Dennerle Pressurised Co2 System

[backtotropical]

Hi,

I bought a Dennerle Pressurised CO2 unit and i'm trying to set it up.

The pressure reducer which comes in the kit has 2 gagues. 1 for operating pressure and the other for cylinder pressure.

My problem is that even with no gas canister attached, the operating pressure gague is pointing to 3.5 bar. This doesn't seem right to me.

Am i being stupid here or is something wrong?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Confused.

BTT

 

[Themuleous]

No you're not being stupid, both gauges should read 0 if there is no cylinder attached. I would take it back and get a replacement., you dont want to be using a duff reg.
Sam

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks Sam.

I took it back to the shop today, and they replaced it no problem.

 

[Themuleous]

Cool, as they should

 

[backtotropical]

New regulator works a treat.

Can anyone recommend roughly how many bubbles i should be running? It's a 260 litre tank.

Thanks

 

[backtotropical]

New regulator works a treat.

Can anyone recommend roughly how many bubbles i should be running? It's a 260 litre tank.

Thanks

Anyone?

 

[bigstevo]

I would say get yourself a permenent co2 test kit or ph meter, the first being the cheaper option, your bubble rate depends on the hardness/softness of your water, so i would start at about 1 per second and check your test kit....

A JBL Permenent CO2 Test Kit sells for about £5-£10 depnding where you buy

 

[Themuleous]

You are probably going to need to run at 2 to 3 bubbles per second depending on how good your diffusion rate is. However as BigStevo suggests get a permanent pH drop checker, with some 4dKH water and increase the bubble rate slowly until you see it turn green. FYI the checker runs around 2hrs behind the tank, so increase it a bit then leave it for a few hours and check it. If necessary increase it again and leave for another few hours before checking again.

BTW the bubble rate has nothing to do with the hardness of the tank water, 3 BPS will give you a set CO2 level in the tank regardless of how hard or soft the water is.

Sam

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks a lot guys!

I have a drop checker that came with the kit, but i don't know if the solution you get with it is 4 dKH. I will give it a go.

Out of interest, i've heard you can make your own 4dKH solution, and i don't imagine Dennerle will give theirs away cheap, so can anyone tell me how to make my own??

Thanks again

BTT

 

[Themuleous]

Making it requires very accurate scales etc and TBH really isn't worth it. Get a bottle from AE and it'll last you years

Sam

 

[lisa_perry75]

Say we had access to some very accurate scales? How would we make it?