Need URGENT HELP.

**Donut the Donkey** · 23rd Aug 2015, 18:30

Ive been using the Up Aqua inline CO2 diffuser for over a year now with no issues. This is my third time buying/replacing this piece of equipment as I thought my existing one was all clogged up. The glass co2 bubble counter, instead of losing water and needing a top up of water every now and then, became full of water from the tank that got siphoned down and it's slowly dripping out.

So I changed to a new one yesterday night and today the same thing is happening. No CO2 in the tank and the glass bubble counter is overflowed with water. The CO2 bubble is going out fine though.

Frustrated, I removed the inline diffuser from the canister tubes and inserted a regular CO2 diffuser, the ones where it's straight from the CO2 tank into the aquarium. It looks like water IS STILL slowly but surely filling up my glass bubble counter again. I even removed the black CO2 tubes and replaced that with a new one. CO2 is coming out (as can be seen in the glass bubble counter) but the diffuser is not working after about two hours now.

The only thing I didn't change are the eheim canister tubes as water seems to be going out fast and fine (but it's a non issue now as I'm no longer using an inline diffuser).

I'm using a co2 system with solenoid bought from EOA.
http://www.eastoceansg.com/ans-3l-pr...em-p-1633.html

Can somebody point out what the problem could be? Could it be the solenoid, which is why water is siphoned back down?

**Jimmy** · 23rd Aug 2015, 19:10

Did you install check valve?

**Donut the Donkey** · 23rd Aug 2015, 20:19

No I didn't. Bought it as is from the shop (as from the link). Has been running fine for the past year.

Been monitoring and just checked the glass bubble counter again, the water inside it seems to maintain now and not rising anymore I think. But the co2 diffuser is still not diffusing any bubbles inside the tank. I've not used this diffuser for the past 6 months or so. Does it need time for it to get going again? It's been 4 hours already.

I remember I tried reusing this diffuser some time back, after a few hours didnt work. Went to EOA and the guy there tested it, about 20mins later it was working. He recommended to place it in water first, if it had not been used for a quite.

**BFG** · 25th Aug 2015, 07:58

You need to use the check valve. Everytime the co2 supply is switch off, the pressure from the co2 tank dissipate and when it does, it pull in the water, into the co2 tube. With the use of the check valve, this single equipment let co2 pass but not water due to the size of the opening ( valve ). When water reaches the solenoid, it will damage it.

**Donut the Donkey** · 25th Aug 2015, 20:04

Thanks BFG. Will install one soon.

For now the issue has been resolved. I simply unplugged and disassembled the solenoid from the co2 tank. Opened the glass co2 counter, refixed, retightened and plugged it all back together. Somehow it's back to working condition again nicely.

Kinda weird this never happened over a year of usage, only now if it were due to the check valve. I do have a cheapo plastic version of it that I bought long time ago but never used. Forgot why I didn't and how it looks like. Probably because it was cheap and didn't work properly?

Anyway, care to share what's the best version to get from our LFS'? What to ask for? A picture of one similar to what you're using and where exactly you got them would be great. Appreciate the help!

edit: I Googled 'co2 check valve' and remember how it looks like now. But I'm using a brass bubble counter similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-Brass-.../dp/B009WTMQ3Y

It says it already has an integrated check valve. I think that's why I didn't use as the guy from EOA said I don't have to if I remember correctly. Maybe that's because the brass bubble counter already has one integrated? Currently using this system:

http://www.eastoceansg.com/ans-3l-pr...em-p-1633.html

**aza** · 25th Aug 2015, 21:24

I'm using the same system bro, but with two check valves, one near the outlet end, the other near the solenoid end. You should too just in case.

**Urban Aquaria** · 25th Aug 2015, 21:50

Originally Posted by Donut the Donkey

It says it already has an integrated check valve. I think that's why I didn't use as the guy from EOA said I don't have to if I remember correctly. Maybe that's because the brass bubble counter already has one integrated? Currently using this system:

http://www.eastoceansg.com/ans-3l-pr...em-p-1633.html

The integrated check valve in the bubble counter is situated at the bottom, so it does help prevent tank water from going into the Co2 tank... but it doesn't prevent tank water from getting into your bubble counter itself.

So you do still need to add another check valve inbetween the bubble counter and diffuser.

You can look at getting these brass check valves: http://www.eastoceansg.com/ans-brass...cs-p-1009.html