CO2 regulator

R

Reefugee

New member
Hello All,

After tweaking with my calcium reactor for a week, I am pretty convinced that the CO2 regulator on my calcium reactor is shot. I would start the bubble count, and get it going at the rate I want. The next day, no more CO2 would come out. So I would readjust it, and next day, it would stop again. This has been going on for over a week now. I need to order a new regulator. Any particular brand people recommend? Any good place to order it from?

I was considering the JBJ CO2 solenoid regulator for $81 (shipped) from Ebay. If you have any other vendor, I am open to suggestions as well.

Ebay Auction for JBJ

Minh
 
Did some research myself, Minh.

I've read good reviews on Gen-X, JBJ, Reef Fanatic, and Blueline. Mostly read bad stuff on Milwaukee.

I've strongly considered springing a bit more on the Reef Fanatic cause it's chrome-plated.
 
Before you go and buy and new regulator, take it to a local welding shop (like Barnes Welding Supply over on 50 & Power Inn) and have them take a look.. could just be a simple part that you need, or even just some type of calibration..

i have the JBJ one now and can say the bubble counter is a POS.. it cracked on me after about a month; now i just run the tubing straight to the needle valve.. other then that, it's a decent unit..

remember that front valve we talked about at the meeting? well, the JBJ has a bolt there and can't be adjusted (or at least i'm not going to try adjusting it with a wrench)..
 
Minh, are you using a pH controller to run the CO2 or just using the bubble counter and approximating CO2 use based on effluent?

I always set my needle valve pretty wide open and switched the solenoid on and off with a pH controller (Pinpoint brand). This way the solenoid only runs long enough to dump a bunch of gas into the reaction chamber and then shuts off. Long periods of ON solenoid cause wear on the valve (evident by the heat when I touched it). The controller maintains a pH in the chamber of 6.3 - 6.5 and only ads gas when the pH would climb above 6.5. Dump in the gas until it drops to 6.3 and shut off (maybe 30 seconds open every 2 hours).

The bubble counter on my reactor was an irrelevant piece of decoration and really had nothing to do with accurate operation of the reactor.
 
Rich,

I was going to use the going to use the solenoid to control the count. Maybe I will do what you are doing and just open it wide, and let the controller do the job. I have a controller on order - which should be here any day now. :D

Minh
 
My DIY reactor from 2001

My DIY reactor from 2001

Hey Minh, here's how I mounted the probe in my DIY reactor:
43056Ca_reactor1.jpg


...and a closer (blurry) view of the fitting I used:
43056pH_probe1.jpg


Check out this thread on some creative probe holders for Ca reactors. You'll want the probe submerged in the reaction chamber, or somewhere in the path of effluent flow, and mounted so that it won't collect gas and dry out the probe.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2550714#post2550714

post by crash519 (click link)
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5000391#post5000391
 
Rich,

Thanks for the info. I am going to hold off on purchasing a new regulator until I try you idea out.

I do like your idea of probe mounted inside the reactor chamber - but I don't know if I have enough guts to try it. My calcium reactor is a MRC CR1.

Minh
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6997992#post6997992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thereefgeek
I always set my needle valve pretty wide open and switched the solenoid on and off with a pH controller (Pinpoint brand). This way the solenoid only runs long enough to dump a bunch of gas into the reaction chamber and then shuts off.
Click to expand...

Rich.. I run my setup in the reserve of what you just described.. my controller is used as to measure the tank pH and is a safety net for when/if ever it gets too low.. my bubbles are controlled via the needle valve and the solenoid is wide open 24/7/365.

never thought of running it wide open and letting the controller actually control the Co2.. :hmm3:
 
If you're running gas 24/7, doesn't that cause the solenoid to overheat?! By holding the drip of the effluent above the waterline in the sump in a turbulent area of flow, the effluent had a chance to off-gas and not lower the pH of the tank. Plus, my DIY reactor had a multi-pass recirculation loop in it. The gas usage was very efficient and any bubbles that collected at the top of the chamber were drawn back into the venturi of the circulation pump and re-utilized.

Minh, I used a "cord grip" from Home Depot (1/2", found in the electrical isle). I "customized" it with some O-rings found in the plunbing isle ;)

You can buy one ready-made to grip (and seal) a pH probe from http://www.automatedaquariums.com/p8mc.htm and then install it into a PVC tee like JB NY:
DSCN3103.jpg


Here's a link to dialing in a CaCO3 reactor:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

And another easier to understand by Sanjay:
http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/s_joshi_062997.html

Of course you know (prepare for WMC plug), Sanjay Johsi is coming to the WMC and I bet if you bought him a drink you could sit in the bar and chat about reactors :lol:
 
Minh-

My pH probe is checking my effluent as well. What I did was bough a tall, narrow glass vase from Michael's and drip my effluent into it in my sump, and the probe is within the vase. It does some off-gassing i nthe vase, and then overruns the vase into the most turbulent portion of my sump. The vase was under $5.
 
Rich.. My solenoid is hot, and still works; proven by the occassional refill bottle change.. also, my pH has never dip below 8.2.. it ranges between 8.5 and 8.3 most of the time so i'm not too worried about the controller failing to shut off the solenoid.. the controller has never tripped on it's own under normal conditions.. i'm actually thinking about switching it for a Pinpoint monitor just to see the 1/100th reading :)
 
I was planning on having the controller check the effluent as well. I was going to use a tall shot glass (or something similiar), and have the effluent drip into it. My probe would inside the shot glass. Cheap and it would work. Rich's setup with the pH probe inside the reaction chamber looks nice. However, I don't know if I trust myself enough to drill into my calcium reactor.

BTW - my Pinpoint pH monitor will monitor the pH of the tank.
 
Wouldn't make more sense to use the controller on the tank and the monitor on the effluent?? if you're effluent is steady at 7.6 (average pH for dissolving most media) and drops your tank down to below 7.8, the monitor isn't going to do anything.
 
Huy,

You bring up a good point. The problem is that I cannot reliably control the bubble count on my calcium reactor. I once had my bubble count spead up and dropped the pH in my calcium reactor to pretty low (can't remember the exact pH). I guess the other option is to hook up to two pH controller in series. But a second pH controller will have to wait until later. :D

Minh
 
Or take the regulator to a welding shop and have them take a look at it.. from what i understand, the only component that can't be recalibrated/repaired is the solenoid.
 
Calcium Reactor problems

Calcium Reactor problems

Minh,
Do you have a pump pressurizing your calcium reactor?
I ran my Korallin 3002 reactor for quite a while without a feed pump, as it will draw water on it's own. I could never get my CO2 output to be stable for more than a couple of days.
I finally started feeding it with an aqualifter and now have no problems keeping the CO2 output consistant, and I don't use a needle valve. Just the regulator adjustment.
Let me know if that helps.
Thanks,
Donovan
 
Donovan - My calcium reactor is being feed by my return line. The return line (from sump to tank) has several T's with gate valve. One of these T's is being used to feed my calcium reactor. Previously - I have been able to control my bubble count. But recently - I haven't been able to do it.

Huy - Actually, I was able to fix the solenoid. When I purchased it from you, you had told me that the solenoid was stuck open. I was ready to purchase a new solenoid, but then thought why not trying to fix it. I can't really break it if it's already broken. :D I took the thing apart, and gave it a good cleaning. The solenoid is now working great! I may take your advice and bring it to a welding shop to see if there is anything they can do. DJ's in Woodland has been really helpful to me, so I will give them a call later this week or next week. BTW - if anyone from Davis ever needs CO2, call DJ's welding. Since he lives in Davis, he's willing to meet somewhere in Davis to swap out CO2 bottles.
 
Donovan,

The Aqua Lifter only has a flow rate of 3.5 gallons per hour. Is that fast enough for a calcium reactor? it seems pretty slow to me.

Minh
 
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