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CO2 tank swap - initial pressure
I just had my 10lb steel co2 tank swapped. The new tank is aluminum. I hooked it up and my regulator is just at the top of the "refill" line!
My first thought is that they didn't fill it enough or it leaked since they filled it. But, before I go and complain, I thought I'd check here first. I'm new to this pressurized gas business. If they fill them by weight, could it be that there is indeed 10lbs of co2 in this thing, but somehow the tank is slightly larger than a steel tank, so that 10lbs of co2 is under less pressure?
I noticed a few recent posts about end of tank dump. I ran my last tank almost dry. The pressure valve was on 0, but my bubble counter was still bubbling away. The pressure seemed to have raised on my low pressure gauge, but I had no tank dump at all. Im using the ideal needle valve, and am extremely happy with it!
My first thought is that they didn't fill it enough or it leaked since they filled it. But, before I go and complain, I thought I'd check here first. I'm new to this pressurized gas business. If they fill them by weight, could it be that there is indeed 10lbs of co2 in this thing, but somehow the tank is slightly larger than a steel tank, so that 10lbs of co2 is under less pressure?
I noticed a few recent posts about end of tank dump. I ran my last tank almost dry. The pressure valve was on 0, but my bubble counter was still bubbling away. The pressure seemed to have raised on my low pressure gauge, but I had no tank dump at all. Im using the ideal needle valve, and am extremely happy with it!
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apparently temperature has a much greater effect on pressure than I thought. The tanks are all stored in a loading dock at the gas company so it was probably between 35 and 40 degrees. When it warmed up to 70 it was right around 800psi. Maybe a little low, but at least not on the refill line.
I've got another question about how the tanks pressure should behave. On my last tank it was about 830psi when I got it, and it took a few months to go down to 600psi where the "refill" line starts. From there it was empty in a couple of weeks.
is that normal, or should I start looking for a leak?
thanks
I've got another question about how the tanks pressure should behave. On my last tank it was about 830psi when I got it, and it took a few months to go down to 600psi where the "refill" line starts. From there it was empty in a couple of weeks.
is that normal, or should I start looking for a leak?
thanks
A 10# going dry in a 'few months' doesnt sound right to me. Could you ellaborate on just what a few months is? I'm at like 2 yrs on a 15# tank on a 75g on the initial fill (still reading about 1000-1100psi). If I recall properly, the initial fill was showing up near 1500.
I have some of the inexpensive Azoo regulators with SMS 122 pH controllers. I have an AquariumPlants.com regulator too....I noticed a few recent posts about end of tank dump. I ran my last tank almost dry. The pressure valve was on 0, but my bubble counter was still bubbling away. The pressure seemed to have raised on my low pressure gauge, but I had no tank dump at all. I'm using the ideal needle valve, and am extremely happy with it!
I've never had "EOTD."
My bubble count lowers a bit when the CO2 cylinders get low. I increase the bubble count a little bit to compensate and I replace the cylinders when they quit.
Again, I've never had "EOTD."
Where's that knocking on wood smiley? Oh, here it is. No, it's not it, but it will do.
Thanks MrKookm!
I didn't think I had a leak. I checked w/ soapy water, but it would be such a slow leak, I don't know if that would have shown me anything anyway.
And to the others, maybe I should have mentioned that my aquarium is 220 gallons w/ overflows so the co2 gets used up quickly. I certainly can't count my bubble rate, but its probably 10 or so a second, and that's in a home made bubble counter w/ the bubbles coming out of a large (relatively) airline tube.
I still don't understand why 200psi would take months, then the remaining 600 psi takes a couple of weeks. I guess that's the physics of compressed gas. That would fit perfectly w/ a logarithmic scale, so I guess that makes sense.
I didn't think I had a leak. I checked w/ soapy water, but it would be such a slow leak, I don't know if that would have shown me anything anyway.
And to the others, maybe I should have mentioned that my aquarium is 220 gallons w/ overflows so the co2 gets used up quickly. I certainly can't count my bubble rate, but its probably 10 or so a second, and that's in a home made bubble counter w/ the bubbles coming out of a large (relatively) airline tube.
I still don't understand why 200psi would take months, then the remaining 600 psi takes a couple of weeks. I guess that's the physics of compressed gas. That would fit perfectly w/ a logarithmic scale, so I guess that makes sense.
At 70° the cylinder pressure will be ~800 psi till the liquid CO2 is gone. Then the cylinder pressure will drop rapidly.
So you can sit at 800 psi for a long time. But once that liquid is gone you have very little remaining CO2 in the cylinder. That's why it drops so quick.
It's not a linear gauge like a gas gauge.
So you can sit at 800 psi for a long time. But once that liquid is gone you have very little remaining CO2 in the cylinder. That's why it drops so quick.
It's not a linear gauge like a gas gauge.
If you need see if you got a proper fill, find the tare weight on your cylinder. It's stamped up around the neck somewhere. That weight, plus the weight of the fill should be what you get on a bathroom scale. Tare+ charge weight= total.
24# tare, 10# charge weight= 34# on the scale
Tommy
24# tare, 10# charge weight= 34# on the scale
Tommy
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