Location (height) outflow CO2 reactor?

[Sanniejop]

Hi all,
I am planning to use an external CO2 reactor with its own separate circulation pump. So a CO2 enriched water flow will come back into the tank.
I was wondering if it would be beneficial if I would let this outflow come out close to substrate level.
Often the CO2 is combined with the filter outflow and this is often located close to the water surface. But at the water surface the CO2 can escape as soon as possible.
So I was thinking to inject it as low as possible in the tank.

Is this a good idea?
Thanks in advance for your advice

 

[nijat11]

Hello from The Hague 🙂. I inject through reactor in sump, my outflow quite close to top, and I get 1 pH drop and keep during the day quite easly. The benefit of reactor that it provide 100% CO2 disolve in the water, so I dont know if there any difference where is outflow.

 

[hypnogogia]

Hi all,
I am planning to use an external CO2 reactor with its own separate circulation pump. So a CO2 enriched water flow will come back into the tank.
I was wondering if it would be beneficial if I would let this outflow come out close to substrate level.
Often the CO2 is combined with the filter outflow and this is often located close to the water surface. But at the water surface the CO2 can escape as soon as possible.
So I was thinking to inject it as low as possible in the tank.

Is this a good idea?
Thanks in advance for your advice

I don’t think it matters as long as you ensure good circulation of the CO2 enriched water exiting the outflow.

 

[Sanniejop]

I don’t think it matters as long as you ensure good circulation of the CO2 enriched water exiting the outflow.

So I guess the off gassing goes slower than the re circulation.
Then I can save the effort of making a lower outflow point.

 

[Sanniejop]

Hello from The Hague

Hello Nijat11. Nice to see other Dutchman over here. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Maf 2500]

If growing a carpet was your main priority you might see a benefit from an outlet near the substrate.

 

[Sanniejop]

Well, this will be my first big tank and this is what I had in mind.
It is kind of challenging because it will be a room divider with one side against the wall. All the plumbing on the wall side.
I am planning all the outflows in the upper corner along one long side and one suction point in the lower corner of the other long side. One suction point is centrally integrated in the lower part of the overflow chamber. I hope this will generate enough circulation flow in the tank which will be 160x60x55 cm. What to you think? will it be enough?
Filter is 1850 L/hr Eheim and circulation pump 600 L/h.
Maybe I will upgrade this to 1200 l/hr if needed.

 

[bazz]

Just for comparison I run a Eheim 2180 1700l/h, a Eheim Compact 2000 to drive the closed loop CO2 Reactor timed to be on half hour before and after the CO2 window and a Nero 3 running at 15% during CO2 period and 1% thereafter for moving a higher volume of water around the tank without creating a vortex and not just creating dead spots under the outflow etc, in a 230l 90x55x53h tank. With a tank of those almighty dimensions and if you have the cash I'd be looking at a Maxspect Gyre (fully controllable), either upright in one corner creating a circular flow around the tank or across the surface to the opposite side and back along the substrate. Here's a link to Zeus's Journal using this method but the whole Journal is a good read for those using reactors on large tanks. Olympus is Calling.

 

[Sanniejop]

Hi @bazz ,
Thanks for your reference info. I did read the journal of Zeus. It is indeed a very similar setup size and layout wise. I also saw the maxspect. It looks very effective but what i like less about it is that it needs to take water from its own location. As I said i want all pluming on the wall side. But there is also a overflow chamber which makes it maybe difficult to place such a Gyre. My idea was to create a circular water flow but then this Gyre will be much in eye sight. Because i think it is not wise to place it in the space beside the overflow chamber (which is central placed on the short side against the wall. But maybe i can place it central at the top of the chamber creating a flow over the surface like zeus did. Did you ever saw a Gyre live in action? Does it make alot noise? Maybe @Zeus. Can answer this?
Gthankss

 

[hypnogogia]

Did you ever saw a Gyre live in action? Does it make alot noise?

Very quiet indeed.

Filter is 1850 L/hr Eheim and circulation pump 600 L/h.

This will not create nearly enough flow for 500ltr CO2 injected tank. You need to aim for 10X volume. Again, if you look at the linked journal, you’ll see that Zeus was running an fx6 as well as two gyres in that tank.