Hello,
90gallon tank, with AM1000 reactor, SUMO Premier regulator with bubble counter. AM1000 reactor shell is clear and this reactor has a long CO2 output tube inside the reactor, so you can see and count CO2 bubbles being released into the reactor itself. I am setting up reactor and have never used one before.
I see there is a big difference in the bps when counting bubbles in the bubble counter, versus, counting bps released into the reactor itself. This is what is puzzling me. Below is my observation of bubble rate at the bubble counter versus at the reactor.
Test 1 (attempting to get about 2 bps at bubble counter):
113 bpm (1.9 bps) in bubble counter = 60 bpm (1 bps) actually released into reactor
outcome = drop checker stays blue
Test 2 (after adjusting bubble rate to get about 2 bps released into reactor):
165bpm (2.75 bps) in bubble counter = 112 bpm (1.9 bps) actually released into reactor
outcome = drop checker now turns green
Test 3:
without changing bubble rate, I then turned off pump to reactor
outcome = 165bpm (2.75 bps) in bubble counter = 165 bpm actually released into reactor
There is a BIG loss of bps when counted at the reactor compared to bps at bubble counter. This could be due to CO2 leak, or because internal reactor pressure limits CO2 release into the reactor. Or something else?
So, a few questions:
1) Is this "loss of bubbles" at the reactor compared to at the bubble counter normal, or do I have a problem?
(strangely, the difference in actual [HASHTAG]#bubbles[/HASHTAG] in each test1 and test2 = 53 bubbles)
2) If the difference was due to internal reactor pressure when the pump is on, wouldn't CO2 gas pressure equalize the difference? (so that bps at bubble counter should be 'pretty close' to bps actually released into reactor)
3) If the difference was due to a CO2 leak, that leak should still be present with the pump shut off, yet there is NO bubble loss at the reactor when the pump is shut off. So how can it be a leak?
Any observations, experience, or suggestions would be appreciated. What do I do next?
Thanks!
fyi - I have 2 check valves on the CO2 line; a brass one near the regulator, and a plastic Dennerle near the reactor. At present, the CO2 bleed line is closed (will recycle later, right now trying to figure this out)
90gallon tank, with AM1000 reactor, SUMO Premier regulator with bubble counter. AM1000 reactor shell is clear and this reactor has a long CO2 output tube inside the reactor, so you can see and count CO2 bubbles being released into the reactor itself. I am setting up reactor and have never used one before.
I see there is a big difference in the bps when counting bubbles in the bubble counter, versus, counting bps released into the reactor itself. This is what is puzzling me. Below is my observation of bubble rate at the bubble counter versus at the reactor.
Test 1 (attempting to get about 2 bps at bubble counter):
113 bpm (1.9 bps) in bubble counter = 60 bpm (1 bps) actually released into reactor
outcome = drop checker stays blue
Test 2 (after adjusting bubble rate to get about 2 bps released into reactor):
165bpm (2.75 bps) in bubble counter = 112 bpm (1.9 bps) actually released into reactor
outcome = drop checker now turns green
Test 3:
without changing bubble rate, I then turned off pump to reactor
outcome = 165bpm (2.75 bps) in bubble counter = 165 bpm actually released into reactor
There is a BIG loss of bps when counted at the reactor compared to bps at bubble counter. This could be due to CO2 leak, or because internal reactor pressure limits CO2 release into the reactor. Or something else?
So, a few questions:
1) Is this "loss of bubbles" at the reactor compared to at the bubble counter normal, or do I have a problem?
(strangely, the difference in actual [HASHTAG]#bubbles[/HASHTAG] in each test1 and test2 = 53 bubbles)
2) If the difference was due to internal reactor pressure when the pump is on, wouldn't CO2 gas pressure equalize the difference? (so that bps at bubble counter should be 'pretty close' to bps actually released into reactor)
3) If the difference was due to a CO2 leak, that leak should still be present with the pump shut off, yet there is NO bubble loss at the reactor when the pump is shut off. So how can it be a leak?
Any observations, experience, or suggestions would be appreciated. What do I do next?
Thanks!
fyi - I have 2 check valves on the CO2 line; a brass one near the regulator, and a plastic Dennerle near the reactor. At present, the CO2 bleed line is closed (will recycle later, right now trying to figure this out)