[markopolo]

so this has happened 3 or 4 times now, my pressurized co2 tubing has just "fallen off" the 1/8 to barb connection coming out of my solenoid. theres a big noise and then all the co2 leaks out, the first time it happened i lost all of my co2 and i realized that i had the wrong sized barb connection a 1/4 connection. So, i bought the new barb for the correct size for the tubing, 1/8" and it came off last night. I know this time it is the right size, im not sure what to do im using gla tubing so i think its legit. help! :icon_cry:

 

[hbosman]

Does the solenoid get very warm? It's possible that the tubing is stretching and coming loose when it gets warm. I am using clippard co2 tubing which is a little stiffer and doesn't come loose.

 

[[email protected]]

Unless you are going to add a clamp to squeeze the tubing in place a barb fitting isn't good for pressurized gas. Buy a small hose clamp at your local hobby shop or hardware store.

 

[EdTheEdge]

Zip ties!

 

[hbosman]

What is your working pressure?

 

[markopolo]

working pressure is above 25 psi ~ 27 or so

yes the solenoid and the barb get extremely warm

what is a hose clamp? something like these?

http://images.google.com/images?cli...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCAQsAQwAA

 

[FSM]

yes, you can probably find tiny ones that will work.

 

[Church]

Hose clamp, definitely. They make them down to very small diameters. Just go to your local hardware store with a sample of your CO2 tubing, and tell them you need a hose clamp for it.

 

[[email protected]]

Zip ties won't do the trick. Unless it is a metal zip tie. You can't torque standard zip ties to withstand the pressure.

A good quality hose clamp is needed. NOT the dollar store garbage.

 

[zzyzx85]

btw, you're working pressure is a bit high. I'm running at 15 psi.

 

[hbosman]

Yeah, my working pressure is closer to 10 psi. And that's with a bubble counter, clippard solenoid and fabco needle valve.

 

[Momotaro]

The temperature of the solenoid shouldn't be an issue. I am set up with solenoids and don't have that issue.

Has this happened several times in a row?

Do you have a check valve installed? Is it installed in the right direction? Could an improperly installed check valve be causing enough back pressure to build up and pop the tubing off of the hose barb?

 

[markopolo]

yes this has happened several times now, i do have a clippard brass check valve installed after the inline fabco, and the arrow on it points towards the inline bubble counter towards the tank. Is this the correct way for it to be in or do i have it in backwards? this would explain so much, like how water gets past it and into the fabco......

 

[Momotaro]

The arrow should follow the flow of CO2 from regulator to aquarium

CO2 -> CO2 -> CO2 ->

You have it installed this way?

 

[markopolo]

yeh the arrow does follow the flow of Co2 to the aquarium

Regulator --- > solenoid --- > fabco ----> check valve > -- inline -- tank
^ arrow points this way

 

[Momotaro]

What kind of needle valve is it?

Can you show a picture of the hose barb the tubing keeps blowing off of?

 

[markopolo]

ok here is a picture of my setup,

first picture is the parker solenoid to a 1/8 inch barb connection thats where the tubing keeps falling off,

i have an inline fabco nv 55 along with a clippard brass check valve, and inline bubble counter,

i tried two other barb sizes besides the 1/8", a 1/4" and a 3/16" both of those were too big for the tubing.

 

[Momotaro]

What type of inline bubble counter are you running?

 

[markopolo]

a gla glass inline bubble counter, i tried putting 2 wire hose clamps over the barb and tubing to see if this works hopefully it does :bounce:

 

[Momotaro]

Not the ideal fix, but I'll cross my fingers for you!