Adjusting CO2 Bubble Rate

[H@rry]

I spend a lot of time trying to adjust the bubble rate for my calcium reactors. The slightest movement of the needle valve causes a 30+- difference in the bubbles per minute. Who has found a regulator/needle valve combination that allows for micro adjustments?

 

[roshi719]

You need a regulator that you can adjust the working pressure on. That is what shows on the second gauge.

 

[roshi719]

But if you have the reactor hooked up to a pH controller, then it really doesn't matter as much

 

[H@rry]

I don't have a controller so I took that part off the regulator. I have the working pressure set to 10 PSI but it's still real hard to make micro adjustments.

 

[roshi719]

I'm assuming that you are using a brass needle valve?

 

[roshi719]

What kind of a bubble rate are you shooting for?

 

[H@rry]

I'm trying to get about 180 bpm right now. Any movement at all and it jumps between 160 - 200. This needle valve is not brass but on another tank I have a brass one that was supposed to be the hottest thing that I got from Premium Aquatics (I think) a couple of years ago and it's not any better.

 

[roshi719]

That's a pretty good bubble rate. I'm no expert but you may be close to the needle valves limit as far as what it can fine tune for you. A pH controller with a probe in the reactor, or at least in a cup that your effluent pours into would definitely solve the issue for you. You could let it go to 200 bpm no problem then. I would try bumping up the working pressure to 15 or 20 and see if that gives you a little better fine tuning at the higher bubble rates. My .02