CO2 usage

[gflat65]

I finally hooked up my Ca Rx in early January (bought it back in May or June). After several issues with poor craftsmanship (nothing a dremel couldn't make better), I finally got it to seal and run. I kept having issues with the CO2 drip rate. I'd set it at about one every second or second and a half and two hours later, it wouldn't be running, or vice versa. Then, after about a months worth (actually less) of running, I ran out of CO2. There had to have been a leak. It's a CR6, so it's huge, but at the drip rate I was using, there is no way I used 5 lbs in the reactor. There had to have been a leak. Does anyone have any other ideas? I checked the ORing and it is fine (everything was brand new). I'll soapy water leak check the tank head and the valve connection when I get it refilled, but is there anything else to check or that makes sense?

 

[fade2black]

Is you bubble counter connected to the regulator or the reactor? I would check evey connection between your bubble counter and the CO2 tank. Better yet, take them all apart and refit them.

 

[J. Montgomery]

I don't have a calcium reactor, but I have worked with my fair share of gas cylinders. Are you using Teflon tape with all of your fittings? I think that taking apart all the fitting and readjusting them very carefully is a great suggestion.

 

[chadfarmer]

local store had the same size reactor and blows through 5 lbs in 2 months

depends on your effuent and how much is let out in the air

dont use teflon tape

use soap to check for leaks

 

[fade2black]

Why not use Teflon tape? I use it on all of my fittings to prevent leaks.

 

[J. Montgomery]

You should use Teflon tape. Wrap it in the same direction as the threads, and wrap it around 3-4 times (smoothly, don't let it bunch up). That should be sufficient.

 

[gflat65]

I teflon'd all pipe fittings, but didn't add anything to the regulator since it has an internal O-Ring. The connection from the the regulator to the bubble counter is a compression fit (nut and ferrule). I'm wondering if the o-ring had some junk in it? If not and I end up using that much, I'll have to find a 10 lb. The 125 is relatively well stocked with SPS and when I was doing the DIY homemade, I had a hard time keeping the levels up, so...

 

[familyreefer]

Gas

I have a 20 pound cylinder on my dual chambered reactor set at 1 bubble every 3 seconds. I have to refill the 20 pounder every 6 months. It's OK cause the media in the first chamber needs to be replenished about the same time.

 

[gflat65]

What kind of system do you have, familyreefer? Since I haven't had a chance to get it completely set up and running for more than a couple of weeks at a time (then fix something to stop the leak around the upper main chamber top and readjust...). I feel as though I have a relatively heavily stocked SPS tank, but that is strictly subjective without a comparison...