Purchasing a CO2 system - please help.
- Thread starter Mysteria
- Start date
well it is friendly....a friend also knows when to say when. I did the research and provided you with links and helpful sales too!!! What more can a woman do? lol
Mysteria - there are much less expensive ways to get yourself a nice, reliable all-in-one CO2 system than the one you link to at Big Al's.
I suggest that you go here: www.rexgrigg.com/ go to CO2>stuff for sale and you will see a few nice options you can explore with Rex depending on your needs/requirements. He builds nice units with reliable equipment at reasonable prices.
Check it out.
For a tank I suggest looking locally for a used tank that you can take to a welding shop and they will take it and trade it for a full tank and you are in business. Some shops will rent tanks as well. It makes no sense to buy a tank because many shops don't fill the tank that's brought to them, but instead trade the empty you bring for a full one.
Len
I suggest that you go here: www.rexgrigg.com/ go to CO2>stuff for sale and you will see a few nice options you can explore with Rex depending on your needs/requirements. He builds nice units with reliable equipment at reasonable prices.
Check it out.
For a tank I suggest looking locally for a used tank that you can take to a welding shop and they will take it and trade it for a full tank and you are in business. Some shops will rent tanks as well. It makes no sense to buy a tank because many shops don't fill the tank that's brought to them, but instead trade the empty you bring for a full one.
Len
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It's nice that rexrigg has everything in one place, which is really convenient. That said you can find all the same parts a lot cheaper using Grainger or McMaster-Carr. If I had to guess that's where he's getting them from, or maybe a local house in his town like a Linde.
AT
AT
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fresh_newby said:
Hold on there... Your links are generic in nature and maybe I missed something but I didn't find any comparitive UNBAISED information on the sites with respect to pros or cons between systems.
Now if you expected me to dig around, no prob but what was implied was 'go here for the research'.
If you asked me about cars, I wouldn't send you to FORD.COM or TOYOTA.COM, I'd send you to consumerreports.org where you'd get the read scoop and although I don't expect such a site to exist explcitly for co2 in the aquaria realm (where subscribers pay the site to test the systems), but was at least hoping you're research would be reflected in the sites you sited
Shoe, you have very valid arguments for the Carbo-Plus Unit, and I respect your opinion. Ultimately I believe a Pressurized System is cheaper in both startup and long term costs, and has greater flexibility and effectiveness for injecting CO2 then a Carbo-Plus unit.
For a Pressurized system you can start up with CO2 cylinder, regulator, tubing, and a glass diffuser for $150-160 includes shipping/local charges. Yearly costs of CO2 refills are $10-20.
The Carbo-Plus Unit is a little more in initial startup costs, and yearly maintenance costs. I’m happy that it’s working for you, but I recommend trying pressurized systems for any future aquarium setups to see if you like it better. Everyone likes different things for all sorts of reasons. The Carbo-Plus unit is not for me due my reasons listed prior. The carbo unit is outdated and pressurized CO2 has proven to be better and cheaper over the past few years. Ultimately, I do not recommend a Carbo-Plus Unit over a Pressurized CO2 Setup for all those reasons list above, and prior.
For more Information on the utility of the Carbo Block:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/equipment/30780-carbo-block.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/do-it-yourself/23628-wet-thumb-forum-carbo-plus-not.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/do-it-yourself/19613-wet-thumb-forum-carbo-plus.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/equipment/10255-carbo-plus-co2-system.html
To answer the original thread question, the Red Sea unit linked in the first post is a good unit from what I understand, and works with smaller paintball cylinders because of the regulator only fits those small canisters.
-John N.
For a Pressurized system you can start up with CO2 cylinder, regulator, tubing, and a glass diffuser for $150-160 includes shipping/local charges. Yearly costs of CO2 refills are $10-20.
The Carbo-Plus Unit is a little more in initial startup costs, and yearly maintenance costs. I’m happy that it’s working for you, but I recommend trying pressurized systems for any future aquarium setups to see if you like it better. Everyone likes different things for all sorts of reasons. The Carbo-Plus unit is not for me due my reasons listed prior. The carbo unit is outdated and pressurized CO2 has proven to be better and cheaper over the past few years. Ultimately, I do not recommend a Carbo-Plus Unit over a Pressurized CO2 Setup for all those reasons list above, and prior.
For more Information on the utility of the Carbo Block:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/equipment/30780-carbo-block.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/do-it-yourself/23628-wet-thumb-forum-carbo-plus-not.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/do-it-yourself/19613-wet-thumb-forum-carbo-plus.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/equipment/10255-carbo-plus-co2-system.html
To answer the original thread question, the Red Sea unit linked in the first post is a good unit from what I understand, and works with smaller paintball cylinders because of the regulator only fits those small canisters.
-John N.
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John,
You last post is admirable in places but still at times appears subjective rather than objective.
For example,
Regards the points made... I believe that I've counter most, but not all of them and that as an experienced user, I can demonstrate other cons against the CARBO that I've not seen mentions simply because (or so it appears), no one besides myself thus far in this thread has experience with the unit.
But perhaps more importantly, I've not seen from the proponents of pressurized co2 (within this thread) any cons (gagaliya makes an attempt between pressurized bottle sizes but doesn't seem to address the cons of a pressurized solution in general). I don't know about you but that makes for an uneducated purchasing decision.
However, with money to burn, I feel that performance is the ultimate criteria but believe 'to do it right', the 150-160 estimate is probably light. Truly, how much have you pressurized users REALLY spent on your co2 systems and if you wanted to make it 'better', how much more would you need to spend?
-Perhaps have more delivery points in your tank?
-Perhaps use automation to control the amount of co2 that enters your tank?
-Perhaps a spare cylinder (or 2) so that you don't find yourself in a bind on refills?
-Perhaps have an automated 'shut off' when the lights go off?
-Perhaps an enclosure (depending on cylinder size) to hide it's ugly exterior?
-Perhaps an armored cage for the cylinder bolted to the floor/wall so that IF it explodes (or blows it's top), nobody gets hurt?
Bonus points for honesty
Performance only, the pressurized system wins hands down (and I believe that I've been with you on that for a while).
Your link: ([Wet Thumb Forum]-CARBO PLUS not happy) is particularly useful as it appears to take a balanced pros/con approach.
I'm am considering the switch to pressurized and thank you ALL for your input! The oddest thing perhaps is if I do go in that direction I'll be one of the few who can rightly present a truly pro/con perspective based on actual experience - i'd so special
You last post is admirable in places but still at times appears subjective rather than objective.
For example,
when in fact, the unit is perhaps the most technically advanced solution on the planet whereas pressurized co2 - don't get me lying! - has been around 'forever' (they've been putting co2 into tanks for a while now... not sure when it was introduced into aquaria) !John N. said:
Regards the points made... I believe that I've counter most, but not all of them and that as an experienced user, I can demonstrate other cons against the CARBO that I've not seen mentions simply because (or so it appears), no one besides myself thus far in this thread has experience with the unit.
But perhaps more importantly, I've not seen from the proponents of pressurized co2 (within this thread) any cons (gagaliya makes an attempt between pressurized bottle sizes but doesn't seem to address the cons of a pressurized solution in general). I don't know about you but that makes for an uneducated purchasing decision.
However, with money to burn, I feel that performance is the ultimate criteria but believe 'to do it right', the 150-160 estimate is probably light. Truly, how much have you pressurized users REALLY spent on your co2 systems and if you wanted to make it 'better', how much more would you need to spend?
-Perhaps have more delivery points in your tank?
-Perhaps use automation to control the amount of co2 that enters your tank?
-Perhaps a spare cylinder (or 2) so that you don't find yourself in a bind on refills?
-Perhaps have an automated 'shut off' when the lights go off?
-Perhaps an enclosure (depending on cylinder size) to hide it's ugly exterior?
-Perhaps an armored cage for the cylinder bolted to the floor/wall so that IF it explodes (or blows it's top), nobody gets hurt?
Bonus points for honesty
Performance only, the pressurized system wins hands down (and I believe that I've been with you on that for a while).
Your link: ([Wet Thumb Forum]-CARBO PLUS not happy) is particularly useful as it appears to take a balanced pros/con approach.
I'm am considering the switch to pressurized and thank you ALL for your input! The oddest thing perhaps is if I do go in that direction I'll be one of the few who can rightly present a truly pro/con perspective based on actual experience - i'd so special
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Are there city/state laws/ordinances governing the use of cylinders?
Assuming you installed a cylinder in your home, does your insurance policy cover 'accidents' ? However remote, an accident could kill a child eh? Not withstanding the loss of life as the most important aspect, would you be thrown in Jail if that happened?
How many of you take the time to install the cylinder in the garage (assuming you have one) within a securily mounted armored cage and then run a co2 line to your tank? That does seem like doing it right!
If you're in an apartment, can you even have a cylinder?
Assuming you installed a cylinder in your home, does your insurance policy cover 'accidents' ? However remote, an accident could kill a child eh? Not withstanding the loss of life as the most important aspect, would you be thrown in Jail if that happened?
How many of you take the time to install the cylinder in the garage (assuming you have one) within a securily mounted armored cage and then run a co2 line to your tank? That does seem like doing it right!
If you're in an apartment, can you even have a cylinder?
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