Quote:
Originally Posted by anjbagley
I NEED HELP! I am new at planted aquariums and it is not going very smoothly. I need some info on bubble counters. First, is the water supposed to evaporate out of them? With the aqua medic one I have the water disappears quickly so I can't check the bubbles. Since I am trying to get my parameters with my co2 established I need to count bubbles. The lid is so hard to get on and off that I have already broke 2 of them. One trying to get it on and the other trying to get it off. Is there an easier way to accomplish this? Am I doing something wrong? Should you have to replace the water weekly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.  |
Use Mineral Oil or Bubble Counter Fluid in it. Those don't evaporate. I filled my AM bubble counter up with Bubble Counter Fluid about two years ago and I haven't touched it since.
I had to do some mods on it though.
- The stock CO2 line that comes with it fits too loose and it leaks CO2. Throw it away and use good fitting CO2 tubing.
- The stock check valve is a POS. Replace it with a brass one.
- Remove the blue elbow and wrap some Teflon tape around it and screw it down tight. It leaks CO2 from this area too.
- Use another brass check valve between the regulator and the blue elbow tubing connection.
The check valves before and after the bubble counter keeps the liquid in the bubble counter where it should be.
That little thing works great after these mods!