a few quick inline co2 reactor questions...

[fishfanatic]

I am working on building an in line co2 reactor for my 75 gallon tank, it has a fluval fx5 filter.
1. How long should the co2 reactor be?
2. Do you have to have Bio balls in the main chamber?

 

[mfdrookie516]

The longer the better... just remember it needs to be completely vertical. Another member used an FX5 and theirs was a little short, which caused some bubbles to make it to the tank. If you've got room, 2 feet would be sufficient. If not, bioballs might be a good idea. I don't have bioballs in mine, but I'm running an eheim 2224 on one, and a rena xp3 on the other.

 

[fishfanatic]

The longer the better... just remember it needs to be completely vertical. Another member used an FX5 and theirs was a little short, which caused some bubbles to make it to the tank. If you've got room, 2 feet would be sufficient. If not, bioballs might be a good idea. I don't have bioballs in mine, but I'm running an eheim 2224 on one, and a rena xp3 on the other.

If I make it 24 inches long then I wont need Bio balls? My local fish store has a bucket of Bio balls that they may share some with me.

 

[mfdrookie516]

I dont like the idea of bioballs in a reactor because it's sealed and you can't take them out and clean them. But, you might have to if you want to run the FX5 on full flow. I doubt you'd need them if you made it 24", but I couldn't say for sure having no personal experience with the FX5

 

[fishfanatic]

I don't have my stand for the tank yet but I think I have enough room to make it 26" (better safe than sorry). Thanks for the quick response!

 

[mfdrookie516]

No problem. If I could remember who it was that built one for an FX5, I'd suggest you to PM them... but, there have been so many co2 related questions lately, I forget who is who.