Considering pressurized CO2 - need opinion about regulator

I put my co2 system together 5+ years ago, it has worked fine from day one through the present. back then it was not easy finding all the parts in one place for a reasonable price. I got my stuff using 3 different sources, one of which no longer exists.

I got my regulator from kegworks http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=19100&cat=427&page=1

I got a top quality inline needle valve for about $22 and my bubble counter (which imo is a necessity for making adjustments to the flow rate with the needle valve) was about $18.

Rex has an excellent rep and I would buy from him if I was looking to buy.
 
imnotlistening said:
"Sure, you could take the beer regulator and add your own Ghetto bubble counter, tubing, nifty brass washer that Rex includes, brass check valves, and whichever needle valve you want." You really don't need all that junk. In fact, you don't even need a bubble counter at all. Plus all those accessories aren't gonna bump up the price to $115. BTW you can get a needle valve from Lowe's for $3. "one stop shopping" This is called DIY, not lazy and will spend whatever it takes to not get off the couch, pressurized co2.
All you need is a co2 cylinder,regulator,needle valve, and a DIY reactor.
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Yes, you can buy a crappy needle valve from Lowe's. You can't buy an Ideal quality needle valve for under $40.

I don't know what your problem is, but I don't appreciate the flame.

The fact that you refer to it as junk shows me that you dont' have a clue about what you are talking about.
 
Umm I wasn't flaming. I said junk,so what, I think you're a little sensitive. Anyway you started this whole thing: "ghetto bubble counter". All I said was if you do it yourself, then it will be of the same quality and cheaper price. Why do you care so much about Rex's stuff anyway. It's a ripoff, I don't care how good it is. That's my opinion, get over it. I didn't force it on you. This is a forum, you share opinions. Don't whine about it. BTW, you may not be old enough to understand but some independent businesses rely on loyal people like you to sell when really it's the same thing as the one at drfostersmith. Just more expensive.
 
"Ghetto bubble counter" is the name Rex has given the one he makes and sells, and others have begun calling it the same, not because it is DIY and made from hardware store parts. Nolapete's point regarding your usage of the word junk is not necessarily a problem with the implication that the specific parts are trash, but that you do not see the purpose and value in using those parts. Perhaps you can get by without a bubble counter and other parts that are not directly critical to the process of delivering CO2 to the aquarium, but others may appreciate the benefit of those parts. Similarly they may appreciate the quality of parts provided in a custom solution that costs a little more.

Certainly you are entitled to your own opinion, and to share it, however, it is appropriate to provide your opinion in a non-attacking way. When you attack another person's opinion it is a flame. Calling someone else lazy and making implications regarding maturity are such attacks.
 
imnotlistening said:
Umm I wasn't flaming. I said junk,so what, I think you're a little sensitive. Anyway you started this whole thing: "ghetto bubble counter". All I said was if you do it yourself, then it will be of the same quality and cheaper price. Why do you care so much about Rex's stuff anyway. It's a ripoff, I don't care how good it is. That's my opinion, get over it. I didn't force it on you. This is a forum, you share opinions. Don't whine about it. BTW, you may not be old enough to understand but some independent businesses rely on loyal people like you to sell when really it's the same thing as the one at drfostersmith. Just more expensive.
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I'm 41 and most likely have a better understanding of brand loyalty and marketing than you think. You on the other hand don't seem to understand the concept of value-added and service.

There is no intrinsic value bestowed upon the regulator because it comes from Rex. He tells you on his website how to make exactly the same thing yourself. It's not that the parts are better because they are the same parts available to anyone with a computer and Internet access.

As I said before, when you buy a regulator from Rex you are paying for his expertise and service and quality craftsmanship. For me the extra money is worth the piece of mind that I have a good product. Does that make me "lazy and will spend whatever it takes to not get off the couch?" No, it doesn't.

UCF-Planted, thank you for saying what I was going to. I couldn't have said it better.
 
After shopping around the only thing that I can't understand is the price of the actual regulator. Quality CO2 regulators from brewery or welding places cost around $40... from aquarium places they cost over $100. Does seem like they are charging extra for the same product just because you are buying for an aquarium and not a beer keg.

However, it is different for Rex's site:

Items included with Rex's regulator (Clippard needle valve, brass in-line check valve, MK II perma-seal and 5' of CO2 tubing) = $35
Regulator from Beverage Factory = $45
Total = $80

Rex's regulator costs $115. So you are paying $35 for service, a guarantee that all the parts will fit perfectly, and perhaps a donation to keep Rex's site going. Not exactly a ripoff, is it?

Hope this clears up any confusion that, ironically, I myself started.
 
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I was calculating the price without the solenoid. Rex sells both a solenoid and manual regulator - $140 and $115, respectively.

Made a slight mistake in including the needle valve for the manual regulator. That's $15. But one would probably get the solenoid reactor anyway.
 
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