Help on CO2 regulator reading

[Leif Yong]

Hi gurus,

How to read the 2 gauges on the CO2 regulator? As per my photo attached, does it mean that my CO2 is running low i have to refill now? what is the meaning between this 2 gauge? When should i refil my CO2?

Thanks.

[Urban Aquaria]

Left gauge is usually the total Co2 tank pressure, while the right gauge is usually the set working pressure.

In this case, it looks like your Co2 tank is almost empty.

[Leif Yong]

Ic....
That's mean my CO2 consume damn fast less than 10days to finish 3L cylinder.
Hi gurus, do you know where to refill CO2 instantly? Any recomendation?

Thanks in advance.

[Urban Aquaria]

Ic....
That's mean my CO2 consume damn fast less than 10days to finish 3L cylinder.
Hi gurus, do you know where to refill CO2 instantly? Any recomendation?

Thanks in advance.

It shouldn't be emptied that fast (unless you had it running 24/7 and at super crazy high injection rates)... maybe you should check if there are any leaks in the connections or valves.

Btw, what was the initial PSI reading on the main gauge 10 days ago? If it was below 900 PSI, then that means the Co2 is in gas form and already close to being depleted.

You can re-fill Co2 tanks on the spot at places like Bioplast (Blk 22 Boon Keng Road, #01-23).

[Leif Yong]

If i am not wrong . I remembered it was 1000psi when i 1st bought.

Thanks for your info urban aquaria. :-)

[Shadow]

Assuming it was full initially, 3L finished in 10 days is way to fast. Did you do soap bubble test for leaakage during installation?

[stressed]

Either you have a faulty gauge or you have a faulty setup

[Leif Yong]

Ic....
i didn't check the leakgae cuz i bought 2nd hand from the fish farm. Really didn't check the stuff carefully. Can the shop help me to check the leaking when i refill CO2?

[seudzar]

The shop can check for you but you can do your own test also, just apply some soapy water at the joints to see any bubbling. If there is, it means it's leaking. If it takes 10 days to deplete a 3L tank. It should be a micro leak.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, there are a few sections of the Co2 system that have connections with o-ring seals, those are usually the areas which may encounter leaks (ie. due to worn out, faulty or mis-aligned seals), so you have to check those sections.

[Leif Yong]

1427209030288-2116228971.jpg1427209106033-649724597.jpg
Hi gurus,

I have done my soap water test i realised all the connection points are leak. What is the best solution to resolve it? Try to minimize the connection joints? Use continueal duct instead of lotsa connection? Or any other good connector to recommend?

Thanks.

[Urban Aquaria]

1427209030288-2116228971.jpg1427209106033-649724597.jpg
Hi gurus,

I have done my soap water test i realised all the connection points are leak. What is the best solution to resolve it? Try to minimize the connection joints? Use continueal duct instead of lotsa connection? Or any other good connector to recommend?

Thanks.

Most likely those connectors are old or worn out so have to replace with new ones. It's also better to reduce the number of connectors (no need the L-angle one) and the connector with adjustment knob is not as accurate as a needle valve to tune bps.

Also check that the tubing you are using are the rigid Co2 resistant ones, not the soft silicone ones designed for low-pressure air pumps... that can result in loose connections and leaks out of the soft porous tubing material itself.

[Leif Yong]

Thanks urban aquaria will buy a new set tmr :-)

[Leif Yong]

Yes. My tubing is those soft silicon type not the one you mentioned rigid co2 tube. I will look for a new one tmr. Thanks.

[BlessChwee]

My 2 ltr co2 tank also finished less than 2 mths despite only 2-3 bps and on only during lights on and I also did not do any leakage test so far. I asked Y618 and they say whenever the tank is sent for top up, they will check it so is it true ?

Also I always face problem with my diffuser as the tube always pop out after a while so is it my diffuser is block or the pressure is not strong enough to send the co2 through as i am using the normal white soft tubes.

[Urban Aquaria]

My 2 ltr co2 tank also finished less than 2 mths despite only 2-3 bps and on only during lights on and I also did not do any leakage test so far. I asked Y618 and they say whenever the tank is sent for top up, they will check it so is it true ?

Also I always face problem with my diffuser as the tube always pop out after a while so is it my diffuser is block or the pressure is not strong enough to send the co2 through as i am using the normal white soft tubes.

You should change to Co2 resistent tubing... the soft type air line tubing are not designed for Co2 gas under pressure (even if the pressure is lower, its still way higher than air pumps).

When you use the soft tubing, what happens is alot of the Co2 gas actuallly leaks out of the expanding soft tubing wall material itself, up to 20-30% of Co2 can be lost in this way.

In addition, the soft tubing does not secure into connections as tightly, so even more Co2 leaks from those connections. Thats why you see the soft tubing popping out when the pressure builds up in the diffuser.

For your 2L Co2 tank volume and 2-3 bps rate and assuming 8 hours of injection a day, it should be lasting for at least around 6-7 months or more (not just 2 months).

Switch to proper Co2 resistant tubing, they will not pop out of connections and you will save alot of Co2 and reduce the frequent gas top-ups.

[Shadow]

I asked Y618 and they say whenever the tank is sent for top up, they will check it so is it true ?

Yes they are checking but only the main valve. They did not check the regulator connection nor the hose connection. It is recommended to do soap bubble check every time you install the regulator.