Pressurized CO2 failure! What happened? URGENT

kimmisc

kimmisc

is in your closet.
Mar 12, 2007
963
0
0
50
Florence, SC
When I set this up a week ago, the tank pressure was 800psi, I set the regulator to 15psi and adjusted the needle valve which made the pressure read as 5psi. It's been that way ever since until today.

I noticed the pressure was reading 12psi, then look over and the tank pressure is at 200psi, in the red "order gas" area. What has happened all of a sudden?

The tank CO2 is still normal. Is this a regulator failure? :( Did I really empty a 5lb CO2 tank in a week?
 
Everything is tight, and I used the CO2 tubing and metal check valve from Rex.

It has a solenoid which is plugged into a timer.. turns CO2 off at night. I'm also using a pH controller, so CO2 shuts off when the corerct pH is achieved. The result is the CO2 doesn't run much time at all.
 
Where did you get the tank? Are you sure it was full when you got it? You definitely shouldn't be emptying a 5lb. tank in a week. Mine last a few months and that is running 24x7.
 
Even at 12 psi, the only way to empty an entire cylinder in a week is that there is a leak between the cylinder and regulator. Make sure the plastic sealer is in the connection between the regulator and cylinder correctly. Do a bubble test. This *could be* a leak in your regulator, but I doubt it. If your downstream pressure is at 12 psi, that means the leak is upstream. Meaning either inside the regulator itself or in the connection between the regulator and cylinder.
 
Okay a rubbed liquid soap all around that big nut between the tank and regulator. I didn't see any bubbles. I don't hear any hissing. Should I rub soap anywhere on the regulator?
 
To clarify, the pressure has read 5psi everyday until today. It went to 10+psi on it's own today... overnight. The tank has also said 800psi everyday until today.
 
The soap/water gave different results. I didn't have the big nut quite tight enough. Nice $75 mistake. A bubble was forming slowly. I can't believe that was enough to empty my tank so fast. *sigh*

Oh nm, $12 refills. A $12 mistake is much better. /panic mode off.
 
yep, got to make sure it's sealed up, but like you said, at least it's only a $12 mistake.


The pressure spiked due to what's called an end of cylinder dump. At lower pressures, some, eh, less expensive regulators(meaning, every regulator used by fish people) have trouble maintaining their downstream pressure. As the cylinder nears empty, the pressure drop across the regulator changes, and sometimes you have to adjust your downstream pressure.
 
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