Help with air regulator

[Arlene]

I purchased a Air Tech 3 valve air regulator yesterday. It had no directions on how to use it and I am stuck. I have 2 bubble strips for the bottom of the tank. I attached the hoses to the air regulator, then attached hoses to the bottom of the regulator (to go to the air pump), then hooked them to the pump. Problem: I have no bubbles and don't know what I am doing wrong. Can someone tell this blonde what she is doing wrong?

[AquariumPro]

Hi and welcome!

First off, easy on the blonde stuff! It's bad enough that I have to hire a Brunette to interpret for me. My self-esteem can only take so much! :D

Below is a photograph of a 5 Way version of your valve:
(That's the only photo we have)

http://aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/PPPVAT35X.jpg

Air is fed into the valve from your air pump through the bottom of the valve. If your air pump has two outlets, you would uncap both bottom nozzles and attach airline to both from the pump. If it has one outlet, you keep the spare nozzle capped. We highly recommend using an air check valve on each of the lines that feed into the valve.

The nozzles going to your air stones in the tank are numbered 1 through 3. You attach airline to the top nozzles which can be exposed by flipping down the front cover. Attach airline to two of those nozzles and then attach the other ends to your air stones in the aquarium. Open the air control dials for the two lines you have attached by turning them all the way to the left. Make sure the one nozzle you are not using has it's air control dial completely closed by turning it all the way to the right.

Now if that'show you have it set up already, here are some reasons you are not getting any air:

1) The airline is kinked somewhere.

2) You have air check valve(s) installed but they are installed backwards.

3) You don't have the correct dials open or closed.

4) Your pump is too small or too old to push air through both stones. Try closing one of the open dials all the way and if you get air through the one stone, the pump is either too small or too old for the job.

[Arlene]

Dave,
I just tried hooking my air pump to the bubble stick and it worked in the water, but when I attach the regulator, no air gets to the bubble stick....driving me crazy!

[AquariumPro]

Arlene:

Are you SURE you have the air tech valve set up as per my instructions above? Please check and if you don't understand anything, please let me know. It really sounds like you don't have the dials open on the air connections on the gang valve. That is a pass-through device so it can't block air unless the valves are closed.

[Arlene]

Dave, my nickname is Weenie for a reason. My equipment now works. The problem: I did not have the tubing in the valves enough. See I told you I was a blonde. Thank you for your help. This is a great site for help!