How Long does your CO2 last?

[badgerlaw]

I have a 120 gallon tank and keep my alkalinity at 11-12 DKH. I have a Schuran reactor. I have been running it for about 45 days and it went through a 5lb bottle of CO2. Not sure if this is normal.

 

[dougchambers]

Not normal... Sound like you have a leak. We could get ~10-11 months out of our 5# bottle at ~60-70 bubbles per minute. We recently upgraded to a 15# bottle and it's been great!

Mix a mild soap solution with water and brush all your joints. Look for a bubble and you've found your leak.

-Doug

 

[AZDesertRat]

I get between 8 and 9 months out of a 5 lb cylinder.

 

[gman19]

Usually get 8-9 months off a 5# bottle. I have dealt with leaks too and went through my last bottle in 11 days.

Leaks, to be so inconspicuous, are so very obvious in these cases!

 

[dougchambers]

Make sure you installed the gasket between the bottle and regulator. That seems to be a pretty common mistake.

-Doug

 

[Fishbulb2]

I usually get 2-3 years between fills on my 20lb tank with about a bubble per second. Check for leaks with soapy water.
FB

 

[badgerlaw]

My problem is with the Schuran, I am running about 160 bubbles per minute which is significantly more than other reactors. I tried the soap and water and there were no detectable leaks.

 

[eruss]

Even at 160 BPM, 45 days seems awfuly short for the 5# bottle to last. I run about the same bubble count and can usually get 8-10 months out of a 10# bottle.

Perhaps you got a short-fill when you had the bottle filled.