Tom Barr Venturi Diy Reactor

[Ste_J]

Came by Tom Barr's Venturi design that he says adds tiny Co2 bubbles throughout the water - Has anybody tried this design yet and if so is it worth giving a try?


Ste

 

[Sean_Buckley]

Not sure how he did it, but I would think that it might draw CO2 in faster than it was produced and collapse the bottles. I took the gravel washer part of a water change hose, and drilled a hole in it, put the CO2 line through the hole, then put a powerhead input port where the tube connects to the gravel washer. The CO2 bubbled up into the impellers, voila. O, just make sure you put screening over the large end of the gravel washer, I lost a Red-Eye Tetra this way...HTH
Sean

 

[Ste_J]

Cheers Sean

What size powerhead did you use? I'm currently using an Eheim 2224 for my filtration and the flow is pretty strong at the moment so I wouldn't want to increase this by much if I could help it. Currently looking at the Maxi Jet 400 powerhead with 400lph output, the Eheim is rated to 700lph so I reckon that the Maxi jet 400 would be just about right?

 

[Sean_Buckley]

Not sure what kind of powerhead, it was a Marineland brand, but it had WAY too high of flow. Sucked in a Red Eye tetra and killed it...plus it created too much current. I would think that any a powerhead with 75+ GPH would do nicely, but I would assume the larger the flow rate, the faster the impeller turns, hence, the more diffusion. So, if you could find some way to keep the flow from disturbing tank inhabitants, go as big as you want. But remember to COVER THE END OF THE GRAVEL ATTACHMENT! Otherwise you may see scales floating in the tank...not a fun thing to find. HTH.
Sean

 

[Ste_J]

But remember to COVER THE END OF THE GRAVEL ATTACHMENT! Otherwise you may see scales floating in the tank...not a fun thing to find. HTH.

Thanks for the words of wisdom

 

[Ste_J]

I'm sure that most of you would have seen the design but just in case

 

[kenneth_kpe]

interesting..... hmm somebody here should try it and compare it with normal co2 injection.... i also read this before, about gaining more plant growth by blastig the water column with micro co2 bubbles

 

[Ste_J]

interesting..... hmm somebody here should try it and compare it with normal co2 injection.... i also read this before, about gaining more plant growth by blastig the water column with micro co2 bubbles

Yeah gonna give it a go this week I think as work is doing my head in and I need something to get my mind going again.

Decided to try for the Maxijet 600 as this gives a decent flow - the original design uses a Rio 600