Is There A Leak Or Sth Of My Co2 Set?

[dingweding]

I set up my CO2 about 2 weeks ago. i bought a sealed 500g CO2 bottle , which is full . when connected, the gauge on the regulator shows 60 bar ( one bar is 100 kpa).

now it only shows about 20 bar. How come it goes so quick?

my bubble check shows it has 2 bubble per second. and my CO2 check also shows color green, which is normal. I also bought a solenoid which can shut down the CO2 at night, and i connect the solenoid last week, it works.


so my question is, is it normal for CO2 goes so quick? i was told a 500g bottle can last nearly a year for a small tank, like mine, only 30L

many thanks

 

[Mikaila31]

It must be leaking. To find a co2 leak, get a bunch of soapy water and soap suds. Put the suds all around the regulator and any connection spots. It will become pretty clear if you have a leak or not.

 

[Truck]

it must be near empty now, as the pressure drops a few days before empty, you must have a major leak

 

[mibson]

I had a co2 leak. I was not tightening my pressure regulator enough, dont over tighten either. Also do you have a special washer made for between the co2 regulator and the co2 tank source?

 

[dingweding]

it must be near empty now, as the pressure drops a few days before empty, you must have a major leak

may i ask what is the normal reading of the CO2 bottle.
you also said only drop a few days b4 empty, but i noticed the reading of my bottle dorps from the first day. It slowly drop from 60 to 20.

you mean it should stay at a reading for a long time, then only drop at last a few days?

 

[mibson]

it must be near empty now, as the pressure drops a few days before empty, you must have a major leak

may i ask what is the normal reading of the CO2 bottle.
you also said only drop a few days b4 empty, but i noticed the reading of my bottle dorps from the first day. It slowly drop from 60 to 20.

you mean it should stay at a reading for a long time, then only drop at last a few days?

Yes, my 10lbs tank stays at the same reading for about 2 months however it does fluctuate in the first few hours after hooking it up.
When it is close to empty it drops fast for 2 days.

 

[dingweding]

i did read about it, but why my bottle drop from first day? i tried 2 regulator, one with 1 gauge, the other one with 2 gauges.
But in both case, the reading drops from day one, gradually.

does that mean something wrong?

 

[dingweding]

you guys must be right. when i back home tonight, i notice all the CO2 is gone. The reading is ZERO !!!
what can i do , i have to wait until weekend to get it refilled.

 

[Truck]

lower lighting or dose excel or easy carbo

 

[dingweding]

ok, guys, i bought a new bottle today. Hope today this one going to last a little longer. i set the bubble rate at one bubble one second.

However i wonder, normally ppl say 2 bubbles per second, does that apply to any size of tank. i doubted, as same bubble rate, for a 300L tank and 30L, will cause different result.

 

[Thommo]

You should get a drop checker to obtain the correct CO2 levels in your tank.
I the interim you can use the PH/KH table to obtain a guestimate of what your CO2 level is. The bubble rate is a good indication but the actual level depends on how large the tank is, diffusion metod etc.

See the CO2 chart on this site. There are a number of ones out there but this was the first one I found. http/www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

I find a drop checker to be much more accurate though.

CHEERS
Thommo