bubble counter issues

[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.

[EdTheEdge]

Try filling it without taking the top off. I fill mine through the airhose. I have a check valve on either side of the counter and I dissconnect the hoses at the check valves and fill the counter through the hoses.

[Left C]

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!

[mott]

^^^^ Mineral oil is what I use, I put it in 6 months ago and the level hasn't changed yet.

[DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR]

i had the aquamedic bubble counter. when you use a diffuser like a ceramic disc, or anything that might create pressure in your line then the aquamedic will start leaking out of anywhere it can. the suction cups would come loose after 3 days also. i hated the thing. after a couple weeks i eleminated it from my system and just unhooked the line from the check valve and dipped it in the tank to read the bubble count.


i bought a new one that is made of nothing but glass. works great.

[Left C]

Originally Posted by DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR

i had the aquamedic bubble counter. when you use a diffuser like a ceramic disc, or anything that might create pressure in your line then the aquamedic will start leaking out of anywhere it can. the suction cups would come loose after 3 days also. i hated the thing...

When I first got it, I thought it was a PIS too, but I fixed it.

I didn't use the suction cups. I drilled two holes and used two screws to attach it's holder to my stand. It doesn't move.

The regulator that sends CO2 to it is a medium duty Victor dual stage unit.

I haven't had any trouble at all with it since I did the mods above in Post #3.

[EdTheEdge]

I have two and the only mods I made were zip ties on the input side. Very few problems otherwise.