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not quite sure now what the pressure was but i tried a plastic valve also and it did the same thing should i wrap any tape around the tank fitting i do not thing it was leaking there says to just hand tighten
Pressurized CO2...Just thought I'd share.
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I would check the working pressure as well as affix the airline tubing in a more secure manner to the check valve.
For the 'tank fitting', are you talking about the regulator body attachment to the CO2 cylinder? There is no need for any teflon tape at this junction, as the crushable nylon washer provides all the seal that is required
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okay great info thanks i am going to try using regular air line tubbing possibly the tubing they sent with the kit is very soft and pliable and maybey it is getting squished in someway when it is screwed on to the check valve also what should i be looking for in pressure amount and how much do i open the gas container and needle valve thanks for any help
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Regular airline tubing will also work.
Working pressure can be anywhere from 5 PSI to 50 PSI, depending on what your needs are. For example, an inline diffuser will require higher working pressures.
The CO2 cylinder should be open at least 1.5 full turns (really just an arbitrary amount; you just want to be sure that it's fully open).
For the needle valve, please see my above response.
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190 Posts
Thank you for this post I'm now searching for a regulator and finding some that fit in with this guideline. What do you think about this Victor® Model VTS253D-320 Medium Capacity Carbon Dioxide Two Stage Regulator, CGA-320 listed on Ebay as a single stage, but here is says different: Airgas - VIC0781-3575 - Victor® Model VTS253D-320 Medium Capacity Carbon Dioxide Two Stage Regulator, CGA-320
I ask because this is pretty high at ~$100 for my first CO2 build.
Brian
I ask because this is pretty high at ~$100 for my first CO2 build.
Brian
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If it indeed is a VTS253, then it is a dual stage regulator.
It will be fine, albeit bulky, as a regulator.
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190 Posts
Thank you @Darkblade.
This and another Victor are selling for $100 which doesn't seem cheap to me. Perhaps you already posted what we should budget we should be looking for for these pieces. Being totally new to CO2 I don't know what retail is for something like I'm piecing together?
Brian
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12,228 Posts
$100 is fairly cheap for a dual stage regulator. Unfortunately, the demand for such equipment has gone up in recent years, so the price has also increased.
I remember a time when dual stage regulators were around $50. However, do keep in mind that brand new, these are typically 3-400 dollar regulators.
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190 Posts
Thanks, I really appreciate your help.
My budget is crazy low, as I live on a fixed income. I suppose I can buy one piece at a time over a period of months while I plan the upgrade of our 50 gallon planted tank this Winter0
. I see regulators by Ista and Azoo being sold used on ebay, which I am guessing is because people buy cheap and get poor results and make the move to quality. I certainly don't want to start my CO2 experience with disappointment :nerd:
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Yes, of course, if you are on a budget, you can slowly accumulate the parts that you need.Thanks, I really appreciate your help.
My budget is crazy low, as I live on a fixed income. I suppose I can buy one piece at a time over a period of months while I plan the upgrade of our 50 gallon planted tank this Winter0
I have not had any personal experience with Ista nor Azoo, but others have, and the reviews tend to be mixed (so you will have to do your own research and form your own opinions!)
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190 Posts
Thanks,I'm researching regulators still . Here is one newbie observation. A lot of what I am seeing considering most price ranges and your early recommendations; Single stage regulators: Cornelius, Micromatic, Victor as well as; Dual stage regulators: Concoa, Matheson and Victor, most have horizontal bottle mounts and this makes no sense to an old - old -school welder. I don't want sideways gauges! What's up with this?
I've gone back to looking at the single stage regulators for cost savings.
Brian
I've gone back to looking at the single stage regulators for cost savings.
Brian
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I'm not sure what you mean by horizontal bottle mounts/sideways gauges. The gauges can be rotated, as they are simply threaded into the regulator body. Unless you are referring to the text not being parallel to the ground?
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190 Posts
Yes the gauges text position. My acetylene tank has a horizontal mount which makes its gauges sit correctly, whereas the oxygen bottle has a vertical upwards facing connector and its regulator and gauges fit on top. I hope that made sense.
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I'm not quite sure what you are referring to; here is an example of a CO2 system I set up a few years back.
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The next is readable, albeit not precisely parallel with the floor. However, once you set it, there's not much you need to do; unlike welding, you don't need to constantly read the pressure.
The next is readable, albeit not precisely parallel with the floor. However, once you set it, there's not much you need to do; unlike welding, you don't need to constantly read the pressure.
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190 Posts
Thanks @Darkblade, I was wrong on two things I said; The Acetylene is the vertical tap and that is the regulator that is sitting at 90°.
That regulator you posted looks great and the angle of inclination of the gauge is fine.
I must be making a mountain out of a molehill again.
Sorry to be a nuisance early on.
Brian
That regulator you posted looks great and the angle of inclination of the gauge is fine.
I must be making a mountain out of a molehill again.
Sorry to be a nuisance early on.
Brian
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Nice thread. Is it okay to save or follow your thread? I am new in this hobby and planning to do a planted tank. But, i need to enhance my idea before setting up and I need this kind of help, well detailed information, from experience person. Btw, I signed up because I read your forum. 😬
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Alternative Regulators
Well, this is quite the informative thread! Thanks to all that have contributed so far. I was wondering if a flowmeter-style regulator would work for this operation and possibly get rid of the bubble counter? Here is a link to a short article comparing three different styles:
https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Expert-Advice/tech-tips/controlling-gas-flow.aspx
Thoughts?
Well, this is quite the informative thread! Thanks to all that have contributed so far. I was wondering if a flowmeter-style regulator would work for this operation and possibly get rid of the bubble counter? Here is a link to a short article comparing three different styles:
https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Expert-Advice/tech-tips/controlling-gas-flow.aspx
Thoughts?
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Flowmeters can work, but generally only on larger aquariums. This is because for larger aquariums, the volume of CO2 that must be injected is quite large, making a traditional bubble counter (and counting bubbles), a bit meaningless, since you will be injecting gas so fast anyway.
Well you would have a problem with that one.
It's measuring SCFH, or standard cubic feet per hour. 1 SCFH = 472 cc/min. Most of us are injecting somewhere between 20 and 80 cc/min into a planted tank.
That is why the Dwyer flow meters are useful to us. In relative terms, we are measuring a VERY small amount of flow. Most meters simply can't measure our small amounts.
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