Bubble Counter Liquid

I'm having problems with my CO2 system.
It works fine all apart from the bubble counter, the water in the bubble counter evaporates away within a few days.
I was watching a YouTube video and somebody suggested that rather than fill the bubble counter with water I could use some other liquid; unfortunately the audio quality was so bad that I could not make out what alternative liquid was.
Does anybody else have this problem, has anybody else tried something other than water in the bubble counter?

 

I'm having problems with my CO2 system.
It works fine all apart from the bubble counter, the water in the bubble counter evaporates away within a few days.
I was watching a YouTube video and somebody suggested that rather than fill the bubble counter with water I could use some other liquid; unfortunately the audio quality was so bad that I could not make out what alternative liquid was.
Does anybody else have this problem, has anybody else tried something other than water in the bubble counter?

H2SO4 , that should fix it!

 

H2SO4 , that should fix it!

And while you're at it perhaps some arsenate of lead for good measure.

 

And while you're at it perhaps some arsenate of lead for good measure.

Or maybe a solution of potassium cyanide? Any other brilliant suggestions?

 

I often wonder about how many CO2 injection stations there are along the Amazon and all its tributaries and the Congo and all its tributaries and all the rice paddies throughout Asia and the sink holes in the Yucatan Peninsula???¿?? Wish I had bought several million$ worth of shares in CIG Gases.

 

0_o

 

Some people use mineral oil.

I've heard that Glycerin is good. 100% USP VG (medical grade palm oil extract) would work well. It's available in Vape shops as it's the main component of e-juice.

Personally I stick with water and top it up once a month or so.

 

I often wonder about how many CO2 injection stations there are along the Amazon and all its tributaries and the Congo and all its tributaries and all the rice paddies throughout Asia and the sink holes in the Yucatan Peninsula???¿?? Wish I had bought several million$ worth of shares in CIG Gases.

I wouldn't know, johndirg, why don't you go there and check then when you know the answer you could report back to us all so that we all know.

 

I often wonder about how many CO2 injection stations there are along the Amazon and all its tributaries and the Congo and all its tributaries and all the rice paddies throughout Asia and the sink holes in the Yucatan Peninsula???¿?? Wish I had bought several million$ worth of shares in CIG Gases.

I have the feeling the answer is mostly that the plants just grow slower.

 

Mine evaporates in about 2 weeks. It only takes a minute to fill it so it doesn't concern me. I'd be cautious about putting anything but water in there cause whatever you put in there can work it's way through the system and into the tank.

 

Once mine evaps I just wait till the next time I swap canisters before filling it up. A drop checker is much more useful in checking the co2 levels.

 

I ditched mine; got tired of refilling because it runs dry quick. Once I was dialed in, I haven’t refilled it in 3 years. I go off my drop checker for adjustments.

 

Bubble counters are ok for visualizing CO2 flow. It is true that once dialed in it's not needed. But, be careful of trusting a drop checker. When looking at your drop checker it basically tells you what your CO2 levels were 2 hours ago. Best way to tell is by accurately measuring PH drop. A digital PH probe is what I use. You want your PH to be 1 full point below the ph level you had before injecting CO2. For example my PH sits around 8.2 before adding CO2. my dosing is correct when my PH is 7.2.

 

I had the same evaporation problem and switched to food safe mineral oil (used for wooden chopping boards) which has been in there for well over a year now with no depletion. Don't over fill it (say two thirds max) so it doesn't get in the piping (it can at first foam slightly). Even then, if there is a fair length of pipe (mine is 3 metres!) or if there is a reasonable height difference - again mine has to travel up a meter and a half - you should be safe from anything entering the tank. It's still handy for minor adjustments (as when I recently upgraded the lighting). Also, as my CO2 tank is awkward to get at, verifies whether the CO2 is empty or whether I've just developed a leaky pipe - a drop checker doesn't know the difference! ....and you can use your leftover oil to treat wooden chopping boards and wood surfaces to boot!