I bit the bullet and ordered some JBL kit ... after a looooooooong wait it arrived. Got a few items: ProFlora bio160 ProFlora m602 CO² Fertilizer Set Extra ProFlora Taifun CO² Reactor + extenders and some spares. I installed the m602 set into my 4ft last weekend. First impressions: Everything fits - connection are snug, tubing in the kits sufficient, non-return valve good. The 12 volt solenoid valve comes with a 110 - 240V power adapter. I really like the Taifun reactors ... after a few days almost no bubbles make it to the top and all CO2 seems to be dissolve ( you can actually see them reduce in size) - the Taifun has a pipe connection on the collection cap to allow the extra CO2 so be sucked in via a venturi etc. They add loads of "free" fertz, CO2 testing stuff - but all this I am scared to use (might just like it) getting singles stock is a bugger. I like the included bubble counter - nice idea, this could easily be built in a DIY effort. Biggest concern is going to be the refill of the CO2 - I need to investigate this a bit more since it has a W21.8 x 1/14" thread - no clue who would be able to refill it. I'd love to get the 603 at some stage - that ph control looks way cool. The rest of the kit will go into future projects. Later Ferdie
My bad ... The included 500g CO2 fits nicely under my 4ft. I have no idea how long 500g lasts. I really like this reactor ... some say it is unstable, difficult to secure, but I prefer this above my other ladder. This one is hidden behind some driftwood / plants in the right corner of the tank. The nice thing about this unit it that it is very modular - you can add or remove reactor segments depending on your tanks depth or CO2 needs. Later F
For the whole box of toys - R3k - probably a bit more now. Still need to connect the rest of the kit to another planted tank, but that is on a back burner for now. Later Ferdie
Closing the loop ... Yes now these products - or at least the latest version of them will be available in SA . Saw the CO2 kits that will be on offer, the Taifun reactors - nice even for DIY CO2. My JBL regulator is one of the few CO2 setups that I have always kept going ... so it has a good 5-6 years of service in it already and still going strong. Later Ferdie
@f-fish Sorry I know this is an old thread. I just want to know how was your experience with JBL CO2 kits ? I am looking at the JBL M502 kit but want to know how well its works and it seems you have used their kit before.
