Co2 Leak

[wolfwolf]

After more than a week my connection between my co2 tank and the regulator began to leak. The tank went from 60 psi to 20 psi (in less than 12 hours). As the tank pressure dropped the regulated pressure went from 3.5 to 4.5 psi. That meant more co2 in my tank. I caught it because my indicator solution was a yellow-green color. My pH had dropped about 1.2. My fish including 3 krib fry appeared to be okay.

I tightened the connection again and reset the regulated pressure to 3.5psi. Now I am scared to death about the connection leaking again.

I did not check the fish this morning. Hopefully they are alive and kicking.

This Co2 business will be the end of me...

Is the regulated pressure supposed to go UP as tank pressure goes DOWN? Not very safe for the fish.

 

[Truck]

i dont know if this helps, but ive heard plumbing tape can prevent leaks. let someone else clarify this

 

[SuperColey1]

The cylinder/tank pressure should not go down until the bottle is nearly empty. As gas leaves more liquid forms gas and in turn the pressure is maintained.

When a bottle is nearing emptiness some regulators/needle valves have problems controlling the lower pressure and therefore 'dump' the remainder so yes it is normal for the output pressure to go up when the cylinder pressure goes down.

Therefore your cylinder pressure should still be at 20 if the setup is correct and it is saying. Nearly empty and you may as well go get a refill or new disposable etc each time it gets to this level to avoid the 'dump'.

Do you have any leaks now? If so I would get them sorted or you will getting refills/new bottles very often.

AC

 

[wolfwolf]

I checked all of the connection with a soapy bottle of water. I think the leak is fixed for now.

Are you saying that at 20psi my 5lb standard co2 cylinder is nearly empty and I'm risking a "dump"? (New it was ~60psi)

 

[SuperColey1]

When a cylinder is 'full' it will not be full. It will be (example as I don't know exactly) 3/4 full of liquid CO2 with a gap at the top. the liquid turns into gas and fills the empty space. This is my understanding of why you run a CO2 cylinder in an upright position, because the gas is at the top and therefore upright gas comes out of the regulator. If it was on it's side liquid would go through the regulator.

As the gas exits via your regulator more liquid turns to gas and maintains the original pressure. When there is not much left it cannot keep the pressure and it will go from the reading you had from the start - 60bar to 0 very quickly (2-3 months later in my case)

So it doesn't gradually recede!! It will stay at 60ish until the bottle is nearly empty and then over the space of a few days it will rapidly drop at which point the needle valve/regulator sometimes struggles to control the reduced pressure.

So yes if it says 20bar then I would say it is nearly empty.

My 600g bottles (disposable) stay around 60-70 bar for a couple of months and then once it starts to go down will be on 0 within 4 days.

AC

 

[wolfwolf]

Okay I will keep a close eye on the pressure and see if it drops rapidly.

By the way I found out why it leaked.... Apparently in my happy rush to get it set up I missed the instruction, that was in bold letters, to use teflon tape on the threads.

I chalk this up to a learning experience.

 

[SuperColey1]

??? On which threads? The solenoid? No tape anywhere on mine!!!

AC

 

[wolfwolf]

No, my unit came already assembled. The teflon tape is supposed to go on the threads of my CO2 tank.