Looking For Some CO2 System Advise or Recommendations

[jcali10]

Hey now. Hello there fellow Gwapans.

I have a 50 gallon aquarium at home and I want convert to a planted tank. I have a new, in the box Rena XP2, (wishing I had bought an XP3 now), 2 Current Nova Extreme T5 lights, for 3.12 WPG, (I know wpg is a poor paradigm to use) and a huge bag of SMS promaster select turf conditioner.

First, I need help with the regulator decision and secondly, I need advise on CO2 cylinders and refilling them or swapping out, as with propane bottles.

I know I want a regulator with a solenoid so I can run it on a timer, but I am having trouble deciding on which branch unit to go with.

I know I will need a diffusion method, a bubble counter, check valves, tubing, and a needle valve.

The regulators I have been looking at so far are:

1. Rex Grigg's stuff, (supposedly parts and build are good quality)
2. AZOO - ?
3. Aquariumplants.com - have one for about $150, with a 3 yr warranty.
4. Milwaukee - ?
5. Paint ball stuff - I don't think I am interested in this at all.

Any and all comments welcome. My only experience with CO2 right now is DIY with yeast.

Good day to you sir.
Regards,
Joe Cali

[krisw]

I think most folks here run either the Milwaukee or JBJ regulator, or have built their own using regulars and parts from brewery stores or Clippard. (This is basically Rex's rig).

Personally, I run two Milwaukee regulators, and the only problem I've ever had is dumping out too much CO2 at the end of a bottle. This is pretty much true of most regulators without a low-pressure regulator attached.

I have no experience with the AZOO/Aquariumplants.com ones, but that's doesn't mean they couldn't be good...

I'm not sure if I've answered anything here, have I?

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

For the regulator - aquatic-store.com has the JBJ regulator with solenoid + bubble counter on sale for $92.90

For a diffusor - either a ceramic diffusor or an inline reactor would work well.
You can DIY the inline reactor fairly cheap.

For the bottle - I'm using Roberts Oxygen - and simply swap out instead of
worring about where to refill from. There are several locations that'll refill while
you wait too.

BTW - check APC. jdigiorgio had some CO2 equipment for sale.

[krisw]

Joe, a lot of folks buy their ceramic diffuser from AquaticMagic on ebay or aquabid. I use these, and inline reactors out of PVC.

Also, Laurel Bottled Gas on Route 1 in Laurel, MD refills my 5# bottles while I wait (about 5 mins) for about $12.

[ingg]

co2-canisters.com, JBJ for 81.99. Their shipping was really cheap when I was quoting empty tanks, too.

[jcali10]

Thanks Ghazanfar et al for replying. For a CO2 bottle, I like the idea of exchanging bottles for convenience, and the closer to home the better.

I have about 25 inches of clearance under my aquarium and from what I've seen online, 10 # cylinders are about 20.5 inches tall. I'm wondering if there would be enough room for the attached regulator??? or should I just get a 5 pounder???

I have a diffuser in my 20 with DIY CO2 but I want to run an inline reactor on my 50. I should be able to make one of those out of PVC.

I'm gonna go to the wine and beer making supply store and see what they have in the way of CO2 equipment. It's only 5 minutes from my job in Columbia.

Decisions decisions. I doubt a local seller would be cheaper than an online seller. Time to start pricing and comparing.

[ingg]

Been there, looked at that.

By the time you get the conversion to the correct size, connectors, needle valve, etc, you might just as well buy a JBJ.

$35 or so is the best I've seen on just atwo guage regulator, but not sized to what we want... then you wander through clippard's site forever and a day...to get all the parts and pay shipping and $10 handling for the conversion... and then figure out a bubble counter....

[jcali10]

I think I am gonna buy one of those units with the regulator, solenoid, needle valve and bubble counter all in one. One of the less expensive units, I'm sure it will do the job.
___________

Joe

[Spine]

Joe,
If you want to put something together yourself ( ala Grigg's style) I have all the clippard stuff. You can also get the reg,bottle, hose ect.. locally If you need help putting it together let me know.