Pressureised C02 For 50 Quid

[BigIan]

go see your local calor gas centre, i got all hooked up and its working a treat...

Its not pretty though and the container is HUGE!!!

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Nice one big man.

Its not the size of your cylinder its what you do with it that counts

Didn't know they did Co2, can you show us your set up?

 

[BigIan]

yea they do Co2, i`m just trying to get a pic onto the PC but it`s being gay.......

 

[Graeme Edwards]

 

[Spinal]

I can't wait too see a pic! I've been working on a similar low-cost pressurised set up, but I was looking at a cost of roughly 20£ + gas... The idea is... paintball CO2 canisters (you can usually buy second hand ones from Deltaforce or your local paintball field for around 10£). They come with valves to control the gas flow, all you need to do is find a way to connect the screw top to a pipe to channel it into your tank. I had just covered a bottle silicone, rolled it in pebbles and had it slowly releasing the gas. Though this worked, the gas wasn't coming through a diffuser, hence didn't dissolve well, and as the bottle got empty, it started floating...

My next idea is to get a nut, some threadded pipe and connect the threaded pipe to the bottle with the nut. Then I seal one end of the pipe, make a hole in it and put in some standard airline... That way I even have an improvised expansion chamber...

That said, the bottle are fairly small... (1/2 litres at most)... just how BIG are the calor gas ones?

Michele

 

[BigIan]

mine stands about 3 foot high...

i recon i have about 2 years supply there....

 

[jcosgrove]

what would you need to connect it to your tank?

 

[paulf]

what would you need to connect it to your tank?

A regulator for around £25, an adapter and some tubing. If you buy a reconditioned fire extinguished the bolt straight on when you remove the horn.
I did my set up for around £50 and the c02 bottle is mine, I think you have to hire it from BOC if its a normal bottle of c02

 

[BigIan]

i own the bottle too.
when i take it back they just exchange it though. but officialy i own the bottle

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah it's nearly waist high (if your 5'6), and then there's the big regulator thing on top which is another few inches.

it doesn't look pretty in the living room but it's mostly hidden by the sofa..... when Ian's sat on his side of the sofa (just next to his tank) I can't see it at all so it's alright really. Be worth it for having a lovely planted tank in my living room.

 

[BigIan]

i`m beginning to think this was a waste of cash, as the reg just isn`t sensitive enough its all or nothing, i`m trying to use an inluine tap to ajust the co2 flow aswel but its not very easy......

 

[Themuleous]

Interesting Ian, I didn't realise calor did CO2 either. Do you have to by the cylinder and then it becomes yours?

Whats the cylinder thread like? It might be worth getting the cylinder and getting a reg from somewhere else, its probably designed for welding which would explain the 'all or nothing' you get.

Sam

 

[Spinal]

Im nearly done with the 20pound CO2 set up... but need a 12.5mm to 4mm pipe reducer (assuming the standard airlines internal dimensions are 4mm; dont have a micrometer handy)... any idea where to get one?

 

[vic]

i`m beginning to think this was a waste of cash, as the reg just isn`t sensitive enough its all or nothing, i`m trying to use an inluine tap to ajust the co2 flow aswel but its not very easy......

You need a needle valve to get the fine seting for the flow of CO2. Google JBJ or Milwaukee Instruments.
Cheers;

 

[Miss Wiggle]

word of warning, no one try and set up your co2 like this, had a disaster last night. the regulator must have slipped and started blasting out loads of co2, the fish were half dead this morning from suffocation. Not sure how many we've lost, turned it all off this morning and hooked up an airstone, just had to leave it and see who comes round. So keep your fingers crossed