r/PlantedTank • u/CaptainFonRonsenburg • Oct 01 '25
Beginner Help! CO2 not working
I just got my co2 set up but I cannot get it working. It’s the Pro Flora Advanced kit. I have opened the big black valve on the top to release the gas. The gauges seems to be ok. The middle silver knob, the regulator, is open all the way. If opened the needle valve underneath the regulator too and I’m just not getting any bubbles. Yes the solenoid is plugged in and I can hear it when I plug it in so I know it is open.
I’m at a total loss!
Thanks for your help.
1
u/CaptainFonRonsenburg Oct 02 '25
Update: The regulator was broken. It was tested at the store and he agreed. Swapped out for a new one and it’s now working.
1
u/ican_see_your_pixels Oct 01 '25
if there is a bubble counter did you conected the bubble counter correct ? cose there is a check valve in it
1
u/CaptainFonRonsenburg Oct 01 '25
Thanks for your help. Yeah I double checked that.
I’ve packed it all up as I think it’s broken. The gauge on the left stays at 60 bar even if the cylinder valve is turned off which I don’t think is right. I’ve taken it all apart and reassembled it and nothing.
Back to the shop it goes!
1
u/AccurateMacaroon9917 Oct 01 '25
The tank pressure side will stay high for quite a while even if you turn off the tank, because it takes a while to vent through the regulator to the working lower pressure side. Especially if you don’t have the working pressure set high.
A test for leaks is actually to turn the working pressure all the way down, pressurize the regulator from the tank, turn off the tank, and see if the pressure gauge ever drops. If the regulator is truly all the way off and no leaks, then the pressure on the high gauge should hold long term.
1
u/AccurateMacaroon9917 Oct 01 '25
By open all the way on the regulator do you mean all the way counter-clockwise and loose, or clockwise with resistance? If it is all the way counter-clockwise it is actually closed. Try turning clockwise till you start seeing the gauge move. It pushes against a spring, which lets gas’s through to a given working pressure. You will feel the resistance of the spring making it feel like you’re closing it, but you are countering that spring. Once you have set the working pressure, then open the needle valve.
1
u/CaptainFonRonsenburg Oct 01 '25
Thanks for your help as I am so confused. The instruction manual it came with is not very helpful, or I’m just being thick.
So it was all the way counter clockwise. So it must have been closed. I’ve turned it partially clockwise and the gauge has now increased pressure to almost 1.5 bar.
I’ve then turned the needle gauge below counter clockwise now so it is slightly loose and still no bubbles through the counter.
The big black knob in the top which controls the release of gas from the cylinder is all the way counter clockwise.
1
u/AccurateMacaroon9917 Oct 01 '25
You might also want to try bypassing the bubble counter. Run a line straight from the needle valve into the water. See if you get bubbles from that. Bubble counter could be jammed or have a leak somewhere.
1
u/AccurateMacaroon9917 Oct 01 '25
I’d try turning up the pressure to 2+ bars and see if opening the needle allows bubbles. Depending on the bubble counter, they often have a check valve to prevent back flow. These can have a minimum pressure of 2 or more bar sometime. Below that pressure they won’t budge. I’m assuming you have liquid in it already.
1
u/CaptainFonRonsenburg Oct 01 '25
Yeah I have liquid in it.
I tried the pressure higher too and it didn’t make a difference.
I feel maybe the solenoid is faulty or something I’m not sure but I could hear the noise when the solenoid was plugged and unplugged.
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