Switching from DIY to press. CO2

[marcinsmok]

Hi everyone, I am new and this is actually my first thread. Excuse me my English, but believe me I am trying as hard as I can

OK, to the details. I have a 15gal. planted tank that I started several months ago (with mixed results) and I am thinking of switching to press. CO2 rather than my DIY and thats why I have some questions.

1> Is it a good idea anyway to switch- I have a nutrafin CO2 setup with my own yeast mix (in my opinion way better than the hagen packs, and also way cheaper) and I am a little piss off cause I can hardly get more than a bubble per 5-6 seconds and the whole thing last not more than 10 to 14 days.
2. I searched for the regulator and I think thaht Milwaukee Co2 MA957 is the best deal- or am I wrong? What is your experience with thaht regulator? Or should I better buy the red sea one and stick with paintball bottle- I am planning to buy a 5lbs one and I can't decide if I should get a regular tank or the paintball one? What about the one from walmart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5439038?
3. Maybe it is a little lame question, but in general- how many bps should i have for my heavy planted 15 gal (ph is around 7.8 and I have 48w of light) I have a nutrafin ladder but I ordered the rhinox 1000 from aquascape (the thing is smaller, look better and produce nice tiny bubbles)?
4. Where in New York City area is the best place to buy and refill co2 tank? Maybe you are from around here and can help me. Or maybe I should buy the tank online-any reccomendations?

Wow, that is a lot of questions. Anyway, thanks in advance for your help and I hope you'll understand what I was trying to say

[Sponsors]

[Ozymandias]

i can't help you all that much on certain things see as i don't have pressurized CO2 yet but i would say if you are looking for a deal go with the Milwaukee and a regular bottle not paintball. also i would also PM Orlando here on TPT he should be able to help. I'm also sure that many people will have more input.

on a side not i am probably going to be by my regulator from these guys . mainly because thay are in NJ and are afilated with NJAGC witch i am a part of.

[marcinsmok]

I searched a lot and I found that the m ilwaukee one is the best deal. I just don't know how much bps should I have for that small tank.

[honor]

40-60

[marcinsmok]

???I don't get it.I asked about bubbles per second

[heady]

I just bought a whole CO2 system myself.

I bought a Milwaukee 957 from http://www.thatpetplace.com/ - BUT I called them to do a price match with http://www.tsunamiaquatic.com/catalo...43/2982460.htm . I got it for an excellent price, from reliable company, and they had it in stock. Plus they answered the phone when I called.

I got my CO2 cylinder from http://www.beveragefactory.com/draft...anks/co2.shtml .

Here are my costs:
Ten-pound aluminum cylinder at beveragefactory.com: $90 (including shipping)
Milwaukee regulator at thatpetplace.com: $79 (after price match)
Drop checker at thatpetplace.com: $10
Shipping for thatpetplace.com: $11
CO2 refill at local Fire & Safety company: $15

Total for brand new pressurized CO2 system: $205

This is for a complete CO2 system for a 100 gallon tank. For a 15 gallon tank a 5-pound CO2 cylinder would probably last you a LONG time.

Oh yeah... I just used a micro air stone as a CO2 reactor, it's cheap and works fine: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...22&pcatid=3722

http://www.bigalsonline.com/ is having a big 10-30% off sale going on now, so you might check out their prices too.

[EdTheEdge]

A good starting point is always 1BPS as it depends on your diffusion method. Keep a close eye and adjust accordingly.

[marcinsmok]

Thanks a lot guys, especially you heady, the prices at tsunamiaquatic are really good. Now i need a place in NY where I can refill my new tank (or do they sell them already full of gas?)

[heady]

Generally you can't buy CO2 tanks that are already filled unless you buy them from a local company like Airgas, because when it's full it's a hazardous material and lots of extra fees for shipping.

You might be able to find local places that refill at http://www.gawda.org/ .

Otherwise, try local beverage supply companies, home brew supply places, or fire extinguisher supply places.

You can also get full canisters at Airgas, but they don't refill, so just make sure you don't have a pretty new aluminum cylinder if you take it there because they will just give you whatever rusty old steel cylinder they have laying around.

[onica7]

marcinsmok, You can start with 1 bps -2 bps. You have a decent amount of light there, and ultimately, that will be what determines how much co2 you will need.

You should invest in a drop checker. Really, it's the best way to read your co2 levels. No more testing, guessing, etc. The ppm is really more important then how many bbs. BBS could be really different in 2 identical tanks, depending on the diffusion method.

There was some talk here about Co2 refill in Manhattan a while back:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ne...2-tell-me.html

[marcinsmok]

What about the drop checker from aquaticmagic? Did anyone try it?

[marcinsmok]

I have one more question- what do you think, it's cheaper to buy the tank online and fill it or buy full one from local airgas.

[heady]

You'll get it cheapest if you buy it used from Craigslist or a pawn shop or something then just have it filled locally. Just make sure the hydrostatic test date was in the last 5 years or you'll have to pay extra for the test.

Also, if you're using Airgas, call them ahead of time to make sure they actually have the tank you want to fill in stock. Mine doesn't carry the 10 pound tank, for example, so I had to have it filled somewhere and couldn't just have it swapped out by Airgas or a local welding supply company.

[marcinsmok]

OK, what about a steel tank? Is it much cheaper than aluminium? I am asking cause I don't care that much about the look of the tank, as it gonna be behind the aquarium

[DaveS]

I can't comment on the cheapest part, but for me by far the easiest way to get CO2 is to find a supplier that will give you the tank already filled. When you need a new tank, you simply take the old one in and swap for another full tank. After the first tank, which requires a deposit, you will only pay the refill cost. By using this method you won't have to worry about getting your tank tested every so often (and probably before the first fill). From my experience, it is also much easier to find companies like Airgas that swap tanks than those that refill tanks. Who cares what the tank looks like? Chances are it will be tucked into your stand and out of sight anyhow.

Dave