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Consistent issue with diffusers

Nick potts

Nick potts

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2014
Messages
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Location
Torbay
Hey all.

I have an ongoing issue with my diffusers and them stopping working after a week or so. I use 4 diffusers currently, all twinstar. For the first week or maybe 2 they work fine, then one day after they go off for the night they will no longer work the next day, always the same issue.

Bottle and working pressue stable and unchanged. The bubble counter stops and nothing from the diffuser, take the diffuser off and co2 starts flowing again. Give them a soak in bleach and they work fine for another week. surely I shouldn't have to be cleaning that often?

I am sure it's something really simple I need to do and will feel a fool when someone tells me, but I am drawing a blank at the moment.

Cheers
 
Nick potts said:
I do have a check valve, I have removed this to test but no difference, the only thing that gets it flowing again is removing the diffuser.
Click to expand...
Hi @Nick potts

With the proviso that I don't currently run a typical pressurized CO2 setup, is it possible that your tank water backflows overnight into the diffuser? If so, CO2 should start to flow after an unknown delay when CO2 is switched ON. How long has CO2 been ON before concluding that something is amiss? Am I making sense? if not, I'll leave you in peace!

JPC
 
GHNelson said:
Weird!....try increasing the working pressure!
Click to expand...

WIll up the working pressure and see if the issue persists.

jaypeecee said:
Hi @Nick potts

With the proviso that I don't currently run a typical pressurized CO2 setup, is it possible that your tank water backflows overnight into the diffuser? If so, CO2 should start to flow after an unknown delay when CO2 is switched ON. How long has CO2 been ON before concluding that something is amiss? Am I making sense? if not, I'll leave you in peace!

JPC
Click to expand...

Yep makes sense 🙂

I can leave it for hours with no change, which think would be enough time to purge and backflow.
 
Hi @Nick potts

I'd get in touch with Twinstar EU. See what they can suggest. They have an online form enquiry system here:

Contact Us » Twinstar EU

Contact us We are happy to answer your questions.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *Email *SubjectComment or Message Submit
twinstareu.com twinstareu.com

I have no experience with Twinstar.

JPC
 
So trying to look at it logically you'd suspect a faulty diffuser but to have four faulty ones; that would indeed be bad luck.

Just to throw out a few random thoughts...

Are the diffusers noticeably dirty when they stop working? I'd be suprised if they were after a week but thought it best to ask.
How long do you soak them for? Might be worth a shot at soaking them for longer or in a higher strength bleach bath to see if it makes any difference. 🤷‍♂️

I have 5 twinstar diffusers (4 in constant use and 1 substitute) i rotate them every 6 weeks or so, that's when I notice the bubble size increasing, not stopping working. I certainly don't think you should have to clean them every week just to keep them working.

Working pressure wise I think 35 psi should be fine, but think trying the suggestion above of rasing it a bit is well worth a try. (Mine run at 40 psi)
** Small caveat** check your bubble rate after increasing the pressure.

Sorry if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs.
 
John q said:
So trying to look at it logically you'd suspect a faulty diffuser but to have four faulty ones; that would indeed be bad luck.

Just to throw out a few random thoughts...

Are the diffusers noticeably dirty when they stop working? I'd be suprised if they were after a week but thought it best to ask.
How long do you soak them for? Might be worth a shot at soaking them for longer or in a higher strength bleach bath to see if it makes any difference. 🤷‍♂️

I have 5 twinstar diffusers (4 in constant use and 1 substitute) i rotate them every 6 weeks or so, that's when I notice the bubble size increasing, not stopping working. I certainly don't think you should have to clean them every week just to keep them working.

Working pressure wise I think 35 psi should be fine, but think trying the suggestion above of rasing it a bit is well worth a try. (Mine run at 40 psi)
** Small caveat** check your bubble rate after increasing the pressure.

Sorry if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs.
Click to expand...

Thanks John.

I haven't had a chance to play with working pressure but will do tomorrow, TBH I think that might be the issue and the reg might be showing lower, just odd that they work fine for a week or so and then just stop working after being turned off.

To answer your questions, I definitely don't think the diffusers are at fault, as you say, one maybe, not for, the issue would also occur with other brands and styles.
Not dirty at all when removed and they are soaked for at least 2 days in pure bleach and then I leave them sitting in prime water until needed.
 
Interesting issue @Nick potts - I'm assuming these is happening on one tank/system (but rotating 4 different diffusers) rather than across 4 separate systems?

I would try increasing the output pressure too, as suggested above, to start with. My first thought would have been a possible faulty check valve that is getting stuck in the closed position, but if you say that bypassing that doesn't help, that effectively eliminates that as the issue.

That said, the fact that you don't get any bubbles through the bubble counter suggests to me is could be an issue with the solenoid (I assume you are using one?). If you change a diffuser, such that the CO2 line has no pressure, you should still get bubbles through the bubbles counter as the CO2 line gets back up to pressure, even if the CO2 outlet is completely blocked at the end. The fact that the bubble counter doesn't get any bubbles on turn on suggests no CO2 is getting past the solenoid. When you remove the diffuser after a period of not working, is there any gas pressure released?

Also as an aside it is also worth cleaning diffusers with a concentrated citric acid/spirit vinegar solution. If your water is moderately hard and above, they can get some calcium carbonate blocking them that bleach won't remove.
 
Wookii said:
Interesting issue @Nick potts - I'm assuming these is happening on one tank/system (but rotating 4 different diffusers) rather than across 4 separate systems?

I would try increasing the output pressure too, as suggested above, to start with. My first thought would have been a possible faulty check valve that is getting stuck in the closed position, but if you say that bypassing that doesn't help, that effectively eliminates that as the issue.

That said, the fact that you don't get any bubbles through the bubble counter suggests to me is could be an issue with the solenoid (I assume you are using one?). If you change a diffuser, such that the CO2 line has no pressure, you should still get bubbles through the bubbles counter as the CO2 line gets back up to pressure, even if the CO2 outlet is completely blocked at the end. The fact that the bubble counter doesn't get any bubbles on turn on suggests no CO2 is getting past the solenoid. When you remove the diffuser after a period of not working, is there any gas pressure released?

Also as an aside it is also worth cleaning diffusers with a concentrated citric acid/spirit vinegar solution. If your water is moderately hard and above, they can get some calcium carbonate blocking them that bleach won't remove.
Click to expand...

Thanks Wookii, it certainly had me scratching my head.

Correct, one tank with 4 diffusers.

I switched out the diffuser so will wait until it happens again and try upping the pressure and video the issue

With regards to the solenoid, yes I am using one and if I remove/change the diffuser then I do get bubbles through the counter, if i put the currently offending diffuser back on the bubble count will slowly decrease to 0 after a few seconds. Removing it will give a nice little pop of pressure and the bubble counter will start up again at a faster bubble rate (as expected with no diffuser attached)

I will pick up some citric acid to try, my tank water is very soft <1 KH and my tap water is only pretty soft at 2ish KH and GH

Luckily I am not seeing any CO2 related issues at the moment (touch wood).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nick potts said:
I will pick up some citric acid to try, my tank water is very soft <1 KH and my tap water is only pretty soft at 2ish KH and GH
Click to expand...

Probably not necessary at those parameters then. Was just a thought.

Nick potts said:
Removing it will give a nice little pop of pressure and the bubble counter will start up again at a faster bubble rate (as expected with no diffuser attached)
Click to expand...

Ah right, that excludes the solenoid then - and suggests it must be the diffuser. Back to the output pressure option then.
 
This is exactly what happens with the bazooka diffusers I use on my shrimp tank. It does take about 8 weeks to hit that point though.
The only time it blocked up within a short period (<2 weeks) was when the glycerine I use in the bubble counter made its way down the co2 line into the diffuser. Seemed to block the pores of the diffuser up.
 
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