How to build a CO2 regulator for your calcium reactor.
- Thread starter alanle
- Start date
ReefPharmer
Active member
Will one w 0.055 cv work for our purpose ?
I'm not trying to be mean to the seller but that's a total rip off. If he includes the CGA320 nipple then it's fair.
You can put some soldering leads on the wires. That will solve the problem.
SchnitzelReef
Active member
bling bling
Those regs are really nice. I Couldn't find any for a good deal when I was looking.
How's this setup looking so far?
Holidays got me busy, so I hadn't Teflon taped anything yet, but it's sitting in my garage all pretty.
I tried using the yellow Teflon tape when I first started putting this rig together, and I ended up destroying the threads on the 1/4" nipple and the 1/4"x1/8" 90. $40 mistake.
I was literally too lazy to look for the white Teflon tape. Which I ended up finding the next day in my tool box.
Also wanted to verify, for the 12v Burkerts, a 500ma 12v power supply is good. Right?
Those regs are really nice. I Couldn't find any for a good deal when I was looking.
How's this setup looking so far?
Holidays got me busy, so I hadn't Teflon taped anything yet, but it's sitting in my garage all pretty.
I tried using the yellow Teflon tape when I first started putting this rig together, and I ended up destroying the threads on the 1/4" nipple and the 1/4"x1/8" 90. $40 mistake.
I was literally too lazy to look for the white Teflon tape. Which I ended up finding the next day in my tool box.
Also wanted to verify, for the 12v Burkerts, a 500ma 12v power supply is good. Right?
12v 500ma will do
The ones with a gasket is face seal fitting (VCR from Swagelok). Advantage is it prevents leakage down to micron level. The disadvantage is it's expensive and bulky. You are fine with the regular npt fittings. That ss-4bmw is a high flow valve. It will work but VERY hard to dial.
jverna1
Member
Ok i got my regulator together and Im leak testing it but I'm having a problem, I did the first stage test which held great all night at 900 but when I open up the regulator for the second stage it doesn't go to max pressure. Also when I turn the regulator to close it up again the second gauge just drops to zero. I have it totally hooked up with the solenoid and all. Your directions say the solenoid should just not be plugged in and it will hold pressure but its not. I did the soapy water test and no bubbles so does that mean my solenoid is bad?
How to build a CO2 regulator for your calcium reactor.
What solenoid are you using? Make sure you hear a click when you plug in the power adapter. What is the psi reading on the low pressure gauge when you fully open the second stage?
What solenoid are you using? Make sure you hear a click when you plug in the power adapter. What is the psi reading on the low pressure gauge when you fully open the second stage?
Can you still turn the knob when the psi at 34? If the knob is locked at 34psi then it's normal. That's the max working pressure on the reg. Your solenoid is supposed to cut off the co2 when you unplug the power adapter. Check the connection on the co2 tank. Make sure you use the nylon washer and tighten the connection.
jverna1
Member
I found it. There was a leak going into the solenoid. The first time I did the soapy water test I used my finger to get the water in the joint this time I used a pipet and there it was bubbling away. I'm a *******! Hey Alanle thanks for all your help with this and answering all my questions we all wouldn't be able to this without your guidance.
