Matheson Dual Stage 3810-540 Postbody Build

[quincieadams]

So I’ve made the biggest investment into my aquarium so far, Matheson Dual Stage 3810-540 with an awesome postbody build.


This was no small feat; it was accomplished with a great deal of research and help by Matt which I thank so much for his time and thanks to all those on these forums that really know what they are doing not just fools with an opinion like the majority of sites. Lol damn fools!


I feel like there is a piece of me in this reg, not sure if its cause of the cost or because it’s been a long time coming but whatever the reason I’m so thrilled to have it up and running.

The build was extremely easy once I had all the parts in front of me, the hardest part had to be waiting on everything to come in.


The post body includes all Swagelok fitting:

B-2-ME
Description: MALE ELBOW

B-4-RSE-2
Description: REDUCING STREET ELBOW

B-4-HLN-2.00
Description: HEX LONG NIPPLE

B-2C2-1/3
Description: CHECK VALVE

B-6M0-7-2
Description: METRIC FEMALE CONNECTOR

B-6M5-4M
Description: METRIC INSERT



Ideal 52-1-12 needle valve



CGA 320 Nut and Nipple from Regulator and Torch Exchange, Inc



Burkert Solenoid Valve with Buna Seal, a 10# Co2 tank and Perma-Seal from AquariumPlants.com



ADA: I love their quality, great stuff worth every penny spent.

CO2 Glass Bubble Counter

Pollen Glass Type-3

Gray Part Set

Pressure Proof Tube 2m



Here are a few pics of the reg as it once sat and as it sits now, all sexy looking next to my tank.lol oh boy!

I'll be posting about plant growth and about my experience as i have the time but for now , thanks a lot for this great site Tom and thank you Matt.

[Left C]

That is a terrific build! Did you notice that you didn't list your Ideal 52-1-12 needle valve in your parts list?

Did you find it very easy to dial in your bubble count with your two stage regulator and Ideal needle valve?

[oldpunk]

Did you find it very easy to dial in your bubble count with your two stage regulator and Ideal needle valve?

Did you even have to ask? lol

[quincieadams]

OH, nice call on the Ideal Valve I did forget it.

The bubble count is quite easy to dial once i got used to it. At first i would try to compensate and add more co2 before it could completely pressurize.

I thought about replace my ideal with one that has the vernier metering handle because in the beginning that seemed to be an awesome feature that i needed but now, not so much.

Since this is my first time every working with a pressurized system I'm just so overwhelmed at how smooth everything operates. Its like that Showtime Rotisserie cooker advertisement that would come on, "Set it, and forget it" lol

[Left C]

"Set it, and forget it" lol .... That's exactly how I feel about using a good two stage regulator and the Ideal "1" series needle valves. They are smooth precision. It is exactly why I asked about your ease of dialing it in. oldpunk was correct in saying "Did you even need to ask?" The Burkert Buna-N solenoid is made for use in a manufacturing setting or labratory use. ... No need to worry here.

I greatly believe that it is worth saving your money and getting a great setup like this than going ahead and buying one of the manufactured cheap and complete regulators on the market.

FYI, If you don't know this yet, you can tune your bubble count with a combination of using both the needle valve and the working pressure. The Ideal NVs just make it super easy. I set my working pressure to 10 psi when the solenoid is open. Then I set my bubble count.

Also, you can get a Vernier handle for your Ideal NV. They are about $22, I think. Just call Bill Sand at IdealValve.com if you want one. You can either zero it in yourself or let Bill do it.

[quincieadams]

I did notice that the working pressure played a part in the bubble count but you have your set at 10?

I'll have to try that out, I've got mine at 20 right now but for some reason the Burkert Solenoid is making a buzzing sound now..

I've found a post where Matt said,

"open the tank valve with the solenoid off.
open the needle valve all the way (or remove it-dsiconnect from co2 tubing).
plug in the solenoid.
unplug the solenoid to stop gas flow.

try again if the noise doesn't go away.

the noise could also be related to backpressure and weird components (too high a cracking pressure, etc.)."

He says back pressure, whats he talking about here? Back pressure from the diffuser?

I have notice algae build up on the ceramic disk in the diffuser so I'll clean that up once i get some bleach tonight. Could that be the cause of back pressure?

I couldn't agree with you more about saving until you have the cash for a setup like this, I for many years tried to work with DIY co2 and thought about buying those cheap paintball regs after many failures but researching and reading forums turned me away from el cheapos.

Its nice to know i can get the Vernier handle and add it on myself, i may do that soon.

[Left C]

I did notice that the working pressure played a part in the bubble count but you have your set at 10?

I'll have to try that out, I've got mine at 20 right now

That is just the pressure that I use. I don't use a diffuser that requires force to make it work properly. I use a needle wheel pump (Eheim 1103) and it does not require much pressure at all. The only back pressure that I get is from the cracking pressure of the check valves. I suppose there is a little bit of pressure required to flow through the Burkert solenoid and the tiny bit of friction caused by the tubing from the CO₂ passing through. Both of these are negligable though.

Your working pressure may require more than mine. It is just whatever works. As an example, some of the newer atomizers require 30+ psi to operate.

but for some reason the Burkert Solenoid is making a buzzing sound now..

I've found a post where Matt said,

"open the tank valve with the solenoid off.
open the needle valve alor disconnectrdisconnect-dsiconnect from co2 tubing).
plug in the solenoid.
unplug the solenoid to stop gas flow.

try again if the noise doesn't go away.

the noise could also be related to backpressure and weird components (too high a cracking pressure, etc.)."

He says back pressure, whats he talking about here? Back pressure from the diffuser?

I've never had that problem from Burkert solenoids.

Back pressure comes from the cracking pressure that the check valves need to open and the pressure required for the diffuser to operate. These are the two main areas.

I have notice algae build up on the ceramic disk in the diffuser so I'll clean that up once i get some bleach tonight. Could that be the cause of back pressure?

It could be requiring more pressure because some pores may be blocked.

I couldn't agree with you more about saving until you have the cash for a setup like this, I for many years tried to work with DIY co2 and thought about buying those cheap paintball regs after many failures but researching and reading forums turned me away from el cheapos.

You see many posts from frustrated newbies using one of those manufactured cheap and complete regulators. Many blow the low pressure gauge on the Milwaukee regulators the first time that they use them. Some people with the Cornelious regulators do the same thing. Then many complain about the touchy needle valves on them.

I'm glad that you went the way that you did.

Its nice to know i can get the Vernier handle and add it on myself, i may do that soon.

Many folks like that option. You can always go back to a preset point easily with those micrometer handles.

[Matt F.]

That buzzing noise is irritating! I've had it happen on one or two fo my solenoids. With the solenoid unplugged, remove the back nut. refasten that nut and see if it still makes the noise. Sometimes when that nut is over tight, you get that noise.

[Left C]

That buzzing noise is irritating! I've had it happen on one or two of my solenoids. With the solenoid unplugged, remove the back nut. refasten that nut and see if it still makes the noise. Sometimes when that nut is over tight, you get that noise.

This sure is an odd way to "catch a buzz!" LOL

[quincieadams]

I cleaned out the diffuser, lowered the working pressure to 10psi and haven't heard the buzzing yet. I plan on being home all day today so i can keep an "ear" on it when it does come on.

Hopefully I wont "catch a buzz" like that again. lol

So i want to post my before and after tank shots and everything I've done to the take but do you guys think i should do it in this thread or make a new one and keep this one just for the reg?