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Re: Valves





>I've been doing the Yeast CO2 method for 9 months now and want to go the
bottled CO2 route for more control.  I've read a lot from the Krib and
others and have a couple of questions.  
>
>I went to the friendliest welding shop I could find via the phone to try
out a CO2 regulator (Victor brand but didn't get model #) they sold.  It
had a tank presure guage and a flow meter (like seen in hospitals) on it.
The output was adjusted via a 1/2 knob on the side of the unit.  It also
comes with 8' of hose for around $100US.  They were kind enough to let me
hook it up and see what kind of control I could get with it.  I found I
could get it down to 1 large bubble every 3 or 4 seconds which should be OK
but it took very little movement on the knob (1 mm) to go from this rate to
3 bubbles per seconds.  Also the valve did get cold very fast as expected
so I wasn't able to tell if temperature affected the output.  Also CO2 tank
presure is affected by room temperature and I don't know if this type of
valve is affected by tank presure (and the guy helping me didn't either).
And the one they let me play with was returned because the flow meter
leaked so it didn't work so I c!
>ouldn't tell it's sensitivity.
>
>So I wonder if people are using this type of regulator (without a pH
controller ) with success or not.
>
For what it's worth, I've been using a common "garden variety" regulator
with good results without a pH controller.  I originally bought the bottle
and regulator from a local home brew supply store to carbonate home brew
beer(worked great).  It has a tank pressure guage and a regulated output
pressure guage.  The control was to gross for use with the aquarium so I
started looking around for a needle valve.  I bought a brass airline valve
(to use until I found a needle valve)and removed the rubber "boot" from the
adjustment screw.  The one I got was pointed (some are flat on the end).  I
screwed the adjustment in tight and found it still leaked through but I
could control the "leak" with the regulator.  It works so well, I haven't
bothered with a "real" needle valve.  Cost, $1.50.

Regards,
Onis J. Cogburn
k5vkq at ix_netcom.com