co2 regulator up to par?

[brad]

Is this setup good enough?
http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/photo-gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=10027&pos=5

I was told I would need a needle valve for fine tunning but doesn`t this do the same?
http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/photo-gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=10027&pos=7

So far (a week in) all seems fine. I`ll get my diffuser this weekend then I`ll be able to adjust my co2 output a little better.

 

[brad]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

A whole 5lbs in 10 days? Something's gotta be wrong. I noticed yesterday before work that the gauge read only 16psi. I knew something was wrong. By the time I got home from work, there was no more co2. I'm only adding it at a rate of about 1 bps. There has to be a leak or something. Where are the most common places it would leak and how would I check for them? I doubt I can simply dunk it in a bath tub full of water and look for air bubles. Not with the solenoid plugeed in.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[jonathan11]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

Mix up a water/liquid soap solution, put this into a spray bottle (HD or local hardware store), then spray all connections and look for bubbles/frothing at these joints. It sounds like it's at the tank connection with that volume of CO2 leaking. Oh, I like to use the special CO2 tubing to my reactor. I also use thin tie wraps at each neophrene connection to secure things. I would assume you're not pumping that much CO2 into the tank, or all fish would be belly up long ago. :gw

 

[brad]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

Thanks Jonathan. I couldn`t find any leaks. The company refilling it for me said they`d have a look at it for me tomorrow. The owner of the company has his tank set up with the same system. Hopefully he finds the problem. I`d hate to fill it every 10 days.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Laith]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

That device looks like a flow meter. I'm not positive, but I don't think that thing can function like a needle valve...

 

[KLB]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

That device looks like a flow meter. I'm not positive, but I don't think that thing can function like a needle valve...

There are gas flow meters that have just about every imaginable flow rate for just about every imaginable gas out there. Most are medical or lab grade items and thus, cost an arm and a leg. Much cheaper to just buy a Milwaukee with all goodies already on it and call it a day.

Ken

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

It's most likely you did not get a seat on the tank reg connection, they should have a plastic or cardboard pressed gasket that goes between the two, if not, the gas will leak out fast.

Also check the tubing etc and tape the connections again etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[brad]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

I got that gasket. I almost missed it though. I had it all put together then saw I had it leftover.

The flowmeter isn`t great. It keeps the output steady all day but every morning I need to reset it.

For the price of a needle valve, I`ll probably ditch the flowmeter and get one.

There are a few connections that could probably use some Teflon tape so I`ll do that too.

How long can I expect a 5lbs tank to last on a 35 gallon tank?

 

[matpat]

Re: co2 regulator up to par?

How long can I expect a 5lbs tank to last on a 35 gallon tank?

I have a KH of about 6 and the 5lb CO2 tank on my 75g tank lasts about 6 months. You could probably figure about twice as long with a similar KH. More time with a higher KH and less time with a lower KH assuming no leaks of course