Bubble Counter

[chua]

Hi all,

Me don't know why the level of my bubble counter drops so quickly. In 1 week, it drops by 30-40%.

There are no leaking in the bubble counter and it is not under direct sunlight.

The reactor i am using is those with five plastic balls spinning.

What can be the reason and the ways of solving it.

Thks.

[gchoo]

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On 8/25/2003 4:08:35 PM

Hi all,

Me don't know why the level of my bubble counter drops so quickly. In 1 week, it drops by 30-40%.

There are no leaking in the bubble counter and it is not under direct sunlight.

The reactor i am using is those with five plastic balls spinning.

What can be the reason and the ways of solving it.

Thks.
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Maybe its due to your co2 tank not opened fully. Dunno need more info. Anyway, if your using reactor, dun really need a bubble counter. (tilt the reactor upside down and you can use it also as a bubble counter) Coz eventually the co2 will still be trapped in it... You'll oni require it if your using a diffuser.

[juggler]

gchoo: By inverting the reactor, any problems with the CO2 bubbles being "blown" out of the water without dissolving?

[vinz]

Juggler,

It can work if you swap the input and output.

[bclee]

Water flows in from the top and exit the bottom. The CO2 bubbles from below counter-current.

BC

[vinz]

Chua,

Did you put a check valve between the counter and the regulator?

The bubble counter I use connects directly to my solenoid (built in check valve) I suspect the heat from the solenoid is evaporating the water in my counter.

[juggler]

BC, Vinz: I am just visualising. Never tried yet.
The CO2 bubble from the bottom will be near the exit of the reactor chamber. Won't it get carried out if the filter is too strong?

[geoffrey]

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On 8/26/2003 11:29:53 AM

BC, Vinz: I am just visualising. Never tried yet.
The CO2 bubble from the bottom will be near the exit of the reactor chamber. Won't it get carried out if the filter is too strong?
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Juggler,

There are 2 types of Taiwanese reactors. The one you have will probably have CO2 exiting together with the flow.

The other type that I have has a nozzle extended to the mid of the reactor, away from the outlet, hence will not exit. I tried both ways, okay.

[juggler]

So the method may not work well for this kind of reactor I got?

[geoffrey]

It may work because the bioballs sort of reduce the water pressure at the CO2 outlet.

Although mine is different but I think they should work the same.

[juggler]

Yes. Right.
I forgot that I only leave one bioball in my reactor.

[chua]

Yap.

Me had a one-way check valve between my regulator and my bubble counter.

But i did observe something, when the bubble in my bubble counter burst, there are a lot of small water droplets on the side of the bubble counter above the water level. Sometimes, these water droplets will be push through the pipe into the reactor by the CO2. This could explain for the fast drop in my water level.

What is the reason behind it?
Can I solve the problem by changing it to other type of bubble counter?

[tawauboy]

does the water level keeps on dropping?
if it doesn't and you can count the co2 bubble then there isn't a need to change to another bubble counter.

[chua]

Ya is dropping all the way.

Now the water level is zero.

Me just calculate the CO2 level using the PH and KH relationship.

Is it ok if i leave the bubble counter empty?
Lazy to remove it or fill it with water.