5 lbs CO2 won't last

[davidtsx]

Okay so I have a GEO calcium reactor with a reef fanatic regulator. For some reason my CO2 won't last more than a couple of days. It started about 3 weeks ago and I went threw 2 bottles relatively quickly. So I thought something must be wrong with my regulator and stopped the CR and started dosing two part until I bought a new regulator. Now I'm still having the same problem. I don't have any leaks that I can tell. Do you know why I'm having this problem?

 

[davidtsx]

By the way I do have the washer in place and the threads wrapped.

 

[sirreal63]

You have a leak, spray all of the fittings with soapy water and watch for bubbles, if you see bubbles that is where the leak is. Do this away from the sump or tank, soap isn't nice to aquatic creatures. Also, no tape on the CO2 tank or regulator fittings to the tank is needed and can cause issues. If it helps any, I get 12-18 months on a 5# tank, but my CaRx is not stock.

 

[davidtsx]

Thank you. I think I found the leak. At least I hope I did. The only reason I put plumbers tape or whatever it's called on the threads was because the directions of the new regulator said too. My last tank before the major leak lasted me 6 months which I thought was short.

 

[dahenley]

CO2 usage is dirrectly regulated to size of CA reactor and Demand.

Small reactor will use More CO2 because it get exhausted faster due to use. so a large reactor initially will take a lot of CO2 to reduce the Chamber PH and then, it only take a little here and there to keep it low. but all dirrectly related to demand as well.

also, some reactors are more efficient with CO2. larger pumps can circulate more water faster so it saturates the media better with less pooling. also, having a bottom feed reactor will allow any puddled CO2 to be re-circulated via pump. so it doesnt waste any.


For a rule of thumb, if you have a o-ring seal, no teflon is required (it can hinder seals as mentioned above)

(the Soap trick works wonders. i would personally spray it on ever threaded joint there is. even the factory installed gauges. also, what type of tubing are you using? if vynal, then it will leak through the actual line.

you can spray every line on the CA reactor too just to see if you have any leaks. (maybe a push connector isnt pushed all the way.))

keep us updated

(also, my 5lb tank lasts 6-8 months with my 240 SPS tank. (although my SPS are frags and mini colonies. no real show pieces....))