scott711 July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 I get a lot of evaporation because of the higher bubble count that I have in my CA reactor. Aside from using RO/DI water and the actual bubble counter liquid, is there anything that people have found to be similiar in viscosity to the bubble counter liquid that they have used?
Origami July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 I'll have to check, but I think that the liquid in my bubble counter on my calcium reactor is just the saltwater in the reactor. What brand of reactor / bubble counter are you using, Scott?
Coral Hind July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 I tried saltwater once and it caused the needle valve to corrode pretty fast.
Coral Hind July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 Does viscosity really matter? Once you dial it in via pH to a bubble count for that type of liquid, then just remember what the count should be. I doubt the bubble size will change much. I searched a planted tank forum and they use mineral oil from a drug store.
scott711 July 26, 2013 Author July 26, 2013 not using bubble counter liquid. Just RO/DI, but I don't like to have to replace the water do to evaporation. I read that glycerin and mineral oil might work.
Origami July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 I tried saltwater once and it caused the needle valve to corrode pretty fast. My bubble counter's actually on the reactor intake side, not on the CO2 tank. Maybe that's the difference? I run a Koralliin c3002. You can see the bubble counter just to the left of the brass-colored check valve.
Coral Hind July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 That makes a lot of sense, smart design. I've always had the bubble counter on the regulator.
Origami July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 Well, so my setup does nothing for Scott's question, then! Glycerine or mineral oil both sound like they'll work. Glycerine has a high affinity for water, so it would actually attract and capture any moisture that might be in the CO2. I can't see any real benefit to that and it might cloud up the glycerine mixture later on. Mineral oil sounds just fine, though.
scott711 July 26, 2013 Author July 26, 2013 Well, so my setup does nothing for Scott's question, then! Glycerine or mineral oil both sound like they'll work. Glycerine has a high affinity for water, so it would actually attract and capture any moisture that might be in the CO2. I can't see any real benefit to that and it might cloud up the glycerine mixture later on. Mineral oil sounds just fine, though. Awesome. Thanks for sticking to topic
freshfins July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 I've always used glycerine in my bubble counters on planted tanks. Works great, doesn't evaporate or cloud.
Coral Hind July 26, 2013 July 26, 2013 Great first hand info, thanks for sharing. Do you have to re-fresh it at all or does it stay pretty stable?
Coral Hind July 27, 2013 July 27, 2013 Wow, that sounds really stable. I wish I would have found out about that trick years ago.
Tink July 27, 2013 July 27, 2013 Mineral Oil for sure, used it in my planted tank for years. It's a very popular solution.
Coral Hind July 27, 2013 July 27, 2013 I wonder why it's been used in planted tanks for so long but I don't think I have ever heard it on reef tanks before. Any draw backs that might bother a reef tank?
Origami July 27, 2013 July 27, 2013 I wonder why it's been used in planted tanks for so long but I don't think I have ever heard it on reef tanks before. Any draw backs that might bother a reef tank?Maybe because planted tanks use way more CO2 than reef tanks on average? That is, they're more common since plants thrive on enhanced CO2 levels so more people have had to find a solution. I think that both solutions are practiced regularly in the planted tank world. Either should be easily removed from a reef tank either biologically or mechanically (skimmer) I think. (Sent from my phone.)
Tink July 27, 2013 July 27, 2013 (edited) Maybe because planted tanks use way more CO2 than reef tanks on average? That is, they're more common since plants thrive on enhanced CO2 levels so more people have had to find a solution. I think that both solutions are practiced regularly in the planted tank world. Either should be easily removed from a reef tank either biologically or mechanically (skimmer) I think. (Sent from my phone.) +1 Went through about 50lbs of CO2 in a couple years. I can't think of any drawbacks to using it, except drinking some Edited July 27, 2013 by Tink
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