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CO2 Rate and Surface Agitation

881 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  temple2101, 
T
I recently started pressurized CO2 on my 20H. I've been cranking it up and am currently somewhere around 4-5 bps. I see absolutely no ill effects to my fish or shrimp in the thank, however, I have seen quite a few empty MTS shells (although I recently figured out I was overfeeding, so I think that may be due to the cutback on food).

My question is I've been told that my bubble count seems really high for my size tank, which I agree with reading posts on here. However, I also understand that there are other factors that determine the amount of CO2 that needs to be injected.

I have good surface agitation in my opinion which I know some suggest. I'm wondering if those who run 1-2 bps have little to no surface agitation? I'm also using a cerges reactor, which I thought would help keep my CO2 usage down, but doesn't seem to be so far.

My main issue with cranking the CO2 is that I'm currently using a 20 oz paintball tank into a two stage regulator. I'm not getting very good life on it. First refill was after only 10 days, and now I'm on day 5 of the refill and my pressure dropped to 500 psi. I'm fine upgrading to a 5 lb tank, just didn't think I'd need to do it so soon. I may also have a leak, which I'm investigating.

Anyway, just curious what others think.

Thanks!
Joe
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bitFUUL
10 days with a 20oz tank? Seems very fast!
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FenderOffset238
sounds like a drop checker would be the best be to cut down of the guessing game.
Blue = too little CO2
Green = Medium/ideal
Yellow = Too much CO2

other wise I know there is a trick you can do with pH measurement changes but I forget the calculation. Maybe someone else could enlighten you on that. But a drop checker has really made it easier on my tank and I
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bitFUUL said:
10 days with a 20oz tank? Seems very fast!
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I agree! I'm really thinking leak... hoping to find out tonight as I go through a leak check.

FenderOffset238 said:
sounds like a drop checker would be the best be to cut down of the guessing game.
Blue = too little CO2
Green = Medium/ideal
Yellow = Too much CO2

other wise I know there is a trick you can do with pH measurement changes but I forget the calculation. Maybe someone else could enlighten you on that. But a drop checker has really made it easier on my tank and I
Click to expand...
Forgot to add that I do have a drop checker. It's green most of the day, but by the time the CO2 shuts off (1 hour before lights out) it's a lime green/yellow. Again, no gasping fish or any issues like that, which from what I've read is a better sign of CO2 injection than a drop checker.

I'm just confused how many people say they only run 1-2 bps, especially into a reactor, on tanks bigger than mine. One other note is that I have medium light, so I know that accounts for a bit more usage...

Here's a pic of the surface agitation. Probably not good enough for anyone to really tell, but it's moving pretty good. Not breaking the surface but definitely some good ripples.

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pejerrey
You may find this thread very interesting:

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php?t=10282
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radioman
Sounds like a leak. I run a 20oz at 1.34bps and it has been going for months and is still pretty much at 1000 psi.
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T
pejerrey said:
You may find this thread very interesting:

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php?t=10282
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Good read! Thanks!

radioman said:
Sounds like a leak. I run a 20oz at 1.34bps and it has been going for months and is still pretty much at 1000 psi.
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I'm currently going through the leak check Bettatail posted. I didn't mention it (1. because I forgot, and 2. I'm embarrassed), but about a week ago I had my tank/regulator out of the stand while doing filter maintenance. The reg and tank fell over right onto the low pressure valve. It made my low pressure gauge go wacky, and I'm sure it's toast since it no longer goes all the way to 0. However, the reg still worked so I thought all was OK, I just didn't know my true working pressure.

Now I'm wondering if I didn't hose the whole reg...
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