[Ashok]

My clippard solenoid failed (doesn't shut off even when unplugged) 3 weeks ago . I continued running the setup with the solenoid valve inline (with the leak) for a while until recently when I found a leak near the bubble counter.

Will running a CO2 system without the solenoid valve shut off put undue stress on the components? I am wondering if running it 24hrs a day (less than a bubble a second) could have caused the leak.

I don't see why that would be a problem, but I'm not sure.

I'm thinking of running the system without a solenoid valve but not if it is going to cause problems.

The regulator is a dual stage victor and the needle valve seems to be of good quality too, not sure of the make.

Edit: fixed a bubble a minute to a bubble a second lol

 

[fresh.salty]

I don't think it really cares if it's on 24/7 or not.

 

[JasonG75]

if you want the ability, once you have it DIALED in bps, to have it on a timer so that it will shut off at night THEN yes it is required.

The other option is to closed the valve MANUALLY and when you reopen DIAL in the bps once again.

 

[2in10]

I doubt the solenoid failure caused your leak. You might have a problem with gassing your animals at night if you need to increase your CO2 flow without a functioning solenoid.

 

[jhunt]

I've always run my CO2 24 hours a day, lots of people do. The only negative effect is going through gas faster.

 

[fresh.salty]

Did I read "less than a bubble per minute" right? I doubt you could ever gas the fish at that rate regardless. Any leak would use more CO2 than that. lol

 

[Ashok]

Did I read "less than a bubble per minute" right? I doubt you could ever gas the fish at that rate regardless. Any leak would use more CO2 than that. lol

Haha, I made the same mistake twice. I mean a bubble a second. A bubble a minute would probably last me the 10lb tank for a full decade.

I guess I'll give it a shot without the solenoid and see what happens.

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[OverStocked]

running without the solenoid has ZERO impact on the "system". The danger is in gassing the fish at night. A low bps will prob not risk that at all, but those of us that ran at high levels during the day would be in trouble at night.

Some evidence, if not anecdotal, shows great results from running 24/7 as opposed to day only.

 

[hbosman]

Unless you have a small aquarium, 1 bps should be fairly safe at 24/7. Just make sure you have surface ripple to allow for sufficient O2.

 

[150EH]

I turn mine on everyday and get the bps close enough so it's a little different every day. It won't hurt anything.

 

[Ashok]

Thanks all for the info, I feel much better about running it 24/7.

I do have good filtration with a bio wheel filter so I think the oxygen levels will be acceptable for the fish.

 

[shrimpNewbie]

I've always run my CO2 24 hours a day, lots of people do. The only negative effect is going through gas faster.

Plants also give off co2 at night and use o2, easy to gas your fish at night unless there is plenty of surface agitation, not saying you can't do it but that isn't the only drawback.

 

[btimmer92]

If you want to shut it off manually at night, all you have to do is have a large welding flow valve (the kind that come factory assembled on commercial regs) in addition to your actual needle valve. You can use that to shut it off.

 

[oldpunk78]

just run an air stone at night if you're worried about gassing your fish. It'll also clean up surface scum...