Regulator trouble. Please help!

[extinguishfire]

Well I have trying to get my calcium reactor dialed in and having problems with the milwaukee ma957 regulator. I am on my 2nd regulator and still fustrated with it. The first one I would get the bpm set and then 30 mins later there would be no bubbles at all. I did everything to their instructions over and over again with no help. So I returned it and got another one. Well the second one did the same thing and upon talking to folks at milwaukee they said I had to much back pressure at the needle valve and that is why the bubbles would stop. They said I needed a higher flow needle valve and told me that I could drill the presently owned needle valve out or they could mail me a replacement needle vavle. I opted for the replacement needle valve instead of screwing mine up with a drill. Well with the needle valve still the same prob. Well per their instructions and troubleshooting info they said to leave the needle valve open all the way and adjust with the main regulator control valve. Well I went ahead and decided to just adjust with the needle valve and that cured that problem. Bpm was consistant now.
But now my levels have been rising.
day 1 alk 12 cal 465
day 2 alk 15.5 cal approx. 520

After day 2 I lowered the bpm and did the test again on day 3 and couldn't tell how much higher on my tests it would be.

So I decided to turn the co2 input off by unplugging the regulator today to let the values of alk and cal drop on their own to testable levels since my test only go to 16 alk and 500 cal(salifert). Unplugging the regulator however didn't stop the flow of co2. Am I understanding it right that the bubbles are supposed to stop when the regulator is unplugged right? That is what the controller I have is supposed to do when the ph gets to low is shut off the co2 I thought. So I am thinking that now the solenoid must be stuck or something.
I am thinking now about taking the reg. back to the lfs and getting another one. What kind of regulator does everyone else use and/or recommend? What other brands are there out there? Do people have problems like this with the regulators?
I am so fustrated with this cause I want to my corals back in my tank that are being held by a friend. Sorry this post is so long I just thought I would give the full story.

 

[MarineSnow]

I'm still having trouble with mine, too, Chris. I get frustated when I think of all those people who said, "I just dial it in and forget about it." What I have to do is, "dial it in, remember it, dial it in, remember it, dial it in remember it...."
:?

 

[nobody]

I'm no expert here since my Ca reactor has only been running for about 2 weeks. But here are some observations:

@extinguishfire wrote:

There has to be some pressure to maintain buble rate. I cannot understand the MA957 instruction about ignoring the 2nd guage part. I have the MA957, too. I basically set my buble rate to about 15 per second (best count effort) with the needle valve fully open, then dial it in. Seems to work OK for me.

@extinguishfire wrote:

I'm sure you know this, but your Alk and Ca levels are rising because you add them to the tank faster than the corals are consuming. I would lower the effluence rate here. You might have to lower the buble rate to avoid pH from going too low.

@extinguishfire wrote:

Do you hear any clicking sound when you plug in the solenoid? My bubles stop as soon as I unplug the solenoid. From your description, it appears that the whole thing was damaged when you replaced your needle valve.

 

[Servo]

Hey Chris,

I assume you are running a pH controller to your effluent? What is your alarm at? Raise the pH to shut of the CO2 at a higher level. So if your meter is set at 6.5 increase it to 7.0 and slowly lower as needed. The lack of CO2 will decrease the amount of substrate breakdown and decrease the Ca. This may or may not adjust the alk. You can change the flow rate thru the reactor to make that adjustment.

The other thing to do is dial back your bubble count. That sounds like it may be a little more problamatic for you.

Good Luck Amigo

 

[extinguishfire]

@nobody wrote:

I did do lower the bubble rate and the effluent level. Bpm count is working fine now.


@nobody wrote:

No I did not hear any clicking sound like the solenoid was turning on and off. I did hear it however after I changed out the needle valve, so I am sure that I didn't damage it. The needle valve was just a simple unscrew and screw back in type of thing.

 

[extinguishfire]

@Servo wrote:

I am running a milwaukee controller and I understand what you are saying. I have mine set at 6.3 since I have the larger schuran media. The prob. however that doing anything with the ph and controller does mean a thing when the solenoid is not turning off the co2. The bubbles just keep coming no matter if the solenoid is plugged in getting power or not plugged in.

I have taken off the regulator and am taking it back and ordering another type.
Anyone know of another good brand that works well.

 

[slallen]

Sorry I did not see this post earlier. The issue here is the solenoid is not working. You can call Milwaukee and they will send you a new one. If you unplug the regulator the solenoid should click and turn the valve OFF. No bubbles should be seen when there is no power to the regualtor. If this is not happening then the solenoid is defective. Easy to change. 4 screws and it is done.

Call Milwaukee and they will make it right, or if it is new you may be able to exchange it at the store. Plug it in at the store it should click when power is applied and removed.

 

[extinguishfire]

It has already been removed and taken back to the LFS. I decided after three problems with milwaukee's regulator that I will find a better quality regulator to spend my money on. I just have to find a better one out there.

 

[TCU Reefer]

Have you checked out the Gen-x regulators?