| Skimmers/Equipment/Reactors Archive Threads about skimmers, auto top off, kalk and calcium reactors, etc. |
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10-15-2002, 08:23 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 222
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Calcium reactor regulator
So where can I purchase an affordable and reliable regulator. Do I really need to spend $150.00 on a dual gauge regulator to get good results or controlability?
Sean
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10-15-2002, 10:41 PM
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#2
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,889
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You will absolutely need dual guages. In fact I'm not even sure you can buy a regulator with just one guage. The first guage reads the tank pressure and the second guage reads the working pressure. Besides it's not the guages that makes them so expensive.
I only have experience with the MMM regulator and I'm not thrilled with it. Shortly after it went out of warranty the solenoid became unreliable. Sometimes it won't reopen after the power has been disconnected from it. The needle valve is also hard to fine tune.
Hopefully others will chime in and recommend a good one.
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10-15-2002, 11:37 PM
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#3
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Going Broke
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: OR
Posts: 1,594
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I have 2 regulators that only have 1 guage and it tells me the tank pressure. As far as the second gauge, I've had other regulators with dual gauge (M3 and forgot the other one's brand). But the second gauge really didn't tell me much. What really matters is how much CO2 is being released into my reactor.
I have the JBJ Regulator that I bought off ebay for about $100 and another regulator from LFS for $140. Both have single gauge and has been working great.
So, IMHO, I think you only need to have one gauge to give you a fore warning on when you are going to have to replace your CO2 tank. You really don't need a guage, but it helps to tell that your Co2 bottle is full or near empty. Once it's empty, your bubble counter will stop bubbling.
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10-16-2002, 12:33 AM
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#4
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 45
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Give Andy a shout at
http://www.myreefcreations.com/reactors.html
He sells a nice setup kit at a reasonable price. As far as the second guage not telling much, I would have to disagree, especially if your new at adjusting one. The second guage will help you to know/control the pressure at the needle valve to a reasonable starting point so that you can get used to controlling the bubble count. Especially if your starting with a low count of say less than 20 bubbles a minute. If you think back to your first encounter with the regulator you may remember these troubles  JME.
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Billy
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10-16-2002, 01:05 AM
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#5
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Going Broke
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: OR
Posts: 1,594
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Hmmm.... interesting view, but I'm still not convinced that you really need the second gauge... but that's just me. Even with the JBJ with the one gauge, I can get it down to 20 bubble or lower per minute.
I guess there could be some valves that are not strong enough to handle a full tank pressure. Then I would be convince that the second valve is reguired. But then that is a property of the needle valve. The needle valve is nothing more than a small valve with a small orafice to allow small amount of gas to pass through. Guess the needle valve by M3 fits this model. I actually took my M3 regulator apart before finding it's way to the trash. There was nothing special to it.
i could also be off basis, but I have spoke with some LFS owners here and they have also determined that the second guage is not required if the needle valve is designed to also handle high pressure.
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10-16-2002, 01:57 PM
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#7
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Automotive Paint Nerd
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 603
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I got my duel gauge regulator from a brewery supply place  for $50. Of course that did not include a needle valve which I had to get separately. I don't use a solenoid or anything special, all I have is the reactor, tank, regulator, needle valve. It's worked for me so far. |
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10-16-2002, 04:58 PM
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#8
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bug hunter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: PDX
Posts: 815
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"Do I need a regulator with a solenoid for use with a PH controller?"
Yes you do. The PH controller will cut power to the solenoid when the PH gets low.
I have a single guage regulator and I don't see what good the extra guage would do.
All you have to do is open the valve on the CO2 bottle and adjust the needle valve to controll the amount of BPM you need. I don't even look at the guage.
Jon
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10-16-2002, 05:06 PM
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#9
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Automotive Paint Nerd
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 603
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Oh does he have a pH controller? If so, yeah you need a solenoid, but if you aren't going to be running one dont worry about it.
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10-16-2002, 06:35 PM
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#10
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,889
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Quote:
Originally posted by chewie
I have a single guage regulator and I don't see what good the extra guage would do.
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I'm not sure those needle valves are made to be operated under high pressure. Without the second guage you don't know if you're operating at 5 psi or 500 psi. The guage isn't the expensive part of a regulator.
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