Is My Diffuser Working Correctly?

[serbusfish]

I just wanted to check my co2 system was working correctly.
 
I puchased the JBL ProFlora 160 which is essentially a DIY style kit with container, pipe and diffuser.
 
This is the diffuser:
 

 
Basically the bubbles rise up from the bottom, there are slits in the sides so im not sure if the co2 diffuses that way? But the bubbles sort of collect at the top of the diffuser, then every now and again a big bubble will escape to the surface from the hole at the top.
 
Is this normal? Im worried the co2 isnt diffusing correctly and it just escaping to the surface.

 

[stevecol56]

I just wanted to check my co2 system was working correctly.
 
I puchased the JBL ProFlora 160 which is essentially a DIY style kit with container, pipe and diffuser.
 
This is the diffuser:
 

 
Basically the bubbles rise up from the bottom, there are slits in the sides so im not sure if the co2 diffuses that way? But the bubbles sort of collect at the top of the diffuser, then every now and again a big bubble will escape to the surface from the hole at the top.
 
Is this normal? Im worried the co2 isnt diffusing correctly and it just escaping to the surface.

 
I have the same "Reactor" and just switched to this from an inline diffuser. It does say on the JBL booklet that came with the reactor says that the bubbles that escape from the top of the unit are just a waste gas and is not true CO2.
Occasionally mine will "Blow" from the top.
 
The best way to see if you are dosing correctly is to have a CO2 colour checker in your aquarium, then if it is blue you know it's not working & green if it is spot on.
 
HTH

 

[KirkyArcher]

Mine occasionally "blew" and most of the time it spooked the fish, so I removed the top section, it made no difference to the amount of gas that was required to get my drop checker to turn lime green, I did later on drill a second slightly larger hole in the lid this allowed the trapped gas to escape less violently and more frequently.