I have recently set up CO 2 system for my 1 ft tank, and my friend told me i should set it to 5 seconds per bubble as 1 ft is too small for anything more than that, can anyone please advise?
I have tried to set it to 5 seconds per bubble but i found the bubble rate is not constant, sometimes it will come in 5 seconds, but sometimes 1 bps. How to make it constant and what exactly is the problem? I guess it is the problem with the regulator?
What is check valve and needle valve? Not sure if i need that.
My CO2 set up: CO2 Cylinder -> Manual Regulator -> Bubble counter -> Difuser then to tank.
Please help, very new to this.
Thank you.
Needle valve is part of the regulator. Used to control the flowrate.
Check valve is a one way valve used so that the water don't back-up into the regulator and tank. This is necessary. Place it between the regulator and bubble counter and maybe one more after the counter.
Check if the tank is fully open. If the flowrate is still inconsistant, there might be a problem with the regulator.
Usually manual regulator does not come with needle valve. With manual regulator is it common to have unstable CO2 output. Try taking some photo of your CO2 setup, that way it is easier to comment.
By the way put at least 2 check valve. Most of check valve I tried does not prevent water to flow back 100%
Thank you for the reply, later after work will go to get 2 check valves, and perhaps a needle valve that might help to have stable output? Hope they won't cause my wallet a big hole, the tank already caused me a bomb, although it is a second hand cylinder.
What would you suggest for the output rate? Is it ok to make it 1 bps for a 33L X 30B X 30H tank?
Thanks again.
Honestly bubble per second does not tell the concentration of CO2 dissolved in water. If you have some test kit, you might want measure and set it to get 25-30ppm. The dissolving rate is depend on your reactor or diffusior efficiency. By the way how do you dose your CO2 to the water tank?
If you do not have any test kit, you can slowly increase the CO2, maybe increase by 1 bubble per day, until you see your fish gasping for air and then decrease it by 1 bubble down.
Hi Shadow, thanks for replying. How do i dose CO2? I am using a CO2 cylinder, manual regulator, a bubble counter and a diffusor, have i asnwered the question?
I do not have any fish in my tank, only 20 plus cherry shrimps and a baby lamp eye. Started introduce CO2 to my tank last night, was trying to make like, 5 seconds per bubble, the fish doesnt seem gasping for air.
But 1 thing i found strange is all shrimps disappeared, they were hiding, normally they will gather together around the food. I am not sure if i am thinking too much or really something is not right.
Guess the best thing to do now is to get a test kit for CO2, like you said bubble doesn't tell.
Thanks.
Bubble per second are just a gauge for you to tweak your co2. I had a 1foot tank with high light and mines is like 2-3 bps and its still not enough.
sorry miss your previous post, you are using diffusor.
Is your shrimps still actively moving around or stay at the same place for long periode of time?
Bro your diffusor or reactor, what ever you used, must be very in efficientOriginally Posted by vurbul
. I put only 1 to 1.5 bps for 2'x1'x1.2' tank with external reactor.
This morning when i checked on my shrimps, there was a little activities. It worries me when i think of my 2 pregnant cherry mommies.
So you are suggesting to get an external reactor eh?
No I'm not sugesting anything. You can put your diffuser infront of your filter outlet (assuming you are not using HOB filter), that way the CO2 buble will be caried by the flow. People called it misting.
Little activity? something might be wrong with your water. My shrimps always actively moving around grooming my moss.
Last edited by Shadow; 14th Sep 2007 at 19:42.
Shadow,
I'm using a diffusor and placed near where the water flows from the filter outlet. Bubbles got flown everywhere. Diffusor cleaned every week to prevent clogging from algae. And yet BBA still appears. And dosing EI too.
Maybe my light too strong. Its a 24watt PL over a 1foot cube. I have changed to a 13 watt PL and hope my algae problem will be gone.
Algae will be another new thing to me, i am using only a 9 watt PL, hope that is ok.
Still trying to rectify the inconsistant flow rate of CO2. Will visit LFS to get 2 check valves and a needle valve perhaps, hope that will help.
Have a great weekends all.
5 bps is to much for a 1 feet tank. 1 bps is all you need.use a diffuser and check the water flow so that the co2 can mix evenly to every corner of your tank.
Adding a needle valve will not aid the consistency of your CO2.
The pressure off the main valve is >1000 PSI, too much for the regulator to work with.
Many solenoid will reduce the pressure to <100 PSI and then fine tune by needle. thus the consistency.
The main problem with manual regulators are the lack of the step-down, not the needle valve. Therefore, with the additional needle valve, you still wont have constant flow.
Maybe can invest in a solenoid. If I remember correctly, NA does have a manual regulator that step-down the pressure. Maybe you can call and check with them.
Hope this helps.
My problem still persist even after i've added in 2 check valves, and a needle valve, i set the CO2 to 5 seconds per bubble but it couldn't last, next morning you will find the CO2 stopped completely.
i supposed it is like what evolim83 stated above, i need a manual regulator that step-down the pressure or a solenoid.
ast21: Thank you for your advised. I have tried to set it to 5 seconds per bubble, as i thought anything more than that is no good, now you have given me the idea that even 3 bps or 1 bps is ok. By the way, i have bought this Sera CO2 tester/indicator that i will mix with tank water and insert into tank, wondering how good/accurate is the tester/indicator.
evolim83: You have pointed out the most headache part of my problem, i will call NA to check with them for the regulator that step down pressure, again, i hope it won't cost me a bomb, will update you.
Thank you.
a regulator will reduce co2 cylinder pressure; from ~1000+ psi to ~30 psi. such regulators usually have 2 gauges to show both cylinder pressure as well as working pressure. some regulators allows you to adjust the working pressure.
a needle valve will control co2 flow rate or bubble per second.
both regulator and needle valve are required for precise control of co2 flowrate.
and there are no such things as manual regulators or automatic regulators.
the so called manual regulators are nothing more than a throttle valve. these do not regulate output co2 pressure. the output pressure will vary with how much the valve has opened.
a solenoid is used with a solenoid valve to turn on or turn off co2 flow. the solenoid is usually powered from ac supply but dc solenoids are available as well.
thomas liew
Actually bought the 2nd hand CO2 cylinder from WU HU in Tiong Bahru, after telling them of my problem, they have actually changed me another manual regulator unconditionally, not a new one but functioning well.
I guess i will settle down for less at this moment, will go advance mode, i.e. the Solenoid regulator when my plants are stable.
tawauboy: Thank you for your message, it is very informative, well noted. By the way, are you from Tawau? Because i am from KK.
Thank you all.
you should not wait.
get a proper co2 setup so that your co2 injection will be stable.
plants will grow better.
yes. my hometown is tawau. nice to see another sabahan here.
thomas liew
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