Getting started with CO2?

A duel gauge regulator is nice, because you can see the pressure going out of the tank, and the pressure inside of the tank. This can allow you to see how much CO2 is in a tank. However, I've noticed that tank pressure doesn't drop until the very end of the tank's life... or maybe I'm just not observant enough. A single gauge regulator only shows pressure going out of the tank. This will work in a pressurized CO2 system without a problem.

HTH
-Richer
 
First, you don't want to buy a tank online, the shipping is too high.

Second, I've read many times of folks getting parts from several places and then spending a lot of time trying to get the right connections between the parts. More connections, more chance for leaks.

The All-in-one types are so simple. ~$90 online +shipping and you have everything; dual guage regulator, soleniod, bubble counter, needle valve, all hooked together and ready to go. Add tubing and a reactor of your choice.

You can get a JBJ set locally from Pet City if you don't want to order on the internet. There's lots of places to get CO2, tons of welding shops here. I paid $75 for a 10 lb filled at Aeriform, on the NW side of Houston. Check home brew shops also for tanks and refills.

If you can fit the 10 lb, why get half the volume to save $10? Not worth the trouble to drive to refill twice as often.
 
I was just out on the NW side today. I will give Aeriform a call Monday and see what they have. Where is Pet City? Have you ever been to Aquarium World? Thanks for the advice!

Scott
 
Originally posted by scottracy
I was just out on the NW side today. I will give Aeriform a call Monday and see what they have. Where is Pet City? Have you ever been to Aquarium World? Thanks for the advice!

Scott
Click to expand...

There are millions of welding shops in town, just get a phone book and see what is closest. The $5 you save now by shopping around will be $5 you'll gladly spend to not have to rush across town to get the tank filled up again. Call around and see what the tank and refills will cost. AirGas is all over town, welding shops, fire stations, many choices. The big thing is to deal with someone close. Decide if you will trade tanks or buy a new one and wait to get it filled and see if they will accomodate that.

City Pet (sorry for the confusion, I get more and more dyslexic) is on Beechnut at Beltway 8. Good plants, cheap fish, best prices on aquariums. Cheap Flourite.

I stop in Aquarium World pretty often, it is close to my part of town. I had been trading in plants to them but the last deal was not good for me, I'll find someplace else.

Also, on the south side, see Fish Ranch just off the 59 feeder road on Larchmont across from Gulfgate mall(?). They are stepping into planted tanks in a bigger way and that will be a great store soon.

More central is Village Tropical on S. Shephard at Richmond near 59.

You should join the Houston Aquatic society, our next fish auction is June 27th. All things fish related.
Houston Aquatic Society
 
Yikes

That system is way too much. Really the only issues for connections are from the tank to the needle valve. After that it's all 1/8" hosing, which is very easy to connect how you want. You just plug the solenoid into the PH controller, so that connection is trivial too.

Probably it's best to get the high pressure components in one kit, I see that for about $100. Then another 50 maybe for a reactor and 100 or so for a ph controller. Add a co2 bottle for another 50 and you've got a complete system for 100 less than their package which doesn't include a bottle.

I got everything but a co2 controller for 140 on local ebay, including a 5lb tank. The needle valve turned out to be junk, but that was cheap to replace. Of all the high pressure equipment only the needle valve is important to get quality out of. The guages and solenoid are very simple and reliable, standard issue industrial equipment. It happens that the needle valve is the cheapest part too.
 
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