Paintball Co2 Injection DIY Setup with Tons of Photos

somewhatshocked · 01-01-2013, 08:09 PM

You don't need to find a cheap paintball regulator.

Buy a normal, dual-stage regulator that's in good shape for $50-$60 and spend $10 on a CGA/paintball adapter. That's about as cheap as you can get - and it's half as spendy as the rebranded paintball-specific regulators you can buy from a few retailers.

Hilde · 01-02-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggedfury

This setup can cost from $30 dollars to $80 dollars + for a working unit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Buy a normal, dual-stage regulator for $50-$60 and spend $10 on a CGA/paintball adapter.

Plus the paintball tank, which is $20. Cost is at least $90. Not worth the effort to me. Cheaper to dose excel, which I make from cidex, daily into my 29G tank

somewhatshocked · 01-02-2013, 07:48 PM

If that works for your needs, stick to it. But many people don't use Excel because it gets expensive, can't be used with some plants or doesn't work out with sensitive livestock.

Going the regulator route with a paintball adapter may be $80-$90 up front but it allows you to upgrade to a full-size CO2 cylinder down the road if desired. There's also a ton of resale value in a regulator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilde

Plus the paintball tank, which is $20. Cost is at least $90. Not worth the effort to me. Cheaper to dose excel, which I make from cidex, daily into my 29G tank

Hilde · 01-02-2013, 08:52 PM

I wish I could figure out how Jaggedfury made 1 under $80. I was prepared to spend $50.

mttaz1005 · 01-07-2013, 05:51 PM

I just bought a used paintball tank on ebay for $12 shipped to go this route obviously. I'll keep anyone who might be interested on how much more i spend on the rest of the set up.

**Jeffww** · 01-07-2013, 07:25 PM

The savings come when you can buy a cheap ASA. I got a very high quality one for 7 bucks because the manufacturer went under.

Hilde · 01-18-2013, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mttaz1005

I just bought a used paintball tank on ebay for $12 shipped to go this route obviously. I'll keep anyone who might be interested on how much more i spend on the rest of the set up.

Yeh, I would like to see how cheap you can do it. Going to start your own thread? Going to use a regulator?

Just found this AquaticLife adaptor with Regulator and Solenoid for $19. PSI max 3,500. Would this work?

**Jeffww** · 01-18-2013, 06:54 PM

That's just an adaptor to change CGA320 to pb...

Darkblade48 · 01-18-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilde

Yeh, I would like to see how cheap you can do it. Going to start your own thread? Going to use a regulator?

Just found this AquaticLife adaptor with Regulator and Solenoid for $19. PSI max 3,500. Would this work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffww

That's just an adaptor to change CGA320 to pb...

Agreed. Going by the item description, it is just an adapter. The image is quite misleading.

unicknn · 01-20-2013, 08:06 PM

Would you be able to use this set up along with an inline reactor like this one?

http://greenleafaquariums.com/co2-di...ffuser-16.html

Darkblade48 · 01-20-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unicknn

Would you be able to use this set up along with an inline reactor like this one?

http://greenleafaquariums.com/co2-di...ffuser-16.html

"This setup" as in the paintball setup in the first post in this thread?

If so, yes.

Just make sure you have the appropriate sized diffuser that matches your canister filter's tubing.

Hilde · 01-21-2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffww

The savings come when you can buy a cheap ASA. I got a very high quality one for 7 bucks

Can get 1 on Ebay for $10. It for a 1/8npt threaded hose. Will that work?

scags · 01-25-2013, 04:45 PM

Hey everyone, just did the exact setup the OP has. 20oz paintball tank- small adapter with gauge, and a needle valve from Lowes.

My problem is that I can't seem to get a nice 2bps. I just barely open the needle valve and it's full blast. Anyone else have this issue?

I can't seem to regulate flow, just wants to blast out!

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darkblade48 · 01-25-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scags

Hey everyone, just did the exact setup the OP has. 20oz paintball tank- small adapter with gauge, and a needle valve from Lowes.

My problem is that I can't seem to get a nice 2bps. I just barely open the needle valve and it's full blast. Anyone else have this issue?

I can't seem to regulate flow, just wants to blast out!

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "needle valve" that you bought at the hardware store will not be able to give you 2 bubbles per second. That degree of control will only be achieved with a proper needle/metering valve.

hbosman · 01-25-2013, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

The "needle valve" that you bought at the hardware store will not be able to give you 2 bubbles per second. That degree of control will only be achieved with a proper needle/metering valve.

Not to mention that that "needle valve" is being used to try to get a working pressure of 800 PSI down 2 bubbles per second.

01-01-2013, 08:09 PM	#2056
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,682	You don't need to find a cheap paintball regulator. Buy a normal, dual-stage regulator that's in good shape for $50-$60 and spend $10 on a CGA/paintball adapter. That's about as cheap as you can get - and it's half as spendy as the rebranded paintball-specific regulators you can buy from a few retailers. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

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01-02-2013, 08:52 PM	#2059
Hilde Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mableton, GA Posts: 3,967	I wish I could figure out how Jaggedfury made 1 under $80. I was prepared to spend $50.

01-07-2013, 05:51 PM	#2060
mttaz1005 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: RIO RANCHO Posts: 9	I just bought a used paintball tank on ebay for $12 shipped to go this route obviously. I'll keep anyone who might be interested on how much more i spend on the rest of the set up.

01-07-2013, 07:25 PM	#2061
Jeffww Microsynodontis Lover (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 2,081	The savings come when you can buy a cheap ASA. I got a very high quality one for 7 bucks because the manufacturer went under.

01-18-2013, 06:54 PM	#2063
Jeffww Microsynodontis Lover (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 2,081	That's just an adaptor to change CGA320 to pb...

01-20-2013, 08:06 PM	#2065
unicknn Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesa,Az Posts: 34	Would you be able to use this set up along with an inline reactor like this one? http://greenleafaquariums.com/co2-di...ffuser-16.html

01-25-2013, 04:45 PM	#2068
scags Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: port huron michigan Posts: 290	Hey everyone, just did the exact setup the OP has. 20oz paintball tank- small adapter with gauge, and a needle valve from Lowes. My problem is that I can't seem to get a nice 2bps. I just barely open the needle valve and it's full blast. Anyone else have this issue? I can't seem to regulate flow, just wants to blast out! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!