marchmaxima
Aquarium Advice Addict
So.. I bought a CO2 bottle, reg + solenoid + needle valve + bc a few months ago. Note the bc is not in this pic becuase I have one on the diffuser end (Dupla nano diffuser + BC)
Since setting it up first time, I've lost all tanks of gas due to a leak I can't find. I need some guidance. The bottle itself is not the issue becuase I swap it for a new one each time at my supplier under a swap-n-go arrangement.
I then weigh it. 10.5kg full. I connect everything and soap test very carefully and thoroughly. No detectable leaks. Switch it on.
This is how things have gone every time I have refilled the bottle....
After 24 hours (day 1) - 10.5kg - guage reading stady
Day 2 - 10.2kg - guage reading steady
Day 3 - 10.2kg (or thereabouts) - guage reading
Day 4 - 8.something kg (guage reading dropping significantly)
Day 5 - Nothing left.
I also soap test morning and night during this period. Again, I can find no detectable leak at any point. he tubing was new when I bought it and I have swapped it out for new tubing. I'm pretty certain the tubing is okay.
I have also used plumbers/teflon tape on all connections and a bunch of other things, someone has suggested the following:
<quote>
- Take off the solenoid from the regulator.
- Buy some plumber's tape (white thin tape that plumbers wrap around pipe's thread before screwing them)
- Screw the regulator to the bottle tightly with some plumbers tape
- Shut the regulator off
- Open the bottle's valve slowly until you see some reading on the reg gauge
- Leave it for a few days and see if reg and the bottle form a tight leakless join by weighing them daily.
- If no leak, then screw on the solenoid tightly (again with some plumbers tape) but leave it's valve closed (unpowered). Open the reg valve slowly and you should see some output pressure on the reg's other gauge.
- Leave the whole set up for a few days and see if the bottle, reg and solenoid form a closed leakless system. Both gauges should show constant readings and the weight of the bottle should remain constant too.
<end quote>
So I know I'm going to sound a complete moron, but I'm willing to risk public humiliation to get the answers.
1. Is the Solenoid just the black bit, or the gold bit too?
2. If it's just the black bit, how do I remove it? It does not look like it can be.
3. Isn't the gold knob the needle valve? turning it controls the flow of CO2 and bubble rate.
I thought the needle valve allows you to change the bubble rate from 0 - whatever provided the solenoid is plugged in. I cannot (don't know how) to get gas going without the solenoid plugged in.
4. If I remove the black solenoid, and gold parts inclusing the needle valve that leaves the solver part. How does one "Shut the regulator off"? (Or turn it on for that matter!)
Sorry, but this thing didn't come with a manual with pictues, I just don't want to ruin anything before I attempt to take it apart.
I sincerely appreciate the guidance. I'll be in the corner with my pointy dunce hat on.
Since setting it up first time, I've lost all tanks of gas due to a leak I can't find. I need some guidance. The bottle itself is not the issue becuase I swap it for a new one each time at my supplier under a swap-n-go arrangement.
I then weigh it. 10.5kg full. I connect everything and soap test very carefully and thoroughly. No detectable leaks. Switch it on.
This is how things have gone every time I have refilled the bottle....
After 24 hours (day 1) - 10.5kg - guage reading stady
Day 2 - 10.2kg - guage reading steady
Day 3 - 10.2kg (or thereabouts) - guage reading
Day 4 - 8.something kg (guage reading dropping significantly)
Day 5 - Nothing left.
I also soap test morning and night during this period. Again, I can find no detectable leak at any point. he tubing was new when I bought it and I have swapped it out for new tubing. I'm pretty certain the tubing is okay.
I have also used plumbers/teflon tape on all connections and a bunch of other things, someone has suggested the following:
<quote>
- Take off the solenoid from the regulator.
- Buy some plumber's tape (white thin tape that plumbers wrap around pipe's thread before screwing them)
- Screw the regulator to the bottle tightly with some plumbers tape
- Shut the regulator off
- Open the bottle's valve slowly until you see some reading on the reg gauge
- Leave it for a few days and see if reg and the bottle form a tight leakless join by weighing them daily.
- If no leak, then screw on the solenoid tightly (again with some plumbers tape) but leave it's valve closed (unpowered). Open the reg valve slowly and you should see some output pressure on the reg's other gauge.
- Leave the whole set up for a few days and see if the bottle, reg and solenoid form a closed leakless system. Both gauges should show constant readings and the weight of the bottle should remain constant too.
<end quote>
So I know I'm going to sound a complete moron, but I'm willing to risk public humiliation to get the answers.
1. Is the Solenoid just the black bit, or the gold bit too?
2. If it's just the black bit, how do I remove it? It does not look like it can be.
3. Isn't the gold knob the needle valve? turning it controls the flow of CO2 and bubble rate.
I thought the needle valve allows you to change the bubble rate from 0 - whatever provided the solenoid is plugged in. I cannot (don't know how) to get gas going without the solenoid plugged in.
4. If I remove the black solenoid, and gold parts inclusing the needle valve that leaves the solver part. How does one "Shut the regulator off"? (Or turn it on for that matter!)
Sorry, but this thing didn't come with a manual with pictues, I just don't want to ruin anything before I attempt to take it apart.
I sincerely appreciate the guidance. I'll be in the corner with my pointy dunce hat on.