The same guy at my LFS said that I'd only need 1 bubble
every 5-10
seconds (on a 55, and my tank is stocked)! I'm now
running 1 bubble
every 1-2 seconds, because that's all my ladder can
handle, which he
also said was sufficient. I also had to boost my KH up to
5 (90ppm) with
sodium bicarbonate, because the water in Eugene, OR is
super soft
(18ppm). Before that my plants wouldn't pearl. Now they
do
intermittently, but I know they're sucking up that CO2
because my PH
rises to 7.2-7.4 late in the day. Some of my species are
pretty
demanding, and I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of a
power reactor
diffuser with the RIO 50. I'm new to advanced aquatic
gardening, however
I've been into discus and low-light plants for a while
now, and I'm
still in the process of fine-tuning this tank. All of
your information
is really helpful. Thanks,
And now that you mention it, the guy running 3 PSI and
ladders
has hair algae in his tanks and can't get his plants to
pearl. Scott's
idea about weather affecting the CO2 flow rate is also
curious. It has
gotten colder out here recently. Hum.
Adam
-----Original Message-----
From: aga-member-bounces@thekrib.com
[mailto:aga-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of S.
Hieber
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 11:27 AM
To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Member Chat
Subject: RE: [AGA-Member] Co2 problems!
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
>>
>>