DIY CO2 with C02 Cartridges???

Greeneer · 01-18-2008, 06:03 PM

Hello All,

I am a new member, but have been paying close attention to everyone's post about Co2 systems and DIY projects. I tried the sugar and yeast systems, but I am wondering if anyone has ever used CO2 cartridges for the planted aquarium. I used to play paintball and I know they have C02 tanks available and I am wondering if anyone knows how to implement this. Would it work? Will it be enough for what the plants need?

co2.gif

**frozenbarb** · 01-18-2008, 06:07 PM

Search up Paintball co2
or Paintball regulator

Yes it will be enough because its pure co2

Greeneer · 01-18-2008, 06:34 PM

How long it last thought.....I am experimenting with a 10Gal...I also have a 9oz CO2 tank....lets say i find the regulator....how long will 9oz of CO2 last me???

frostby · 01-18-2008, 07:31 PM

about 500 shots?

I would GUESS at least 4 months if you are good at disolving the CO2, and not using at night. I have a 5lb(does that make 80oz?), on a 55, and I get 6 months.

gotcheaprice · 01-18-2008, 08:35 PM

Umm, I think a 9oz would last you around a month... Maybe less. If I were you, I'd get a bigger one, I think the standard ones are 24oz? Get one of those and it'll last you a lot longer

AndrewH · 01-18-2008, 09:07 PM

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...6&pcatid=15526

Here you go,

.

Greeneer · 01-19-2008, 05:24 PM

thanks andrew...this was exactly what i am looking for..but the price is very high....i was hoping for a DIY or something around $50.

swylie · 01-19-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeneer

thanks andrew...this was exactly what i am looking for..but the price is very high....i was hoping for a DIY or something around $50.

You can get a regulator at Lowes for $60. That's just a regulator, mind you. No needle valve, no bubble counter, no diffuser, etc. It was $60 when I bought it, it might vary from store to store.

born2lovefish · 01-19-2008, 08:01 PM

Here is what I found. I have a 2.5 gallon planted and was thinking about rigging up co2 for it. After calculating the cost of a small co2 setup, I decided it was stupid. Think about it. The cost to refill a 9 oz co2 tank at a sports store is like $5, right? I bought a 20lb co2 tank on ebay for about $75 and it costed me less than $15 to get it filled! Bigger co2 tanks have to get hydrotested every 5 years, unlike small paintball co2 tanks. However, even paying $20 every 5 years is still cheaper to just buy a bigger setup. The only reason I would personally pay all the extra money for a small co2 setup is so you can hide it out of sight. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

**darkfalcon7** · 01-19-2008, 08:06 PM

I agree w/ born2lovefish. The only downside with the full rig is that if you have a leak, you get to spend an additional $17.50 (for me) instead of $5 to refill the tank, DOH!

crazy loaches · 01-19-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeneer

thanks andrew...this was exactly what i am looking for..but the price is very high....i was hoping for a DIY or something around $50.

Your not going to be able to setup a pressurized setup for $50 unless you buy everything used for dirt cheap, and maybe get some free stuff too...

Many have said in the past that the only reason to use a piantball setup is for size limitations on a nano tank or something like that. If you have room enough to put in at least a 5# tank, usually thats the way to go.

skipm · 01-20-2008, 09:46 PM

This regulator may be of interest for those wanting to DIY a pressure system..

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=co2units

swylie · 01-20-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipm

This regulator may be of interest for those wanting to DIY a pressure system..

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=co2units

I'm not certain that's actually a regulator. Notice that nowhere do they claim it's a regulator. It might just be a valve, which would make it dangerous. They don't even specify what the threading is, although it implies it has paintball threads rather than CGA320 or whatever. AquaBotanic is/was selling something like this and made a halfhearted attempt at a recall. I would steer clear of this product.

**BiscuitSlayer** · 01-21-2008, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swylie

I'm not certain that's actually a regulator. Notice that nowhere do they claim it's a regulator. It might just be a valve, which would make it dangerous. They don't even specify what the threading is, although it implies it has paintball threads rather than CGA320 or whatever. AquaBotanic is/was selling something like this and made a halfhearted attempt at a recall. I would steer clear of this product.

Aquabotanic still sells it and it is a regulator for a paintball rig:

http://www.aquabotanicstore.com/CO2_...or_p/10174.htm

I have been considering this one for a nano setup, but I wanted to see about trying to rig it with a solenoid and decent needle valve.

AndrewH · 01-21-2008, 02:57 AM

http://www.anythingxtreme.com/Pure-E...9209C1390.aspx

20oz bottle - $19.99

01-18-2008, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Greeneer Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sterling, VA Posts: 11	DIY CO2 with C02 Cartridges??? Hello All, I am a new member, but have been paying close attention to everyone's post about Co2 systems and DIY projects. I tried the sugar and yeast systems, but I am wondering if anyone has ever used CO2 cartridges for the planted aquarium. I used to play paintball and I know they have C02 tanks available and I am wondering if anyone knows how to implement this. Would it work? Will it be enough for what the plants need? co2.gif

01-18-2008, 09:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
AndrewH Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Worth, TX (CowTown USA) Posts: 465	http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...6&pcatid=15526 Here you go, . __________________ Thanks, AndrewH check out our local fish forums: www.dfwfishbox.com

01-19-2008, 08:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
darkfalcon7 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9) Join Date: May 2006 Location: california Posts: 111	I agree w/ born2lovefish. The only downside with the full rig is that if you have a leak, you get to spend an additional $17.50 (for me) instead of $5 to refill the tank, DOH! __________________ SFBAAPS

01-21-2008, 02:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
AndrewH Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Worth, TX (CowTown USA) Posts: 465	http://www.anythingxtreme.com/Pure-E...9209C1390.aspx 20oz bottle - $19.99 __________________ Thanks, AndrewH check out our local fish forums: www.dfwfishbox.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-18-2008, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae farm. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (45) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 2,146	Search up Paintball co2 or Paintball regulator Yes it will be enough because its pure co2

01-18-2008, 06:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greeneer Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sterling, VA Posts: 11	How long it last thought.....I am experimenting with a 10Gal...I also have a 9oz CO2 tank....lets say i find the regulator....how long will 9oz of CO2 last me???

01-18-2008, 07:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
frostby Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 140	about 500 shots? I would GUESS at least 4 months if you are good at disolving the CO2, and not using at night. I have a 5lb(does that make 80oz?), on a 55, and I get 6 months.

01-18-2008, 08:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
gotcheaprice Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: HI Posts: 465	Umm, I think a 9oz would last you around a month... Maybe less. If I were you, I'd get a bigger one, I think the standard ones are 24oz? Get one of those and it'll last you a lot longer

01-19-2008, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Greeneer Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sterling, VA Posts: 11	thanks andrew...this was exactly what i am looking for..but the price is very high....i was hoping for a DIY or something around $50.

01-19-2008, 08:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
born2lovefish Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 359	Here is what I found. I have a 2.5 gallon planted and was thinking about rigging up co2 for it. After calculating the cost of a small co2 setup, I decided it was stupid. Think about it. The cost to refill a 9 oz co2 tank at a sports store is like $5, right? I bought a 20lb co2 tank on ebay for about $75 and it costed me less than $15 to get it filled! Bigger co2 tanks have to get hydrotested every 5 years, unlike small paintball co2 tanks. However, even paying $20 every 5 years is still cheaper to just buy a bigger setup. The only reason I would personally pay all the extra money for a small co2 setup is so you can hide it out of sight. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

01-20-2008, 09:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
skipm Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Helena Island, SC Posts: 19	This regulator may be of interest for those wanting to DIY a pressure system.. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=co2units

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements