Preventing bubble counter from emptying prematurely?

[aweeby]

My bubble count isn't even that high, my drop checker is barely green. And yet it's a matter of days before the water level in that thing starts to drop. In a month, it's pretty much dry. Does anyone else have this issue?

Would mineral oil solve this issue? I currently use distilled water in that thing. I use the JBJ counter, if that helps any.

[chicken]

I use a mixture of glycerin and water, which does not evaporate as quickly.

[sketch804]

mineral oil is what I use and it takes forever by the time I have to fill it again..and mineral oil is non conductive so if your check valve fails than all is not lost and your solenoid is still good and not damaged. Oh and if it does get into your tank it's completely harmless..I used to use water but never again!

[Big O]

+1 mineral oil!

[maknwar]

Just keep filling it. That's one reason I don't use those and prefer the inline bubble counters. I just don't understand why you guys would put oil into anything that was connected to your tank. But hey, if it works then I guess it works.

[sketch804]

edit:nevermind read it wrong..ya I use an inline bubble counter also as opposed to one connected to the regulator. So what do you fill yours with, water also? IDK, I've never had a problem with mineral oil when it got into my tank once..

[aweeby]

I've used inline before and it still was an issue. That's partly why I changed to the JBJ, but what can you do. I'll try the mineral oil, then.

Is it really evaporation, or is the fluid just being blown up the tube?

[sketch804]

Well the only way to get it to stop evaporating so quick you have to use some sort of solution, one of the few listed or you can buy bubble counter solution. I used to use just water for a while but had to fill it too much because of that fact. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it with just water, I wish there was no doubt.

[Aquaticfan]

Actually I don't believe its evaporation. What happens (if I remember this right) to water and co2 in this case is it dissolve with the co2 and goes down the line.

Food grade mineral oil is 100% harmless to your tank and live stock. It's also what i use to lube the orings on my canister filters and such. Mineral oil will not dissolve with the co2 like water does and that's correct its also non conductive for your solenoid. It's also really easy to remove from a tank if it should get inside it.

[Postal Penguin]

The gas flowing through the bubble counter basically creates a "wind" so it evaporates much the same way a dish of water evaporates as a breeze blows across it.

[aweeby]

hate to resurrect something a little old, but didn't want to make a new thread.

Will baby oil branded mineral oil do? My guess is no, since it has aloe, fragrance and vitamin E. But i just want to be sure before i go return it.

[inkslinger]

mineral oil

going on over 1.5 years on one fill.

[shinycard255]

Originally Posted by inkslinger

mineral oil

going on over 1.5 years on one fill.

Wow... 1.5 years?! I might have to look into this because I'm having the water "disappear" from my bubble counter as well

[talontsiawd]

I use mineral oil in my JBJ style bubble counter. I have noticed no change in over 6 months.

I don't like using mineral oil in inline ones though. If you are adjusting the pressure, especially on a new tank and go to far, it can be pushed up the line. It took me forever to get it out of my diffuser. It didn't hurt my diffuser or anything and didn't effect the live stock but it was ugly in my diffuser and I still have a slight oil slick on the top of my tank. It's not harmful, as people have said, and it's not super ugly but I didn't like it. I just use water now with inline ones. Mine was DIY though, maybe premade ones are less likely to do this.

[Robert H]

Light makes it evaporate faster, is it in a dark place under the tank? I just refill mine. Takes two minutes.