RE: [AGA-Member] Co2 problems!

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

I usually run between 10-30 psi on the regulator output --
each system have somewhat diff demands due to diff
conditions or  equipment.

I can't imagine a stable system at 3 psi, although I'ms
sure someone has done it. But at that pressure, it would be
difficult to have a needlevalve offer much control over the
flow, every slight change in pressure will change the flow.


Scott H., who realizes that for everything that almost no
one does, there is at least one person that pulls it off.

--- Adam Michels <amichels@trafficleader.com> wrote:

> Yeah, this is good stuff. I've noticed the same problem
> recently, and I
> was told to run my CO2 at 3 PSI! When I get home I'm
> kicking it up to
> 10. Thanks
> 
> Adam
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aga-member-bounces@thekrib.com
> [mailto:aga-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Paul
> M Wallace
> Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 10:56 AM
> To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Member Chat
> Subject: Re: [AGA-Member] Co2 problems!
> 
> I have read of other users reporting or eratic
> performance due to A) the
> low pressure side too low (some need to run ~30PSI, I run
> ~10) and B)
> metal shavings in the needle valve to other problems like
> reported below
> that were solved by a cleaning/service.
> 
> 
> -Paul
> 
> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 matpat89@sbcglobal.net wrote:
> 
> > Hey Matt,
> >
> > I had a similar problem with a JBJ regulator.  There
> was a gasket that
> went 
> > between the bubble counter and needle valve.  While
> filling the bubble
> counter, 
> > this gasket fell off.  My bubble count was eratic just
> like yours and
> required 
> > me to turn it up every day for about a week.  Once I
> figured out the
> gasket had 
> > fallen off and I put it back where it should be, things
> were fine.  I
> recently 
> > set up a three way splitter on one of my regulators.
> Three bubble
> counters (JBJ 
> > brand) were included with the splitter.  Not a single
> bubble counter
> had a 
> > gasket included with it.  I mamaged to get some gaskets
> that fit
> between the 
> > bubble counter and needle valve and they all work fine
> now.  I'd check
> to see 
> > if your gasket is missing.  The CO2 will choose the
> path of least
> resistance 
> > and come our of the bubble counter versus pushing
> through the tubing
> and into a 
> > reactor or diffusor.
> >
> > Matt
> > South Western Ohio Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts member
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "matt scarnecchia"
> <colonel594@hotmail.com>
> > To: <aga-member@thekrib.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 1:36 PM
> > Subject: [AGA-Member] Co2 problems!
> >
> >
> >> Hello all, My name is Matt and Im fairly new to this
> orginazation but
> it is 
> >> a pleasure to find and be a part of it. I'm having a
> problem with my
> newly 
> >> set up pressurized co2 system. A few weeks ago I
> ordered a AZOO
> pressure 
> >> regulator with magnetic valve, and needle valve. After
> it arrived I
> went to 
> >> a local welding supply house and picked up a 5 lb. co2
> tank went home
> and 
> >> set it all up. I adjusted the co2 flow to the desired
> amount and all
> seemed 
> >> to be working great and continued to work so for about
> a week or so.
> >>      Any way about a week later i was observing things
> and noticed
> that the 
> >> amount of pearling in the aquarium had decreased so i
> checked over
> some 
> >> things to find out that the problem appeared to be
> that less co2 was
> being 
> >> released from the regulator. So i checked things out
> there were no
> leaks, my 
> >> check valve on the air line tubing is working fine but
> still for some
> reason 
> >> a lesser amount of gas being released.
> >>     Not knowing what the problem could be i adjusted
> the needle valve
> 
> >> opening it a bit more to get the desired bubble flow
> (around 3
> bubbles a 
> >> second or so) and it continued to work fine for the
> rest of the day.
> At 
> >> night the lights shut off and so does the timer for
> the co2 valve,
> and in 
> >> the morning it comes back on with the lights. So i
> figured I better
> check 
> >> things out to make sure it was still working properly
> only to find
> that the 
> >> flow rate had slowed down again to almost nothing....
> maybe about 1
> bubble 
> >> about ever 5 to 10 seconds. Not my desired level.
> Baffled by what
> appeared 
> >> to be happening over night I checked ever thing over
> again looking
> for leaks 
> >> making sure all was hook up tightly with still the
> slow flow I went
> ahead 
> >> and opened the needle valve further back to the
> desired flow rate and
> once 
> >> again things worked fine for the rest of the day. at
> night everything
> shut 
> >> off, and in the morning when it all came back on I
> checked things out
> to see 
> >> what was going on.... with the same result as the day
> before.... for
> some 
> >> unknown reason the flow rate has slowed to almost
> nothing at all. I
> cant 
> >> figure out what would be causing this? has anyone else
> ever had any
> problems 
> >> similar to this? or have any idea at all what could be
> causing this
> strang 
> >> decrease in my flow rate after the magnetic valve
> shuts off and then
> comes 
> >> back on in the morning?
> >>     From what I under stand I should be able to set
> the needle valve
> to a 
> >> desired rate of flow, and every time that the magnetic
> valve opens
> again it 
> >> should resum at that flow rate making it all fine to
> be left alone
> every day 
> >> until the tank needs refilled..... and I cant figure
> out why things
> would be 
> >> acting in the way that they are..... Any help at all
> that could be
> offered 
> >> would be GREATLY appriciated..... I am fianally
> getting things with
> this 
> >> aquarium to a point that I am really pleased with it
> all.... but this
> has 
> >> been testing and rather frustrating to say the
> least.... espically
> after 
> >> spending a very nice sized piece of change on this
> equipment to get
> the 
> >> desired co2 levels i wanted in my tank with out having
> to do daily
> maintance 
> >> to achive it..... thanks a lot for any help you can
> all give me!
> >>    Sincerely,
> >>         Matt Scarnecchia
> >>          Youngstown, Ohio
> >> 
> >>
>
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