I am finally setting up a pressurized CO2 system after staring at a new empty intimidating CO2 tank for 5 years. I bought a nice regulator from Green Leaf Aquariums and it seems I misread the instructions on setting the low pressure gauge. It said to turn it to 10 and I did but afterward I realized it was not the 10 at the end of the dial, it was 10 psi on the inside dial - a much lower setting. Now I have no idea how to bring it back down. I have tried loosening the handle, shutting everything off and starting over - it is still dialed up all the way. Any advise for this dumb blonde?
I took the top off the bubble counter and it is all clear. Not sure how to check the check value at the bottom of it. The reason I decided to spend $375 on this regulator is because I didn't want the challenge of having to buy everything separately and put it together myself. Not thinking I got my money's worth now. LOL.
Is the bubble counter bubbling when you turn the co2 on? If it is then connect just the hose and put the hose end in the water if you get bubbles out of hose then all is well. Then connect the diffuser to it and wait 30-60 minutes for it to start working if still nothing you got a bad diffuser or it needs extremely high working pressure which is sketchy past 50psi. That is all it can be you have isolated everything else.
Ok - there were bubbles coming out of the end of the tube. I replaced the brass check value with a cheap plastic one I had - we'll see if this works. By the way - I cannot blow through that check value - I should be able to right? Perhaps it is a bad valve?
Could be a bad check valve some need high psi to open referred to as cracking pressure. Or it is stuck closed. But you did right by trying a cheap plastic one now you know the problem lies with the check valve or the diffuser.
Still no gas in the tank. All it seemed to be doing it sucking water back up through the tube. I am trying another cheap diffuser just to see if that is the problem...waiting for pressure to build....sooo wanting to see bubbles in the tank!
If you want to eliminate the possibility that it is a faulty diffuser, simply take the diffuser out and have the airline tubing bubble directly into the aquarium.
I tried testing with just the tubing (see previous page) and the tubing does bubble in the tank (very slowly) - but I still can't get this to work with ANY diffuser. #2 not working - it's been 45 minutes. I have the pressure at 30.
My apologies, I only skimmed through the last page.
If your regulator is set at 30 PSI delivery pressure (and assuming your needle valve is open wide), and your tubing is only bubbling very slowly into the aquarium, I would look for a leak. Even at 10 PSI, my tubing will bubble very quickly.
I received an e-mail from Green Leaf and they said the same thing. I shut it all down and I will take it all apart and start over again tomorrow to see if that fixes it. Thanks for your help!
Here is an update on my CO2 woes: I still cannot figure out how to make this thing work. I used dish soap and found a leak at the top of the bubble counter. I took off the top and screwed it back on and it seems to have fixed it. I still have the pressure at 30, there are bubbles coming out of the tube at about 1 per second (the bubble counter is currently set at 3 per second until I get this thing working). but still nothing will come out of a diffuser and I tried two different types. I am completely clueless.
Well I finally got it working. It seems there was a leak in the check valve. I stuck in under water and it was bubbling. I took it off and now everything is working properly. Now I just got to buy a new one and I should be set. Thanks for your help everyone!
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Planted Tank Forum
3.5M posts
130.6K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more!