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Horizontal CO2 reactor - Estimations for a big tank, or small tank

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My newest reactor, testing in progress. Finally said goodbye to my CO2 Spray Bar 🥲

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Some features may not be strictly necessary, but I included them for further testing:
  • Acrylic pipe, transparent. Acrylic is not easy to get in HK, and the sizes are not compatible with standard PVC plumbing, so I ended up with a rather small diameter pipe and an overall design that is not very compact. I was not sure how to glue acrylic to PVC, so decided to use teflon tape for the fit. I paid about 7 USD for the acrylic.
  • The CO2 comes in through a small tube, that sticks in the water. This allows me to use it as a bubble counter, A 30 sec video, and I count the bubbles while in slow motion to have an accurate measure for the injection.
  • A gas purge valve. I will not often use it, as this reactor will be able to purge itself as described earlier.
  • A bypass, so that the flow in the reactor can be slowed down while still using the maximum flow from my FX4 pump.
  • Inlet and outlet design with 'elbows' as in below picture. The inlet will lead the water down, to reduce water splashing or making noise at high flows. The outlet will let CO2 purge when the gas pocket reaches 50% of the tube (inherent safety feature, limiting reactor max capacity).
1689894818661.png

I tested if the bypass is necessary, and tried what happened when all the flow from my FX4 (rated 2650 liter/hr) was lead through the upper reactor pipe. The reactor worked, but made some noise and the splashing of the water flow created a few bubbles that ended up in my tank. I now use the reactor with the bypass nearly fully open, and a gentle slow flow through the reactor.

I am currently using the reactor in 'overflow mode', that is that I inject CO2 at a rate that the reactor fills for 50% and starts to purge small bubbles from the exit. With this I know that I always use the same reactor capacity (not dependent on stability of my regulator), and have a stable injection rate that is fixed by the reactor geometry. I may use a pH controller in the future, in that case the overflow will give me a safety when something goes wrong, but that will have to wait until I've decided which controller to buy.
 
Glad you finally decided to put the theory into prototype! it looks good - what size tank are you using it on - I thought previously your design meant the reactor tube had to be the same length as the tank, or have you got around that with a larger diameter tube?

Would good to see a video of it in action - are you managing to get your required pH drop?
 
You could look to buy some clear PVC pipe, it is clear but not perfectly clear like acrylic however it will solvent weld.
I find it best to fix acrylic to PVC with silicone and mechanical fixing ie two stainless screws, very easy to do but you want a clearance hole in the PVC and a pilot hole in the acrylic.
If you use countersunk screws it will look very neat.
You can also use expanding polyurethane glue but it will never come apart.
 
Unfortunately, I had no choice but to ban the member. He persistently disregarded the forum rules and guidelines, and was repeatedly warned. It’s a matter the moderating team take very seriously, and in the history of the forum less than a handful of members have been banned.
 
Unfortunately, I had no choice but to ban the member. He persistently disregarded the forum rules and guidelines, and was repeatedly warned. It’s a matter the moderating team take very seriously, and in the history of the forum less than a handful of members have been banned.
Click to expand...

Just out of interest Tim, which forum rule did his above post break?
 
Repeat offenders leave the mods no choice IMO. Any one can overstep the rules, in most cases I would imagine the offender is unaware at the time, but all it takes as an apology and dont repeat the offence.
UKAPS is a pleasant place, which is why we have so many great members, new and longtimers.
 
Like Zeus said, we actually give more time than we probably should to some people to try and be impartial, but at times it does take it's toll, and some people just don't listen or even grasp they are approaching things in the wrong way. I did take some time off over the last couple of weeks to reflect on what direction should UKAPS take. Between myself and Tim and the mods we are going to setup some further moderation guidelines so that this type of thing doesn't happen in the future, and we cut it at the root straight away.
One option I did consider was just to walk away from UKAPS, but I want to ensure this resource is here to stay and me leaving will threaten the existence of the forum to some extent, so when we approach a member to ask to tone it down, is because we have a valid reason to do so, like I said the OP if you not happy the internet is a vast place... Anyway, moving on, I now have two weeks of checks/updates to do, and a load of posts/threads to tidy up!! Fun!
 
This thread is now closed!

For Info from Moderation Team: UKAPS is not against innovation in the hobby or new approaches and ideas on how to do things, CO2 is one that most struggle with and any new idea is viable if presented in the right manner, this thread will be closed and remain here, unless the original member contacts UKAPS and asks for it to be removed.

If you would like to discuss the subject of horizontal reactors and show yours working with guides on how others can follow suite, please start a new thread in the CO2 section! cheers
 
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