Did my CO2 canister empty too quickely?

[jonny_ftm]

Hi,

I use between 1.5-2 bps CO2, 8h a day. My 2Kg (4.4 lb) canister lasted only 2.5 months before I see a drop in canister pressure (meaning end of liquid phase, so only few days autonomy).

Is it normal for my bubble rate or it means I have some leaking?

 

[Philosophos]

I'd say it depends on the size of your bubbles. IME you're probably emptying out a little on the fast side; mine lasts more like 5-6 months. Why not do a line test?

-Philosophos

 

[jonny_ftm]

5-6 months at 2 bps? Are you sure?

 

[dutchy]

I have a comparable canister and it lasts for 3 months at 4 bps, 24 hours per day (with Ph controller) I don't get worried when it starts to drop. Mine is dropping now for weeks already and I don't refill it until it goes under 20 bar.

 

[SuperColey1]

The point the guys are making is that bps is a guide only. For each user to quickly see a rate.

My 1 bps may be the same as your 5bps or it might be the same as your 0.2 bps.

Different bubble counters give different sized bubbles.

Unless we all used the same bubble counters we wouldn't really know.

Does sound pretty fast to me. My 600g CO2 cannisters at 3bps last for nearly 3 months.

AC

 

[jonny_ftm]

Many thanks for all your replies.

Indeed, bubble size can be very different. I have a Dennerle bubble counter laying around with specs of its bubble size in ml and mg of CO2. I'll install it and check theory vs facts in my case (of couse, I already tested many times all the line for leakage). Furthermore, I realised that counting bubbles as I do on the AM1000 directly is impossible with my high water flow

Thank you about the tip on pressure. I'll keep it until it completely drops. In fact, it is still just under the 50 bars. It could push me some more weeks maybe

Supercoley, I had, on another forum, many feedbacks that on a 150-250L, I'm considered lucky to keep mine that long, especially if I can push it some more weeks. The 600g canister that lasts you 3 months is on a 40-60gal?

 

[SuperColey1]

It is on a 33USG. disposable setup, using a Rhinox 2000 and 17.6x turnover. Good surface turbulence. I dare say it would last over 3 months with a steady surface.

Just as a point of interest mine is on the wane at the mo. Full Bar is 60-70. Currently hovering around 30 and I will just monitor it until it empties. So when I put a new one on I will count the days just for the sake of it.

The current one was started on 19th June and started to wane on 18th August. Then I tuened it off when I went on holiday and just turned it back on when I got back on Wednesday.

That makes 61 days prior to holiday. 2 days since plus another week or so I am estimating. Reallistically this one is around the 70 day mark.

AC

 

[jonny_ftm]

Ok, many thanks. So I should be able to push mine 3-4 months easily. I fogot to mention that, when installed my AM1000, I tweaked it many times and resulted in extreme CO2 loads somedays. Also, water surface was important some time. Finally, on many weeks, I ran it 5h before lights on and decreased slowly.

Hopefully, with next canister, I'll be more used to CO2 tweaking

I also found few days ago a source for industrial 3.0 quality CO2. The refills cost me 40 USD equivalent for 7.5Kg, so much more acceptable than my Dennerle bottles (80-90USD for a 2Kg )