CO2 schedule ?

[Raul]

finally got the valve nv-55-18 and that thing is sweet, micro turns to control the bubble count and also I added the atomic diffuser and I am impressed with this one just with probably .5~1 bps and I getting a ton of micro bubbles I will definitively recommend this one for sure it will diffuse better and also save on CO2, they also have it inline.

http://greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers/atomic-plus-diffuser-50.html

[Raul]

here is a pic, that ias between .5 ~1 bps.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/raullozano3/IMG_4214.jpg

[Complexity]

Need to get you set up with a rex-style reactor. That way all the CO2 gets diffused into the water with no waste at all.

[Raul]

Well things went down hill with my CO2 inline valve, the hose connected to the barbed fitting coming from the regulator were not able to stand the ~35 psi and during the night I got a big leak, which ended up in a tank dump nice !!! :( no there were no casualties but I think the fabco able to handle the pressure and thanks that I was using a paintball tank it didn't dump a lot of CO2. Still the drop checked was yellow than green in the morning.

So if you are going to run stuff on the low pressure side around ~30 psi you have to be sure you have the right hoses and fittings.

Either way I ended up doing what I didn't wanted, removed the needle valve from the MA957 and installed the fabco nv-55 the way it should, it is better and well less risky.

[Totenkampf]

@vicki - WOW you have been busy! good stuff. i may have to see if i can source a low cost but high quality DS reg setup which would include a continuous duty SOV and a high grade metering valve. i know i can but a concoa brass dual stage, asco 120VAC SOV, and a swagelok SS-SS2 together for about 4 bills but thats not beating people up on pricing.

@raul - you're going baller on us son! high tech here you come! so did you have BOTH needle valves installed when you hade the leak? the downstream side of the pressure regulator should never build to full set point pressure unless the outlet is blocked. if you had both NV installed and the plastic tubing in between then yes that could have been dangerous. on a side note, the milwaukees regs seem to run better at 25-30 PSIG, lower then that and they falter (as told to me by a long time user)

[Raul]

Yes I had both needle valves the one from the MA957 was wide open so the pressure was on the hose since I was restricting the flow with the nv-55, but well now no more MA957 needle valve, been monitoring the whole day and it is more stable now been checking with soap and water mix on the all the connections to see if there is any leak since I had to remove the solenoid and the original NV to set the new one.

[myjohnson]

Did you use teflon tape?

[Raul]

i used great white pipe joint compound for the new fabco.

[Complexity]

I'm glad to hear you didn't suffer any losses! It can take some time to get it all adjusted, but you'll eventually work the kinks out.

[Totenkampf]

you can add the SOV inline anywhere after the regulator and it should work the same. i usually only use teflon tape and it works the best if installed correctly. by correctly i mean dont put any on the first thread of the fitting (it can shred off and clog the small orifice in the SOV or NV) and only use 2.5-3 wraps. pipe dope is good if you dont glob it on and do spread it around evenlyall the way around before you install but its more prone to leak.

[Raul]

for now everything seems leak free, no dumps in the morning and looks all stable, so I am happy now, tank is doing so well and still as a refugium and decided to run the CO2 24/7 untill i can get the controller.

but one thing I notice I had the CO2 paintball tank it is a 24 oz, and prior to my leak, it had already 2.5 weeks runnning and didn't had a drop on the highpressure and I am running like 3 ~4 bps, I am glad it lasts just because it is easier to go and fill it up at sports authority than go to a welding or beverage supply store since there are none close enough.

[Totenkampf]

i didnt know SA would do paintball fills, good to know. they fill the tanks with liquid CO2, thats why they weigh the tank to fill it. as the vapor co2 is used, more liquid offgases (decompresses) to fill the void left by the vapor that you are using. when a liquid decompresses, the vapor will often expand to take up 50x or more volumeof the original liquid and so this causes the pressure in the tank to stay level unitl the liquid is exhausted. when u see the pressure start to drop, you need to plan on a fill soon. the liquid issue is also why the cylinder should be upright so that you dont get this liquid into the valve where it can rapidly expand and/or freeze up the regulator.

[Complexity]

And to continue with what totemkampf just said, when you see the main pressure begin to drop, not only should you start planning to get a refill, but you should actually get the refill. Don't wait for the the pressure to drop all the way. It is the loss of pressure that causes end of tank dumps. So when the pressure begins to drop, the end of tank dump is approaching. CO2 is cheap. So go ahead and get the refill right then to avoid the whole end of tank dump issue altogether.

Personally, because of my schedule, I now have a spare 10lbs cylinder on hand for this reason. That way, when the cylinder I'm using begins to lose pressure, I can just swap out cylinders immediately, and then I have plenty of time to get the empty one refilled.

[Raul]

yep going to get me a spare paintball tank trying to find a 36oz one and have it ready, then when it drops I just replace and go and refill

[gardentank]

I removed my solenoid and run it 24/7 without having to plug it in anywhere. My emperor and diamond tetras have been breeding nonstop since I started running it all the time. I'm assuming that is because the ph stays stable and low around 5.8 to 6.0. Check out my pics they speak for themselves as far as the plants are doing!