Co2 tank - How long should it last.

[Booswalia]

How often would you need to fill a 10 lb Co2 tank on a 25 gallon aquarium?

I only got mine about 3 weeks ago and it's in the red, "order more" area all ready. Is that normal?

[Godslayer]

I usually get about 3 months out of my 5lb bottle. So I'd guess you'd probably get about the same, maybe a tad less. Check for leaks.

Bob

[gcvt]

That's definitely not normal. I'd recommend a thorough check for leaks on all fittings.

My 10 lb. tank lasted almost a year (357 days) at a rate of 1 - 1.5 bubbles per second.

[gcvt]

Originally posted by Godslayer
I usually get about 3 months out of my 5lb bottle. So I'd guess you'd probably get about the same, maybe a tad less. Check for leaks.

Bob

If Booswalia has twice as much C02 as you do, how do you figure he/she would "get about the same, maybe a tad less" than what you get? :confused:

[Godslayer]

Sorry... I have a 10G :) So a 5LB bottle lasts me ~3 months therefore he has 2.5x as much water volume and 2x as much CO2. So I figured it should last roughly the same amount of time, probably a little less. Now that I think about it, there are more variables than just the bottle size and volume of water that will effect the CO2 usage. But anyway, 3 weeks is definitely not normal.

Bob

[Jeremy S]

Godslayer, just because you have a bigger tank doesn’t mean you use more CO2. :) I have a 10 lb bottle and it lasts 7 months on my 75 gallon tank. I have it at about 1 bubble per second.

Booswalia, take some soapy water and put it over all of the connections to find the leak. You also want to make sure you have a washer where the regulator and the co2 tank connect. ;)

[Skittyfish]

Boos-mine did the same thing. Twice! I finally had to buy new air line and cut out my bubble counter. I must have had a major leak. Its been a month and my little needle on the gauge hasn't moved that I can tell.

Definatly check for leaks or buy new line. And by the way, I had siliconed around everything, turns out the air was making its own path out of the silicone.

[punch]

I have a 10 lb. and it last me almost a year on a 65 gal. tank.

[Booswalia]

Thanks. I will definately have to check for leaks.

Should I just use silicone if I find one?

[punch]

Depends where the like is, Maybe get a new line.

[Godslayer]

Godslayer, just because you have a bigger tank doesn’t mean you use more CO2. I have a 10 lb bottle and it lasts 7 months on my 75 gallon tank. I have it at about 1 bubble per second.


Hence,


Now that I think about it, there are more variables than just the bottle size and volume of water that will effect the CO2 usage. But anyway, 3 weeks is definitely not normal.


:)

[Booswalia]

Tried the soapy water thing but didn't find any leaks.

I changed the line from the one that came with my Hagen CO2 kit to one of those bright blue/green silicone type.

Guess I'll have to wait and see now if it continues to drop.

One thing that seemed odd. When I was checking the connections I turned off the tank itself. Then when I hooked everything back up I forgot to turn it back on. It was still be sending bubbles through though. I realized after a few minutes that I hadn't turned it back on.

What PSI do people generally set it at anyway?

[Jeremy S]

The out going psi should be set at about 15-20. When I shut my co2 system of at the main valve it takes about a half an hour for it to stop bubbling. Do you have a washer in-between the co2 regulator and the cylinder?

[Booswalia]

It doesn't look like there's a washer there.

Actually now that I'm looking at it. There's a white plastic thing hanging there that I never did use. Hmmm, looks like a washer to me. Would it be plastic???

I think I better go have a closer look.



:rolleyes:

[Booswalia]

Well now....that should fix 'er right up.

Thanks Jeremy. Now please tell me you knew to check that washer thing because made the same dumb mistake. I'll feel much better about it that way. :)

Somebody did that.

......right???

Anybody????

[aquatic-store]

Aplace were i usually got leaks was where the tubing attached to the regulator. The silicone tubing didnt cut it. If thats the same for you get some co2 proof tubing it is more rigid and less likly to leak becuase you can tighten the adapter on better

marc Russo
http://www.Aquatic-store.com

[cpr4cpu]

hey boos, don't feel bad man, I went through 2 5 piounders before I realized I had a loose fitting.
I also cranked the regulator down to 3psi (as low as it will reliably work) and a better quality needle valve. I am running 1 canister, two reactors, and getting about 4 bubbles a second.. tank lasts about 5-6 months. (on 24 hours a day)

[125gJoe]

My 10lb. tank lasted less than a year.

I also found my exterior bubble counter had a faster count rate then what was reaching my Power Reactor! Where's the leak? At the exterior counter?

[Godslayer]

80gJoe:

Don't forget water pressure increases with depth. Therefore the bubble release rate will be faster at a shallower depth than a deeper depth, given equal CO2 pressure.

Bob