Another DIY CO2 problem

Chris333 · 08-31-2006, 10:19 AM

I have two 2 liter bottles on my 55gal tank and one 4 liter bottle on a 10gal tank.

When I hook a tube right from the bottle to the airstone a small shake of the bottle(s) will get bubbles flowing nice and steady within less than a minute.

If I add a gas separator and check valve and leave it all day I get nothing for bubbles. If I take out the check valve I get the same result. The gas separator bottle has water in it almost to the top. The inlet pipe goes down to the bottom, the outlet at the top well above the water.

Why am I having such a hard time with the gas separator?

I want to use one to keep the snot down. Not that it matters for this, but the 55gal has a homemade reactor with pumphead. The pumphead constantly gets plugged up and if I use a pre-filter the flow is reduced so that the reactor tube will not stay full of water.

I plan to build a in-line reactor soon.

The 10gal tank has a airstone for now, but a nano diffuser is in the mail as we type.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Rex Grigg · 08-31-2006, 01:11 PM

It's pretty simple. You have a leak.

jasonh · 08-31-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

It's pretty simple. You have a leak.

That's what it sounds like. I'd go back and make a new cap for your gas separator bottle. Are you using the method where you drill a hole in the cap smaller than the tubing and pulling it through with pliers? If not, I'd do that.

Chris333 · 08-31-2006, 07:27 PM

I'll have to check with soapy water. I'm drilling smaller holes and pulling the hose through with pliers. One reason I thought there wasn't a leak was that I have two different set-ups with two different gas separators, both get the same result.

I will try again.

jasonh · 08-31-2006, 07:35 PM

Does the CO2 bubble in the gas separator? If not, try using less water in it and see if that helps...

08-31-2006, 10:19 AM	#1
Chris333 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Warren, OH Posts: 188	Another DIY CO2 problem I have two 2 liter bottles on my 55gal tank and one 4 liter bottle on a 10gal tank. When I hook a tube right from the bottle to the airstone a small shake of the bottle(s) will get bubbles flowing nice and steady within less than a minute. If I add a gas separator and check valve and leave it all day I get nothing for bubbles. If I take out the check valve I get the same result. The gas separator bottle has water in it almost to the top. The inlet pipe goes down to the bottom, the outlet at the top well above the water. Why am I having such a hard time with the gas separator? I want to use one to keep the snot down. Not that it matters for this, but the 55gal has a homemade reactor with pumphead. The pumphead constantly gets plugged up and if I use a pre-filter the flow is reduced so that the reactor tube will not stay full of water. I plan to build a in-line reactor soon. The 10gal tank has a airstone for now, but a nano diffuser is in the mail as we type. Any ideas? Thanks.

08-31-2006, 07:35 PM	#5
jasonh Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 286	Does the CO2 bubble in the gas separator? If not, try using less water in it and see if that helps... __________________ Jason

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08-31-2006, 01:11 PM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	It's pretty simple. You have a leak.

08-31-2006, 07:27 PM	#4
Chris333 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Warren, OH Posts: 188	I'll have to check with soapy water. I'm drilling smaller holes and pulling the hose through with pliers. One reason I thought there wasn't a leak was that I have two different set-ups with two different gas separators, both get the same result. I will try again.