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Found my CO2 leak

Discussion in 'CO2 Enrichment' started by kid creole, Jan 13, 2009.

  1. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    My solenoid is leaking out both sides. I have the tubing that came with my red sea kit. As best as I can tell, I should insert the tube in as far as I can, and then pull back on the red piece of plastic. It's just blowing CO2 straight out.

    How do I rectify this situation? Do I get a new solenoid, or am I connecting the hoses wrong?

    Thanks.

    By the way, the tank is looking great, thanks to good advice from the folks here.
     
    #1 kid creole, Jan 13, 2009
  2. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
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    I assume this is the solenoid:
    [​IMG]

    That looks like it uses a nut at each connection. If so, these usually work by you pushing the nut onto the plastic CO2 tube end, pushing a little metal tube inside the end of the CO2 plastic tubing, then pushing that end into the solenoid fitting and screwing the nut down a bit more than finger tight. I can't tell for sure from the photo if this is the type of fitting you have.
     
    #2 VaughnH, Jan 13, 2009
  3. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    #3 kid creole, Jan 13, 2009
  4. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    And, BTW, is that the clifford?
     
    #4 kid creole, Jan 13, 2009
  5. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Wow, that's old school junk solenoid from the looks of it.

    Clippards are commonly used solenoids, not bad, not super either but are reasonably priced. Just a brand of needle valves and solenoids.

    Oregon Aqua Design - Your D.I.Y. planted tank store!

    30$.

    Regards,
    Tom barr
     
    #5 Tom Barr, Jan 13, 2009
  6. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
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    The photo I posted is from the Red Sea website. I haven't seen anything like what you have, but I suspect those red rings are supposed to be inside the nuts on the ends of the solenoid, so tightening the nuts squeezes them down onto the tubing. And, I have to wonder if that connection is intended just for rigid tubing, not flexible tubing.
     
    #6 VaughnH, Jan 14, 2009
  7. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    I forgot that it wasn't part of the Seachem kit, it was purchased separately here:
    CO2 Solenoid Valve | Pet Solutions

    I think it needs rigid tubing, not silicone tubing.
     
    #7 kid creole, Jan 14, 2009
  8. SuperColey1

    SuperColey1 Guru Class Expert

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    vaughan. They are 'push fit' ones. Similar to industrial airlines (but much smaller) where you clip the hose in and the red bit locks. My reg had one of these but I unscrewed it and my needle valve screwed straight into where the push fit had been. lucky me. lol

    I have a solenoid like the one you linked to with the nuts that screw over the barbed inlet/outlet fitted inline. Very good. However mine is from Lunapet/Aquarianversand on ebay. Half the price and exactly the same in design.

    AC
     
    #8 SuperColey1, Jan 14, 2009
  9. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
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    The description of the solenoid says:
    CO2 Solenoid Valve

    "This small and reliable valve is for use with a pH controller or timer to automate the input of co2 for natural planted aquariums or calcium reactors. For use with a regulator with reduced pressure below 5 psi. Spring loaded quick fit connections make it easy to attach co2 resistant tubing. Tubing slides right in for tight and secure connection"

    I think the bold, underlined part is the problem. Our regulators rarely hold a 5 psi setting, and sometimes even a 10 psi setting isn't too stable. My guess (my latest guess!) is that your CO2 regulator outlet pressure is just way too high for the fittings the solenoid has.
     
    #9 VaughnH, Jan 14, 2009
  10. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    No, I had a massive CO2 leak when the pressure was over 5 PSI. You could hear it. I identified this, and my CO2 lasted much longer. 3 weeks instead of 6 days. But I knew 3 weeks was too short, so i bubble tested the lines. It's leaking out between the hose and the red part.

    At some psi over 5, it will leak whether open or closed.

    Either way I am just going to buy the Clifford (or similar) today and be done with it.
     
    #10 kid creole, Jan 14, 2009
  11. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    And, I'm going to start spelling it clippard, not cliffard or clifford. :D
     
    #11 kid creole, Jan 14, 2009
  12. kid creole

    kid creole Prolific Poster

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    Update:

    I added the clippard solenoid, and no problems. The old solenoid takes a different kind of tubing. On the side of the solenoid it says it's rated to 25 psi. I assume they say to run it at 5 since they know it won't leak terribly fast at that pressure. BS, IMO.

    Even more interesting, I left a review on petsolutions.com, where I bought it, clearly explaining the issue, and it never made it to print. Hmmm. I don't think I'll be shopping there again, if I can help it.
     
    #12 kid creole, Jan 22, 2009
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