PVC CO2 Manifold

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

Water doesn't evaporate from bubble counters. I have a DIY bubble counter here at the house that has been going for over 3 years. It might have dropped a couple of mm in water depth in that time.

Look closely at your bubble counter. Ask where the water is going. It's not evaporating. The only exception to this would be if the bubble counter is mounted on a all-in-one and the solenoid is heating up the water to the point it is evaporating.

My Milwaukee regulator bubble counter uses a very thin O-ring to seal it at the bottom. That seal never would stop leaking for me, so the water in the counter was slowly being pushed out thru that leak. I suspect many of that type bubble counters have leaks there. I don't see how a leak above the bubble counter can let the water leak out, so it just about has to be at the base of the counter. And, it takes a very small leak, not enough to ever see water coming out, to remove all of the counter water in a few days.

[sunmiztres]

How's it working DC? Are you able to get a constant bubble rate through all 4 needle valves?

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by sunmiztres

How's it working DC? Are you able to get a constant bubble rate through all 4 needle valves?

Day 1 looked good. I have it connected to two 10 gallons, a 20 long, and a 29 gallon so bubble rates are different (here are some pics of the setup). I know, I know, I will clean up the wire nest.







The reason I made this manifold is to try for some consistency, since the tanks are different sizes and stacked they were getting very inconsistent CO2 rates using splitters, whichever tank had the least resistance got all the CO2 and it could change from tank to tank, day to day. This manifold will stay consistently pressurized allowing each needle valve to have equal pressure at their input. I am hoping this works so I can use the concept on a 7-10 tank rack soon......DC

[Wasserpest]

I was wondering how that CO2 manifold has been working out for you. No leaks, nice constant bubble rates? I am about to smash my Clippard needle valves to dust and sprinkle them throughout the back yard, hoping that these would work better.

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

I was wondering how that CO2 manifold has been working out for you. No leaks, nice constant bubble rates? I am about to smash my Clippard needle valves to dust and sprinkle them throughout the back yard, hoping that these would work better.

I made 4 different ones, they all worked fine for me. How many tanks are you trying to connect?.......DC

[Wasserpest]

Three tanks. Actually I went ahead and spent some money on that thing, I guess I must be getting tired of DIY But I am glad to hear they work for you, nice setup.

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

Three tanks. Actually I went ahead and spent some money on that thing, I guess I must be getting tired of DIY But I am glad to hear they work for you, nice setup.

That is what I would have done for three tanks, I went with a splitter for 2 tanks myself recently. I like those needle valve/bubble counters in your link, they can leak under high pressure so leak check when you hook them up. Seems the pvc manifold works best with 4 or more tanks, I am running a 6 port in the fish room since I downsized.....DC

[dwstonebraker]

That is a very nice DIY! Keep up the great work DC!~