Trapper
November 1st 04, 09:46 PM
Folks,
I just got all the missing pieces of my CO2 system today, and was
super eager to put the thing through its paces on my 75-gal tank.
In my haste, I kindasorta forgot to buy a CO2 reactor, so I ended up
making one of my own for testing purposes. It's working so well thus
far that I thought I'd tell you how I made it.
Parts/tools:
1 clear plastic bike bottle
1 bunch of open-cell foam (sponge prefilter from Amiracle skimmer box)
1 swiss army knife (SAK)
1 length of airline tubing, ~1.5", perforated, and knot tied in one
end
1 airline check valve (ACV)
1 Rena FilStar canister (used; probably ~200-300gph)
Steps:
1) unscrew lid from bike bottle, substantially chop off the sip
valve. This is to get canister filter tubing to fit.
2) Using SAK's awl, punch a hole in neck of bike bottle. insert
output end of ACV, and attach the 1.5" length of airline tubing on
bottle's inside
3) stuff sponge into bottle
4) attach canister filter output to bottle top, and screw top back to
bottle.
5) Squeeze/purge air from bottle and sponge.
6) Set pH controller as desired, turn on canister filter
I've had this setup running for maybe an hour now, and it's able fully
to dissolve CO2 at a rate of about 3 bubbles/second.
Of course, this thing is ugly as sin, but I think the proof-of-concept
is there. I'm happy so far with the performance of the Mk1. The Mk2
and Mk3 units will be more seriously constructed and intended for
inline canister and submerged sump operation.
Not bad for about $3 of parts already on hand. The LFS wanted to sell
me a CO2 reactor for about $40. Good grief.
Hope this was interesting!
--Trapper
I just got all the missing pieces of my CO2 system today, and was
super eager to put the thing through its paces on my 75-gal tank.
In my haste, I kindasorta forgot to buy a CO2 reactor, so I ended up
making one of my own for testing purposes. It's working so well thus
far that I thought I'd tell you how I made it.
Parts/tools:
1 clear plastic bike bottle
1 bunch of open-cell foam (sponge prefilter from Amiracle skimmer box)
1 swiss army knife (SAK)
1 length of airline tubing, ~1.5", perforated, and knot tied in one
end
1 airline check valve (ACV)
1 Rena FilStar canister (used; probably ~200-300gph)
Steps:
1) unscrew lid from bike bottle, substantially chop off the sip
valve. This is to get canister filter tubing to fit.
2) Using SAK's awl, punch a hole in neck of bike bottle. insert
output end of ACV, and attach the 1.5" length of airline tubing on
bottle's inside
3) stuff sponge into bottle
4) attach canister filter output to bottle top, and screw top back to
bottle.
5) Squeeze/purge air from bottle and sponge.
6) Set pH controller as desired, turn on canister filter
I've had this setup running for maybe an hour now, and it's able fully
to dissolve CO2 at a rate of about 3 bubbles/second.
Of course, this thing is ugly as sin, but I think the proof-of-concept
is there. I'm happy so far with the performance of the Mk1. The Mk2
and Mk3 units will be more seriously constructed and intended for
inline canister and submerged sump operation.
Not bad for about $3 of parts already on hand. The LFS wanted to sell
me a CO2 reactor for about $40. Good grief.
Hope this was interesting!
--Trapper