More psi for multiple CO2 Split?

2648 Views 22 Replies 7 Participants Last post by jrman83, May 4, 2014

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · May 2, 2014

so i wanted to know if you have more then one split on a co2 regulator, do you turn up the psi? more splits means more psi needed?

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Seattle_Aquarist

· #2 · May 2, 2014

Hi Bryanmc1988,

I have a single 15# tank and regulator in my office with a 3 way splitter. When I ran just one aquarium on my CO2 system I used 20 PSI secondary pressure. When I started feeding CO2 to a 2nd tank I upped my secondary pressure to 30 PSI. I have a 3rd aquarium that I will be adding CO2 into in the future (currently it has 40 Melanotaenia boesemani “Aytinjo” in it) and I may have to up the pressure one more time.

jrman83

· #3 · May 2, 2014

Are you able to adjust up? I used to run a dual manifold and kept at 30 psi with no issue. I think you'd want more, but it just depends on where you were with just one. You should use a dual manifold with dual needle valves. Trying to do it without that will not work too well.

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 3, 2014 (Edited by Moderator)

my current systems looks like this.....

both has a Parker H2L needle valve connected to a brass link thats then connected to a Clippered monifold+on/off valve which is then connected to the regulator

the question i am having is do i need to higher my psi as i am running 1-20 lb tank for 2 tanks... its currently at 40psi but max i can go is 60psi, so do i need to higher the psi to get a better and more even flow of co2 through the Parker H2L?

from what i can see was it seems as if i run this setup it like one side or the other gets weak from co2 when i open the valves on one side or the other... 1 side is running at 1bps every 1.5 sec and the other side is running 20-30 bps (this is the one connected to a 40B and a 20L tank)

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OVT

· #5 · May 3, 2014

I have a similar set up and 40 psi is plenty to feed both tanks. Use individual valves to achieve the desired flow (bps) for each tank. Don't forget to use check valves on your co2 lines

v3

Seattle_Aquarist

· #6 · May 3, 2014

1 side is running at 1bps every 1.5 sec and the other side is running 20-30 bps (this is the one connected to a 40B and a 20L tank)

Hi Bryanmc1988,

I agree with OVT, 40# PSI should be more than enough. Are you trying to supply three tanks with two needle valves? If so that may be the problem. One needle valve per tank is required to maintain steady flow. I use this one from Greenleaf Aquarium for my three tank configuration.

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AndreyT

· #7 · May 3, 2014

Bryanmc1988 said:
so i wanted to know if you have more then one split on a co2 regulator, do you turn up the psi? more splits means more psi needed?

No, absolutely not.

The pressure is analogous to the voltage in your electric outlets. It is 110V AC (in USA). If you want to plug one light bulb into it, it is 110V. If you want to split the wires and plug two light bulbs into it, it is still 110V - you don't have to increase the voltage. If you want to plug five light bulbs into it, it is still 110V. The outlet will maintain the same voltage for all consumers as long as you are not overloading it.

The same with pressure. Your regulator will maintain the same 40 psi (or 30 psi, or whatever psi you are using) regardless of how many CO2 consumers you add down the line. That's the very purpose of an automatic regulator. Every time you add another CO2 consumer to the output, the regulator will adjust automatically and maintain the same pre-set constant pressure for all consumers.

Note that just like it is possible to overload an electric power source, which will make the voltage drop, it is possible to overload a pressure source, which will make the pressure drop. But as long as you are only two pressure consumers with normal pressure requirements (like CO2 diffusers, restrained by individual valves), you are not even close to overloading your CO2 system.

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Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 3, 2014

its running on 3 tanks with 2 needle valves....

1 needle valve to a 10g tank

1 needle valve to a 40g + 20L (how does this work?) its acting as a sump on the 20L, the 40B has a overflow which drains down to the 20L and from the 20L it then goes into a canister filter and returns back to the 40B

jrman83

· #9 · May 3, 2014

Did you mean 2-3 bps? 20-30 sounds ridiculously high.

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Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 3, 2014

nope its more like 20-30 bps its high but it seems to be the only way to get 25-30ppm in the 40b and 20L and there is no leaks or else my floor would have been wet which it isnt...

Mathman

· #11 · May 3, 2014

Bryanmc1988 said:
nope its more like 20-30 bps its high but it seems to be the only way to get 25-30ppm in the 40b and 20L

How can you count 20-30bps? Did you record your bubble counter with a slow motion camera and replay it. Because that seems like just a stream of airflow and no distinct bubble for the eye to see.

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 3, 2014

2

i;m guessing but it is a line of bubbles tho xD and its weird cause it run for a long time to get the ppm thats stable too... it runs from 1am to 8am so 7 hours of running.... whats the cause of my co2 depleting so fast?

here is the 40B tank

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allabouttheplants

· #13 · May 3, 2014

anytime water tension is broken and exposes more air to the water, the co2 out gasses. with having an overflow you are losing alot of co2 as the water is flowing thru the tubes mixing with the air.

Mathman

· #14 · May 3, 2014

Bryanmc1988 said:
i;m guessing but it is a line of bubbles tho xD and its weird cause it run for a long time to get the ppm thats stable too... it runs from 1am to 8am so 7 hours of running.... whats the cause of my co2 depleting so fast?

here is the 40B tank

I really like the set up of your tank. The large rock on the left breaks the slope you created for the trunk. How does it look with out the rock?

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 3, 2014

allabouttheplants said:
anytime water tension is broken and exposes more air to the water, the co2 out gasses. with having an overflow you are losing alot of co2 as the water is flowing thru the tubes mixing with the air.

so its the overflow thats making me lose all or most of the CO2? or could the high water movement in the water also play a big roll?

Mathman:
well with that big rock u see on the left side... if it was removed its to empty on that side... but in front of the rock are AR mini and in front of the AR are the dowoi which i am waiting on the AR to grow in and will cover half way up the rock with red and half way up the AR will be the downoi. and in the back of the rock will be some regular AR which you can see its growing and will be trim and planted to cover the back of the rock... this way only the upper half of the rock will be showing once everything starts to grow back in...

this will give it more of a slanted V shape slop as the trunk is the main focal point of the tank

Mathman

· #16 · May 3, 2014

^got it!

allabouttheplants

· #17 · May 4, 2014

you can have all the water movement you want as long as the water tension is not broken. it is the same reason you do not put an air stone in a co2 dosed tank. the tension is broken allowing the co2 to escape. the same thing is happening inside your overflow tube. it is designed that way to put as much oxygen in to the water before entering a wet/dry filter, thus making the BB more effective. i have built and tried 10 different designs, to no avail.

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 4, 2014

i hate when you say that lol... so its no overflow and save co2 or waste a put load of co2 with an overflow is what your saying...

jrman83

· #19 · May 4, 2014

You can try sealing the sump. I have heard of others doing this and it helped them. Believe they used plexiglass.

Bryanmc1988

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 4, 2014

well its not a sump... lol its a 20L tank... xD also u cant seal a overflow too as it needs a air hole or it will act as a siphon

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