Co2 System Safety

[Beemeeup]

I have been battling with algae for some months and have tried to perservere with a DIY east system.

i have seen a setup in the local aquarium shop where there is a very clear algae free tank with a co2 cylinder setup, bubble counter, etc.

a very open question but how safe are these systems? Do they explode or leak easily, etc

any advice please?

 

[deucebrennan]

When you are dealing with pressurized gas there is always a potential for danger. As long as you take care when changing cylinders and you store them in a sensible location you should be fine.

I use DIY pressurized with a fire extinguisher. I try not to use old ones and check for rust and other damage before connecting them up. If it looks like it should be condemed then dont use it!!

Make sure that pressure is off and purged from you system when disconnecting cylinders. Make sure you check the 'O' rings when you change cylinders for wear & tear and dirt/dust, cleaning away anything that may impair the seal.

Make sure that you store the cylinders upright (you can buy holder/ stands) & keep away from sources of heat and direct sunlight.
Make sure you get you regulator serviced at least once per year at your lfs or some scuba diving shops might do it.
Keep children & pets away.. I know cats like to chew wires behind the tv, so imagine what could happen!!

Make sure that when you put you regulator on that you have it done up tightly using the correct spanner!!

Follow this and you should be ok. If in doubt dont use it!!

 

[gaz gun man]

what BAR do they run at?

if I remember rightly CO2 extinguishers run at 58 BAR

I wouldnt worry about it too much if I were you, I have a 300 BAR divers bottle marked for surface use only which needs to be tested every 5 years, and it sits at the end of my bed!

I would say a quick visual check would be sufficient

 

[Miss Wiggle]

also in terms of danger to the tanks inhabitants, be careful to keep the regulator shut away somewhere that it isn't easily accessible. we had a fire extinguisher one set up a while back and something (I suspect one of the cats) knocked it in the night, came down in the morning, CO2 was streaming into the tank and the fish were suffocating. lost a couple, managed to save most but more due to luck than anything else.

So make sure it's all shut away somewhere safe that no one can accidentally knock it.

 

[Rooster]

Gas cylinders are absolutley safe - they HAVE to be by law - its as simple as that !

Thats not to say that things can't go wrong - chuck one into a fire and it'll go bang... but then again a LOT of household products are "dangerous" in the wrong hands.

I use a big CO2 cylinder for welding... the only danger I am constanly aware of is that it falls over, and the regulator gets knocked off, or damaged to the point of a major gas escape, this would cause considerable physical danger.
But I have never even HEARD of anyone doing this - I have heard of oxy-acetaline cylinder mishaps, but these contain fire hazards... CO2 is NOT flammable !

If you want to wet your feet, get a disposible cylinder and regulator from a welding shop - theres no need to feed the fish shop owner !
Heres what you need from "Machine Mart" (or any welding supplier - but make SURE you get ONLY CO2, there are several mixes used for welding...)

CO2 (600g)* Mild Steel 010131057 £8.80
Bottle Regulator (Small Gas Bottle) 010120110 £11.73

Scrounge a couple of inches of "MIG welder gas pipe" to fit into the regulator... this is a good fit into silicon air line ! (they will give when you buy the other kit !)


You can add other bits, such as a needle valve (to finely adjust the gas flow-but you can usually manage with the regulator knob... it just takes a bit more fiddling !)

Diffuser or ladder - these go into the tank to dissolve the gas ( you can simply feed the bubbles into a filter intake... and do without)

Some way of turning it off at night.... solenoid valve is favorite - wired into your lighting, it automatically cuts off the gas.
(you could just turn off the regulator - but after all that fiddling ? better to just pop a plastic airline clamp onto the pipe !)


A lot of folk would have you believe this is rocket science

 

[deucebrennan]

Gas cylinder do have to be safe but after a few years they are condemned, especially CO2 fire extinguishers!

People put dodgy old ones on ebay all the time!! thats not so say that they all are but like everyone has said above be careful!!!!!

The weak point is the reg join at the top. As long as they are kept safly out of the way and upright you will be ok.

My brother used to work for BOC gas. He told me about how a cylinder for pub draught fell off the back of a delivery truck. Even thou the cylinder had a steel colar to protect the regulator join, the were both sheared off in the fall!!

The cylinder took off like a cruise missile and punched thru 2 brick walls before it stopped!!!!!

another horror story i read in a dive magazine where a air tank with 200bar cracked because it had not been tested in years and was then filled up. the rush of air that came out of the crack when it finally burst, cut a mans leg off at the shin!!!

enjoy your pressurized Co2 everyone lol!!!

 

[Fwapp]

I've been using a fire extinguisher based co2 system in my planted tank for a couple of years. As of today, I have yet to die, experience missile like movement of the cannister or any other non-typical behaviour by the system. It has supplied 2 bubbles per second, day in, day out.

There is an excellent overview of setting up a FE based system here

Pressurised cylinders are dangerous if you mistreat them or you mess around. Just like crossing a busy road or driving a car. Do it wrong or mess around and you'lll get hurt. Do it right and you should be fine.


Do it, your plants will love you for it!

 

[samh12]

Hi
I have a pro flora co2 system, i have had it for 3 or so years, not a single problem.
So i would say they are safe.
Sam

 

[Deus Machina]

I'll chip in here...

I play paintball. I feel perfectly safe running around, having projectiles fired at me, and holding a Co2 tank filled to 20 ounces of liquid Co2 at 800+ PSI against my face.

Perfectly safe, as long as everything else in the system is up to the pressure you run it at. Just remember that things should be pressure tested every 3 or 5 years depending on the tank.

In fact, the 9- and some 12-ounce tanks are exempt--nothing but visual inspection, ever. It will fail long after you start thinking to get rid of of it.

Just remember to regulate the pressure, no matter what you use. Any tank you pick off the shelf might be up to 500 or 800 PSI, but not many other components will be.