SUDDEN DROP in REGULATOR: please help

515 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Greggz, Dec 6, 2016

Tanks!

Discussion Starter · Dec 6, 2016

So, CO2 has been a struggle for us from the start of this tank. We have been trying to put a cerges to it (finding that the GLA inline atomic diffuser gives us too many microbubbles, given the volume of CO2 that we need to use for a 120 with strong lights).

We have a GLA regulator. Tonight, as we were about to hook it up, I noticed that the gauge that indicates tank pressure is almost at zero. Lifting the tank, it doesn't seem possible. The tank is heavy. It's a 5# tank and we've had it a month, running CO2 for between 8-10 hours per day, for about 3 weeks, since 11/17.

The tare weight is 13#, and we are reading (with the regulator on) that it weighs 16#. We are guessing that the regulator weighs 1# or maybe 2#? So, shouldn't the tank be at least 1/5 full? What might give a false reading on the tank psi gauge?

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Immortal1

· #2 · Dec 6, 2016

Sorry to say this, I was running a 5# tank on my setup (40g and 75g) and the 5# tank lasted about a month. I finally went with a 10# tank and it is still going since it was filled in early August. Does not make sense to me that it is still going. I guess I was also suprised the 5# only lasted a month.
I guess what I am saying is your tank very likely is empty. Do you switch tanks or does your supplier refill your tank?

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Tanks!

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 6, 2016

I turn them in: exchange. It's a hike. Guess my tank will be without CO2 tomorrow night. :-(

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Greggz

· #4 · Dec 6, 2016 (Edited)

Immortal1 said:
Sorry to say this, I was running a 5# tank on my setup (40g and 75g) and the 5# tank lasted about a month. I finally went with a 10# tank and it is still going since it was filled in early August. Does not make sense to me that it is still going. I guess I was also suprised the 5# only lasted a month.
I guess what I am saying is your tank very likely is empty. Do you switch tanks or does your supplier refill your tank?

Immortal1 that is interesting you are getting so much more out of the 10# vs the 5#. Doesn't make sense but little about this hobby does!

As another reference for you Tanks!, I go through a 10# tank about every 4 months. My tank (120G) is the same size as yours, and I run a pretty strong flow of co2, creating a 1.1 ph drop for 10 hours a day.

Going through a 5# tank in three weeks seems awfully quick. Maybe you have a leak somewhere? I would check all of the fittings just to be sure. And you used the perma-seal? Regulator on tight?

In any event, I really recommend getting a second tank. I know it's not cheap, but I keep a spare tank full all the time. I just changed mine last week the day before I was going out of town. If I didn't have the spare, might not have been pretty. I went without co2 once for about three days and all manners of algae emerged out of nowhere.

I'll get the empty tank filled this week, and it will be ready to go the next time I run out. Peace of mind is worth it to me.

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