Grrr...Darn Leaky Regulators

[Nolapete]

Well, the last of the CO2 leaked out even after I used pipe dope on the low pressure gauge connection. Needless to day, neither me nor my plants are happy at the moment.

I removed the manifold from the regulator, detached the Ideal valve then installed just the Ideal valve back on the regulator with pipe dope. I'm only using one connection right now anyway, so I thought I'd eliminate some possibilities for the culprit.

Tomorrow, I'm taking the cylinder back to be refilled. Hopefully, I can resolve the leak because I can't afford for another $27 of CO2 escaping.

Anyone ever have a gauge leak internally? I am at a loss to where the leak can be.:swear:

[colinsk]

Did you use teflon tape? Also when you assemble the joint pressurize it and spray it with soapy water. If it leaks it will bubble.

[Nolapete]

I used teflon tape as I always have and it continued to leak. That's why I switched to Great White pipe dope. I sprayed it with soapy water and no bubbles anywhere. That's the problem.

I know all these things on how to check for leaks, have used teflon tape for 25 years, and still can't find the bugger. I used to assemble decompression chambers and umbilicals for divers.

I'm going to soap it up really well once I get it home. I have one of those brass bushings with the o-ring in the middle of the 2 brass rings for the regulator to cylinder seal.

I'm going to sit there and watch it for a while once I hook it back up.

[Fordtrannyman]

10#'s of Co2 in 2 weeks is a pretty large leak! How long did you run it in '07?
I would suspect a leak at the CGA320 connector or a gauge.

What's your setup look like?
Parts list from reg. to reactor?

The only hard to find leaks I have ever encountered were some Clippard Brass check Valves I got from Rex. The Barbs were never torqued.

[Nolapete]

Possible leak points

Cylinder <-> Regulator (has brass washer with o-ring)
Low pressure gauge -> Regulator body
High pressure gauge -> Regulator body
Low pressure adjustment assembly (the rubber thing with the screw in the middle)
Regulator body <-> solenoid
Solenoid <-> Ideal needle valve
Ideal needle valve <-> check valve
check valve <-> bubble counter
bubble counter <-> check valve
check valve <-> reactor

It ran for months and I still had a lot of C02 left. I had to replace the low pressure gauge because I knocked over the cylinder and busted it. The low pressure gauge was the only point of contact with the floor. After I replaced the low pressure gauge, I started losing CO2 quickly.

I'm at a loss for where it is leaking from. I'm inclined to take the solenoid off to make it as simple as possible to diagnose.

[Star_Rider]

I just found the leak on my system.. darned co2 hose:swear:

went thru a 20 oz bottle in 2 days:mad2:

on the flip side i have discovered a way of moving away from the paintball set up and going to a regular set up:dance:
re positioned the den and now I can put a bottle in..albeit it won't be a monster bottle.

[Nolapete]

Just returned from the fire extinguisher supply place with my 10# cylinder refilled. The tech there told me that spraying just water on it would cause smoke like from dry ice if there was a leak.

He gave me a replacement bushing and put the cylinder in their tub of water to see if there were any leaks. No leaks in the valve assembly or cylinder. I am going to use the bushing he gave me, but supposedly the brass bushing with o-ring is virtually indestructible.

Once I hook everything back up, I'm going to pour some water on it to see if anything shows up. If nothing shows up after that, I'm going to use soapy water.

[Star_Rider]

good to know.. keep us posted on your results

[Nolapete]

With the new cheapie bushing and just the Ideal valve connected, I have no leaks so far. I tested thoroughly first with water, like the tech had told me, then with soapy water to be certain. CO2 has been running several hours and the high pressure gauge needle hasn't moved.

Tomorrow, I'm replanting some plants that are floating for various reasons then adding ferts.

[mroth_3]

wish i had some input but i've never hooked a co2 bottle up for an aquarium. just a keg. However, if you are paying are paying 27$ for co2, i would suggest you find another store to fill it up. The bottle for keggerator is only about $5 to fill up and lasts for 3 full size kegs. I think its a 5lb bottle. Its probably a little over a foot tall. Maybe check paintball and sporting goods stores. Sometimes bottling companies will fill them too.

[Nolapete]

It's $27 for 10#. Admittedly, it is high, but it's convenient to my office. Most other places would cost me probably $5 in gas to get to in order to save a couple dollars. I'll call around though.

[Nolapete]

Still leak free.