Major Aquamas Troubles! Again!

[lowee]

Well, ive had my CO2 running for about 4 days. Its a 500g aquamas system and has been running fine without any troubles. I just checked today and the cylinder is empty! Its put all of the CO2 in the tank! What should i do? (luckily theres no fish in there!) Also, when i took it apart for further inspection, a sealant type substance fell out. I have included a picture of the substance and where it came from.

 

[lowee]

Anyone? I really need help asap!

 

[Paul_MTS]

My guess would be PTFE tape or simliar to make the thread seal air tight?

 

[Dave Spencer]

There should be a black `O` shaped rubber seal where the regulator butts on to the cylinder connection. You can see the recess for it in your photo. This is what seals the connection, not PTFE tape.

Dave.

 

[lowee]

I have the output pressure at about 3 bar, could this be why it dumped the CO2?

 

[Dave Spencer]

The vast majority of CO2 will have leaked out from where the seal should be. Once the pressure in the bottle gets low enough the regulator fails to control any longer, for whatever reason, and dumps the remainder of the CO2 in to your tank. This is why I would recommend changing a cylinder once it gets noticeably below 50Bar.

Keeping the regulated pressure around 1.5Bar should be sufficient.

I have no idea what that white stuff is that came out of the leaking connection. It looks like toe nail clippings to me.

Dave.

 

[lowee]

I dont think i ever got that seal, il email aquamas.Thanks dave

 

[Dave Spencer]

Take the regulator to a hardware store. I am sure it is not a unique type of seal.

Dave.

 

[lowee]

Today i took the cylinder to a local air products type place. They fitted a new seal and refilled the cylinder, all for free! CO2 is running fine now! Thanks for all the help

 

[2pods]

Today i took the cylinder to a local air products type place. They fitted a new seal and refilled the cylinder, all for free! CO2 is running fine now! Thanks for all the help

That was really good of them

I wish my local air products guy was as helpful.

re the seals

mine had gone in the solenoid (small red fibre one), but I was able to use one of the black ones from the other fitting.
Someone (maybe Aquamas) should sell all the seals as a set.

Peter

 

[lowee]

Well, the co2's been running fine for a few days now. But wait, I just checked and the dam cylinder is empty again! Its a 500g cylinder in a 180 litre tank and ive been running about 1.5 bps. Why does it keep emptying, is it simply not enough CO2 for the tank, do i need a bigger cylinder?

 

[2pods]

Well, the co2's been running fine for a few days now. But wait, I just checked and the dam cylinder is empty again! Its a 500g cylinder in a 180 litre tank and ive been running about 1.5 bps. Why does it keep emptying, is it simply not enough CO2 for the tank, do i need a bigger cylinder?

It's not the cylinder.
Something, somewhere is leaking.

Peter

 

[lowee]

Yes. thats what i thought, i think i wil get it re filled then try running it without the solenoid because i think the leak might be in one of those connections.

 

[lowee]

Well, i won't be able to get the cylinder re-filled until monday, so i have reduced the lighting to 1.5WPG for now. I do have a spare nutrafin unit though, should i put the lights on full an hook that up until the cylinder is re-filled?

 

[sophos9]

Ass!

When you get more CO2, get some washing up liquid or equivalent and brush it over every joint, look very closely for any type of bubbles, if you se any at all, fix it or your Co2 will vent to atmosphere everytime