my filter is only 3 weeks old and the pipes are still soft. I also have extended CO2 inlet up to a half of reactor but with my flow rate (low) it doesn't make any difference
Hmm Thanks. Yes my pipes are hard and I am terrified of causing a slow leak when I am not there. I will have to give up the tank if the floor gets permanent water damage...
I set mine up without any modification so by removing the CO2 line the valve allows all the air out. I find it works great , there is a small headspace of CO2 and no bubbles in the tank. Quiet operation with just occasional tinkling noises.
Have you tried filling the reactor before putting the top on?
I filled it up but due to air lock it naturally has to empty fully (ie I have to manually start flow by siphoning the tank inlet (ie CO2 reactor outlet) house before the filter starts to work!!! IE you start with full reactor but end up with almost empty!
Your water inlet hose adapter looks a bit precarious compared to the outlet.
I have one of these although I not have not used it yet, but before extending the CO2 inlet did you not try having the transparent 90° elbow angled over inlet aperture so as to break up the CO2 on entry and create a vortex?
Point taken on the different fit. I will double check as I do not want a flood.
I will try the 90 degree trick. I like it's simplicity and logic.
There is something not working properly, the water should swirl in the reactor. I feel now the water is just "running down" the reactor's walls slowly. This will make your co2 mixing poor, so this might be your issue.
Could you try it without anything in your filter and see if it swirl into the reactor ? I feel the flow is too low for the size of the reactor because even though you have an airlock, it should dissolve after couple hours.
P.S I know you elongated your co2 tubing inside to help for the dissolution, but it won't help much. Usually you do this to "count" the co2 bubble rate. What will dissolve the co2 at best is the swirling in the reactor.
You are right about water just dribbling down the sides of the reactor!!! That's what it is.
I suspect this configuration might be a good for oxygenation though?
I will revise the CO2 tube. I can already see that the bubbles just rise up unceremoniously....
Stay tuned for a filter clean and reset.....
This could be the issue. I added a CO2 reactor (water filter/cerges type) to the Eheim 2217 I was using at the time, and it just didn't have the power for it to work properly.
I am going to clean this filter and see whether I can get better flow.
Thanks heaps for all your answers!!! I will report back.