and thus into my tank water effectively. I expect there may be some noise from the bubble possibly hitting my impellar so I may run the CO2 through a small airstone first - smaller bubbles, less noise. What do you think?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

gf i read before the canister filters might conk out when you run c02 into them? the noise is actually the impeller being stressed out by the air bubbles. im not sure about this but sounds logical to me.

how about an inline reactor placed in the output of the canister ?

 

[George Farmer]

gf i read before the canister filters might conk out when you run c02 into them? the noise is actually the impeller being stressed out by the air bubbles. im not sure about this but sounds logical to me.

how about an inline reactor placed in the output of the canister ?

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Thanks for the warning but I've researched it quite thoroughly (Lateral Line runs a similar method) - I too was worried about the negative effect on the filter. The airstone should avoid any stalling - it will be small enough to fit inside the actual inlet tube.

 

[zig]

Will that not impede the flow of the filter if you put an airstone in the inlet tube.

 

[RYO]

How about a glass diffuser- http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=255
I know where your coming from on the hiding of equipment, the fluval inlets and outlets are a pain, my Eheim doesnt show half as much (thank god)
Like the idea about puting it inside the juwel filter ( i cut my juwel filter out)

 

[zig]

Now THIS is a nice diffuser........look at those micro bubbles

 

[nodding_dino]

where did you find that one Zig?...(oooh purty )

 

[George Farmer]

Will that not impede the flow of the filter if you put an airstone in the inlet tube.

[snapback]874845[/snapback]​

Already thought of that mate. I don't think it'll matter - the filter's rated for a 200 litre tank - a little less flow will do no harm.

 

[zig]

where did you find that one Zig?...(oooh purty )

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Unfortunatly only available in Japan

They cost about 100 US Dollars , but they sure are nice, worth the money, maybe not, but they look incredibly effective given the micro bubbles emerging from the diffuser.

I found it ages ago and just kept the picture on file.

 

[zig]

Will that not impede the flow of the filter if you put an airstone in the inlet tube.

[snapback]874845[/snapback]​

Already thought of that mate. I don't think it'll matter - the filter's rated for a 200 litre tank - a little less flow will do no harm.

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well seems like a good plan, for the cost of an airstone you cant go wrong.

I feel the same though, no point in having pressurised co2 and having a big ladder in the tank, i would see it as one of the perks of having a pressurised system.....less clutter in the tank.

I believe the Hydors have a minimal impact also on flow, i think if you look inside one they are just like a heated tube.

I believe some of the more expensive Eheims have a flow meter on them, now that would be pretty cool, you would be able to check the flow rate immeaditaly, i wonder if you buy them seperatly and just stick it on the tubing, must have a look around on the web.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

that is a nice diffuser! it is similar to the azoo and i forgot the other brand anyway i ebayed this just now
ebay

i think it looks less fuglier though

btw gf tell us how your c02 levels go compared to the ladder diffuser im interested because i might get a canister filter..

 

[Vivienne]

I've now moved the output of my nutrafin to diffuse through the filter sponges in my Juwel Rekord 120. (Only place for a bubble ladder was the front glass of the tank.) Every few seconds there's a very small noise and you can see a small puff of very tiny bubbles expelled by the filter output. It's been like that for a week now and seems to be working really well. As to any eventual damage to the impellor - I guess only time will tell.

My concern was that I wouldn't be able to tell if it was working properly, but that hasn't been a problem. Noise just hasn't been an issue, unlike the air pump we have running in a different tank in my son's bedroom. That has to be switched off every night because it makes such a racket !

 

[George Farmer]

I've now moved the output of my nutrafin to diffuse through the filter sponges in my Juwel Rekord 120. (Only place for a bubble ladder was the front glass of the tank.) Every few seconds there's a very small noise and you can see a small puff of very tiny bubbles expelled by the filter output. It's been like that for a week now and seems to be working really well. As to any eventual damage to the impellor - I guess only time will tell.

My concern was that I wouldn't be able to tell if it was working properly, but that hasn't been a problem. Noise just hasn't been an issue, unlike the air pump we have running in a different tank in my son's bedroom. That has to be switched off every night because it makes such a racket !

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That's good.

I'm hoping the CO2 bubbles will diffuse completely before reaching the impellar. The Fluval 204 has a larger distance for the bubbles to travel so I assume they will dissolve furthur causing less noise. Using a small airstone will help too.