98G co2 on sale $40 hmmm...

[laqu]

okay, budget is SUPER tight. i really want the gla v2 mini but this up aqua one is 40$ and my DIY is driving me crazy.

is it worth it?

i have a 6 gallon heavily planted tank.

Amazon.com: Up Aqua Pierce Co2 System Starter Kit: Pet Supplies

Amazon.com: Up Aqua Pierce Co2 System Starter Kit: Pet Supplies

[TwoTacoCombo]

I don't see how that thing actually regulates the pressure. Do some research and see if it's just a valve, or is somehow a real regulator. With a volume of gas that small, temperature or pressure changes are going to move your bubble count all over the place, just like with the unregulated paintball kits. There's also no way to use a solenoid with that, so you're gassing when the lights are off..

[kevmo911]

^ all that.

Plus the fact that disposable cartridges are a massive money pit. By the time you buy enough cartridges to equal the gas contained in one 5lb cylinder (24 of them), you've put in the cost of a good used dual stage regulator, metering valve, solenoid, and 5lb cylinder. And then some.

Don't do it.

[laqu]

okay we are talking about a 6 gallon tank

the 5lb cylinder is almost as big as the tank, not to mention getting it filled is a pain as it's a drive to fill it.

i use a bubble count of .5 - 1 bps and would turn off at night.

[sarahspins]

Originally Posted by laqu

okay we are talking about a 6 gallon tank

That honestly doesn't help anything - if anything small tanks are even more susceptible to the dangers of inconsistent CO2 delivery.. and you have to watch the bubble count constantly to make sure it's stable. Less than 3.5oz of CO2 will honestly not last super long - by the time you've bought an extra CO2 cartridge or two you may as well have bought a paintball tank (where I get mine, your first fill is free).

If you are adamant about the price point,

get this one

get this one

plus a $16

adapter for a paintball tank

adapter for a paintball tank

. Then get and fill a paintball tank (mine were about $20 each at a local sporting goods store) - it will last longer between fills and refilling one is usually $3-4.

Now, it's probably not a solution many people would really recommend (it's basically the same $39 kit, but not in a kit), but it would avoid the money pit that the disposable systems are without making you spend a lot more now (only extra is on the tank, but you would have spent that within a month using disposable cartridges), and it would set you up better to upgrade to something nicer later.

[IWANNAGOFAST]

turning it off at night means having to turn it back on in the morning, and sitting there for a few minutes as you adjust the bubble rate. You can get a paintball tank, 20oz tank, 3 bucks to refill.

But it sounds like you're pretty adamant on it, give it a try. I used a similar set up on my mini-m (5.5 gal) at .5bps, the tank lasted about... 2 weeks (this was leaving it on 24/7 though, so you may get 5 weeks out of it

[laqu]

so there is no "on/off" type switch?

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by laqu

so there is no "on/off" type switch?

A solenoid can act as an on/off switch via a timer, but you will need to figure out how to convert from the Up Aqua's threading to standard NPT threading.

[kevmo911]

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

A solenoid can act as an on/off switch via a timer, but you will need to figure out how to convert from the Up Aqua's threading to standard NPT threading.

You can't put an average solenoid on what is essentially an on/off valve, not a regulator. The pressure would build to 800 psi, which is far past the point at which any standard solenoid would fail.

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by kevmo911

You can't put an average solenoid on what is essentially an on/off valve, not a regulator. The pressure would build to 800 psi, which is far past the point at which any standard solenoid would fail.

Ah yes, that is something that would be a problem too; you would need a proper regulator that reduces the cylinder pressure to a nice delivery pressure range.

[hisxlency]

I'm on a budget too but hold out! Save the pennies for a paintball system. Aquatek or GLA sell nice systems.