Will my solenoid stick open?

[CBWMN]

Hi everyone,
I started this thread in the eauipment forum and didn't get a response. SO, maybe it S/B in teh planted tank forum:

Will the solenoid stick open???

I’m fairly new to pressurized CO2. I have a Milwaukee MA957 setup with a SMH 122 controller and have had no troubles with after I learned how to hook it up.

I have the controller set at 6.4 pH which gives me about 60 ppm of CO2.
The solenoid is on a timer so no CO2 is injected after lights out.

I read that the solenoid will sometimes stick.
Is there any indication when this may happen?

If so, is there a way to prevent an OD of CO2?

Since I purchased the setup used, I did buy a new solenoid and replace the old one about two months ago.
The old one was still working.

Thank you
Charles

[Izzy2]

60 ppm of Co2 seems high. How are your fish acting?

Back to the question... Yes, I have two ma957's with bad solenoids. The first stuck open one night on a slow bubble count and I caught the reactor full when I was showing the tank at 2am. The other one buzzed loud when one day. I unplugged it and noticed the bubbles in the counter still going steady. Could of had a bad problem in both tanks if I had not caught it in time. I now have the powerhead feeding the 1000 reactor attached to the 122 controller. Alot of co2 is wasted in the chamber when no water flows through but the solenoid is not involved.

Try connecting your powered reactor or powerhead to the controller. The Co2 will flow, but it will not be dissolved into the water. If you use a non-powered diffuser or your canister filter to dispense the Co2 then this may not work.

[timwag2001]

what i did was adjust the bubble rate real slow so that my ph controller stayed at the ph i wanted. that way if the solenoid sticks open it wont cause to much of a problem

[CBWMN]

60 ppm of Co2 seems high. How are your fish acting?

Try connecting your powered reactor or powerhead to the controller. The Co2 will flow, but it will not be dissolved into the water. If you use a non-powered diffuser or your canister filter to dispense the Co2 then this may not work.


what i did was adjust the bubble rate real slow so that my ph controller stayed at the ph i wanted. that way if the solenoid sticks open it wont cause to much of a problem



Thank you for the tips.
I have 3 angels and 2 ABN’s in my 46 G., and they act OK, however tomorrow I will slow the bubble rate and take the pH up to 6.6 or so.
I have been injecting through the XP2 canister until today. I hooked up a powerhead and stuck an airstone into the intake. Seems to work but now I have a bunch of current.
The fella that sold me the setup also sent a DIY reactor that is inline with the hose of the canister. BUTm the thing is huge. I may experiment with it or order a commercial reactor.

Thanks again
Charles