Bubble COunter problem

[au_melvin]

Any experience this problem with their CO2 bubble counters whereby...after having the bubble rate at, for example, 2 bubbles/sec....after around a week or so...the rate of bubbling automatically decreases...n even after i opening the valve to try and increase the rate...the bubbling rate still remains constant....when i press the hose...it seems like theres alot of compressed air and water(which has flowed down from tank, since water flows from a higher to a lower point, i off the CO2 at night) in the hose...so i decide to release a little bit of pressure by unscrewing the bubble counter slightly...n its only after that ...the CO2 starts bubbling more 'freely'...y is this so? is it common?

is the water from my tank..supposed to flow from my diffuser down the hose to the bubble counter in the first place?

Tell me whats happening someone!
thanks!

[tawauboy]

what are you using as a co2 diffuser? a reactor, a ceramic disc diffuser, ....? could be some sort of blockage somewhere. try removing whatever that you are using as a diffuser and check the flowrate.

you get co2 bubbling better in the bubble counter when you unscrew the bubble counter slightly due to co2 being 'allowed to leak'. check if the co2 flowrate becomes 'retarded' again if you tighten the bubble counter again.

it is normal for tank water to flow back down the tube towards the co2 cylinder. this is caused by co2 being absorbed into the water.

[au_melvin]

im using a ceramic diffuser.....n the bubble rate only becomes retart after a few days...

[au_melvin]

im using a ceramic diffuser.....n the bubble rate only becomes retard after a few days...
sometimes..the water level in the bubble counter drops as well..is it normal?

[tawauboy]

what kind of regulator are you using? is it a proper regulator or those single gauge 'regulator'? are you using a needle valve?

water level will drop if there is back siphoning; the water travels back down the tube towards the regulator. ime, water level will eventually drop due to evaporation but this takes a very long time.