Regulators

[Sparrow]

My Aquabushe regulator for my CO2 tank is a worthless piece of crap. I'm looking for a new regulator. Any local suggestions? Does anyone know of a CDN industrial supplier such as harborfreight in the US? Or homebrewery store?


Thanks.

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

What kind of a problem are you having with your regulator ? Is it not regulating or leaking ?

- Victor.

[Sparrow]

First I could never keep a constant bubble rate, it kept dropping over night no matter what I did. So I decided to puchase a new needle valve. In the mean time I broke the old one (it doesn't turn anymore) but that's okay I had the new one. Much better, but it still constantly leaked from the barbedhose to the needle valve despite getting a clip for it and then ensealing it in plumbers goop... then wrapped with electrical tape... and then sealing it again with more goop... still leaking (from that spot - using the bubble test).. Perhaps the size of the Co2 hose is too large? When I bought it, it came with that hose.....

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

I don't think you need a new regulator...you might need a better hose or a better needle valve. You might need an adapter to provide a better fit between the hose and your needle valve -- much cheaper solution.

Do you know what size your hose is (inside diameter) and the size of your barb fitting ?

- Victor.

[Sparrow]

Problem is that its the barb fitting on the regulator. It's so short that it does not fit snuggly. I think I'm gunna take it to Cancarb tomorrow to see if I can a fitting put on to it. There's a hottie there, of all places. ;)

I have no idea what the size of the barb. I'll see if I can my hands on a micrometer to measure it. The hose is 1/4" Od x 170" ID.

[reefburnaby]

Barb fitting on the regulator ? Oh...you mean you have a hose betwen the regulator and the needle valve.

Anyway...its hard to debug the problem over a board. Take over to a good welding supply store and explain your problem. I am sure they will give you some good advice.

- Victor.

[Greg Moore]

I found most regulators available outside of the reef hobby are not suitable in that they are to big of a range in pressure.

I ended up making a dual stage that works better then I could have wished for. Stage one is a cheap beverage regulator made for soda fountains or beer draught taps. It ranges from 0-100psi and was $49 cdn. I then used a propane regulator for the second stage. Most people don't realise it, but propane and natural gas are generally used at extreemly low pressures, you natural gas furnace probably runs at 0.5 psi. I found a cheap (used) adjustable propane regulator from an old camping heater and mated it to the beer reg. I now run about 1.5 psi (needed because my reactor is below tank level) but could drop it down to .25 if I wanted to.

I has been rock stable with no change in bubble count. I even heated and cooled the combo with no change. A side benifit in my case is that without the reactor pump running, 1.5psi isn't high enough to flow CO2, result, hydro fails, pump stops, CO2 shuts off :)

Greg Moore

[Dman]

Greg,
Nice trick, going to have to give that one a try when I get my reactor up again.
Way Cool
:dance: :dance: