CO2 no workee. What could be wrong here?

T

TomFromStLouis

I am a god to my angels
Feb 26, 2003
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St. Louis MO USA
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After six months i finally needed a recharge on my pressurized CO2 tank. So I dropped it off at the fire extinguisher place where I originally got it filled, picked it back up, and hooked it back up again.

Alas, even though my bubble count has doubled, I have noticed no drop in pH and no pearling (which, at this bubble rate, would have been happening a lot). I figure it could be one of two things: a leak in the system, or they did not put in CO2.

I can find no air leaks from the bubble counter to the diffuser (an AM CO2 REACTOR 1000 in the stand) - I used soapy water to test the connections - or anywhere else for that matter. I cannot see inside the diffuser to see bubbles mixing in the water. No bubbles are coming out the spray bar. So the gas is either diffused or I missed a leak or.... what? Anything i am missing here?

Help! The riccia is browning...

ps - I called the recharge place and they only stock CO2 so it seems doubtful they gave me the wrong gas.
 
If everything is as it was before disconnecting and there are no leaks, the only possibility that I can see is an incorrect pH test result.
Have you changed anything in the tank that would cause the CO2 to gas off?

Len
 
What kind of filter are you running?
If you have increased the bubble rate and are not getting a lower pH there are only three explanations that I know of. Either you're not pumping CO2 into the tank, the gas is leaving the tank and not being absorbed, or there has been some change in the tank or system between the old CO2 bottle and the new.
All things being equal, I can't think of any other reason for the pH not coming down.
BTW, I would very careful and watch the fish because I've seen people over-dose on CO2, nearly killing fish, without plants pearling.

Len
 
WARNING: INJECTION OF STUPID IDEA AHEAD: WARNING

I had the same problem, last time I changed out my 10lb CO2. Turns out, the rubber O-ring at was supposed to be at the top of the bubble counter (the glass and metal kind, attached to the regulator) had fallen out during the change. Once I located, washed and replaced the lil' bugger, everything went back to normal.

WARNING: NOW LEAVING VARIABLE GRAVITY ZONE: WARNING
 
Thanks both of you for your thoughts. I have triple checked the line from bubble counter to the tank and can find no leaks. The cannister filter is prior to injection. Alas, I cannot see into the reactor to make sure bubbles are getting dissolved.

I appreciate the input, but I can't figure this out. My problem. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something stupid, but it does not seem that I am missing anything obvious. If there is a leak, it is an insidious and unobvious one.
 
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With the power reactor I use, you can see inside it. And, if I turn off the little Rio pump, I could use the reactor itself as the bubble counter -- meaning I wouldn't need the separate bubble counter I have.

It would help if you could see inside your 'reactor' to make sure you are getting the CO2 in there.... :(
 
update - I may have found the answer!

I was telling a friend about my CO2 woes - since it was ineffective I had turned it completely off and was watching my riccia slowly die off :( - and asked him to just go through the steps for me. He turned on the tank and opened the valve to the bubble counter. Way open. Gas was pouring out faster than I ever dared.

Shazam! Bits of algae crap and big bubbles came pouring out of the spray bar! It appears that my diffuser has been severely clogged with scum which somehow prevented the CO2 from getting into the water. Not sure about the details, but the jam has cleared and I suspect everything will be back to normal.

I am concerned that the diffusrer/reactor can clog in just 6 months since it is designed to never be opened and I cannot clean it. Anyone have this issue with AM CO2 Reactor 1000? I have it inside my cabinet and no light ever really gets in there. I am surprised so much grows on those bio balls in such an environment.
 
I had that very concern with sealed inline reactors. How are they intended to be cleaned? I still do the CO2 line into the filter intake trick. Seems to work well for me. Then again, I can't remember why everyone moved to power reactors anyways.

My only questions about your situation is where was the CO2 going if no into the water. I doubt if some crud would hold a even a days worth of CO2 without totally blocking the flow of water out of the filter. Just my two cents, let us know how it turns out.
 
I have wondered where the CO2 went. Posssibly there was a very tiny slow leak somewhere in the system, like the bubble counter, that only leaked when the back pressure got to the point it must have gotten to. I do not really know, and now that all is working just fine, I will not worry about it.

Movin' on.
 
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