reefnewbie54321
In Memoriam
redox, pictures would be greatly appreciated
Anyone have an AB or DIY Phyto Reactor?
- Thread starter plaz
- Start date
sphelps
Premium Member
You want the perfect CO2 injection for basically nothing? Think old school, you may have read before about the old yeast and sugar method for planted aquariums.
It's simple take a 2L pop bottle, drill the cap and glue and airline through it so it seals. Add 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 tsp of yeast and fill bottle with warm water.
Make a bubble counter or buy one to monitor the CO2 rate. You can't adjust the CO2 rate as it could blow the bottle, you can however use different amounts of yeast to create different reaction rates.
I find with the recipe stated above makes a steady rate of about 20 bubbles per minute, and lasts for 2-3 weeks.
I used this is my culture system................
Culture system:
• Volume = 8L
• Custom Cast Acrylic Box
• Uses Maxi-jet with modded impeller for less damage on the phyto
• CO2 and air are injected into the system with a venturi connected to the maxi-jet.
• Outside air is pulled through a DIY carbon air filter (activated carbon, polywool, inside sealed PVC pipe)
• The unit is completely sealed except for a 1/32†hole on the top, next to this small hole is a ¼†airline where air is pumped from a small air pump through the air filter and into the top of the culture unit (next to small hole). This circulates the system with fresh filtered air, air is forced in with the air pump, and air if forced out through the single small hole.
• The culture system has a float valve installed and is topped off from another container containing sterile saltwater with f/2 fertilizer levels.
• The culture system also has another small (very small) pump located inside the unit which allows the automatic addition of live phytoplankton to a rotifer culture, tank and/or storage.
• As you may have guessed the system is a continuous culture system.
• Lighting: Single 17†32Watt 10K Power Compact with reflector
• Lights on 9 hours, off 3 hours
……………………………………....................................... and it produced excellent results. I started the culture unit off with 0.5L of live phytoplankton (Nano-type) from ReefCrew.com. The remaining 7.5L was sterile saltwater (SG: 1.022) with f/2.
The culture reached maximum density in about 72 hours with CO2 injection, compared to about 5-6 days without CO2. The density was also much higher with CO2, I would guess about 50% more dense.
It's simple take a 2L pop bottle, drill the cap and glue and airline through it so it seals. Add 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 tsp of yeast and fill bottle with warm water.
Make a bubble counter or buy one to monitor the CO2 rate. You can't adjust the CO2 rate as it could blow the bottle, you can however use different amounts of yeast to create different reaction rates.
I find with the recipe stated above makes a steady rate of about 20 bubbles per minute, and lasts for 2-3 weeks.
I used this is my culture system................
Culture system:
• Volume = 8L
• Custom Cast Acrylic Box
• Uses Maxi-jet with modded impeller for less damage on the phyto
• CO2 and air are injected into the system with a venturi connected to the maxi-jet.
• Outside air is pulled through a DIY carbon air filter (activated carbon, polywool, inside sealed PVC pipe)
• The unit is completely sealed except for a 1/32†hole on the top, next to this small hole is a ¼†airline where air is pumped from a small air pump through the air filter and into the top of the culture unit (next to small hole). This circulates the system with fresh filtered air, air is forced in with the air pump, and air if forced out through the single small hole.
• The culture system has a float valve installed and is topped off from another container containing sterile saltwater with f/2 fertilizer levels.
• The culture system also has another small (very small) pump located inside the unit which allows the automatic addition of live phytoplankton to a rotifer culture, tank and/or storage.
• As you may have guessed the system is a continuous culture system.
• Lighting: Single 17†32Watt 10K Power Compact with reflector
• Lights on 9 hours, off 3 hours
……………………………………....................................... and it produced excellent results. I started the culture unit off with 0.5L of live phytoplankton (Nano-type) from ReefCrew.com. The remaining 7.5L was sterile saltwater (SG: 1.022) with f/2.
The culture reached maximum density in about 72 hours with CO2 injection, compared to about 5-6 days without CO2. The density was also much higher with CO2, I would guess about 50% more dense.
sphelps
Premium Member
Also I am working on a unit that uses tank water to top off the phyto culture. I have two methods I'm still experimenting with:
1. water pumped through a micro filter and into a container (8L) which has a closed loop with a Maxi-jet and 18W UV. The phyto is only topped off 12 hours after container is topped off with fresh tank water.
2. The water is pumped through a micro-filter into a small boiler (small kettle with float valve), the water is boiled, cooled and then drained into a sealed container with the use of a few timers.
Method 1 has been in operation for several days without a crash, system is working nicely, I'm still adding f/2 formula manually, once I'm satisfied the the UV is working, I will cut out the formula and monitor the culture. I will also be experimenting with skimmer "juice".
Haven't tested Method 2, no need if method 1 works.
Please note: I control water levels and flow times with float valves, timers, solenoid valves and pumps.
1. water pumped through a micro filter and into a container (8L) which has a closed loop with a Maxi-jet and 18W UV. The phyto is only topped off 12 hours after container is topped off with fresh tank water.
2. The water is pumped through a micro-filter into a small boiler (small kettle with float valve), the water is boiled, cooled and then drained into a sealed container with the use of a few timers.
Method 1 has been in operation for several days without a crash, system is working nicely, I'm still adding f/2 formula manually, once I'm satisfied the the UV is working, I will cut out the formula and monitor the culture. I will also be experimenting with skimmer "juice".
Haven't tested Method 2, no need if method 1 works.
Please note: I control water levels and flow times with float valves, timers, solenoid valves and pumps.
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