NA External Reactor

[cherabin]

Have a query for users of the above product. Just purchased the external reactor from Chan and hooked it up to my 2226, had been running for about a week now.

However i realised that after the solenoid is on, the tube that is connect to the reactor still retains water to just before the check valve. In this manner, would the injected CO2 be dissolved efficeintly?

CO2 rate is set to about 1 bps, injected into my 4ft with ferns, moss and anubias.

All help deeply appreciated.

[PeterGwee]

You have a leak somewhere before the tubing. Check the connections.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[tawauboy]

when the setup is operating correctly, co2 should be bubbling into the main chamber.

[cherabin]

[quote:a8f1936c21="PeterGwee"]You have a leak somewhere before the tubing. Check the connections.

Regards
Peter Gwee [/quote:a8f1936c21]

I did a check earlier on by connecting my CO2 to a flipper and can instantaneously observe CO2 bubbles being injected into the flipper. Hence doubt there's any leak.

[quote:a8f1936c21="tawauboy"]when the setup is operating correctly, co2 should be bubbling into the main chamber.[/quote:a8f1936c21]

I reckon i should have set up the set correctly. However can only see CO2 bubbling into the main chamber when the bps is set at a very high rate (uncountable and bubbling can be heard in the counter). Really at a lost of what to do next

[juggler]

If the water pressure is forcing its way to the check valve, I believe your check-valve may not be working properly. You can test for leaks by soaking that part in water when CO2 is being injected. Try another one.

Another clue to the leaky check-valve is your CO2 output works fine on the flipper because there's no back pressure unlike the reactor. And you have to increase CO2 bubble rate for the reactor.

I may be wrong -- but worth a check.

[cherabin]

[quote:753db118df="juggler"]If the water pressure is forcing its way to the check valve, I believe your check-valve may not be working properly. You can test for leaks by soaking that part in water when CO2 is being injected. Try another one.

Another clue to the leaky check-valve is your CO2 output works fine on the flipper because there's no back pressure unlike the reactor. And you have to increase CO2 bubble rate for the reactor.

I may be wrong -- but worth a check. [/quote:753db118df]

Just went to purchase new check valves late last night from Polyart. Did a change and the problem still occurs, i will most probably give NA a call and if worst comes to worst, bring it back to the shop.

[vinz]

To clarify what your description:
Which side of the check valve is the water, the solenoid side or the reactor side?
Where is the water from, your bubble counter?
Is your bubble counter set up properly?

Can you show us a schematic of your setup? Like below:

Solenoid---->Check valve---->BubbleCounter---->Check valve---->External Reactor

[PeterGwee]

[quote:f8f664faa8="cherabin"]I did a check earlier on by connecting my CO2 to a flipper and can instantaneously observe CO2 bubbles being injected into the flipper. Hence doubt there's any leak. [/quote:f8f664faa8]

A flipper does not exert back-pressure to the CO2 supply line but your current reactor setup does. Try using soapy water and check all the joints for the CO2 connections. (output from regulator, bubble counter connection points and the reactor conneciton point.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

[cherabin]

[quote:1283cc9bd7="vinz"]To clarify what your description:
Which side of the check valve is the water, the solenoid side or the reactor side?
Where is the water from, your bubble counter?
Is your bubble counter set up properly?

Can you show us a schematic of your setup? Like below:

Solenoid---->Check valve---->BubbleCounter---->Check valve---->External Reactor[/quote:1283cc9bd7]


Solenoid---->Check valve---->BubbleCounter---->Check valve--water found here-->External Reactor

I called Chan earlier and he mentioned it's perfectly normal that water flows into the above tubing when CO2 is not on. However, even after 1-2hrs into my photoperiod, the water retention is still there.

[liuhao]

i am a bit confused. i am using the same NA external co2 reactor with solenoid and 2028. basically exactly same as your setup.

you are mentioning while co2 is injecting into reactor, there is still water inside the tube (between reactor and check valve). how could this be possible? if there is any water, the co2 gas will push it back to reactor right? how could the water remain inside tube while co2 is passing though? is your co2 passing through btw?

btw my tube has no water when co2 is passing through.

[cherabin]

Many thanks to all who offered help. I skipped the whole bubble counter thing and connected the CO2 tube straight from the regulator to the reactor (with a single check valve in between).

There's a tiny bit of water found at the usual place but it is slowly being pushed towards to the reactor. Seems that it should be working fine now.

Any recommendations for a reliable bubble counter and the shop to purchase it? Apparently, i always have bad experience with those cheap bubble counters.

To bro Liuhao: it's possible as in my case, the bubble counter seems to be the culprit.

[wf7850]

[quote:7ba3cd0d60="cherabin"]Any recommendations for a reliable bubble counter and the shop to purchase it? Apparently, i always have bad experience with those cheap bubble counters.[/quote:7ba3cd0d60]
try tis type which is a bubble counter cum check valve... good, reliable n best of all, looks cool... shld be ard $10 ~ $12. available in most LFS.

[liuhao]

are you using the green cap plastic bubble counter?

i got that one too but my first one, second one, and third one all leaking. had to go back to NA to replace thrice. the fourth time, i was really tired and replaced it with JBJ bubble counter. also plastic but grey cap. this one works fine.

[cherabin]

[quote:d424cc2118="liuhao"]are you using the green cap plastic bubble counter?

i got that one too but my first one, second one, and third one all leaking. had to go back to NA to replace thrice. the fourth time, i was really tired and replaced it with JBJ bubble counter. also plastic but grey cap. this one works fine.[/quote:d424cc2118]

Spot on man. Bought the same one as you mentioned from NA, seems that there ought to be better QC for the product then. Just gotten a Dennerle bubble counter from a pal and the reactor is working beautifully now.

Once again, many thanks to all.

[liuhao]

go to NA you will see there is a long line of green cap bubble counters hanging on the moss tank wall. Chan re-seals all the returned leaking ones and hangs them there and wait them to dry. hehz.