Wanted to share a problem I had with one of my UNS mini regulators. I still don’t know how or why this happened, but after running for months the pressure had dropped to 0 and wasn’t going up. I checked for leaks and clogs on the outside and didn’t see anything. Finally realized I have to take it apart (these things aren’t cheap). I’m not a mechanical engineer so I thought maybe something was blocking the airflow internally. I ruled out the sort of external stuff that connects to the canister and finally got down to that internal bit where the pressure is supposed to build with the big stiff spring inside. At that point there was nothing left that I could disassemble so I stupidly decided to try rinsing it out with vinegar. I thought maybe some lubricant had gotten in there. I was attempting to use the pressure from the gasket to force the vinegar through. This actually worked as far as getting bubbles to come out. The gauge was reading well past the red line but bubbles started to come through (bubbles, vinegar and lubricant). I disassembled it again to dry out the remaining vinegar and try to figure out why the gauge is red lining at the lowest settings. Put it back together and again it’s stuck on 0. I’m guessing these things are supposed to have some kind of internal pressure by default, so when I reassembled it aside from the vinegar I also added that pressure that was supposed to be in there. I finally managed to reassemble it in a way that has a certain amount of pressure by default (30 psi). So the gauge is normalish now, solenoid is working, the pressure valve is definitely not quite factory. It does increase and decrease the pressure but the range is not quite the same and feels stiffer. Also don’t know what kind of damage I’ve caused with the vinegar. I’m getting bubbles at a steady rate though and the regulators shuts down as intended so it’s definitely an improvement. But yeah mostly wanted to share in case someone is dealing with the same problem. My impression was that this a was a mechanical issue.

Great channel and content. You break down things into simple everyday language.

Great advice! Thank you for sharing!

Very helpful and thorough - thank you!

You just saved me a ton of money and time! I thought I had to buy a new regulator until I watched this video! Thanks

Thanks for the thorough overview

Thanks always helpful👍

Great video 👍

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This was very helpful

Where was this video 3 months ago! I had my bubble counter crack. So the bubbles would come out as expected, but leak out the top instead of going into the tank. Took so long to figure it out. Great video.

Hi thank you, problem solve

Hi, I have a doubt, my solenoid keeps vibrating when open, I usually just turn it on and off until it doesnt sound, but after it gets turned off i think it keep producing a small amount of co2 that last until the next day. I will try to replace it

Great video thanks for sharing. Also I have a quick question, (Soda stream system) doesn't matter how much I turn on my needle valve, I get only one bubble for every 7 second, there is no leak or no other visual problem. Not sure what is happening, any advise please mate

you're almost at 30k !!!

Hello! What water do I use for my Monte Carlo low tech tank, I am buying the plant soon and I want to know if tap water is good to use. I currently have substrate that is nutrient rich and I plan on adding fish once the tank is balanced. If tap water is safe to use, should I add water conditioner or will that kill the Monte Carlo

I'm having weird problems about my Co2 it is brand new 5lbs. I tried to spray it with soapy water but didn't find any leakage. My Inline diffuser is doing ok since it produces bubbles specially if I just turn it on high. Problem is, I filled my 5lbs CO2 tank cylinder and it only lasts almost 1 and half months, given the fact that I'm having high BPS like 8sh but I can't lower or drop my PH at least 1 drop (mostly 0.4-0.6) I even have a Co2 drop checker solution but I never see it turn dark green or yellow. I wanted to ask what is happening here? Did I do something wrong?

Having an issue, new to co2. I bought one of them baking soda/citric acid setups. Got it all setup, but when I plug in the solenoid and it turns on, it creates absolutely massive bubbles, creating explosions on top of the water. Massive "gulps". Hard to explain, they're not just larger air bubbles coming from the diffuser, they're literally massive bubbles the sizes of golfballs that will shoot water out of the tank. Any ideas?

So I think I’ve got a good question you might be able to help me with! (If you so kindly would anyways) I have a dual stage regulator and I have my needle that checks how much is going into the fish tank itself, set at 40 psi. Sometimes I’ll catch it just slightly (only by 5 at max) going down. This makes me have to increase the flow by however much it slightly goes down every once In awhile. What cause that pressure to have to be increased again thru out the day like this? Everything else that you’ve mentioned seems to be doing great. Btw love what you do! Please Keep doing what you do!!! it helps me and I’m sure so many others out!!

Thank you for such helpful information, I now know I just need to replace my cheap needle valve.

nice info..👍👍👍🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹...

Hi what are remedies for drifting needle valve? It start drifting after i refill my co2 tank

Mine problem is my mufan solenoid regulator each time i switch it on.. i need to adjust back once again the BPS.. if not the co2 gas are not flowing out at all.. why this happens? How to fix?

I'm using a UNS Mini co2 regulator and I just got a timer for the socket (been running it for a couple of weeks now manually turning the needle nose off) and when I cut power to the solenoid it's still letting co2 through the line! I'm not too sure if the solenoid is malfunctioning or if it needs a cleaning. I keep the gauge set at 25psi like the manual says to.

I was checking how much co2 I’ve used yesterday and I did a leak test as usual. I saw what looked like an extremely small leak at the back of the regulator where it’s connects to that arm that than connects to the co2 tank. I can’t seem to tighten or losen that piece even though it has threads, I believe it’s got some sealant on it. How do I make sure that it’s actually a leak, it’s so small that I could barely tell it apart from normal bubbles popping in the soap and water mixture. Should I just leave it ? I have probably had this leak for years but I’m not sure. I would estimate that it’s leaking less than a bubble a minute, difficult to estimate tho. I did a test where I open my co2 tank (with solenoid and needle valve open of course) then turned off the solenoid and then shut the tank valve. I left it for 10 hours and I could not see a decrease in either gauges. Btw my co2 usage is about 2.4kg in 230 days , this is on a 70L high tech tank, using an in tank diffuser. Thanks

Hi, interesting!

I have northern brewer C02PO and the knobs won't turn at all. Anyone know why?!

One thing with the solenoid is, if you have one that's been running for a while, and suddenly when it's off, it still lets co2 through, it may just need to be cleaned. Take it apart, carefully noting how each piece fits in (there's not a whole lot, a nut, a washer or two, the pison, and a spring - typically) and clean everything using Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol, including inside the block. It may not even look dirty but little specs of dirt can cause it to malfunction.

Can I use a CO2 cylinder if it has argon mixed with it ?

I set 1BPS co2 then one hour later reduce to 4BPS automatically then its totaly turned off. please help me!

I set up my tank with yer co2 setup from the planted tank setup, and the aquatek co2 mini valve broke lmao. The needle valve on it unscrewed...

How should I diagnose a CO2 regulator where the working pressure isn't going above 28psi. The diffuser isn't releasing any bubbles.

When selenoid off, my working pressure raise up like crazy, then safety valve open. A week latter i ran out co2.

What kind of check valve do you use?

Probably a safe assumption that if the solenoid is de-powered and still allowing bubbles to enter the bubble counter before the line its bad and needs to be replaced correct?

Great information! When I setup my tank it will have Co2 and be heavily planted.

I just bought my regulator and set it up as the directions said and the working pressure wont go above 0, but I have 900 psi for the tank.

I have no leaks but using a 24Oz paintball tank I can only achieve 2bps for 10 days, after that 1bps max. Is there something to fix this or I just need a bigger co2 tank?

wow ok... no BS, i bought a new co2 system today.. and i cant get the pressure to stay stable.. i havent watched this yet but its freaky...

My CO2 cylinder just supplies a lot of CO2 in the tank, it was bubbling like hot water , all my fished died

another video where no one mention why the water is going back to the tubing when the timer goes off even passing thru the check valve.

Do we really need co2, isn't it really like adding miracle grow to plants on land? In other words the plant will be just fine without it, but with it we can boost the growth...? how do plants get co2 in water naturally, wouldn't a wet dry or hang on or air stone provide enough interaction with the air/co2 or do the plants in a small tank really use up that much co2?

Boss, you Pinoy?