water sucked back from bubble counter

[acidjc]

anyone got similar encounter, do share your solution

Every morning I notice the water from my bubble counter (mine is plastic with both top n bottom are blue in color type) is been sucked back to my C02 tank when the soleniod is turn OFF, even thought I add another 1-way-valve btw bubble counter n the C02 tank the problem still occur. the speed of the suction is very slow, but I can see the water in my rubber tube every morning. Of cos when the C02 is turn ON, the water is been push back to the bubble counter and everything is normal, but at night when C02 is OFF, this start to happen again.

I using electronic soleniod.. tried to tighten all the parts from C02 tank to soleniod but doesn't seem to be working

anyone know how to stop this from happening? I afraid the water might enter the electronic soleniod and short-circuit it.

[loupgarou]

add more length of tubing before the bubble counter.

the reason why this happens is because CO2 is soluble, so the remaining CO2 before the bubble counter dissolves in the liquid forming a low pressure area which in turn causes the suction effect.

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[hmph]

add a check valve......should solve the prob...

[acidjc]

so does adding more length to the rubber tube btw bubble counter and C02 tank really help? ok I will go buy more tube today.. and try it out

yes, I have a 1-way-valve (check valve) btw bubble counter and C02 tank, another check valve btw bubble counter and my planted tank.

thank folks for your advise

[loupgarou]

try a different brand if your current one doesn't work. those with the rubber valve on the inside then to be better at keeping water out

[MdmBudak]

I have 2 check valves, kiasu abit.

One before the reactor and the other before the bubble counter.

[acidjc]

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On 11/1/2003 3:58:21 PM

I have 2 check valves, kiasu abit.

One before the reactor and the other before the bubble counter.

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me too, same configuration, so do u encountered water low back from bubble counter to C02 tank?.. check with some LFS, they say the check valve will prevent water from flow back

[eric_kclee]

Connect wrongly or poor quality valve???

I have 2 valve too and this is not kiasu..is the correct way.

Mine...water return from diffuser to checkvalve and stop there....checkvale to bubble counter dry....and bubble counter-->2ndcheckvalve-->Co2Tank...alll dry.

I once use a metal check valve, water gets in...after sometime...it get rusted and jammed...so water return all the way....

Did you use a metal check valve?????
Get a plastic one and make sure the connection is correct.And what you experience is not normal!

[acidjc]

what kinda of rubber tubing u all use? the soft type or hard type?

[MdmBudak]

I'm using x'tra thick air tubing, got it from Bioplast.

Got my check valves from NA, the clear plastic one with a yellow insert. My water stops at the first check valve. From there on, its dry all the way to the CO2 canister.

[acidjc]

I notice those soft rubber tube cannot really be useful for C02 system, specially when use with diffuser, mine got push out many times (due to pressure) till I chg the tube to those thicker n harder type..

ok, I just bought a new check valve, extend the length of the tubing from bubble counter to C02 tank, now just gotto wait till next morning to see if the water stop at check valve or not

[MdmBudak]

Yep, I notice that the rubber ones get detached very easily too.

[Bandit]

for hoses u guys shld try Royal brand (clear transparent with the brand Royal printed on the hose) or Eco Culture selling some hard tubings.....light blue colours (but not sure abt the price) think its more costly than normal tubes.