Refill For Jbl Co2 Tank Between Glasgow And Largs

[2pods]

Are there any shops in the Clyde coast area between and including Largs and Glasgow who will refill JBL tanks

Will the JBL regs fit fire extinguishers ?

Are there any locals who use anywhere else ?

 

[Themuleous]

The newer JBL regs will fit any standard size cylinder, including fire extinguishers.

Sam

 

[2pods]

The newer JBL regs will fit any standard size cylinder, including fire extinguishers.

Sam

So if I buy one from Aquatics Online I should be OK, unless it's old stock ?

I've just sold a tank (boo hoo !) so I can now afford the JBL Proflora Co2 Set Vario 500 Profi Set 2 (I'd love the pH controller in set 3, but Its too much money at the moment)

First I'm thinking about anywhere local.

Peter

 

[Themuleous]

In theory the new JBL regs should be ok. That said don't get a JBL reg, they are the worse IMHO, OK they work but the needle value has a tendency to shift changing the bubble rate and its very difficult to get fine adjustments of the bubble rate at lower rates. There is a link in my sig to a long thread on pressurised CO2, worth a read, it'll probably save you a load of money and you'll get better equipment. Main point is -> get a reg from a German seller on Ebay and if you're able use a fire extinguisher, that is by far the cheapest way of 'going pressurised'.

Sam

 

[2pods]

In theory the new JBL regs should be ok. That said don't get a JBL reg, they are the worse IMHO, OK they work but the needle value has a tendency to shift changing the bubble rate and its very difficult to get fine adjustments of the bubble rate at lower rates. There is a link in my sig to a long thread on pressurised CO2, worth a read, it'll probably save you a load of money and you'll get better equipment. Main point is -> get a reg from a German seller on Ebay and if you're able use a fire extinguisher, that is by far the cheapest way of 'going pressurised'.

Sam

I've read all the thread and that's why I'm thinking of a kit.
I'm easily confused at the best of times

It dosen't look like anyone in the my area is on the board, or uses c02
The lfs are not that great, to put it mildly.

Peter

 

[Themuleous]

Ok so you want the easy route hey? In that case get this kit, it will give you everything you need and is cheaper than JBL kits. The only slight disadvantage is that getting these cylinders refilled can be tricky. Fortunately someone found this site, that sells very reasonably priced 2kg and 5kg cylinders. That's if you haven't already found a CO2 refill source yet.

Sam

 

[2pods]

Ok so you want the easy route hey? In that case get this kit, it will give you everything you need and is cheaper than JBL kits. The only slight disadvantage is that getting these cylinders refilled can be tricky. Fortunately someone found this site, that sells very reasonably priced 2kg and 5kg cylinders. That's if you haven't already found a CO2 refill source yet.

Sam

So what is it that makes the JBL kit so dear compared to the ebay/german stuff ?

 

[Themuleous]

Its like everything in this country, its just more expensive! Its the same reason people started to buy cars on the continent then drive them over here. We get ripped off in the UK.

Here endeth the rant.

Sam

PS - Your probably paying for the name as well a bit.

 

[2pods]

Its like everything in this country, its just more expensive! Its the same reason people started to buy cars on the continent then drive them over here. We get ripped off in the UK.

Here endeth the rant.

Sam

PS - Your probably paying for the name as well a bit.

Thanks for all the info Sam, believe me I need it
I'm sorry to go on, but as the instructions are presumably in german, how do I know what I would be doing ?

Incidentally, if I did buy the german kit, I could afford a 2kg bottle from him

 

[Themuleous]

You don't really need instructions, all the kit is very much one space for one piece. Its ultra easy to put together, trust me. Re the 2kg cylinder, if you know of a shop locally that will refill any type of cylinder, then by all means that the kit with one rather than the 500g, would certainly work out cheaper. However, most people find LFS will only refill JBL cylinders. If you're lucky enough to have a LFS that will take unbranded cylinders then go for it!.

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

Have a look at my journal that I have just updated. It shows my CO2 kit I just bought from Aquamas on eBay.

Dave.

 

[2pods]

Have a look at my journal that I have just updated. It shows my CO2 kit I just bought from Aquamas on eBay.

Dave.

Thanks Sam and Dave (i think there is a band in there )
I'll have a look now.

As to refills locally, I think that is a no go

Peter

 

[Themuleous]

As to refills locally, I think that is a no go

Disposable cylinders or the 5kg fire extinguishers I linked to. To be fair a 5kg cylinder at 40quid will work out much cheaper than refillable 500g cylinders anyway.

Sam

 

[2pods]

Well, it can't be any clearer than that.
Thanks Dave.

Is it better using the external reactor than the in tank version ?

A bit of background might help at this point.
the tank in question is a Juwel Rio 400 litre, fitted with a Rena XP3 external filter and Vecton 15w UV as well as the internal Juwel filter fitted with a Nitrate sponge.

Lights are 4 x 36w Arcadia T8's (2x Original Tropical, 2x Freshwater) with reflectors.

Substrate is not great for plants being very fine Roman gravel.

Fish are currently 10 Clown Loach, 4 adult Angels, 12 Corys, 1 SAE, 6 Danios, and about 10 Platys.

Plants are not great either, being a selection of Rotala Macaranda, Vallis (straight and twisty), Amazon Swords, Hygophillia, Onion plant, some crypts, and some dwarf grassy thing.
I add Flourish weekly.

The pH is usually on the low side and can drop, although with added coral gravel it's about 7.0-7.2.
Just now it's 6.6-6.8. Nitrate varies between 10-30.
I change 25% water weekly whilst cleaning the gravel with a python.

Peter

As to refills locally, I think that is a no go

Disposable cylinders or the 5kg fire extinguishers I linked to. To be fair a 5kg cylinder at 40quid will work out much cheaper than refillable 500g cylinders anyway.

Sam

And they fit the german ebay kit ?

Peter

 

[Themuleous]

I've not used an external reactor, but hear good things about them. Dave has just got one, perhaps worth asking him. When I get my 100g I'm going to run 2 or 3 internal diffusers or might look to getting an external reactor, would make life easier having it outside the tank.

The setup sounds good, do you get relatively decent growth from the plants? Much algae?

10 clowns hey? They must love the space, my 100g will be mostly for their benefit and to house them for the next 20 years!

Two points, don't worry about using a nitrate sponge, it'll more than not do more harm than good (have you read the pinned estimative index article?) and also take the coral out of the filter. Plants tend to prefer a pH on the lower side so work with it not against it (I would kill for softer water out of my tap) and people run tanks down below 6pH and the fish don't mind either.

And yes that German kit should fit a fire extinguisher as all these things work to a standard size. It wont of course fit disposables, but you can get kits that take disposables if needs be. Disposable 600g cylinders are around 8-10 quid each.

Sam