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BIGBIRD123
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 06:59 PM
Can you use corn oil for bubble counter fluid? I want something thicker than water.
cpreefguy
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 08:13 PM
Blood is thicker than water
Bill S
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 08:57 PM
I wouldn't, Steve. As is typical in the hobby, if one tempts fate... I'd hate to see what a teaspoon of oil might do. It could be like the Exxon Valdez grounded in your tank.
BIGBIRD123
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 09:18 PM
Bill,
What do you suggest? I want something a little thicker than water.
cpreefguy
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 09:30 PM
really salty saltwater?
Bill S
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 09:38 PM
No, you don't want saltwater, because it will corrode the brass. That will leach copper into your tank.

Not sure why you need something thick? You should be able to see the individual bubbles, and count them with a normal counter - what are you using for a bubble counter? In any case, if you use something thicker, the bubbles will just stack up, and be even harder to count.
JimD
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 09:40 PM
Yes you can, the worse that would happen is that it would leak bach through the check valve in the botton of the bubble counter and maybe affect the solenoid valve, theres nor way it could get to the tank. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always add a secondary check valve in the CO2 supply line...
Bill S
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 09:48 PM
Well, my bubble counter was on top of my solenoid. If the bottle falls over, the fluid in the bubble counter will now be pushed through the CO2 line. This was what mine looked like:


http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!BU6GsOg!mk~$(KGrHgoH-CYEjlLl8jjFBKP5tL0o8!~~_12.JPG
JimD
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 10:18 PM
Ah yes, with a settup like that, I can see the concern, even though, I dont really think corn oil would do any damage simply because theres not much of it and the oil would most likely float on the surface for easy removal... I have a similar settup but I also have a remote bubble counter built on to the reactor itself, the one on the guages is not used...
Bill S
Thu, 20th Aug 2009, 10:35 PM
Mine also had both - but I liked the small one because it would take some time for a change in pressue to show up on the one on the reactor.

Oil on the surface, even a small amount, will affect the ability of the surface to exchange O2.