Need A Smartie With Co2.....

[chameleongeekgrl]

Wow,

Is there anyone one on here (i'm sure there is ) that's a wizz with co2 tanks, and regulators, and bubble counters? I got my hose today and i'm very confused on how high "open" I should have the valve.
Also how to tell if there is a leak
When I increase pressure I get a nioce flow of bubbles but after a while it slows down dramatically.

I can give you alottttt more info if anyone is willing to help a poor sap of a girl
i'll even include pictues of the little beastie. LOL

Thanks-
Judith

 

[JamesC]

Need to know what type of regulator you have first as they work differently. There are two basic types - one with a needle valve built in and the other which is just a plain regulator with no needle valve. Is it one brought from your LFS ie, JBL or one brought off the internet or welding supplies? How many guages does it have? A picture would be great.

To look for leaks make up a soapy solution using water and washing up liquid and using a small paint brush apply it over any joins. Any leaks will soon become apparant.

James

 

[Themuleous]

Give us some more info and I'm sure we can help out I also notice a reduction in bubbles over time, particularly after I've whacked the bubble rate up, think this is mostly due to the pressure in the tubing stabilising. Leave it over night and check the bubble rate again, if its want you want it should stay that way from then on. But keep checking each day, just to make sure.

Sam

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

yep i can can get all that info for ya! But seeing as i'm late to work as it is I'll do it as soon as I get home today!1
okay here is my piccies. sorry for the crap quality... the choice was spend 600 on my aqiuarium or spend 300 on a new camera. (needless to say I won )





The desription is Includes flow regulator, needle valve, electronic solenoid, & bubble counter. Unit comes with dual gauges each with dual reading of both psi & kg/cm. Left gauge measures tank capacity and Right gauge measures flow. Needle valve flow control provides for precise measurement. On/Off 110v solenoid comes with 1.5 meter power cord. ( CO2 bottle is not included )
here is a picture from the ebay eh picture....


I've bought blue 1/4 inch co2 tubing The left Gauge reads 75 on outer and 1000 on the inner grey part and the right gauge is 0 even when I turn the nozzle right and bubbles come a flowing. whoo any more info I 'm on a rolll

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

I just edited the post and I don't know how to change the subject, so read above this for piccies

 

[JamesC]

OK, I'm used to working in Bar for pressure so am having to convert for you. You have a regulator with a separate needle valve. All this means is that you have to adjust the low side pressure yourself. Turn off the needle valve and the regulator valve. The gauge on the left measures the pressure of the CO2 tank. This is normally around 60 Bar or 1000 PSI, which seems correct for you. What you now need to do is adjust the low side pressure. Slowly turn on the valve on the regulator so that the right gauge starts to go up. I normally like a pressure of about 1.2 Bar or about 18 PSI, so keep turning the valve until the gauge reads this. Once set you shouldn't need to touch this valve again as the regulator should keep the pressure at 18 PSI. All you do now is adjust the brass needle valve next to the bubble counter to control your bubble rate.

Just for info people with JBL, etc regulators with built in needle valves don't need to adjust the low side pressure as this is set inside the regulator by the manufacturer and is normally fixed at around 1.2 Bar.

Hopefully this makes sense.
James

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

Sweet! That does make sense I'll try that when I get home from work as I'm late AGAIN LOL don't worry people i'm not a slacker. I'll let you know how I do. Thanks again=)

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

Works great!

I have about 3 bubbles per second thanks for the help!

 

[Themuleous]

Glad you sorted it I take it you're testing the CO2 level, using the KH/pH chart?

Sam

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

okay I did some gtesting today these are my levels

KH 10
PH 7.6
iron 0??? This is what the test said I dn't understand fully where I have 1 bag of flourite and 2 bags eco-complete.
GH 15
where is the chart located top where I can figure out my co2?

 

[Tote]

okay I did some gtesting today these are my levels

KH 10
PH 7.6
iron 0??? This is what the test said I dn't understand fully where I have 1 bag of flourite and 2 bags eco-complete.
GH 15
where is the chart located top where I can figure out my co2?

here you go Measuring CO2 levels in a Planted Tank

with those kh and ph levels, you've got about 7.5 ppm of CO2. How much you need will depend on how many plants you've got, how much light, etc., but the article goes into this in more detail.
(ps Nice soupy water you've got there - our tap water has kh2 gh3 )

 

[chameleongeekgrl]

okay I did some gtesting today these are my levels

KH 10
PH 7.6
iron 0??? This is what the test said I dn't understand fully where I have 1 bag of flourite and 2 bags eco-complete.
GH 15
where is the chart located top where I can figure out my co2?

here you go Measuring CO2 levels in a Planted Tank

with those kh and ph levels, you've got about 7.5 ppm of CO2. How much you need will depend on how many plants you've got, how much light, etc., but the article goes into this in more detail.
(ps Nice soupy water you've got there - our tap water has kh2 gh3 )

I've only got sopme cambadoiabsdnbsdfb (grrrr can't spell it) it's fluffy looking thought as for our soupy water.... it puts hair on the knuckles

 

[Themuleous]

Iron test kits a useless I would bother with it anymore.

Sam