CO2 leaks

**plumboy21** · 9th Oct 2006, 14:45

Recently I upgraded to CO2 cylinder system. Can anyone advise how long will a 2L cylinder last if turns on for 8 hours a day? Coz mine only last barely 2 weeks

I heard it should last longer than that. I hv send the cylinder for top-up plus inspection for leakage. I heard that regulator can also leaks & we can use soap water? How do I do that?

Thnx man.

**kemp** · 9th Oct 2006, 15:10

hi,
you could refer to the following thread for some diagnostic tests

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ight=co2+leaks

**mtanec** · 9th Oct 2006, 17:53

2L shld last more than 2 weeks.. unless you running at full blast, say 100 bubbles per second (impossible right?)..

so you may want to check for leaks...

**plumboy21** · 9th Oct 2006, 23:18

Originally Posted by kemp

hi,
you could refer to the following thread for some diagnostic tests

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ight=co2+leaks

Yep, i did read that link, but not sure how U add soap water on the regulator, when it's already connected to the cylinder?

Or U meant to say, pour soap water onto the regulator or submerge the regulator (probably with part of the cylinder as well)? In this case, if regulator leaks, can it be repair? what abt solenoid?

**kemp** · 10th Oct 2006, 08:51

you'll just need to apply the soap solution onto the regulator. If there's leaks, you'll see bubbles foaming

**yappeyap** · 10th Oct 2006, 09:01

Hi,

Dun worry too much mate, it might just be another leaks somewhere along the tubings or even valves....Give it a foam bath

Check if it leaks before you move on to the tank portion...

Cheers!

**aquatic plant enthusiast** · 10th Oct 2006, 11:14

Hi. Just mix some dishwashing liquid with some water and apply the stirred soapy solution with a small paint brush on all the external joints. Any Co2 leaks will be visible as bubbles over the spot. You can also perform this test:- 1)switch off the solenoid and close fully the tubing mini valve. 2)open and then fully close the cylinder main valve. 3)Note down the pressures registered, leave overnight and 4)then take note of the pressure readings again tne next day. If there is a drop in the new readings then your regulator is probably leaking. Hope this can help.
Cheers!

**plumboy21** · 10th Oct 2006, 17:20

Originally Posted by aquatic plant enthusiast

Hi. Just mix some dishwashing liquid with some water and apply the stirred soapy solution with a small paint brush on all the external joints. Any Co2 leaks will be visible as bubbles over the spot. You can also perform this test:- 1)switch off the solenoid and close fully the tubing mini valve. 2)open and then fully close the cylinder main valve. 3)Note down the pressures registered, leave overnight and 4)then take note of the pressure readings again tne next day. If there is a drop in the new readings then your regulator is probably leaking. Hope this can help.
Cheers!

hi, if i open and then fully close the cylinder main valve, wouldn't the pressure goes down quite fast instead of overnight? Or are U implying there will be co2 trapped between the cylinder & regulator, which both cylinder & mini valves closed (now what am i talking

). Any possibilities of repairing regulator?

**aquatic plant enthusiast** · 10th Oct 2006, 19:30

Yes there is CO2 gas trapped inside the regulator portion between the cylinder and the tubing mini valve if the latter/or solenoid valve and cylinder main valve are closed following the suggested test procedure. Perhaps, you can use teflon white tape to wrap round any leaky joints before tightening these joints again and then testing for leaks again to ensure the bubbles are no longer visible. However, would suggest you send the leaky regulator back to vendor if it's under warranty and not to attempt to repair it, otherwise the warranty is void. Just my two cents worth of ideas. Cheers!

**lyh** · 10th Oct 2006, 22:24

You can try the off valve method. If not wrong it might be dirt stuck at the area which prevents Co2 from leaving the solenoid when it is off. This happened to me twice.

**plumboy21** · 10th Oct 2006, 23:59

I tried the soap water method & there seems to be bubbles from the regulator thread area, so it's a leakage? Actually, when i bought it from someone here, there is already hissing sound when i on the solenoid. I thought it was just normal. No warranty definitely

That mean i have to spend a bomb to get another regulator with solenoid?

**PeterGwee** · 11th Oct 2006, 00:08

Originally Posted by plumboy21

I tried the soap water method & there seems to be bubbles from the regulator thread area, so it's a leakage? Actually, when i bought it from someone here, there is already hissing sound when i on the solenoid. I thought it was just normal. No warranty definitely

That mean i have to spend a bomb to get another regulator with solenoid?

All you need might just be an O-ring replacement or proper taping of the threaded areas depending on where exactly the threaded area you mentioned is. Is it the area that is attached to the CO2 tank, the solenoid valve to regulator point or the solenoid valve point to the needle valve? If you are not confident of troubleshooting it, just bring it to Nature Aquarium and look for Mr Chan to do it for you at a certain fee.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**plumboy21** · 11th Oct 2006, 00:52

Leakage at arrow pointed area - thread between the regulator & the round part.

**PeterGwee** · 11th Oct 2006, 22:57

Originally Posted by plumboy21

Leakage at arrow pointed area - thread between the regulator & the round part.

You can unscrew the pressure gauge portion and wrap some teflon tape around the screw threads to seal the leak if the threads are not badly damaged. Should be a pretty straight forward fix imo. If you are uneasy about doing it yourself, just bring it down to Nature Aquarium for Chan to do the work at a nominal fee.

(Make sure you remove the regulator from the CO2 tank first before attempting to repair anything. Also remember to shut the tank supply off first before you remove the regulator and only do it after you release the remaining CO2 gas in the regulator via the needle valve opening. Its sort of a dummy guide...just in case.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

**plumboy21** · 12th Oct 2006, 00:08

I tried earlier, using just my hand. It's really hard to unscrew the regulator

. I will try again with a spanner tomorrow. Thanks for the detailed info.

**taz_boy** · 12th Oct 2006, 00:49

i got the similar problem last time as u...but maybe not as bad...u need 2 x big spanner. 1 for the top portion, the other for the bottom, clamp tightly and turn in opposite direction. guess u need 2 person to do that...as mentioned, apply some white tape and case should be closed.

**mtanec** · 12th Oct 2006, 10:45

also standby some teflon tape.. it will help to seal up any gap to prevent leaking.. teflon tape is easily available in any hardware store at lesser than $1 per roll..

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