"THE BEST" Check Valve (medical grade)

[Left C]

Quoted from: http://www.aquariumplants.com/THE_BEST_Check_Valve_medical_grade_p/check12.htm
""THE BEST" Check Valve (medical grade)(.017 psi CRP)

After years of experience with Co2 systems, we finally discovered why consistant "bubble counts" are, most of the time, impossible. Here's why: ALL checkvalves, even expensive ones, have a "high crp pressure" or "crack pressure" rating (the pressure at which they actually release) and/or a very inconsistant "crp" pressurre" rating. We actually took a "caliper" and measured the Co2 tubing at different times and what we found is this: The tubing is actually a "long balloon"... When pressure builds in the tubing (because of a high crp rating of the CV) Co2 is "stored up" in the tubing, until the CV opens. Then it releases, then it build up again, and more or less "cycles". What you experience is a very inconsistant bubble count. This Checkvalve is "medical grade" (imported from Germany) and the best CV available."


Hum ... What do you think about this thing?

• How does it keep water from backing up into the regulator assembly when the CO2 is off? Is it designed for running the CO2 24/7?
  
• Notice the silicone tubing ... silicone tubing is a "weak balloon!" Why not use stronger tubing like one with thicker walls? Clippard, Tygon Lab, etc. It wouldn't be needed, would it? This "weak balloon" reminds me of an intestine.
  
• "high crp pressure" or "crack pressure" rating ... I know that check valves do have a pressure at which the valve cracks open, but this cracks me up for some reason. I can visualize it squeezing itself together, straining until it can't hold it anymore and suddenly the gas is released. (Did) somebody step on a duck?
  
• It has a digital face measuring the distance that its "jaws" are open, I believe. Doesn't tubing stretch and deform over time and render this measurement less meaningful?
  
• Or, is there a microprocessor in it to control "pulses" in the CO2 supply?

I'm most likely wrong, but it reminds me of something made by Uranus Corporation.

PS: Does seeing CO2 consistently spelled Co2 make you wonder about what "years of experience" really means?

 

[Biollante]

A little Too Much Time On Your Hands?

Hi Left C,

I think there is something to the check valve and tubing problem in regulating CO2 flow. :gw

One of the reasons the beverage industry goes for the reinforced tubing where they cannot use rigid tubing.

Though apt, your choice of videos indicate a deeply disturb mind, in other words, my kind of guy!

Keep up the good(?) work

Biollante

 

[Philosophos]

I think if it has the capacity to monitor and maintain a consistent out-pressure then it's going to be useful. Without that ability, it's not going to be any better than anything else that simply opens to a certain diameter. It's that or there has to be some sort of metered volumetric dosing like a miniature peristaltic pump. That thing looks like it's a pair of fancy vice grips with an LED display, so I'm hoping there's more to it.

The supplier doesn't instill me with confidence. Great plants, but outside of that they'll sell what makes money rather than what works.

 

[shoggoth43]

I think the meter bit is just a caliper to measure diameter of the tubing and isn't really part of the check valve. They show it in the link. It's that clear looking cylinder with the springs in it.

-
S

I think if it has the capacity to monitor and maintain a consistent out-pressure then it's going to be useful. Without that ability, it's not going to be any better than anything else that simply opens to a certain diameter. It's that or there has to be some sort of metered volumetric dosing like a miniature peristaltic pump. That thing looks like it's a pair of fancy vice grips with an LED display, so I'm hoping there's more to it.

The supplier doesn't instill me with confidence. Great plants, but outside of that they'll sell what makes money rather than what works.

 

[S&KGray]

That is a picture of a caliper measuring the tubing before the check valve to prove that it isn't "ballooning". They have pictures of the actual valve on that page also:

 

[S&KGray]

LOL shoggoth beat me to it

Also they claim that ALL other check valves have a high crack pressure rating. That is an outright lie because Parker and Swagelok/Nupro make nice check valves that have as little as 1/3 PSI cracking pressure.

 

[hani]

Am not sure if the clippard tube will balloon, its very thick and very painful to deal with, but it seems to last.
hani

 

[S&KGray]

Also good point on the tubing Left C, if you use those higher grade types/brands of tubing you mentioned then "ballooning" won't occur.

 

[S&KGray]

Am not sure if the clippard tube will balloon, its very thick and very painful to deal with, but it seems to last.
hani

I'm pretty sure it won't balloon.

 

[Left C]

I think the meter bit is just a caliper to measure diameter of the tubing and isn't really part of the check valve. They show it in the link. It's that clear looking cylinder with the springs in it.

-
S

LOL ... I looked at this check valve ad for two days before posting and I thought the calipers were part of the check valve.

EDIT: Going nuts! ...