How long will a CO2 bottle last?
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Joined
·
130 Posts
My 5lb co2 tank lasts about 4-5 months at about 4-5 bubbles per second so that will give you a rough idea. I figure a 20lb tank would last around 16 months at that bubble rate. Less if you have a higher bubble per second. Again just a rough estimate. You should get at least a year between refills I would think. Maybe less thats a big aquarium.
Joined
·
130 Posts
I prefer the smaller co2 tanks because if a 20lb tanks burst disk blows it could suffocate you quickly if it is in an area with poor ventilation. Not likely to happen but always a possibility. Just food for thought.
Joined
·
3,350 Posts
There's a LOT of variables. Ignoring them all to provide a VERY rough estimate, maybe 3-4 months for a 20lb.
Before considering a 50 pounder, make sure it won't be too much for you to lift. Should you have a relatively small leak, you can lose even 50lbs. of CO2 in just a few weeks, it's less painful to lose 20lbs. Should you have a massive leak, I think I wouldn't want to be in your house!
Two 20lb. tanks could be an alternative. When one empties, you can have it refilled at your leisure, instead of rushing to go do it.
Before considering a 50 pounder, make sure it won't be too much for you to lift. Should you have a relatively small leak, you can lose even 50lbs. of CO2 in just a few weeks, it's less painful to lose 20lbs. Should you have a massive leak, I think I wouldn't want to be in your house!
Two 20lb. tanks could be an alternative. When one empties, you can have it refilled at your leisure, instead of rushing to go do it.
Joined
·
1,113 Posts
I have a 20lb on my 75 gallon which runs 24/7 , drop checker stays green at around 1bps and I'm on my 2nd month.
Joined
·
6,769 Posts
I was able to get almost 3 months out of a 5lb tank on a 90G... I don't see why you wouldn't get at least 10-11 months out of a 20lb.
Joined
·
153 Posts
Danakin is right. Stay away from a 50lb cylinder. They're about five feet tall and weigh around 175 lbs. I'm running a 5lb for over three months now in a 50g tank. You can get one on Amazon for around $70. The "buy two" idea sounds like it would fit your needs...
Joined
·
241 Posts
Well then it seems a 20lb will suit my needs!
I was under the impression that a 50lb bottle weighted 50lb...?
Joined
·
153 Posts
Thanks, kevmo! Exactamundo. That's why I tried to explain in another thread about the 20oz CO2 paintball tanks needing to be drained all the way to get an accurate fill because of the variance in vessel size. And as I said before, anyone in the New Orleans area that has questions or need with CO2, PM me. We have a full servcie paintball shop and I can fill your cylinders at a nice discount if you mention TPT...
20lb cylinder should more than fill your needs Cthulu! Good luck!
20lb cylinder should more than fill your needs Cthulu! Good luck!
Joined
·
3,890 Posts
I'm looking at a 20lb for myself, which would be shared between a 75 and a 10, so I think we are in the same boat.
One thing I would love to know though, is if people are estimating the time before refill assuming that co2 is going to be on 24/7
I know with myself that I am going to have mine on a timer, that way I'm not wasting any co2 and that way my fish aren't being gassed out.
One thing I would love to know though, is if people are estimating the time before refill assuming that co2 is going to be on 24/7
I know with myself that I am going to have mine on a timer, that way I'm not wasting any co2 and that way my fish aren't being gassed out.
Joined
·
12,113 Posts
As mentioned, a 50 pound cylinder holds 50 pounds of CO2 gas; the weight of the cylinder is in addition to this 50 pounds.
In the lab, we use 50 pound gas cylinders; they are impossible to lift up by yourself. If you don't have a dolly, then you'll have a very tough time moving them.
Also, forget about moving them if you have a carpeted floor.
Joined
·
4,735 Posts
No. Relatively few people have pressurized CO2 without a solenoid, as it makes absolutely no sense to run CO2 24/7. So the estimates you'll see for any given size of cylinder will generally have one agreed-upon timeframe. The estimates lower than that timeframe are usually a mix of 24/7 CO2 and "I've had a small leak for quite awhile but haven't figured it out yet". Estimates over that timeframe are generally people who think they're injecting more CO2 than they really are.
But, again, when most of us talk about a regulator, we're actually talking about a reg, solenoid, and needle/metering valve.
Joined
·
3,890 Posts
So, overall theme is that a 20lb should work for at least a year.
How exactly can you tell how much co2 is left in the tank? Is it one of the dials on the regulator or something?
How exactly can you tell how much co2 is left in the tank? Is it one of the dials on the regulator or something?
Joined
·
4,735 Posts
Well, looking back through the responses, I see 3-4 mo on the low end to 1 year on the high end. I imagine it will be something in the middle. "At least a year" sounds like a stretch, based both on my experience and the responses in this thread, but it'll last awhile.
Your high pressure gauge won't move from around 800 psi for the first 90 or 95% of the life of the cylinder. After that, it will begin steadily dropping. At that point, you'll have a few days to a couple weeks till you're completely out of CO2.
Your high pressure gauge won't move from around 800 psi for the first 90 or 95% of the life of the cylinder. After that, it will begin steadily dropping. At that point, you'll have a few days to a couple weeks till you're completely out of CO2.
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Join the discussion
