impur Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 How do you adjust the working pressure though? My regulator is fixed, so i just turn on the tank valve and adjust from the needle valve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 my regulator looks like this: 2 valves and the tank valve. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idProduct=CO3111 I don't think its a big deal, your pressure is way low because your drip is really low, as you turn it up the pressure builds. I do think however that your pressures will be more stable at a faster drip because the pressure at a higher PSI will be more stable. My effluent drip is about (best guess) 2-2.5 drips per second right now and the co2 is about 1 per 2 seconds, it hold 6.8 ph very well. But of course each cal reactor will be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 Ok that helps me out, makes sense too DOH! . I was at 1 bubble per 7 seconds. I'll crank that up. The pH controller will turn it off if it gets low anyhow. I was just a little scared to crank it up too high. I'll leave my effluent at 1 drop per 3 seconds as it seems to do well where its at. I'm gonna reprogram my controller to keep the reactor pH between 6.7 and 6.8, i've got it set with too wide of a range right now at 6.4-6.7. I'm gonna run some soapy water over the connections to be sure there is no leak. Seems odd to me that the tank pressure dropped 10psi in 4 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 nyles are you running the same DIY reactor as Miles and I? It seems that I have to dump a lot of CO2 into the system to get the output pH where I want it, but it seems like it is working well. I am running about one buble every second to second and a half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Well my CO2 tank is empty. Must have been a leak somewhere. And there is not a single place in Eugene/Springfield that is in the phone book thats open this weekend. I don't know what i'm gonna do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 airgas not open on Sat? Welding supply company? Maybe even a diving supply company? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Ok found a tank, my dad has a half full one in rosetucky. I'm headed down in a sec. All welding, brew, soda companies are closed sat/sun. Go figure. I called A TON. I think the leak came from that john guest fitting where the co2 line goes in. The tubing i have is black co2 tubing and 6mm OD. I think the JG fitting is 6.35mm if i do my conversions correctly. I don't know for sure if thats where the leak came from though. I could pull the tubing right out of the fitting, not supposed to be able to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Back in business today. Cranked up the bubble count to 1 every 2-3 seconds and the pH is dropping nicely in the reactor. I programmed it to keep the pH 6.6-6.7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 even if its not set perfectly, with the controller you should be fine. Do you have the controller plugged into the reactor? if so, how? I dont but it would be more convenient if I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 The setups I have seen run ph probe to the cal reactor, and the silenoid from the co2 reg is plugged into the controller and cuts the power to keep the ph from dropping to low. Is this how yours works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 nyles are you running the same DIY reactor as Miles and I? It seems that I have to dump a lot of CO2 into the system to get the output pH where I want it, but it seems like it is working well. I am running about one buble every second to second and a half. Knop C reactor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 Ok woke up to 0 bubbles. The solenoid was open, but nothing coming out. Listened and heard a leak. There was no oring where the bubble counter screws onto the solenoid! Jeez i'm having such a hard time with this thing. Off to Jerry's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 The setups I have seen run ph probe to the cal reactor' date=' and the silenoid from the co2 reg is plugged into the controller and cuts the power to keep the ph from dropping to low. Is this how yours works?[/quote'] Yah thats how mine works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 Back in business. The needle valve is much more sensitive now that its not just dumping the co2 out before the bubble counter DOH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Well looks like i might be golden (fingers) No sign of anymore leaks, pressure holding steady in the tank as well as working pressure. Controller doing its job nicely, co2 comes on about 3 times a day for about 5 min. Effluent at about 1 drop per 2-3 seconds and levels holding steady at 9dKH and 420ppm calcium. Its only been a week and i've gone thru a ton with this thing, but it sure is nice not having to dump baking soda in every morning. The only thing i've still got to do is replace the circulation pump. Using a quiet one 1200 and its loud as hell. But it works and i'm going to hawaii so i don't care this week!!!!! (nutty) (rock2) (nutty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.