JBJ Bubble counter

[Aeon]

I have 2 JBJ Bubble counters, the type which you screw on to the needle valve and have a built-in check valve. I experienced leaks due to the brass part expanding from the solenoid's heat. As a result the rubber seal failed to keep the joint air-tight.

I managed to air-tighten it with Thread Seal Tape, those white soft filmy tape used to water-tighten pipe fittings. Works great.

If you are using this model or type of counter with a solenoid, you should give it a check if it's leaking. One way to check is to fill the counter completely with water and look out for bubbling at the joint/srew in part. 2 weeks worth of CO2 was wasted because of this and plants were nearly taken by BBA and green spot algae as there was no CO2 to match my strong lights.

[tawauboy]

sure that the brass part can expand that much?
maybe you did tighten the brass nut enough. anyway, the rubber should be compressed when you tighten the brass nut and when the brass nut expands, the rubber seal should decompress to maintain the seal.

[Aeon]

The rubber is quite thin and does not fit the inner circumference of the brass part correctly.

[tawauboy]

try replacing the rubber seal.
get a use inner tube of a bicycle tyre and cut to shape.
stack a few of them to get the correct height.
this should seal it.

[Aeon]

[quote:cd96871a51="tawauboy"]try replacing the rubber seal.
get a use inner tube of a bicycle tyre and cut to shape.
stack a few of them to get the correct height.
this should seal it.[/quote:cd96871a51]

It's not the thickness, it's the diameter.
But using thicker helps also. I used the plastic from toothpaste tubes to add thickness, similar to inner tubes.

[tawauboy]

plastic is not a compressible as rubber.
anyway, if your method works then don't change it.
else go to any hardware shop and look for water tap washer. maybe you'll be able to fine one that fits.