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A Quick Word Of Warning About Aquamas.

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Dave Spencer

Gort! Klaatu barada nikto.
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When I connected the pressure regulator to my bottle it showed 50Bar, but after two days of use the bottle was empty. I guess it must have been residual CO2 from when it was pressure tested. I can`t complain though, because it is illegal to send pressurised cylinders through Royal Mail.

Fortunately I am megatastically organised and had a 3kg bottle on standby. Be warned, just in case!

Dave.
 
I've just ordered a system from them the other day I've been saving up for a few weeks after my Hydor system decided to throw a fit and send all the remaining co2 (around half a 74grm bottle) in just a few secs. Hope my aquamas canister doesn't go the same way as yours Dave.
 
afroturf said:
my Hydor system decided to throw a fit and send all the remaining co2 (around half a 74grm bottle) in just a few secs.
Click to expand...

One or two people have had this problem. I think it is to do with the possibility that the regulator seals are designed to work at high pressure. As soon as I see the pressure in any of my cylinders start to drop I change them over. The sudden failure of the seals at low pressure could lead to a catastrophic discharge of CO2 in to the aquarium, killing all the critters.

Dave.
 
Dave Spencer said:
One or two people have had this problem. I think it is to do with the possibility that the regulator seals are designed to work at high pressure. As soon as I see the pressure in any of my cylinders start to drop I change them over. The sudden failure of the seals at low pressure could lead to a catastrophic discharge of CO2 in to the aquarium, killing all the critters.
Click to expand...


Mmmm, that seems a bit strange. Dumping used to be fairly common when people used to just use the regulator for CO2 control but with a good needle valve that shouldn't happen. I run my CO2 tanks until they are empty and have never had any probs.

James
 
Yes, I have inadvertently run my JBL regulator to empty with no problems, but I have heard of some peoples systems dumping the remainder of the cylinder in to the tank and killing all the inhabitants. It seems to happen when the cylinder pressure is starting to get low.

Ironic when I think how crappy the JBL needle valve is overall.
 
What BAR pressure do you all run your CO2 at? Mines at 1, only ever goes higher when testing a new bottle
 
Dave Spencer said:
When I connected the pressure regulator to my bottle it showed 50Bar, but after two days of use the bottle was empty. I guess it must have been residual CO2 from when it was pressure tested. I can`t complain though, because it is illegal to send pressurised cylinders through Royal Mail.

Fortunately I am megatastically organised and had a 3kg bottle on standby. Be warned, just in case!

Dave.
Click to expand...

Oh no, I haven't tried mine yet as I'm waiting for a Co2 dropper tester, and I'm still trying to fathom the German manual :unsure:

It might be iilegal to send pressurised cylinders through Royal Mail, but would it apply to couriers (i.e DHL) ?
Aquatics Online state thusly about cylinders :

NOTE : Please be aware that we cannot supply this item to any destination that would require travel by air as this is a Prohibited Item. Once order is placed, we will contact you by email if there is any problem with airmail delivery
Click to expand...

I think I will have to source a bottle somewhere.

Has anyone actually translated the small printed manual that comes with the Aquamas Kit ?
I've been trying to do it line by line, and it's hard going. Some words don't translate at all.

Dave, what bottle did you use, and where from ?

Ta,

Peter
 
Shame about the co2 bottles-I'll need a new one of them as well then.

The guy from Aquamas sent me this:
Edit: he did say these instructions were from another co2 set.

in lovely English

1. Unscrew the needle valve out of the pressure reducer.
2. Unscrew the tube connection nozzle out of the nightdeactivation
unit.
3. Instead of the needle valve screw the double nipple
into the pressure reducer. In order to do so use any one
of the gaskets.
4. Screw the night-deactivation unit onto the other side
of the double nipple. When doing so put the second
gasket underneath and regard the subsequent
directional flow.
5. Finally stick the included crimp gasket (that is the part
which looks like a small piece of tubing.) into the other
side of the night-deactivation unit, screw in the needle
valve and you’re finished.
Please do not attach the needle valve too tightly
because otherwise the gasket could be pressed shut.
Instruction manual for the System
with the glass reactor
Before starting operation the reactor should be filled with approx. 2/3 of
water.
To do so please attach the reactor in your aquarium using the ceramic
disc facing downward (Picture 1). Filling takes approx. one hour.
Now the reactor can be attached to the CO2-unit using the tube.
For operation attach the reactor with the ceramic disc facing upwards. For
an ideal solution of the gas into the water attach the reactor just above
the ground of the aquarium on the side window. (Picture 2)
At the top of the glass coil there is a small hole; through it water is sucked
into the coil during operation.
During the first few days after installation it can occur, depending on the
water hardness, that CO2-bubbles flow into the reactor and cannot find
their way to the coil.
This is due to cohesive power between glass and water similar to the
powers which hold little air bubbles to glass and decorations in a freshly
filled aquarium.
After several days a so-called “bacterial grassâ€￾ has formed and the coil is
so capable of sliding that the bubbles now ascend in it.
In the process the coil has the function of a bubble counter.
The disintegration of the gas in the water is achieved when it passes the
small white ceramic disc. And the CO2 must also pass through it which in
the case of some reactors often flows past the coil during the first few
days.
Instruction manual for the pressure reducer
1. Screw the pressure reducer onto the tank valve using a 30mm wrench.
Please do not use pliers for tightening because you will otherwise
damage the box nut.
2. Detach the small box nut on this valve and push it onto the CO2-tube.
Afterwards put the tube on the connection and attach it by screwing the
nut to the fine needle valve.
3. If you are applying an additional magnetic valve you can do so directly
on the pressure reducer as described on the back.
4. Now please install the reactor on the other end of the CO2-tube. The
check valve should be applied in an accessible position between the
pressure reducer and the reactor. To do so cut the tube in half and attach
each end to a connection of the valve. Please regard the flow direction
(arrow).
5. Turn the large knob (picture) of the pressure reducer completely to the
left. This guarantees the null position of the operating pressure.
Please implicitly execute step 5 every time you re-connect as not to
overload the manometer operating pressure.
6. Completely close the fine needle valve by turning the knob to the right.
Please be careful turning it all the way so you do not destroy the sensitive
valve.
7. Now you can open the tank valve by one turn of the handle to the left.
The tank pressure manometer should indicate approx. 54 bar at
20?C.
8. Now adjust the operating pressure to approx. 1 bar by slowing turning
the large knob on the pressure reducer.
9. Adjust the necessary amount of bubbles by carefully turning the small
knob on the needle valve. Thereby the following general rule applies:
carbonate hardness x volume in litres : 50 = amount of bubbles per
minute.
Tip:
You can dab soap suds on the unit to test it for leaks.
 
I never received any instructions with my aquamas set up, unless I never noticed them in the bottom of the box.

2pods, my replacement bottle came from a local guy that supplies CO2 to the pub and welding trade. It was £7 for 3kg of CO2. Look in your Yellow Pages for welding, bottled gas etc. You are bound to find someone, and it will be cheaper than filling through any hobby outlet.

Dave.
 
Dave Spencer said:
I never received any instructions with my aquamas set up, unless I never noticed them in the bottom of the box.

2pods, my replacement bottle came from a local guy that supplies CO2 to the pub and welding trade. It was £7 for 3kg of CO2. Look in your Yellow Pages for welding, bottled gas etc. You are bound to find someone, and it will be cheaper than filling through any hobby outlet.

Dave.
Click to expand...

Cheers Blue Acara and Dave :good:

There's always something....... :rolleyes:

Peter
 
lowee said:
I just recieved my cylinder from aquamas today and it was full of CO2!
Click to expand...

Thats what Dave said.
Give it a couple of days and hopefully it will still be full, if not we're all unlucky.

I've emailed them to see if the bottle is meant to arrive full.
I'll post if I hear from them.

Peter
 
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