Great Looking CO2 System(Inexpensive)

I followed his instructions and built the same system. It works great. Never having used a "real" expensive system I'm not sure what I am missing, but I can say that it does its job. I can regulate the bubles from almost off to steady stream of air. I've been using it for maybe 3 weeks now and no problems so far.

Len I think you would still like to have a solenoid on the system.
The system I just got came with the regulator, solenoid, needle valve for 120.00 and a bubble counter 15.00 tank at a welding shop 10 gal 60.00 all together 195.00 If you can find a solenoid for under 50.00 It should be fine.
some thing else to consider is when you get the tank refilled do you have some one to refill your tank? I just exchange one tank for a full one 10.00.

If you can't find any one to fill your tank you still may have to buy one of there's.

Getting the tank filled cost me about $8. As for a solenoid, I just manually turn the system off at night when the timer turns the lights off and on again when I wake up in the morning.

MrDitty, where did you get your kit?

I think I email this link's owner about the needle valve from Clippard being 10.10$(shipping is 6-8$ or something though) being a much better contyrol device than the cheapy brass fitting valves. But that's my onl;y reservation about the entire system.

It rocks for the $.
Add a 7$ extra nice needle valve and you are set.

FIY:
DIY and Gas systems do NOT need a solenoid to be throttled on/off etc although both can be hooked to do this on either type of CO2 source.

A better way is to use the reactor pump itself.
When it's turned off, then the gas bubbled up and out to the air above. When the pump is on, the suction pulls the bubbles in and atomizes the gas into solution.

Since only positive suction is applied, there's not need for a check vlave which also can fail. If the power head fail, no big deal, no CO2 is being added. If a solenoid fails, more CO2 will be added than you want.

Powerheads run 8-20$, solenoids run 40-80$. Both use about the same electric, CO2 gas is cheap and it'd take many years to make the $ back on gas savings to pay for the solenoid and that's if the solenoid last that long.
Same could be said for the powerhead I suppose but I've gotten a few years out every one I have.

Regards,
Tom Barr

local fish shop Called exotic aquatics. They don't have a web presence.

I think I email this link's owner about the needle valve from Clippard being 10.10$(shipping is 6-8$ or something though) being a much better contyrol device than the cheapy brass fitting valves. But that's my onl;y reservation about the entire system.

It rocks for the $.
Add a 7$ extra nice needle valve and you are set.

FIY:
DIY and Gas systems do NOT need a solenoid to be throttled on/off etc although both can be hooked to do this on either type of CO2 source.

A better way is to use the reactor pump itself.
When it's turned off, then the gas bubbled up and out to the air above. When the pump is on, the suction pulls the bubbles in and atomizes the gas into solution.

Since only positive suction is applied, there's not need for a check vlave which also can fail. If the power head fail, no big deal, no CO2 is being added. If a solenoid fails, more CO2 will be added than you want.

Powerheads run 8-20$, solenoids run 40-80$. Both use about the same electric, CO2 gas is cheap and it'd take many years to make the $ back on gas savings to pay for the solenoid and that's if the solenoid last that long.
Same could be said for the powerhead I suppose but I've gotten a few years out every one I have.

Regards,
Tom Barr

djlen, I just ordered the kit from Rapids, I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck.