16 replies to this topic

[NicholasC]

I am just setting up a planted tank now, The main feature seems to be the most expensive I have tried DIY co2 but it just doesn't seem efficient.

What is the cheapest price on a Co2 bottle and a Regulator?

[NicholasC]

Sorry i forgot to add that i was after some shop names so PM me if you have to, just write Pm sent so i know

[Dan]

Hey

I find this the best value for money around atm. I reckon would be from Ben at AOA
http://www.aquariump...au/prod1254.htm
Regulator with solenoid and has a 12 month warranty

Only thing missin would prob be a bubble counter but ther are lots of DIY and they are really simple to make.

[NicholasC]

I am looking way bellow that price 8O hmm looks like the bank card has to come out of the wallet

[NicholasC]

What about just a regulator? Do i need a solinoid?

[Dan]

depends if you want the CO2 on 24 hours. Or hook it up to a PH controller.

There is a just regulator for $80 at AOA.

another option is looking for one on e-bay.

I just like the AOA one because it comes with a warranty.

[NicholasC]

So the solinoid just allows it to be set to a auto off or on? So the plants can release their Co2 at night and the bottle switches off?

How long can some plans go without extra co2? If i accidentley forget to turn i back on one day will they die in one day?

[ant747]

the solenoid just turns off the co2 supply, if you have one what you can do is set the particular rate at which you want co2 flowing into your aquarium via a bubble counter and then the solenoid can turn it on and off, meaning you can put the solenoid on a plug timer and it will turn on and off when you set it too, it means that you dont have to fine tune the amount of co2 going into the aquarium every morning and then turn it off every night. I bought mine off ebay for 144, including postage, that was about the cheapest i could find, and that came with reg, solenoid, bubble counter. So far it works fine, i use soda stream bottles as my co2 bottles, cost about $12 when i got to refill them, each last about 3 months or so

[Tucunare]

Nic
BOC gases can supply you a a cylinder for the cheapest price around.
My Air cylinder costs around $30 for a new one and around $9.00 per month for rent, most of there agents will sell regulators aswell.
Sorry to all the businesses out there but as soon as you put Aquarium on the front of what your talking about youll tripple the price. and after all a regulator is a regulator, even supercheap auto have em for there compressors

[NicholasC]

Yeah ebay have co2 regs for $65 with free postage... is that cheap for them?

Yeah so i am looking at $100+ thats not too bad, when i saw some aquarium places though i kinda freaked, like $250 for a reglator, $50 for bubblecounter, $30 for diffusor and all the rest thats kinda scary!

But i can make my own diffusor, by trapping the bubbles in a cylinder and just waiting for them to diffuse. I guess a co2 bottle would last ages if i turned it off at night and all the rest.

I am going to buy some non co2 plants today and get the tank setup.

[vishy_100]

Hey,
In regards to regulators, I believe you need one with a needle valve thingo. Or at least something that allows micro adjustments, eg one turn of reg increases flow by 1 bubble/second(increase realistically would be much greater). Bubble counters and diffusers can be made. Although you really want some kind of increased flow pushing past the diffusor as standard tank currents are generally too slow.
Thanks
Matt
PM me if you need more info

[Noddy65]

Hi Nic
Matt is correct. I was given a BOC regulator when i first started on planted tanks.
You just cant adjust it well enough, they basically have an open setting and a closed setting. The open setting with blow all you tubing lines.

I hate to say it but a regulator is not a regulator, this is one of those times when you do need to get an aquarium one, they dont need to have a neddle valve though.

You can get some pretty cheap ones online, that is true. And they work pretty well as well.

Mike

[Mr_docfish]

When looking at CO2 systems get a regulator with pressure controller (some are preset) and most importantly a 'needle valve'.
For bottles, buy one outright, in 3 years it will have paid itself off (I am talking about 2-3 kg bottles) some places that sell these bottles will refill them and others will do an exchange system (just like Gas'n'go or Swap'n'go LPG exchanges) at the same time these bottles are easier to carry and fit into cabinets.
Phone around with the larger specialist fish stores and look around at what is available. If you are going to go CO2 and do it properly, expect to pay about $900 give or take for the complete package with controller. But it will only cost about $10 per month averaged out for CO2 refills, probe storage sol'n, calibration buffers and maybe the odd probe every 3 years or so.
Also check out this before you go down the CO2 line:
http://members.iinet...ts_Tips/CO2.pdf
it's a PDF download, trust me it's safe.

and if you want to get technical try here:
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/
It's getting a bit old but the idea is still the same

Hope this helps those looking into CO2

Mr_docfish

[bushie]

haven`t been online for a while but I will add my two cents worth here.

try home brew shops.
they sell co2 bottles for their beer kegs at a reasonable price.

[ciaolong]

might able to help you with the co2 bottle with subway ... as my parents own it and we use food grade co2 for soda machines so i always just take one of the spares home

[Leevers]

i hear you can get some cheap second hand gear from the swan brewery whether it's the same gear needed or not i dunno, but worth the mention

[Aquotix Aquariums]

we've got new and secondhand regs (s/h = dupla) and we do 2.5kg bottle exchanges. And we give free advice as to when, why and how to use CO2 gear.

aquotix