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Best co2 diffusion method?

Out of the following, which is the best Co2 diffusion method

  • Glass diffuser directly under the filter inlet pipe

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Glass diffuser under the spray bar, with the spray bar pushing the bubbles down

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Glass diffuser in corner of tank with koralia blowing the bubbles around

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Glass diffuser in corner of tank with koralia in OPPOSITE corner of the tank blowing towards diffuse

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • Other (Please post with your suggestion)

    Votes: 5 27.8%

  • Total voters
    18

andeekaii

Member
Joined
29 Jun 2009
Messages
202
Hi guys, im trying to find out what people think is the best diffusion method.
I know an in-line diffuser is probably the most widely accepted, but I don't have one, so the poll is based on what I have.

Cheers, Andy
 
Did you actually read my post? lol

I know an in-line diffuser is probably the most widely accepted, but I don't have one, so the poll is based on what I have.
 
That said, it depends on your tank, as long as you can see the mist everywhere in the tank and that the bubbles are hitting all the plants you can pretty safely say you have good flow, if not then it can be addressed by altering the flow/position of diffusre and or powerheads/outlets.
 
So basically, as long as every corner has a fine mist it should be okay? What about the bubbles that float to the top? Worry about them or just forget about it? Or would it be best to put it under the intake so the filter can mash the bubbles up. I just read somewhere that plants can take up co2 from bubbles better than from water, is this true?

Andy
 
And yes, I did read your post, don't get so snappy.
You also suggest that it's the majority injection method, it's not, a glass diffuser disk is but you happen got get much finer mist and better flow patterns which are desirable to the plants.

Also, no one method can be said to be best or worst, depending on your set up and flow patterns within the tank the same method won't work as well for every tank/person. All methods have their limitations too, you will have to experiment with them and find which works bet for your tank, a spray bar with a koralia will always be better than a hydor and a lily where as a spray bar will be better than a lily but that all stands for nothing if you don't actually have enough turnover/circulation or co2.
 
As long as you see the mist going all round the tank I wouldn't worry, there's a point where the bubbles just don't have enough contact time with the water so it makes no difference that they get away you'll simply can't get enough contact time to get rid of the last of the bubble. And yes, plants uptake co2 much better because the co2 is more readily available and bubbles can overcome the boundry effect much better from a very fine mist but a lot of people don't like this and prefer a reactor that gives a total dissolution with no visible bubble but this results in slower growth as less co2 is available to the plants.
 
Okay thank you. So generally having the bubbles flowing around the tank would yield higher co2 levels than putting the diffuser under the filter inlet?
 
Yes, the mist is pure co2 and when this becomes available to the plant through contact it's accessing pure co2 rather than water saturated with co2 which will have much lower levels of co2 and a slower uptake time.
 
i swapped out an aquamedic 5oo reactor for the up inline diffuser gotta say the aquamedic disolved the co2 far better than the inline no mist or bubbles in the tank just the ugly reactor im actually thinking of swapping it back
 
A reactor is that zig zag maze thing isnt it? Or just something which traps the bubbles in the water so they dissolve?

I like the look of a normal glass diffuser, so its either that, or i buy an external.

Andy
 
aquamedic.jpg


spiral one sits in the corner of the tank
 
A reactor in it's proper sense is powered, Ie by the filer or a pump.
One of those "zig zag maze things" is a diffuser but they're terribly inefficient.
 
stevec said:
i swapped out an aquamedic 5oo reactor for the up inline diffuser gotta say the aquamedic disolved the co2 far better than the inline no mist or bubbles in the tank just the ugly reactor im actually thinking of swapping it back
If tour not seeing a fine mist in the tank with the up diffuser it
could be that your reg doesn't have enough pressure
to drive it
you need at least 1.7 psi for the up aqua inline diffuser :thumbup:
 
mdhardy01 said:
stevec said:
i swapped out an aquamedic 5oo reactor for the up inline diffuser gotta say the aquamedic disolved the co2 far better than the inline no mist or bubbles in the tank just the ugly reactor im actually thinking of swapping it back
If tour not seeing a fine mist in the tank with the up diffuser it
could be that your reg doesn't have enough pressure
to drive it
you need at least 1.7 psi for the up aqua inline diffuser :thumbup:

inline is working fine(connected to a 3ft industrial cylinder) just stating that no mist with the aquamedic 500 infact rarely saw a bubble come out of it.......... so although unsightly in the tank i prefer the no mist option
 
stevec said:
mdhardy01 said:
stevec said:
i swapped out an aquamedic 5oo reactor for the up inline diffuser gotta say the aquamedic disolved the co2 far better than the inline no mist or bubbles in the tank just the ugly reactor im actually thinking of swapping it back
If tour not seeing a fine mist in the tank with the up diffuser it
could be that your reg doesn't have enough pressure
to drive it
you need at least 1.7 psi for the up aqua inline diffuser :thumbup:

inline is working fine(connected to a 3ft industrial cylinder) just stating that no mist with the aquamedic 500 infact rarely saw a bubble come out of it.......... so although unsightly in the tank i prefer the no mist option
Sorry my misunderstanding
I also swapped the up for a sera reactor
didn't mind the mist(supposed to be better for the plants) but couldn't
get the higher pressure to run it properly ( using old type jbl reg with no adjutment)
matt
 
Juwel Rio 400

I tried many ways. And found the best option via external filter(vith airstone) and better as with inline reactor - unrestricted flow.
I have internal reactor too and compared bubble rate with external filter i did not see any difference.
I don't like in internal reactors cleaning and gas locks sometimes.
I decided use via external filter, no any knocks , sounds or something bad what told some other members(posibly depend what type of filter - i have China ext. from Ebay :)), very good regular difuseand less cleaning too.
 
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