CO2 regulator setting

[springboard]

I have a pressurized CO2 system running to a ceramic diffuser in my planted tank. I noticed that when the solenoid activates that it takes very long before I see any bubbles emerge from the diffuser. Sometimes this can be over 30mins. Currently I have the regulator set to ~18 psi and adjusted the needle value to about one bubble per sec once the bubbles start emerging. Is this normal to take that long before bubble emerge?

[Captured Moments]

I don't use ceramic diffusers but I am pretty sure it shouldn't take that long for bubbles to start appearing. Try disconnecting the hose at the diffuser and see if bubbles rise from the end of the hose shortly after the solenoid kicks in thereby isolating the diffuser which could be plugged.
The other possibility may be that you have a leak somewhere.

[gklaw]

Hi Isaac. Your regulator outlet pressure may be too low? Try opening the valve at the regulator a bit more to say 20-25 psi. Your bubble rate should be controlled with the needle valve (not by the regulator).

[2wheelsx2]

Maybe the outlet pressure meter is faulty? 18 psi should be plenty to get the diffuser going, unless you have a leak or the diffuser is plugged. Is the diffuser clean? How long a run is the tubing from the needle valve to the diffuser? How deep is the diffuser from the surface of the water? All these things will affect the pressure needed to run the diffuser. I used to run 15 PSI for my ceramic diffusers, and now run 25 psi for my bazooka atomizer.

[tang daddy]

Here's another reason why it may take so long, as soon as the co2 turns on it will take awhile to fill the co2 tube, say if the tube is 4ft long at 1 bubble per second it could take up to half an hr before reAching the diffusor. I bet you don't have a check valve on the co2 line....

When the co2 turns off the positive pressure in the hose turns to negative and would probally back feed tank water into the line (happened to me before) and when it starts back up it has to push all the water sitting in the line.

A simple way to fix this problem is have your co2 solenoid come on with a separate timer atleast 1 hr before the lights.

Problem solved!

[2wheelsx2]

Here's another reason why it may take so long, as soon as the co2 turns on it will take awhile to fill the co2 tube, say if the tube is 4ft long at 1 bubble per second it could take up to half an hr before reAching the diffusor. I bet you don't have a check valve on the co2 line....

When the co2 turns off the positive pressure in the hose turns to negative and would probally back feed tank water into the line (happened to me before) and when it starts back up it has to push all the water sitting in the line.

A simple way to fix this problem is have your co2 solenoid come on with a separate timer atleast 1 hr before the lights.

Problem solved!

Good point. But the proper way to fix the problem is to use a one way check valve at the top of the tank. If the water gets into your solenoid and hten your regulator, it'll be game over, bye bye regulator.

[gklaw]

Ah, missed the 18psi part, that is plenty. I actually use 2 check valves to protect the reg.

[springboard]

I bought the diffuser from J&L about a month ago. It's submerged in about 10" of water placed close to the inlet of my filter. But the hosing is quite long, maybe about 10ft since I didn't want to cut it incase I need it in the future. It shouldn't be the diffuser since bubbles do come out. And I don't happen to use a one-way value. I'll put one in just incase.

[2wheelsx2]

Put in the one way valve and shorten the tubing as much as possible and the problem should go away. If it doesn't, you'll want to check for leaks with soapy water. Tubing is cheap, I wouldn't worry about wasting it.

[tang daddy]

Thanks for the correction Gary as I was writing it too fast if forgot to say the check valve which I had mentioned in the first paragraph. Dual check valves and a separate timer ftw!