Anyone Used Jbl Co2 Profi Sets?

[Rhea]

Hi,

Has anyone used the JBL Profi Set CO2 system (I'm using the Profi Set 2 and the standard JBL diffuser/regs)? I've just started to set up my first proper planted tank, and whilst going through the usual algae crisis I'm having some problems with my CO2 and aren't sure what to do. Does any of this sound familiar, either as user error or a problem with the kit? I came home yesterday to find all my fish on their sides on the surface and the CO2 pumping out like crazy, so I'm scared to turn it back on without trying to get some ideas on what might have gone wrong. Any help much appreciated, I'm about to throw the whole tank in the bin

Firstly, the bubbles don't seem to diffuse. I'm running it in a 260 litre aquarium with the recommended length of diffuser and they come out the top. Should I add more/lower the diffuser? Also, I can't get the operating pressure to stay constant. At the moment it's up at 2.5 when it should be at 1-1.5. Is this a big issue? Lastly (and most seriously) I can't get the bubble rate constant. After running it for a few days earlier in the week at 1bps, I came home yesterday to find it on an uncountable rate.

Sorry for such a long post, any ideas really really appreciated.

 

[JamesC]

At the moment it's up at 2.5 when it should be at 1-1.5. Is this a big issue? Lastly (and most seriously) I can't get the bubble rate constant. After running it for a few days earlier in the week at 1bps, I came home yesterday to find it on an uncountable rate.

The JBL regulator has a fixed low side pressure. What I mean by this is that the regulator has a constant pressure that is set inside the regulator. This cannot be adjusted and is normally around the 1.2 bar mark. If yours is at the 2.5 bar mark then there is something very wrong with your regulator and I suggest taking it back from where you brought it from. This is the cause of your erratic bubble count.

The diffuser you have is good for sub 200 litre tanks so you are pushing it a bit for a 260 litre. It will work but will be a bit wasteful as you have found out with the bubbles coming out the top.

 

[Rhea]

Thanks for this info, the manual says what the pressure should be, but not if it's a big problem if it rises higher or lower than that value.
Finding out now how to get it replaced, hopefully it shouldn't take too long

 

[hunterm8]

the more diffuser the better! i have a 180l tank and added all the bits of diffuser about a foot long, you still get bubbles coming out the top but have i not found anything to better it for the amount disolved!

 

[Waterloo Kid]

I'm using the JBL full height diffuser at the moment. i will be changing to this diffuser in time. I get bubbles leaving the top of the diffuser although they are approx 6th the diameter (that's a 10% wasteage approx) I have the outlet from the filter running close to the diffuser to maximise diffusion. I haven't had any problems with varying flow. I even (against advise) ran the cylinder dry and didn't get even the slightest hint of 'end of cylinder dump' (where the low pressure on the cylinder causes the regulator to become unstable and the entire contents of the cylinder are released into the tank).

WK

 

[Rhea]

That's a much nicer diffuser, hopefully once I've got these problems sorted I'll be able to think about changing it.
I had heard about potential problems when the cylinder approaches empty, but the cylinder I was running with when mine dumped was only a week old. The previous one had run dry (didn't realise the 500g bottles would last such a short time - upgrading to a larger cylinder is on my list)