Jbl Co2 Solenoid

[cheesemaker]

I've got a JBL's CO2 setup with solenoid (profi2)

Since I've added more plants, the co2 runs 24 hours a day, hence the solenoid is essentially a waste of space and electricity. I removed the solenoid to find that the air pipe does not connect to the regulator. Does anyone know what parts do i need to connect the air line directly to the regulator?

 

[alanchown]

I've got a JBL's CO2 setup with solenoid (profi2)

Since I've added more plants, the co2 runs 24 hours a day, hence the solenoid is essentially a waste of space and electricity. I removed the solenoid to find that the air pipe does not connect to the regulator. Does anyone know what parts do i need to connect the air line directly to the regulator?

Why do you need to run it 24 hours a day. Plants only absorb co2 during the day, during the night you are wasting oodles of CO2. I would have thought the cost of this was significantlty more than any power costs-which I would have thought were 0 at night anyway, given that it is off.

Alan

 

[cheesemaker]

I found that in the morning after the period of CO2 shut off, my plants do not pearl until late afternoon. I assume it is because CO2 level has to be built up.

secondly, I noticed that sometimes the diffuser does not give off CO2 after the shut off. I'd have to increase the pressure a liitle to kick start it and reduce the pressure again. Then there was the issue of leakage. All in all, I think I might be better with out the solenoid.

 

[mantis147]

I dont use a solenoid i just turn the co2 off when the lights go out.

 

[oldwhitewood]

OK there are a few things to think about here. The reason you probably don't get diffusion for a bit is there might be water in the tubing which the CO2 has to push out before it can build up enough gas to start diffusing from your plate. I use a solenoid and this happens with my setup which isn't as good quality as yours.

So check your tubing first to make sure it is CO2 resistant, also I assume you are using a stop valve? If this is plastic they can sometimes leak and cause water to get into your regulator which is never a good thing (I know from experience!) so you could check that out. You can get really good tubing and valves online from various sources, I use AquaEssentails myself.

Also why don't you just leave the solenoid open all the time rather than try to remove it?

You could maybe try and email JBL they're usually pretty good and would be able to tell you straight away what parts you would need.

 

[cheesemaker]

OK there are a few things to think about here. The reason you probably don't get diffusion for a bit is there might be water in the tubing which the CO2 has to push out before it can build up enough gas to start diffusing from your plate. I use a solenoid and this happens with my setup which isn't as good quality as yours.

So check your tubing first to make sure it is CO2 resistant, also I assume you are using a stop valve? If this is plastic they can sometimes leak and cause water to get into your regulator which is never a good thing (I know from experience!) so you could check that out. You can get really good tubing and valves online from various sources, I use AquaEssentails myself.

Also why don't you just leave the solenoid open all the time rather than try to remove it?

You could maybe try and email JBL they're usually pretty good and would be able to tell you straight away what parts you would need.

cheers.
I do have a check valve, it came with the JBL setup, so is the tubing i.e. should be CO2 resistance.

I know it is silly, I don't like having electrical stuff switched on perpetually. It's just me, if i can do with out it then i rather have it removed. If i can that is.

btw, what happens when the water get into the regulator?

 

[oldwhitewood]

btw, what happens when the water get into the regulator?

It knackers it basically, it happened on one of my CO2 sets a few months ago, it screwed up the solenoid so when it tried to click on you got this terrible buzzing and juddering noise coming from it. It also began to corrode the CO2 joints and the pressure gauge stopped working completely, started leaking gas So when I tried to connect a new cannister up to it CO2 started coming out of the face of the pressure gauge, HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I was like "arrrah what the hell" i.e freezing gas! It was quite a shock I tell you!