CarbonDoser EXT5000 (External Reactor 5000)

Glad you changed from a Rio powerhead to a Sicce . I discarded my old Doser because the Rio quit working.

I have been using this product for about 3 months. It is very efficient in terms of CO2 use. It is well made. Setup is a bit tricky and leaks are a problem if one is not meticulous with the teflon tape or pipe sealent. It is difficult to maintain because it is so tightly sealed. In fact, I still have not figured out how to open it, even with the optional wrench. Update: I figured out how to open it rather easily. Soak the bottom part in hot tap water for 5 to 10 minutes (not the upper part), and it allowed me to open it counter-clockwise relatively easily.

The way this reactor is designed the CO2 gas is fully disolved in the water before entering the tank. The set up was easy with some assembly required, just make sure to wrap the threads 7 to 8 times with the provided teflon tape and make sure you get a check valve and your in business. If you want to save gas and get quick delivery of gas into your water column this is the top of the line in reactors.

After many attempts of trying to diffuse C02 into my tank and never being able to achieve the right amount, I was finally sick of wasting money on all these fancy glass and ceramic diffusers so I decided to take Marks advice, he told me I wouldn't be disappointed and it was worth the money, so I finally made the purchase and let me tell you he was right, the plants must have been really C02 deprived because they look amazing now, the Reactor really mixes in the C02 very well with the water before being returned into the tank, and noticed I don't use nearly as much C02 as I was with the other diffusers. for anyone that's going through the same problems I was, this is the answer, like Mark told me you won't be disappointed I now agree 100%.

I'm hear to say I was previously wrong about this reactor. I have had the most success while using this reactor. It has out performed diffusers..period. My inexperience earlier in the hobby led me down all kinds of paths and I had once blamed the reactor. I was wrong and am eating crow in this review. I hated the bubbles that made my aquarium look like soda water from the diffusers. Getting adequate levels of CO2 was difficult and used more CO2 with diffusers. This reactor keeps my water clear and the plant growth has been great. I have been so impressed with putting it back on my aquarium I had to come back and share my experience with it. I plan to purchase another one for an upcoming large tank. I currently run this reactor on an ADA 90p which is 48 gallons.

Getting the reactor and setting it up was a pain. Not only did it not ship for several weeks (without any notice from AquariumPlants.com), but it arrived with no real instructions. Apparently, they assume expertise with Co2 systems out of all their customers, which I didn't have. Emails to customer servie were never answered (and I don't do phones). After much googling and some trial and error, I was able to set it up. It shouldn't be that way, particularly for a product this expensive. The reactor is working fine, as far as I can tell (plants are pearling nicely, etc), but it's loud, and it has significantly decreased my water flow. Is that normal? Beats me! I certainly haven't gotten any answers from this joint.

We have used several reactors, both internal and external. All claiming to be effecient and adequate for large aquariums. We tried the "Aqua-Medic 1000, as well as several others in our 300 gallon aquarium and our 55 gallon. Our aquariums are high light and very heavily planted. NONE of the other reactos come close to this EXT5000. Also, we have noticed a huge difference in CO2 useage/waste as we are using approx 1/2 the amount of CO2. We now have 5 aquariums running with the "AquariumPlants.com's Ultimate CO2 systems." (make sure you also get the optional "probe holder" so you don't have any "clutter" in your beautifull aquariums !!! thanks for great products AP.com