CO2 supply in Greensboro

**kevmo911** · 10-29-2010, 11:25 PM

Probably should have started this thread before I went out and found a tank, but I ended up buying a 5# tank at Arigas National Welding in Greensboro (east-central GSO) for about $65. 20# was about $120. Swaps for 5# are $17, and 20# are $32.
They also stock Victor regulators.

Robert's Oxygen (far western GSO): $12 per 5# swaps, and $18 per 20# swaps. They don't have 10# cylinders. About $140 for a 20# aluminum cylinder, and a dollar or two less for steel.

Carolina Carbonic & Hydro (central GSO) does refills. $25 regardless of size for the first, and $21 for the next however many. So 3 tanks, a 5, 10, and 20 (for example) would cost $25+21+21.

Fifth Season Gardening (north central GSO): swaps, $22 for either a 5# or 20#. They only keep two of each on hand.

**Ben Belton** · 10-30-2010, 02:05 PM

Hey,

I've been absent from the hobby for awhile, but I'm slowly getting back in. I don't know much about the GSO area, but a friend got my 5# tank refilled somewhere there near his work (in GSO) for much cheaper than that. I'll ask him and let you know.

I don't know about pet shops.

$62 sounds like a good deal on a 5# tank. I haven't bought one in years though. I think mine was more than that in 1996. You wouldn't need a larger one. Mine lasts months on my 75gallon.

I wouldn't get the regulator from the welding store. They don't reduce the pressure enough and you still have to get a needle valve. I have 3 of THESE. I love them. They are regulator, needle valve, solenoid, and bubble counter all in one. You might even be able to find a better deal than this. There is also a model by Milwaukee that many people have and love, but I have no experience with those.

Good luck!

**kevmo911** · 10-30-2010, 07:57 PM

Yeah, please get back to me about the refilling. And I liked that JBJ combo. The Milwaukee was even cheaper. I'm not confident enough yet to build my own regulator setup, so that would work for me when i (eventually) score the 55g w/ stand I've been trolling craigslist for

Conagher · 10-31-2010, 02:29 PM

Roberts Oxygen on Triad Drive (just off sandy ridge road exit) does the 5 pound tank exchange for $8 ($8.62 after tax). I just swapped tanks a couple of weeks ago, so the pricing is valid. They also exchange 10 pounders, but I do not know the pricing on them.

**Ben Belton** · 11-01-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conagher

Roberts Oxygen on Triad Drive (just off sandy ridge road exit) does the 5 pound tank exchange for $8 ($8.62 after tax). I just swapped tanks a couple of weeks ago, so the pricing is valid. They also exchange 10 pounders, but I do not know the pricing on them.

This is the guy I asked to let you know. :-)

$8 is a much better deal.

55 gal is an awful tank for aquascaping, but they are often cheaper because they are a popular tank and more are sold.

**kevmo911** · 04-15-2011, 04:12 PM

Just called Robert's, and they quoted $12 for a 5lb cylinder. But one of my cylinders is past the hydrotest date, and they said it's $15 for a test. They do swaps, though, so really they just swap it out and do the test on their own time. Anyway, refilling 2 5lb cylinders and a hydrotest will cost me $39 plus tax. Not a bad deal, and better than the local AirGas. I'll ask about 10- and 20lb cylinders while I'm there.

**JCoxRocks** · 04-15-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevmo911

Just called Robert's, and they quoted $12 for a 5lb cylinder. But one of my cylinders is past the hydrotest date, and they said it's $15 for a test. They do swaps, though, so really they just swap it out and do the test on their own time. Anyway, refilling 2 5lb cylinders and a hydrotest will cost me $39 plus tax. Not a bad deal, and better than the local AirGas. I'll ask about 10- and 20lb cylinders while I'm there.

Thats not too bad. Cost me about $32 to refill my 10# at a hombrewing store here in Raleigh. I think the last time I was in there I filled both of my 10# tanks with tax for around $72.

J

**Higher Thinking** · 04-15-2011, 07:21 PM

If you check out livingdirect.com they ship 5 lb tanks for 53 bucks. Most any place that fills up fire extinguishers will fill up your tank. My local shop does it for 12

**kevmo911** · 06-08-2011, 08:30 PM

Update - finally made it over to Robert's. $12 per 5# swaps, and $18 per 20# swaps. They don't have 10# cylinders. About $140 for a 20# aluminum cylinder, and a dollar or two less for steel. I'll probably end up buying a 20# via Evilbay (about $110 shipped via beverageelements, wonder if it's slightly different shipping through their website...) and refilling once every 18 months or so. It's a bit of a drive out there - just west of the Gboro airport west of the city - and it'd be nice to minimize trips.

I did ask the guy at Robert's if they had any low-flow metering valves. They didn't (but could order), but the guy actually asked me if it was for a fish tank. Impressed the heck out of me.

**kevmo911** · 11-08-2011, 02:39 AM

Another update: Carolina Carbonic & Hydro does refills. $25 regardless of size for the first, and $21 for the next however many. So 3 tanks, a 5, 10, and 20 (for example) would cost $25+21+21.

Btw, I think Robert's hydro test rate is $15. Forgot to post that last time. Updating original post with info.

**kevmo911** · 11-27-2012, 11:44 PM

Another update, a year later. Fifth Season Gardening (north-central Greensboro, on Battleground Ave) is a hydroponics store, and at least 50% of everything they have is fertilizer mixes in liquid and dry form. No simple KNO3, etc. - I asked. Another 25% of their stock is brewing equipment (sounds yummy - I'll probably try it sometime, as it sounds a heck of a lot cheaper than this hobby, and certainly tastes better than anything an aquarium produces. Oh, and they have free samples, too!).

But the main point is that they do swaps, too. Currently, they only keep two 5's and two 20's in stock, and they're both $22. And they're right down the street from me, so it's convenient. Not the best price, especially since my 20 is a nice shiny aluminum jobbie that I'm not going to swap out under any circumstances, but it's a convenient place to fill a 5 when I get caught suddenly needing a refill (which happened this past weekend). Updating original post.

10-29-2010, 11:25 PM	#1
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	CO2 supply in Greensboro Probably should have started this thread before I went out and found a tank, but I ended up buying a 5# tank at Arigas National Welding in Greensboro (east-central GSO) for about $65. 20# was about $120. Swaps for 5# are $17, and 20# are $32. They also stock Victor regulators. Robert's Oxygen (far western GSO): $12 per 5# swaps, and $18 per 20# swaps. They don't have 10# cylinders. About $140 for a 20# aluminum cylinder, and a dollar or two less for steel. Carolina Carbonic & Hydro (central GSO) does refills. $25 regardless of size for the first, and $21 for the next however many. So 3 tanks, a 5, 10, and 20 (for example) would cost $25+21+21. Fifth Season Gardening (north central GSO): swaps, $22 for either a 5# or 20#. They only keep two of each on hand. Last edited by kevmo911; 11-27-2012 at 11:46 PM.. Reason: update

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10-30-2010, 02:05 PM	#2
Ben Belton Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mayberry, NC Posts: 191	Hey, I've been absent from the hobby for awhile, but I'm slowly getting back in. I don't know much about the GSO area, but a friend got my 5# tank refilled somewhere there near his work (in GSO) for much cheaper than that. I'll ask him and let you know. I don't know about pet shops. $62 sounds like a good deal on a 5# tank. I haven't bought one in years though. I think mine was more than that in 1996. You wouldn't need a larger one. Mine lasts months on my 75gallon. I wouldn't get the regulator from the welding store. They don't reduce the pressure enough and you still have to get a needle valve. I have 3 of THESE. I love them. They are regulator, needle valve, solenoid, and bubble counter all in one. You might even be able to find a better deal than this. There is also a model by Milwaukee that many people have and love, but I have no experience with those. Good luck!

10-30-2010, 07:57 PM	#3
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Yeah, please get back to me about the refilling. And I liked that JBJ combo. The Milwaukee was even cheaper. I'm not confident enough yet to build my own regulator setup, so that would work for me when i (eventually) score the 55g w/ stand I've been trolling craigslist for

10-31-2010, 02:29 PM	#4
Conagher Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NC, USA Posts: 2	Roberts Oxygen on Triad Drive (just off sandy ridge road exit) does the 5 pound tank exchange for $8 ($8.62 after tax). I just swapped tanks a couple of weeks ago, so the pricing is valid. They also exchange 10 pounders, but I do not know the pricing on them.

04-15-2011, 04:12 PM	#6
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Just called Robert's, and they quoted $12 for a 5lb cylinder. But one of my cylinders is past the hydrotest date, and they said it's $15 for a test. They do swaps, though, so really they just swap it out and do the test on their own time. Anyway, refilling 2 5lb cylinders and a hydrotest will cost me $39 plus tax. Not a bad deal, and better than the local AirGas. I'll ask about 10- and 20lb cylinders while I'm there.

04-15-2011, 07:21 PM	#8
Higher Thinking So good my algae pearls! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Oregon State Beavers! Posts: 1,220	If you check out livingdirect.com they ship 5 lb tanks for 53 bucks. Most any place that fills up fire extinguishers will fill up your tank. My local shop does it for 12

06-08-2011, 08:30 PM	#9
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Update - finally made it over to Robert's. $12 per 5# swaps, and $18 per 20# swaps. They don't have 10# cylinders. About $140 for a 20# aluminum cylinder, and a dollar or two less for steel. I'll probably end up buying a 20# via Evilbay (about $110 shipped via beverageelements, wonder if it's slightly different shipping through their website...) and refilling once every 18 months or so. It's a bit of a drive out there - just west of the Gboro airport west of the city - and it'd be nice to minimize trips. I did ask the guy at Robert's if they had any low-flow metering valves. They didn't (but could order), but the guy actually asked me if it was for a fish tank. Impressed the heck out of me.

11-08-2011, 02:39 AM	#10
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Another update: Carolina Carbonic & Hydro does refills. $25 regardless of size for the first, and $21 for the next however many. So 3 tanks, a 5, 10, and 20 (for example) would cost $25+21+21. Btw, I think Robert's hydro test rate is $15. Forgot to post that last time. Updating original post with info.

11-27-2012, 11:44 PM	#11
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,750	Another update, a year later. Fifth Season Gardening (north-central Greensboro, on Battleground Ave) is a hydroponics store, and at least 50% of everything they have is fertilizer mixes in liquid and dry form. No simple KNO3, etc. - I asked. Another 25% of their stock is brewing equipment (sounds yummy - I'll probably try it sometime, as it sounds a heck of a lot cheaper than this hobby, and certainly tastes better than anything an aquarium produces. Oh, and they have free samples, too!). But the main point is that they do swaps, too. Currently, they only keep two 5's and two 20's in stock, and they're both $22. And they're right down the street from me, so it's convenient. Not the best price, especially since my 20 is a nice shiny aluminum jobbie that I'm not going to swap out under any circumstances, but it's a convenient place to fill a 5 when I get caught suddenly needing a refill (which happened this past weekend). Updating original post.