Re: CO2 Reactor Idea

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com (Aquatic-Plants)
Subject: Re: CO2 Reactor Idea
From: "David W. Webb" <dwebb at ti_com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 18:47:29 -0600
Conversation-Id: <BMSMTP85458509219a0206807 at dsks52_itg.ti.com>


>From: dougcs at gnn_com (Douglas C. Skokna)
>Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 13:20:32
>
>In searching for a simple system, I came up with the idea of using the 
>wet/dry filter itself.  From a configuration standpoint, it has a high 
>wetted surface area making it ideal for the CO2 absorb into the water 
>phase.  It would be very easy to seal it up to prevent the CO2 from 
>escaping into the air. 
>
>My question is will a CO2 rich environment in it harm the benefical 
>bacteria that live on the filter media.  I am under the assumption that 
>these bacteria get most if not all of their O2 from the water phase rather 
>than from the air.

This is my opinion, but I think your trickle filter would make a fantastic
CO2 reactor.  You may eliminate some or all of its function as a bacterial
filter in the process, but if your tank is heavily planted, it probably has
enough bacteria on the surface of the plants to make up for any lack of
nitrogen consumption on the part of the plants.

My opinion,

David W. Webb in sunny, but cool Dallas, TX.