understanding pressurized co2?

[Ca Nguyen]

there is much that i don't understand. i wanted to try googling everything myself, but i didn't know what to search for. so, here come the questions.

from what i understand, all i would need is a 5, 10, or 20 pounds co2 tank (let me know if you guys know any local place to pick one up for cheap), a regulator with or without bubble counter, and a way to diffuse the co2.

i already figured that i don't need a pH control or solenoid.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-CO2-Regulator-Bubble-Counter-built-Check-Valve-DC02-03-Silver-/320755512968?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item4aae84b688

if i had a tank, diffuser, co2 hose, and bubble counter oil, would this pretty much be all i need?

http://www.homebrewing.org/The-Adapter-CO2-regulator-to-Paintball-Tank-Adapter_p_1122.html

since i have 5 paint ball tanks already, should i just buy one of these adapter?

[R_sustaita]

i found this one on Amazon. I am in the same place as you, I want to try co2 but i dont want to spend the big bucks on it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023VE8F2/ref=s9_simh_gw_p200_d1_g79_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=1S17R7MX1FENT9MSHD5G&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939291&pf_rd_i=507846

[Totenkampf]

i use airgas company for fills and just trade in for a new tank. the last time i did so they gave me a brand new 5lb cylinder (because my old one was out of date) but you need to ask for a new one. get the biggest cylinder that you have room for, it costs 18 bucks to fill a 5lb but only about 24 to fill a 20lb. welding supply places, homebrewing supply, and paintball store are other options.

i strongly suggest a solenoid valve so that you are not using co2 when the lights are out, just plug it into the same timer as your lights. pH control is optional but nice.

i dont know anything about the brand of regulator you show from ebay but i would not get a cheap one. if it fails and "burps" you will be buying new fish.

all you need is a regulator with pressure indicators, a bubble counter, co2 rated hose, counter oil and a diffuser of some kind. you can use anything for a diffuser from a fine pored airstone to a CO2 reactor to a hose going into an airstone which is in the bottom of a powerhead. you want very fine bubbles so it absorbs into the water. put the diffuser as low in the tank as possible.

you can use a paintball co2 system, just make sure the paintball cylinder stays upright and not on its side. liquid co2 into the regulator is not good.

[Totenkampf]

this one would work great and its aluminum. luclle is selling a regulator and some pH controllers on HFB, she may have a cylinder as well.

[Ca Nguyen]

thanks, that look pretty good! have you decided on a regulator yet?

i found this one on Amazon. I am in the same place as you, I want to try co2 but i dont want to spend the big bucks on it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

[Ca Nguyen]

i use airgas company for fills and just trade in for a new tank. the last time i did so they gave me a brand new 5lb cylinder (because my old one was out of date) but you need to ask for a new one. get the biggest cylinder that you have room for, it costs 18 bucks to fill a 5lb but only about 24 to fill a 20lb. welding supply places, homebrewing supply, and paintball store are other options.

i strongly suggest a solenoid valve so that you are not using co2 when the lights are out, just plug it into the same timer as your lights. pH control is optional but nice.

i dont know anything about the brand of regulator you show from ebay but i would not get a cheap one. if it fails and "burps" you will be buying new fish.

all you need is a regulator with pressure indicators, a bubble counter, co2 rated hose, counter oil and a diffuser of some kind. you can use anything for a diffuser from a fine pored airstone to a CO2 reactor to a hose going into an airstone which is in the bottom of a powerhead. you want very fine bubbles so it absorbs into the water. put the diffuser as low in the tank as possible.

you can use a paintball co2 system, just make sure the paintball cylinder stays upright and not on its side. liquid co2 into the regulator is not good.

without a solenoid, all i would have to do is turn off the valve on the co2 tank every day when the light goes off right? i turn off my light manually anyways. take nothing but a minute to me. if i can shave off 40 dollars by not being lazy, i'll gladly do it. as far as regulators goes, what is a good brand to look for?

[Ca Nguyen]

this one would work great and its aluminum. luclle is selling a regulator and some pH controllers on HFB, she may have a cylinder as well.

which one? you didn't link me :(

[R_sustaita]

thanks, that look pretty good! have you decided on a regulator yet?

navarro told me to invest on a good one jbj or ada regulator. not to go with Milwaukee brand. i shall trust the god of planted tanks on this one. right now i have a diy co2 system. will be using a fluval 88 kit as it was also highly recommended by Navarro. but i have been thinking on using a paintball tank as i have 3. but it is more costly to use them than a 5lb tank.

[wesleydnunder]

I fully agree with Navarro on this. If you go cheap you get cheap. I bought one of the Teledyne regulator setups from ADG and never had a moment's trouble. It has a solenoid and needle valve built in that are rock-solid. If You go cheap you'll find out that fluctuating co2 levels cause algae...and headaches.

Ca, if you plan on turning the co2 off every night then I strongly suggest a solenoid vs turning off the needle valve every night and trying to get it set just right every day. That's gonna get old, quick.

Mark

[Totenkampf]

lucilles post:

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?46667-Misc-used-aquarium-stuff

i am using a milwaukee now in a pinch because i got a good deal on the combo with the SM122 pH controller. the JBJ that I have looks more robust but I need to repair it. anything ADA is quality but pricey. regulators from tescom / versa / victor / go / and parker found at welding supply are industrial grade and the BEST. they are designed not just to work but to not blow you up or asphyxiate you. just make sure that you get one for CO2 and not acetyline. you can prolly find good used ones on CL. if you have the cash then follow navarros advice for sure, dont skimp here.

the SOV isnt just about being lazy, if you have a power outage then they fail to the closed position. the needle valve on the bubble counter isnt really designed for on/off. get a brass ball valve for that, they arent expensive.

the fluval kits look promising too. i am going to try the smaller one on my 1 0gallon

[Totenkampf]

I fully agree with Navarro on this. If you go cheap you get cheap. I bought one of the Teledyne regulator setups from ADG and never had a moment's trouble. It has a solenoid and needle valve built in that are rock-solid. Mark

i didnt know that you could buy teledynes from ADG, these are designed for chemical analyzer and instrumentation and i use them at work as well. very good quality.

[R_sustaita]

Tote: any advice coming from Navarro is gold. i have a 3.5 g that is planted soon will be the 10g as i will set up the 29 for the fish. once i move to a 20g planted thats when i plan on going full co2 set up. mean while waiting to transfer the plants from the 3.5 to the 0g to bu the fluval 88 kit. i found it for 40 instead of the the 75.

[wesleydnunder]

i didnt know that you could buy teledynes from ADG, these are designed for chemical analyzer and instrumentation and i use them at work as well. very good quality.

According to the paperwork that came with it, it was made in Denton Tx. It cost more than the cheaper milwaukees and others but I wanted superior equipment that would last and figured ADG would use something along those lines. I was not disappointed. I sold my set up to Naps a couple years ago and to my knowledge he's using it still.

Mark

[Ca Nguyen]

i guess i won't go cheap on the regulator. what's a good one without breaking the bank?

[R_sustaita]

jbj kits can go for about 90-150 all you will need will be the tank.

ada kit is about 250

Milwaukee about 70-90