small CO2 tank

Steel or aluminum tank? If you have dimensions (diameter and height), that would help.

What kind of hardware (i.e., regulator manufacturer and type, is there a bubble counter w/ needle valve attached, etc.)?

v/r, N-A

Actually, I need a 10-lb., minimum. Was wondering if you'd part with the regulator separately (assuming it would work for my setup). I asked for the 2-lb. measurements for the benefit of the rest of the people who might peruse your ad.

Maybe I'm just better off getting a regulator off of a CO2 shielding gas cylinder (2 gauger minus the manometer-style flowmeter), since my DIY bubble counter is already running well in the tank.

v/r, N-A

What kind of regulator was it (brand, gauging, w/ or w/o flowmeter?). Trying to get a good feel for what is out there on the market. I weld, and most of the aquarium regulators I see out there seem to be overpriced versions of low-end shielding gas regulators, and most of them only have one gauge (tank capacity).

v/r, N-A

Thanks. Hmmm, I might be better off going to the local or internet welding supply place. After looking on the internet, I can't believe what stores charge for simple threaded brass blocks and manifolds, let alone the gas metering equipment and cylinders for our aquarium hobby. It's not for anything special...it's just CO2!

Someone close by is selling a recently inspected big cylinder (looks the size of a scuba tank; 20-lb. capacity?). Not sure how long that will last, but at the rate I use DIY CO2, the sun will probably run out of hydrogen before that beast of a CO2 tank quits bubbling.

v/r, N-A

co2

Native American said:

Actually, I need a 10-lb., minimum. Was wondering if you'd part with the regulator separately (assuming it would work for my setup). I asked for the 2-lb. measurements for the benefit of the rest of the people who might peruse your ad.

Maybe I'm just better off getting a regulator off of a CO2 shielding gas cylinder (2 gauger minus the manometer-style flowmeter), since my DIY bubble counter is already running well in the tank.

v/r, N-A

Click to expand...

Google Milwauke Instruments. They have several models. Also E-bay.
I just bought as follows:
JBJ CO2 Regulator- bubble counter & check valve NEW
Sale price: US $71.99
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: US $71.99
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Details for Item number: 7742690856
Item URL: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7742690856&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:CA:31
Sale Date: Thursday, Mar 02, 2006, 17:56:32 EST
Seller: aquatic-store (orders@aquatic-store.com) [contact seller]
Payment details: Extra shipping price outside of U.S Please email for price Credit card payments sent to Seller Information
Marcus S Russo
Saint Charles, MO 63304 United States

Thanks, vic21. They're all low-end regulators, and still a little pricey for what we get, but I guess we don't need more than that for the aquarium hobby. You adjust flow until it's the way you want it, then leave it alone for a year or two (given a big enough tank), as opposed to the constant on-off you'll do on a welding cart (w/ a slightly more expensive, but way more durable (good), heavier (bad) and robust (bigger=bad) shop regulator). It seems all of the aquarium CO2 solenoids I've seen are very light duty, too, but one isn't pushing much pressure on the low-pressure side of an aquarium CO2 regulator, anyways.

And b2l, thanks for checking. Ashcroft makes gauges (from "holy cow it's ultra cheap" generic gauges for people like us all the way to "ohmigosh expensive" test gauging), but I've never seen a regulator by them. You probably just had a generic victor-style regulator w/ regular consumer ashie gauges.

Before I had 4 kids, I would have probably bought a nice Norgren regulator w/ gauging and pressure relief valve (a must in case of regulator failure) for about $50, then install the bubble counter/check valve (~$15) and solenoid (~$30) for a great setup...but who's got that kind of time?! Just paying the guys at Aquariumplant.com (one of the places that came up after Googling "Millwaukee" per vic21's suggestion) to do it for me seems a better deal....and it only costs a couple bucks more (though you do not get any sort of safety pressure relief).

So, thanks vic21...that's where I'm heading!

v/r, N-A