question about CO2 regulators

[xxedgexx]

How exactly should you read the flow meter? Top of the ball, middle or bottom?

Also, does it make sense that the flow seem present even when the switch is off? I'm just trying to ensure I don't have some kind of leak. Even when unplugged, the flow "ball" floats. Right now I have the ball in the middle of the 1. 224 sq ft area. I run the tank for approx 15 minutes, then wait another 30 minutes before kicking in the blower.

thanks

xxedgexx Reviewed by xxedgexx on 09-09-2008. question about CO2 regulators How exactly should you read the flow meter? Top of the ball, middle or bottom? Also, does it make sense that the flow seem present even when the switch is off? I'm just trying to ensure I don't have some kind of leak. Even when unplugged, the flow "ball" floats. Right now I have the ball in the middle of the 1. 224 sq ft area. I run the tank for approx 15 minutes, then wait another 30 minutes before kicking in the blower. thanks Rating: 5

[DTRave420]

How exactly should you read the flow meter? Top of the ball, middle or bottom?

Also, does it make sense that the flow seem present even when the switch is off? I'm just trying to ensure I don't have some kind of leak. Even when unplugged, the flow "ball" floats. Right now I have the ball in the middle of the 1. 224 sq ft area. I run the tank for approx 15 minutes, then wait another 30 minutes before kicking in the blower.

thanks

Man do I feel useless...I'm so inexperienced with CO2...

Sounds like your great at math and I'd sure like to see your 1.224 sq ft area grow with CO2 after you get your flow meter question solved!!!:420thought:

[xxedgexx]

The flow is set to 1. The square footage of my grow space is 224. According to the formula, it really needs about 8 minutes to bring the PPM up to 1500. Problem is, I can't tell if I'm at .5, 1 or 1.5 because the "flow ball" is large enough to span across those gaps.

15 minutes is probably longer then necessary as well.

I really feel like I need a CO2 ppm meter to be absolutely sure, but those things are expensive.

I'm probably just psyching myself out, but it seems like just from 2 days of CO2, my fan leave are huge. I'm approx 5 days into flowering.

thanks

[stinkyattic]

You ARE psyching yourself out, lol.
REad the middle of the flow ball.
CO2 is an art; if your flow is slightly higher or lower you are not going to have a problem because of that, don't fret.

The only thing is that the flow ball is supposed to drop to the rest position when the solenoid clicks off at the end of 15 minutes. If you feel CO2 still releasing from your hose, you have a problem- bad timer or solenoid valve, or your plumbing is incorrect.

[xxedgexx]

Thanks. I also noticed that even when I completely close the valve on the tank, the pressure meter doesn't change...so something seems wrong.

I'm taking it back today to get a replacement.

[rhizome]

The pressure doesn't change when you close the tank valve, as the pressure in the space between the valve and the guage hasn't changed. Slowly back off the reg from the tank until it just starts to leak- the indicator on your pressure gauge will drop.

No drop as described just means that you're not leaking.

[xxedgexx]

That makes sense...

Am I still correct in assuming that the flow gauge should drop when the regulator is unplugged?

There's also a small shard of metal in the flow gauge which just bothers me.