Unstable Co2

[spankone]

i'll set my bubbles in my bubble counter at 4 bpm i'll leave it for a few hours then its either slowed down to 2 bpm or gone made and doing 12bpm is it temp changing my bpm?

 

[sophos9]

You have a natural kit?

 

[spankone]

no its a pressurised hydor kit

 

[SuperColey1]

Those Hydor kits are notorious for going loopy. I've read no end of complaints about them, and those little bottles are damned expensive too.

IMO. DIY is much better than that kit. More reliable and better control!!! (waiting for the YOU WHATs from everybody on this comment.)

I have 2 Nutrafins and 1 x 2Ltr Cider bottle all connected to a 3 way manifold then 1 pipe out to the Non Return Valve, then Bubble counter and then ceramic diffusor on my 125ltr tank

I get 2 bubbles per second going through the counter and loadsa bubbles out of the diffusor, my drop checker is almost always bordering on the light green to yellow high CO2 zone.

I'd rather it was bordering on the dangerous than the hydor (I'll turn myself up to 60ppm routine) I'd search the threads on here.

They do sell well on ebay though for some strange reason. Probs because they look quite cool compared to a large boringly coloured red, grey or black cylinder.

Andy

 

[Dave Spencer]

The first thing I would try is changing the NRV.

Dave.

 

[spankone]

th no return valve is after the bubble counter

 

[SuperColey1]

It should be CO2 > NRV > Bubble Counter > Diffusor.

This will stop any water from the bubble counter as well as the tank getting into your cylinder

Andy

 

[spankone]

any way i've pulled it out and its still all over the place

 

[spankone]

well i email the uk rep and this was is what was said

Hi I recently brought myself the hydor advanced co2 system, the one with
the
2 gauges and I cant seem to get a consistent bubble rate. Do you have any
advice for me to fix this problem. Also do you know if I can fit a solenoid
to the system to shut the co2 off at night....


Many thanks in advance yours sincerely Martyn Kelly

Hi Martyn,
I hav come across this problem with the advance system once before when the product was being used in a local shop. Basically what happened is that adjustment was necessary +/- u several times until the unit balanced itself which it eventually did. The shop suggested running the item on a lower than expected bubble count first then as pressure settled it was there or there about the expected flow.
Solenoid valves are available as follows and can be ordered through your local shop.

Part No H01602 Hydor Solenoid Valve RRP £54.99.

Kind regards
Paul.
Paul Mason.
UK Sales Manager
Hydor.

 

[spankone]

sorry for posting 3 times in a row but i feel i have justify this

They do sell well on ebay though for some strange reason. Probs because they look quite cool compared to a large boringly coloured red, grey or black cylinder

the standrad version has no gauges and is normaly sold for £99 the you need to add p&p i brought mine for £92 including p&p and a second bottle that should be according to the P.R stuff hydor puts out enough co2 to last me up to a year. and space was a limiting factor this unit being so small is such bonus. i just got to get it to work now

 

[amagphoto]

After alot of research on this forum and other sites, pressurized CO2 systems really are easier and cheaper in the long run if you get the right one....I have a RedSea CO2 Pro system, it is great. Uses standard "paint ball" canisters, cheap and easy to find at local sporting goods store...has selonoid shut off and the works for around $180. You might want to check it out.....

 

[SuperColey1]

Both types are sold on ebay. The one with gauges and the one without. I always thought they looked quite cool and was originally going to buy one if they would fit 500g disposable cannisters but I read so many bad reports that I settled for the Nutrafins and added a 2 Ltr bottle as well.

Hope the advice the salesman gave you works though. Maybe he's right and it will solve your probs. I think I heard this solution somewhere else as well about starting slow and increasing the pressure gradually

Andy

 

[spankone]

just like to say its worked

 

[SuperColey1]

Nice one. give us some updates on how long the bottle lasts though. might be interesting

Andy

 

[spankone]

oh deffo i've been away for 2 days and just left it alone and its setled and already the plants have grown so much