Hagen Nutrafin CO2 System - no bubbles at all?

J

JotaDe

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Apr 14, 2003
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Set this up, the instructions are fairly simple, on my 6 gallon eclipse system. Added the correct amount of white sugar, then the two packets (activator & stabilizer) and added luke warm water. Twisted the cap on securely, then gave an extra twist. Added the tube and fed it into the diffuser.
Waited a whole day an not one bubble came out of the tube. So I looked for an obvious leak and couldn't find one. I blew air through the tube and that worked well so I assume there is no leak in the tube. Emptied out the mix and started a new mix and after another day still no bubbles. Very frustrating.

Any ideas? I've searched and can't find this as a common problem for this system so I must be doing something wrong. Too much tubing maybe? I tried placing the unit above/level/below the aquarium with no luck. I even removed the tube and could see bubbles forming at the top of the canister so the mix must be working. Maybe there isn't enough pressure to push the CO2 all the way through the tube and force it out underwater?

Any ideas on what I can do with this Nurtrafin system to get it to work?
 
sounds like a leak to me.. did blow holding pressure into the tube while it was attached to the canister?
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, and PPMN, your reply intrigued me.

This is what I got from the Installation Instructions on the length of time till bubbles start (copied from manual):
The first bubbles should be seen between 2-10 hours. At first, the bubbles may have some difficulty staying in the Bubble Counter/Diffuser. This is normal. After 24-48 hours, the unit will be fully functional.

Where in the instructions is this 2-3 day comment?

Very likely I missed it, though if this is true it should be in a more noticeable location.

The system is at my office, so I'll be in on Monday to check it (that should cover the 2-3 days).
 
I went back and reread the instructions. You're right, it says:

"The first bubbles should be seen within 2-10 hours."

I guess I was referring to this part (and even then I got it wrong...1-2 days not 2-3 *rolling my eyes at myself*)

"At first, the bubbles may have some difficulty staying in the counter. This is normal. After 24-48 hours, the unit will be fully functional."

I read an online review that said it doesn't always work the first time like the instructions say, that it may take 48 hours to see any bubbles at all, but now I can't find it. When I first set mine up it took about 36 hours or so before I saw anything, and then it was just a bubble every minute or so, but pretty soon they were shooting out pretty quickly. Ever since then (I don't completely rinse) it only takes a few hours for the bubbles to get started.

Anyway, like you said by Monday there should for sure be bubbles. :-)
 
Dumb question, but are you sure you have the tubing in the right spot in the bubble ladder? I made this mistake myself, at first. I had the slanted part of the tubing snapped into the bubble ladder below the notch, if that makes sense. It's supposed to be above the notch, and that solved my problems. If that isn't your issue, just give it a few days. I think the suggested time depends on how low the CO2 canister is relative to the height of your tank. It took mine a few days to start making bubbles even after I adjusted the hose position.
 
Replace the hagen package with 1/4 tsp of regular yeast and 1 tsp of baking soda. If you use wine yeast you drop the baking soda. Should see bubbles in less than half an hour. If you don't you have a leak or the yeast is bad.
 
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