Wanted- Final Instructions On Co2 Tank

[2pods]

Thanks to Dave Spencer, Blue Acara and others, I'm currently at this point with my first ever pressurised co2 setup (it's an Aquamas with external reactor).

(sorry for borrowing Dave's pic)

I have the reactor all plumbed into my filter, regulator and solenoid ready to go.

However, does the reg need to be tightened with a spanner ?
What controls (tap on the bottle, knob on the reg, needle valve) get used, and in what order ?

and finally.....what is that thing around the back of the bottle (looks like another tap ) and do I use it ?

Thanks to everyone for their patience and help
Peter (with the sore brain)

 

[BINKSY]

well this is how mine works, when i change my bottle i turn the knob on the reg out about 2 and a half turns, then fully open the knob on the bottle, the pressure of the bottle can then be adjusted by the knob on the reg to sit about 1 to 1.5 bar, mine always sits at about 1 bar, then the final adjustment is made on the needle valve to achieve the bubble rate required, i hope this helps you out and not confused you too much.

Nearly forgot, yes i nip up the reg with a spanner i also use a washer on the reg, but i understand that you can use ptf tape on the threads as well.

Also what reactor are you using sounds like a external if so i would be interested in some pics of it as im thinking of getting a external reactor.

Cheers Gordon

 

[2pods]

Thanks Gordon

Of course, it's 9.50 at night, and I don't have a 30mm spanner

It's this one

Peter

 

[BINKSY]

you are welcome Peter, a pair of pipe grips will do the trick too,


Nice looking reactor, is it one from the german site from ebay?


Also have you got a bubble counter, and a non return valve in your co2 tubing? sorry for asking if you have, just cant see them in the pics.


Cheers Gordon

 

[2pods]

you are welcome Peter, a pair of pipe grips will do the trick too,


Nice looking reactor, is it one from the german site from ebay?


Also have you got a bubble counter, and a non return valve in your co2 tubing? sorry for asking if you have, just cant see them in the pics.


Cheers Gordon

Yes, it's the Aquamas one everyone seems to be getting

The bubble counter is a piece of red plastic inside the reactor, and the NRV is built in to the bottom.
There is also a vent tap at the top.

Peter

 

[2pods]

I seem to have it going (touches all wood nearby), now I just have work out how many bubbles ?

So far it's 1 every 30 seconds - too much, to few ?

Peter

 

[chr15_8]

Thanks to Dave Spencer, Blue Acara and others, I'm currently at this point with my first ever pressurised co2 setup (it's an Aquamas with external reactor).

I have the reactor all plumbed into my filter, regulator and solenoid ready to go.

However, does the reg need to be tightened with a spanner ?
What controls (tap on the bottle, knob on the reg, needle valve) get used, and in what order ?

and finally.....what is that thing around the back of the bottle (looks like another tap ) and do I use it ?

Thanks to everyone for their patience and help
Peter (with the sore brain)

hi sorry its a bit of topic/hijacking

but does the water go in through the bottam and out the top? and can you clean the sponge inside?

thanks

with your questions ive just set my co2 up and tightend my reg with a pair of grips i turned on the knob on the co2 then the one on the reg and looking at your setup / dave reg i dont think i have a needle valve! (no fish/livestock so i guess no harm can be done except letting all the co2 out)

 

[2pods]

Thanks to Dave Spencer, Blue Acara and others, I'm currently at this point with my first ever pressurised co2 setup (it's an Aquamas with external reactor).

I have the reactor all plumbed into my filter, regulator and solenoid ready to go.

However, does the reg need to be tightened with a spanner ?
What controls (tap on the bottle, knob on the reg, needle valve) get used, and in what order ?

and finally.....what is that thing around the back of the bottle (looks like another tap ) and do I use it ?

Thanks to everyone for their patience and help
Peter (with the sore brain)

hi sorry its a bit of topic/hijacking

but does the water go in through the bottam and out the top? and can you clean the sponge inside?

thanks

with your questions ive just set my co2 up and tightend my reg with a pair of grips i turned on the knob on the co2 then the one on the reg and looking at your setup / dave reg i dont think i have a needle valve! (no fish/livestock so i guess no harm can be done except letting all the co2 out)

Filter outlet goes into the top of the reactor, then out of the bottom into the tank.

Peter

 

[chr15_8]

Filter outlet goes into the top of the reactor, then out of the bottom into the tank.

Peter

thanks

 

[BINKSY]

Hi, thanx for the info on the reactor sounds like a nice piece of kit.


i run my tank at 1.5 bubbles per second, my tank is a 240 litre and fairly well planted,

To work it out you need a kh test kit, below is a simple formula


you then multiply your tank volume in litres by the kh result and then divide this by 50 this gives you an estimate of a good starting point for your bubble count


Lets use my tank stats as an example


Tank volume 240 litres

KH 12



So 240 x 12 = 2880

2880 divide by 50 = 57.6


so if i was just starting out in co2 injection that means i would be aiming for 57 to 60 bubbles per minute which should give you 30 ppm

There are also charts on the internet which you need your ph and kh stats and it will tell you from the charts if you are hitting the 30 ppm


There also is the standing water test

Basically you take a cupful of your tank water

Let it stand for 24 hours

Test the ph of your tank water

Test the ph of the water in the cup

The ph of the standing water should be 1 lower than the water in your tank, you will be very surprised at the results of this test i know i was, just keep an eye on your fish they will let you know if you are using too much co2 as they will be gasing at the surface.


i know there is a fair bit of info above and i hope i have made it clear enough for you to understand.


Cheers Gordon

 

[2pods]

Thanks Gordon

The big problem is that most of the time my KH is immeasurable
To my knowledge, there are one or two people on the forum who have the same problem.

I think its about 1 per second now
I've been using the ebay drop tester so far, with the supplied reagent and some 4KH water I got from Bill over at the Barre Report (though I hear Aqua Essentials are selling it now) and I've managed to get it turning green.

The fish look OK so far (touch wood), but I'll give the formulae a try anyway.

Ta

Peter

 

[2pods]

I've just measured pH and KH, which are 6.8 and 2 respectively.

So that gives me 400L x 2KH /50 =16
60 seconds divided by 16 = 3.75 seconds between bubbles.

Does this sound about right ?

Peter

 

[BINKSY]

yes its right by the formula, but i have heard of people having problems before with a low kh, where as my ph was about 8.0 before i was using co2 it now sits at 7.0, it just does not seem many bubbles for a tank of your size, below is a link to a chart i mentioned above, going by the chart you need to up your co2 level a little.


PH KH Chart



Cheers Gordon

 

[2pods]

yes its right by the formula, but i have heard of people having problems before with a low kh, where as my ph was about 8.0 before i was using co2 it now sits at 7.0, it just does not seem many bubbles for a tank of your size, below is a link to a chart i mentioned above, going by the chart you need to up your co2 level a little.


PH KH Chart



Cheers Gordon

I must have my stupid head on, but It doesent seem to make sense.

I look down the KH axis to find 2.0, then along the pH axis to find 6.8, which references at 9.5 Co2 (which according to the chart is to low)
However, the chart doesn't suggest how to increase Co2 while stiil having the same pH and KH

I'm also getting an "error on the page" message from IE 7
Peter