CO2 Reator TROUBLE!!

I built my own CO2 reactor and the problem that I am having is the CO2 is not going into the reactor. The water is going out into my CO2 tubing reaching the check valve. It is obvious that the water pressure is stronger coming out of the reactor than the CO2 pressure trying to go into the reactor.

 

I'm not sure what the F is going on. I have a brass clippard valve and there is no CO2 coming out of the tube when I put the tube in a bowl of water. Bubble counter-----tubing(with CO2)-----checkvalve-----tubing(no CO2 in bowl of water. My PSI is at 20 and the make of the regulator is a Micro Maticm Ideal needle valve and solenoid is Burkert. For some reason the CO2 is not pushing through the check valve and is not going into my reactor. Very confused. As of now I hooked up my CO2 line to the Eheim Powerhead http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4586+9021&pcatid=9021 seems to be doing the trick for now until i can get this figured out. Thanks for your advice Nipat.

 

Yes, it is going the right way follow the arrow is what I read.

 

I don't have a valve designed for that but I did pull the tube off from the bottom of the reactor and a bunch of air came out. The thing that I don't understand is that the clippard check valve is not letting any CO2 out. And yes I do have it going in the right direction. Is it possible that the valve is defected??

 

Some pics

The Eheim powerhead did the trick as far as getting CO2 into the tank. I have 2 drop checkers and they changed to green. If I can't get this reactor to work I may just stick to the powerhead.

 

As of now if I try to blow through the check valve I'll pass out. But it is holding the water from coming out. Do you see any problem with my set up? I have a check valve before my bubble counter and the bubbles are coming out into the counter so that works. When my solenoid turns off I am getting some bubbles still coming out is it faulty?

 

When I crank the pressure it does nothing. And I did test the check valve. I unhooked the tubing from my reactor and put it into a bowl of water and there were no bubbles coming out of the tubing. Once I took the check valve off I had bubbles coming out of the tubing. And it probably is something simple and that is the worst part of it all

 

Nipat the check valve is currently holding back the water on the reactor setup. I did not say the check valve was leaking gas it not letting the gas go through are you raising that question of a leaky check valve? The powehead is working great believe it or not. I have a cheapo check valve on the powehead and my drop checkers are changing color.

 

Thanks for the link Nipat. I have to tool around with it all, but as of now I have been so frustrated I needed a break. I forgot to shut off my filters yesterday and pulled the check valve off and needless to say water was pissing out of the tubing all over the place. It has been an experience that's for sure. You can read and read and read, but until you get your hands dirty you don't know anything.

 

- regulator ... tubing > check valve > (there should be flow out of the check valve when mounted in this direction)
This is how I tested it and nothing comes out of the valve thats why I think it a bad valve

 

Yes, I just did as a matter of fact. I am getting nothing coming out of the clippard brass check valve. I put a Lee check valve and that worked, so I hooked the tubing up to my reactor and the water flowing through the reactor ended up flowing back to the check valve. It seems that the water pressure in the reactor is stronger than the CO2 pressure. I waited some time to see if the CO2 would push through into the reactor, but I got nothing. I checked all my CO2 seals with a water and soap solution and I do not see any leaks. I had my dad check it for another pair of eyes and it seemed fine to him. So, I sit here watching my Eheim powerhead with the CO2 tubing attached and it seems to be working. It has been 2 days now and my 2 drop checkers are changing from blue to green and my PH goes from 7.2 before lights and CO2 kick on at 8am to currently 6.8 at 2pm. If this works I am sticking with this system.