Aquamas Again

[2pods]

This is the third day of Co2 and the bottle is empty just like Dave Spencer's

Dave, if you're on could you tell me what was done re Aquamas ?

and if you replaced a seal where was it ?

I'm fed up.

I've also noticed this morninng the solenoid was loose and swinging about the reg !!

Everything last night was tight

I've emailed Aquamas but had nothing so far.
Despite the yellow pages, the only thing around here here is Air Products (an arm and a leg ! £100 a year rental, plus the price of co2), so I don't have anything else to try.

That cylinder was meant to do me 6 months plus

I originally posted in Dave's thread but thought it wouldn't be seen.

Peter

 

[Dave Spencer]

and if you replaced a seal where was it ?

Peter,

Have you leak checked all your connections with soapy water? My leak was from where the needle valve screwed in to the the metal body of the solenoid. The small black rubber seal in there was faulty. Fortunately I was able to get a replacement straight away. Have you got the seal fitted? Unscrew the needle valve and have a look inside.

Is there a black, circular rubber seal where the regulator fits on to the cylinder?

Is there a small red fibre seal fitted either side of the adaptor that is between the regulator body and the solenoid?

I've also noticed this morninng the solenoid was loose and swinging about the reg !!

I am not sure what has happened here. Is it the part of the solenoid that connects on to the metal body, or the plug for the solenoid (it holds the wires)? If the solenoid has come loose at the metal fitting then that could be what caused the leak.

Look under bottled gas for CO2. There must be someone around your way that does CO2. Failing that, phone some local welders and ask them where they get their CO2 from. Better still, nip down your local pub and ask the landlord where he gets his.

Good luck, Dave.

P.S. It`s afreaking nightmare, aint it?

 

[2pods]

Hi Dave

Thanks for replying.
It would seem all the pubs and welders get their cylinders from the same place ,the local Air Products place who are not helpful at all.
It is the only place locally and I don't drive.

After phoning and being told to take my reg up. I got the bus, walked 2 miles to be told they wouldn't give me a small-ish cylinder
(a bit bigger than ours) and they wanted £100 via direct debit per annum cylinder hire, and £35 a fill.
He wanted me to take a humoungous bomb type thing- far too big for our front room.

I checked all connections with soapy water the first time I set it up.
The only thing I did different yesterday was to up the bubble rate.

I think the solenoid has blown up or somthing. The black rubber seal is in there, but as to whether its OK or not ?

I have the two fibre seals OK

I haven't got a black seal where the reg fits, I have a clear plastic one

The whole of the solenoid could be turned over as if the needle valve and the other end hadn't been tightened at all, but I had them good and tight

The worst bit is not having a bottle to check with.
I tried everywhere for a fire extinguiser, could only find the powder jobs.

I haven't had any reply from Aquamas at all, and that was 12.00 I emailed them.

I really feel like giving up

Peter

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Co2 is the bain in our lives mate.

Im on to thinking about getting disposable Co2 from HERE Its cheap and i dont have to leave the house to get it. The only snag would be getting all the bits to fit on the REG. Ie solinoid and needle valves etc. Im sure there is a way.

Dont let it beat you though!!!!!!

 

[afroturf]

Peter, I've got Aquamass system a 500grm bottle and its beem set up since sunday, after connecting everything up tightly i tested with soapy water to check for leaks. and ther was between the solenoid and the reg so i tightend it up even more and ythe leak stopped.

After reading that yours has gone down the same path as Daves, I thought i should check for leaks on the system and what did i find... there was a leak coming from between the solenoid and the reg. So it seems that the solenoid need regular tightening. This may explain your solenoid swinging round your reg.

Sorry to hear this news,

Regards.

 

[SuperColey1]

Sorry hikacking a thread again.

Moody, are you gonna fit your existing reg and slenoid etc to these cans? Or are you looking at the one they sell for the cans?

Andy

 

[2pods]

I'm starting to get paranoid about this now.

I was putting it all back together after the pics, but I can't remember which way the solenoid arrow goes, is it pointing away from the reg (as in that would be the direction the gas would be going ? )

Not that I have any gas to put in, but its nice to get these things right

Peter

 

[Dave Spencer]

I was putting it all back together after the pics, but I can't remember which way the solenoid arrow goes, is it pointing away from the reg (as in that would be the direction the gas would be going ? )
Peter

Correctamundo!

Have you phoned anyone in the bottled gas section of your Yellow Pages?

As Moody says, don`t let it beat you.

Dave.

 

[2pods]

I was putting it all back together after the pics, but I can't remember which way the solenoid arrow goes, is it pointing away from the reg (as in that would be the direction the gas would be going ? )
Peter

Correctamundo!

Have you phoned anyone in the bottled gas section of your Yellow Pages?

As Moody says, don`t let it beat you.

Dave.

The only guy is the Air Products guy. He seems to have it sewn up, as it's only a small place.
He got really snotty because I didn't want the 5' job.....he asked if I might not be better with a Soda Stream bottle.
I think as he wasn't going to make a lot out of it he wasn't interested.

A mate in the local Motacare said he'll try and get it filled, but he'll end up at the Air Products

It's that bad, I'm considering a BOC from 25 miles away, so there would be a whopping delivery charge if they did it.

The original plan was to use the Aquamas bottle to get going and once that was OK, either get a fire extinguisher from ebay, or another cylinder.
Little did I know .

I would be a bit worried with a big bottle now, unless I can sort the reg etc out first, in case it dumped whatever amount it held straight into the tank and killed my fish.
Sorry for moaning

Peter

 

[2pods]

My first FE was delivered today (the other seems to be on its way back to The Sharp Edge for some reason).

Set everything up again and all was well except for the red fibre washer closest to the reg.
it leaked no matter how it was tightened.
I took it off and the washer was broken .

What do I ask for, and where do I get one ?

Peter

 

[2pods]

I'm replying to myself, but I just want to announce running repairs have been made.

i.e. I used the black fibre ring that was originally on the reg.

All I need to know now is if the black valve goes into the top of the adapter where the needle valve screws in, or the bottom where the adaptor screws into the reg ?

I've had it out that often, I've forgotten
Peter

 

[Themuleous]

CO2 is a complete arse in the UK, the USA sounds far more willing to let people just have the stuff. I'm hugely fortunate to have a local welding place where I got both my 83cm pub cylinders. But the kit is also an issue. I've decided against using a solenoid, for the very reason that its really tricky to get it tight and its just another thing to go wrong IMHO. If I do decide to use on again I'll put it on the tubing NOT on the reg, that seems to be the stumbling block for most people.

Sam

EDIT - this seems to be the easiest place for CO2, a 2gk or 5kg cylinder should last a decent length of time even on large tanks. And they come prefilled with Co2

 

[2pods]

CO2 is a complete arse in the UK, the USA sounds far more willing to let people just have the stuff. I'm hugely fortunate to have a local welding place where I got both my 83cm pub cylinders. But the kit is also an issue. I've decided against using a solenoid, for the very reason that its really tricky to get it tight and its just another thing to go wrong IMHO. If I do decide to use on again I'll put it on the tubing NOT on the reg, that seems to be the stumbling block for most people.

Sam

EDIT - this seems to be the easiest place for CO2, a 2gk or 5kg cylinder should last a decent length of time even on large tanks. And they come prefilled with Co2

Sam,

I currently have a Co2 FE from there sitting in Glasgow Central Station, after being sent to Glasgow, out on the van, no attempt to deliver it, back to Glasgow sending it back to TSE.
Now it is back in Glasgow on a 24 hour delivery (which can't include Saturdays)

How do you put the Solenoid on the tubing ?

I definately want a new set of red fibre rings from Aquamas, and I might be looking for a replacement needle valve too .

Peter

 

[blue acara]

Sam I agree with you. I tried to setup my aquamas system with the solenoid connected directly to the regulator-I had problems, so I connected it to the tubing instead and it hasnt leeked yet. *touches wood*

Peter im really sorry to hear about the BS your going through with ure system-you'll get it sorted

I also like to add that i dont really rate the aquamas diffuser. A lot of co2 bubbles are coming out of it and getting to the waters surface, wasteing co2. Also ive noticed that if ive got the system on a lowish bubble rate it will stop producing bubbles- ans i have to turn it up. this could be a problem with the regulator or the water stop connector to the diffuser.

CO2 is a complete arse in the UK, the USA sounds far more willing to let people just have the stuff. I'm hugely fortunate to have a local welding place where I got both my 83cm pub cylinders. But the kit is also an issue. I've decided against using a solenoid, for the very reason that its really tricky to get it tight and its just another thing to go wrong IMHO. If I do decide to use on again I'll put it on the tubing NOT on the reg, that seems to be the stumbling block for most people.

Sam

EDIT - this seems to be the easiest place for CO2, a 2gk or 5kg cylinder should last a decent length of time even on large tanks. And they come prefilled with Co2

 

[blue acara]

How do you put the Solenoid on the tubing ?

heres a pic of mine

U should have the screw bits for the solenoid use these to connect the tubing. Tighten it tight.