Co2 Reactor

[Colonel Mustard]

HI

I have a Co2 system (DIY) i have seen reactors on the internet but i don't know whether they are necesary or what they do. Could someone tell me what they do and whether they are needed.

thanks alot

 

[BHornsey]

Hi,

Reactors work by mixing CO2 in a contained, moving area of water. This forces the CO2 to mix better and any that doesn't is blown out as a fine mist.
Methods such as ladders or airstones are not so effective as they just bubble CO2 into the tank and it mixes with the water as it ascends to the surface. Mostly, it doesn't fully mix and CO2 is lost at the surface.
Reactors thus make better use of the available CO2.
There are several good DIY designs on this forum, take a look

 

[SuperColey1]

There are 2 sides to this one

1 side will tell you that an inline reactor is the most efficient way of diffusing CO2 as it is mixed with the water by the time it gets to the tank.

The other side (including many of the respcted aquascapers) will tell you that a ceramic diffusor produccing CO2 mist is the most efficient way of diffusing CO2 as it means actual bubbles are transported directly onto the leaves of the plants as long as your water circulation is good

Which side would you believe? I have a ceramic diffusor both when I did DIY and on pressurised so you can guess which side I believe.

Andy