CO2 @ 30 bubbles per second?

[xfire]

I have a Knopf Calcium Reactor, and after 8 years I need to
replace the CO2 pressure stage. I have 3 problems with the current
CO2 equipment.

1. Three times in the last year it has dumped all the pressure in
the 10 pound high pressure tank. I used to get a full year out of
a charge, but the last three have worked fine for 1 or 2 or 3
months, then all of sudden the tank is empty, 500 psi on Monday,
look again on Thursday and the tank is totally empty.

2. The system has a regulator stage to take the pressure down to 3
to 15 pounds. Then a needle valve to finely control the flow to 30
bubbles per minute. It is very very very touch to get the flow
below 75 bubbles per minute. I usually get it there but it takes
many minute adjustments over a couple of days to get a reliable
steady flow. The way the flow works out in the end, is 10 bubbles
at about 1 per second,followed by a 10 second pause,then 10 more
bubbles. That ends up a 30 bubbles per minute, which is ok, but I
can't figure out why it pauses. I have tried to find a metering
system that is easier to adjust. THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Does
anybody know a better metering system than these needle valves?
I've tried 3 different brandsd and they all seem the same.

3. Between the low presssure stage and the needle valve is a
solenoid actuated valve, that shuts off the CO2 if power fails.
(good ideaq!). This valve failed this weekend after a couple of
auto crash related power failures. It now buzzes at about 85
decibles, and demands replacement.

I have a spare system that I am using for a couple of weeks
(loaner) that has all of the faults listed. Any suggestions for a
replacement?

Thanks.

[Eric]

I have this one and it seems to work well. (I currently have it
adjusted to about 15 bubbles per minute.) It still takes a little
fiddling to get it adjusted, but once there it stays there. No odd
pauses either.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CO3111

I have another on a planted freshwater tank that is this sort, and it
also seems to work well.

http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/mas/category.cgi?item=CO2_DR&type=store

I hope this helps.

Eric
http://www.atreis.com/sal****er1.html


xfire wrote:
> I have a Knopf Calcium Reactor, and after 8 years I need to
> replace the CO2 pressure stage. I have 3 problems with the current
> CO2 equipment.
>
> 1. Three times in the last year it has dumped all the pressure in
> the 10 pound high pressure tank. I used to get a full year out of
> a charge, but the last three have worked fine for 1 or 2 or 3
> months, then all of sudden the tank is empty, 500 psi on Monday,
> look again on Thursday and the tank is totally empty.
>
> 2. The system has a regulator stage to take the pressure down to 3
> to 15 pounds. Then a needle valve to finely control the flow to 30
> bubbles per minute. It is very very very touch to get the flow
> below 75 bubbles per minute. I usually get it there but it takes
> many minute adjustments over a couple of days to get a reliable
> steady flow. The way the flow works out in the end, is 10 bubbles
> at about 1 per second,followed by a 10 second pause,then 10 more
> bubbles. That ends up a 30 bubbles per minute, which is ok, but I
> can't figure out why it pauses. I have tried to find a metering
> system that is easier to adjust. THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Does
> anybody know a better metering system than these needle valves?
> I've tried 3 different brandsd and they all seem the same.
>
> 3. Between the low presssure stage and the needle valve is a
> solenoid actuated valve, that shuts off the CO2 if power fails.
> (good ideaq!). This valve failed this weekend after a couple of
> auto crash related power failures. It now buzzes at about 85
> decibles, and demands replacement.
>
> I have a spare system that I am using for a couple of weeks
> (loaner) that has all of the faults listed. Any suggestions for a
> replacement?
>
> Thanks.

[Aquatic-Store.com]

A jbj regulator is a fixed pressure gauge with bubble counter.
I think you would have better luck with that then the milwaukee.

Kasselmann aquarium plants book 59.99
Eco-Complete 14.99 a bag

Marcus

http://www.aquatic-store.com/

Co2 tanksand regulators
Power compact bulbs and MH the lowest on the net
Co2 regulator and bubble counter with needle valve $75
JBJ chillers and LightingWE WILL BEAT ALL MAJOR COMPETITORS
JBJ lighting, Hamilton lighting and milwaukee 2-5% price match find it
cheaper and buy it with us for 2-5% less than their price

On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:45:53 GMT, xfire > wrote:

>I have a Knopf Calcium Reactor, and after 8 years I need to
>replace the CO2 pressure stage. I have 3 problems with the current
>CO2 equipment.
>
>1. Three times in the last year it has dumped all the pressure in
>the 10 pound high pressure tank. I used to get a full year out of
>a charge, but the last three have worked fine for 1 or 2 or 3
>months, then all of sudden the tank is empty, 500 psi on Monday,
>look again on Thursday and the tank is totally empty.
>
>2. The system has a regulator stage to take the pressure down to 3
>to 15 pounds. Then a needle valve to finely control the flow to 30
>bubbles per minute. It is very very very touch to get the flow
>below 75 bubbles per minute. I usually get it there but it takes
>many minute adjustments over a couple of days to get a reliable
>steady flow. The way the flow works out in the end, is 10 bubbles
>at about 1 per second,followed by a 10 second pause,then 10 more
>bubbles. That ends up a 30 bubbles per minute, which is ok, but I
>can't figure out why it pauses. I have tried to find a metering
>system that is easier to adjust. THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Does
>anybody know a better metering system than these needle valves?
>I've tried 3 different brandsd and they all seem the same.
>
>3. Between the low presssure stage and the needle valve is a
>solenoid actuated valve, that shuts off the CO2 if power fails.
>(good ideaq!). This valve failed this weekend after a couple of
>auto crash related power failures. It now buzzes at about 85
>decibles, and demands replacement.
>
>I have a spare system that I am using for a couple of weeks
>(loaner) that has all of the faults listed. Any suggestions for a
>replacement?
>
>Thanks.

[kim gross]

xfire wrote:

> I have a Knopf Calcium Reactor, and after 8 years I need to
> replace the CO2 pressure stage. I have 3 problems with the current
> CO2 equipment.
>
> 1. Three times in the last year it has dumped all the pressure in
> the 10 pound high pressure tank. I used to get a full year out of
> a charge, but the last three have worked fine for 1 or 2 or 3
> months, then all of sudden the tank is empty, 500 psi on Monday,
> look again on Thursday and the tank is totally empty.

First, your system is not dumping co2. With co2 your tank is full of
liquid co2 which will keep the pressure close to around 800 to 950 psi
depending on the temperature of the tank. Once all of the liquid co2 is
gone the amount of co2 in the tank is very low so it will drop to zero
very quickly. What you need to look at is why you are using more co2 do
you have some leaks in your co2 plumbing. Most tubing will degrade with
co2 over time and leak even more.





>
> 2. The system has a regulator stage to take the pressure down to 3
> to 15 pounds. Then a needle valve to finely control the flow to 30
> bubbles per minute. It is very very very touch to get the flow
> below 75 bubbles per minute. I usually get it there but it takes
> many minute adjustments over a couple of days to get a reliable
> steady flow. The way the flow works out in the end, is 10 bubbles
> at about 1 per second,followed by a 10 second pause,then 10 more
> bubbles. That ends up a 30 bubbles per minute, which is ok, but I
> can't figure out why it pauses. I have tried to find a metering
> system that is easier to adjust. THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Does
> anybody know a better metering system than these needle valves?
> I've tried 3 different brandsd and they all seem the same.


The pressure in your reactor seems to be a little high for some reason
when the pressure builds up in your co2 tubing/bubble counter it will
allow some co2 to come out, then after the co2 leaves the pressure drops
stopping the co2 from coming out of the system.
>
> 3. Between the low presssure stage and the needle valve is a
> solenoid actuated valve, that shuts off the CO2 if power fails.
> (good ideaq!). This valve failed this weekend after a couple of
> auto crash related power failures. It now buzzes at about 85
> decibles, and demands replacement.
>
> I have a spare system that I am using for a couple of weeks
> (loaner) that has all of the faults listed. Any suggestions for a
> replacement?
>
> Thanks.

[xfire]

That is a very interesting explanation. I could never understand
the suddennes of the emptiness. Now I understand that I may have a
very slow leak, not a sudden dumping of the pressure.


Do scuba air tanks act the same way?
..
kim gross > wrote in news:40BB5EF8.9070002
@jensalt.com:

>
> First, your system is not dumping co2. With co2 your tank is
full of
> liquid co2 which will keep the pressure close to around 800 to
950 psi
> depending on the temperature of the tank. Once all of the
liquid co2 is
> gone the amount of co2 in the tank is very low so it will drop
to zero
> very quickly. What you need to look at is why you are using
more co2 do
> you have some leaks in your co2 plumbing. Most tubing will
degrade with
> co2 over time and leak even more.
> @
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> That is a very interesting explanation. I could never understand
> the suddennes of the emptiness. Now I understand that I may have a
> very slow leak, not a sudden dumping of the pressure.

i donno bout a slow leak but your consuming more otherwise a fast drop like that is normal
for a tank that is being used.

> Do scuba air tanks act the same way?
nope but other gas tanks do. gasses that turn to liquid at the pressure they are stored in
the tank then become a gas when they are removed from pressure act this way.

--
Richard Reynolds

[kim gross]

xfire wrote:
> That is a very interesting explanation. I could never understand
> the suddennes of the emptiness. Now I understand that I may have a
> very slow leak, not a sudden dumping of the pressure.
>
>
> Do scuba air tanks act the same way?
> .


Scuba tanks no. Scuba tanks used compressed air so the pressure in the
tank shows how much air is in the tank. Other types of gases, depends
on the gas. Most are held as a pressurized gas, at normally much higher
pressures than Co2. If the gas is pressurized the pressure will slowly
drop with the amount of gas, if the gas is liquefied (like propane), the
pressure will remain fairly stable (depending on temp), until all the
gas is gone, then the pressure will drop quickly as the tank empties of
the last pressurized gas.

Kim