CO2 regulator hiccups (with pics)

[RonWill]

Hi all,

I'm having a bit of a problem with my 'gas'...

Most of you would know that I've gotten another 5 Litre CO2 cylinder and had rigged a Norgren regulator with 2-way splitter. When the pressure was turned 'on', this Norgren "fluttered" loudly and sounded very abnormal.

Checking around, I narrowed it down possibly to a ruptured pressure safey-disc, which is contained in a screw-in attachment. I managed to source for a hexed-plug from Kelantan Lane, to seal the hole and bypassed the attachment as indicated in the pic.

Large pic here.

Happy as a goose, I hooked up the CO2 system last Saturday (4th Oct) and blissfully didn't hear a whisper.
Large pic here.

The pleasure and pressure didn't last ... there was a 'silent' leak! Condensation and water drops could be seen on the cold regulator (Rashid can confirm this too!). By the time I figured something out, the cylinder was flat out of gas (yeah... I was stupid enough not to shut off the main valve).

Back at work, I checked with my boss about regulators and leaks. He suggested I have a free go at the odds and ends, and found a gauged in-line water filter for compressed air.

I dismantled and cleaned the filter and laid out possible ways of attaching the splitter.

Reassembled the gauged filter, connected the splitter and then did the next stupid thing... I had over-tightened the main valve to the filter and stripped the threads!!!

There's no point in crying over spilled milk and I'm open to suggestions again. Do I...

1. Buy another simple main valve (if that's what you call these things) and fit the gauge filter to it... or...
2. Bite the bullet and get a new gauged regulator? (gosh... this is getting expensive!)

If option 2...
Can I have recommendations, prices, brands and availability.
How reliable are those 'Made in China' regulators?
Should I go for single or twin gauges? (necessary?)
Does anyone have an 'extra' regulator to sell?

Gimme your thoughts.

Sleepless in Singapore... <sigh>

[checkerboard]

I am not sure about configuration od the valves and regulator.

but I have been using amanual regulator from ISTA for many years. Despite it being a little rusty now, there is no sign of leakage. I think it is readily available for about $30-$40.

If you want a more sophisticated system, with a solenoid to control your photo-periods, a few recommended (and relatively cheap) brands are JBJ, Tiren, JBL etc. This will set you back about $150-$180.

usually, I dont try to dismantle the regulator or other hardware. if you just bought them, most good LFS are willing to take them back and check or exchange if they can.

Hope thsi helps!
regards,
yew kiat

[FC]

Ronnie,

I had never tried splitter before. However, I can share with you the basic working principle of regulator for planted tank.

A proper regulator often come with 2 gauges (usually starts with $120). One for indicating the gas tank pressure and the other for the output pressure. The tank pressure gauge is not use to tell the amount of CO2 in the tank but only the pressure. Only when the tank is about 90% empty that the pressure starts to drop significantly. The output pressure gauge is the one that conerned the user the most. It should be about 1~2 bars. To acheive and maintain that, a regulator (not needle valve) is required. Most low priced "regulators" are actually needle valves.

It is only after the regulator that needle valves can be deployed to make use of the stable 1~2 bar pressure to provide a stable and tuneable output. Tuneable, I mean, it is easy to set the output and once set, it stay there with good accuracy (of say +/- 3 bubbles per minutes).

I have not use a splitter before but I can safely say that it can be mounted right after the regulator. Each splitter outlet must has its' own needle valve which can be found readily. It is usually made of copper (or bronze?) and cost about $10.

There was once, I almost wanted to buy the regulator that you showed in the last picture but I was told later that it is meant for 5 bars and above.

[RonWill]

There was once, I almost wanted to buy the regulator that you showed in the last picture but I was told later that it is meant for 5 bars and above.

Freddy,
Thanks for the details and yes... I couldn't get a stable value when the pressure was set below 3 bars! Oh well... so much for that in-line regulator!

Dear all, if you're a nutcase like me, to attempt splitting CO2 output to multiple tanks, just don't do it MY way!