co2 is already gone? what to keep regulator pressure on ?

Although I have only been using CO2 on aquaria for a few months, I have used them in the lab for decades, so here is some (hopefully) usable input.

Sounds like a leak. If your bubble rate is correct, the CO2 tank should last for a whole lot longer than that. Well, you didn't actually say how long your tanks last, but it sounds like not very long. If it's not going into the tank, it must be going into the room, and presumably it's at one of the joints, either from tank to the reg, the reg to the solenoid, or the solenoid to the valve. Are they all sealed with teflon tape and snugged down (except the tank-to-reg connection, which has a gasket)?

CO2 regulators knobs do indeed turn "funny," so that's not a problem. You seem to have the pressure up pretty high, though. Mine is down at a few psi/kpa, just enough to register a pressure. It's not necessarily a problem, but higher pressures can make the needle valve difficult to adjust at the low end, and the higher pressure makes leaks more of a problem.

One way of looking for leaks is to put a little soapy water at the joints and look for bubbles. Just be sure to clean up afterwards.

Originally posted by mogurnda
...(except the tank-to-reg connection, which has a gasket)?... ...One way of looking for leaks is to put a little soapy water at the joints and look for bubbles. Just be sure to clean up afterwards.

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Excellent Advice!!

What was strange with my regulator is that the 'gasket' didn't fit. Teflon Tape did work though.

I had trouble regulating the flow, but it has stabilized. I will not buy AquaMedic again since it is a "fixed" pressure regulator, and I didn't like how long it took to stabilize.

Yeah, what Dave said!!!!!!
You didn't say what size your CO2 tank is, but even a 5# tank should last a minimum of 3 months. You have a leak somewhere.

My regulator has it's own gasket and doesn't need anything else in it. It even says in the instructions it needs not gasket.

To repeat one thing.....make sure you have teflon tape on all joints.

Joe, what do you meant the pressure has to stabilize?

Len

Originally posted by djlen
... ...Joe, what do you meant the pressure has to stabilize? Len

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It took maybe 5 days to get a steady bubble flow at the bubble counter. I had/have no leaks... To me, that's too long to get a stable flow of CO2.

"it took maybe 5 days to get a steady flow".......

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Strange.

Len

djlen, I blame the needle valve - but I'm not sure... AquaMedic re-designed their regulators, so maybe the one I got is finnicky...(?)

I prefer 'adjustable' regulators, not 'fixed' pressure..

At least it's ok now.

Also you want to make sure that all of your connections are done using teflon tape. Wrap each thread with 2 wraps (in the direction of the thread when going together) and that will eliminate any pressure escaping as it wicks its' way around the threads.

HTH

PP