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Gang,

As announced in my log, I am willing to buy into the profits a glass diffuser for my CO2 can bring to my tank. In case you don't know, I am currently using a power reactor that gives me satisfying results. Its downsides are its size and with that its visibility in the tank.

The Plant Nerds (registered trademark ) are currently achieving great success with simple glass diffusers which are much smaller and even esthetically pleasing. One concern of using a diffuser is the fact that my tank is 6 feet long and as such might not get an even distribution from just one diffuser.

Consequently, the idea of using 2 diffusers was born, one on each end of the tank. Now, this would mean that I have to split the CO2 line and here is where my concerns are.

I can imagine the system to initially work very well, but I see problems over time. It seems to me that it is unavoidable that the plates in the 2 diffusers will become unequally “dirty” and clogged. I don't remember my school physics (or was it chemistry) too well, but isn't it true that gasses and liquids always chose the way of the least resistance? If so, wouldn't that mean that eventually one diffuser would push out way more gas than the other and I would have the imbalance issue anyway?

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo,

I think you've described the problem quite well, and don't really see a clear way out of it. When I was setting up my CO2 system I considered the glass diffuser for a while as well, but the issue of it getting clogged up with dirt, algae and/or other stuff made me decide to go for a reactor in the end. My own reactor is fairly small, maybe 12 cm (5 inches) in length and 4 cm (2½ inch) in diameter. In my tank you can't see it unless you look for it (try finding it in my photos), in a big tank as yours it should not be too difficult to hide either. If I were you I'd stick with the system that you know works fine. "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"

M.

If I were you I'd stick with the system that you know works fine. "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"

I can't say I disasgree here, because 99% of the time I always agree ( ), dont fix whats not broken.

However, look at it this way: I had the same reactor set up as you, and it doesn't exactly throw the water around with a lot of force. If I remember, you could see the bubbles push down out of the reactor and then... well they would just float up and away. If you put the diffuser low enough you'll get the same effect.

And remember, it doesn't matter where the bubbles go. By the time they reach the surface it may be that the C has already dissolved into the water. The C will make its way around the tank, rest assured. Between the filter outflow and the filter intake also creating movement I think you have nothing to worry about.

So look at it this way, it's a cheap experiment. Try using one and measure PH and KH after a few days. Test kit inaccuracies aside you'll get a general idea of how well it's working. In my expert diffuser opinion it'll work fine.

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Back in the saddle!

I must admit I never understand the "clogging" issue. It's not an issue at all. They are easy and quick to clean. A 10 minute soak in bleach solution and it's as good as new.

Reactors need to be cleaned too don't they ? Mine certainly did. The walls would get covered in brown muck which if left unchecked would didrupt the water flow.

As for one clogging faster I don't see a problem. You don't wait for them to clog. Clean them every 2 weeks as part of a regular routine, even if you think they don't need it. Never seen them get dirty this way.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thank you all for the responses (so far ),

But I think none of you catches my concern (or I can't read, which is possible too).

Do I interpret this right that all of you who have a diffuser agree that using only one would be sufficient? If so then I don't think I even have a problem, but from previous discussions I believe to remember that the common denominator was that in a 6 foot 125G tank I would require two.

Let's say the latter still stands (2). Now, I assume that the CO2 is pushed through the ceramic plate, right? Tiny pores break down the supplied CO2 into tiny bubbles. No two plates are exactly alike and I strongly believe that over time the one that has more fine pores than the other will clog up more, the kind of clogging that "ages" the plates and is irreversable. Back to the least resistance issue: when one plate is more clogged, wouldn't the gas go out the other one (least resistance)? That is my issue with 2 diffusers. I have no problem cleaning them frequently, but I am convinced that material and permanent cloggs will create a difference in resistance. Or am I overcomplicating the matter?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo you probably won't really know until you try it. If you like to experiment than get one. Like nowher said they are inexpensive and worst case scenerio you have a back up diffussor if your reactor ever has a meltdown.

I could tell you in my 4ft tank I can see little bubbles all around the tank. Are you still using powerheads, because one of those in a good spot will certainly whip the co2 around.

If you not in an experimental mood than as mentioned "..if it aint broke".

I personally would never use a reactor, because it would force me to scape around it. I hate to compromise artisitically. As you well know I've gone through pains not to have to do that. You already have a reactor but for new people coming into the hobby the glass diffusor is smaller, aestically pleasing and more cost-effective than a powered reactor and works great for 99% of all tanks. But if you have a 6ft tank like Ingo, well your guess is as good as mine.

My Scapes

Make an external reactor. I think I said this from day one. It really cleans up the tank visually, and is very efficient IMO. I've never cleaned mine out, and my CO2 levels are like day 1. I'm pretty sure you have a canister filter on the tank, so why not put it to good use?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Or am I overcomplicating the matter?

IMO, of course. And I still think you'd be fine with one, powerhead or not. I'm tellin ya, I drank the Kool-aid, I believe in the power of the diffuser, gimme' an Amen!

And finally, Matty offers a valid alternative - just hook up an external reactor. The only downside is they can be on the pricy side, but if you make a DIY one it's a moot point.

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Back in the saddle!

Thanks again guys

Yeah, DIY reactor, sounds good, but not for me. I am so not into making my own equiment .

First of all I would worry that it doesn't work right (not the best handyman here) and secondly I am waaaayyyyy too lazy. But thanks Matty, I clearly remember the pictures of your DIY in your thread.

Well, maybe one of these days I just might go ahead and buy a diffuser and see how it goes. The least we would get out of this would be the knowledge if one diffuser works for my giant () tank as well.

Thanks again,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

But thanks Matty, I clearly remember the pictures of your DIY in your thread.

Yeah, it was a peice of cake. The hardest part was getting the crusty glue stuff off my fingers afterwards. Really though, once I had the right parts it took about an hour to do. As I recall it was very inexpensive as well. The only tools you need are a saw of any sort and a drill. DIY is cheap and fun too. I guess I was wrong though, you wouldn't be able to do a reef tank if you can't do a little DIY here and there.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Or am I overcomplicating the matter?

Yep. You're taking over thinking to a whole new level

Clogging won't be an issue.

I think you're real concern is having 2 different amounts of gas coming from each diffuser. My reaction to that would be -so what ?

Can't see how it would make a difference . With water flow it would balance out throughout the tank.

The least resistance thing is not really an issue. There's a fair bit of pressure coming through the needle valve. It requires relatively little pressure for the gas to get thru the ceramic plate, that's why they are good for use with DIY co2. I just can't see a sitaution where one diffusser gets so clogged that the gas will be diverted and only pushed thru one diffuser.

Simple solution ? Get one of those Sweetwater airstones Tom Barr reccomended. He's used them on tanks over 200gals. They are long but you can just put them sitting on the gravel at the back, even more invisible then the diffusers.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Clogging won't be an issue

And this should prove it. My otos have decided to use my glass diffusor as a toilet bowl - literally

And it's still working perfectly.




Attached Image:


My Scapes

Maybe you stick a little bathroom tissue holder and minature toilet paper on the side glass

Now you can sex your Ottos.

The males will leave the seat up

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

And you also know now why they are called CAT fish



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Maybe you stick a little bathroom tissue holder and minature toilet paper on the side glass

I would do that, but you know how I feel about extra equipment showing in the tank.



My Scapes

Gross.

If that's what the otos did, just be happy you don't have that BN in there any more...

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Back in the saddle!

If that's what the otos did, just be happy you don't have that BN in there any more...

I think it would be fair to say the BNs and glass diffusors don't mix. I would surely have to break out the plunger.

My Scapes