Compressed Co2 System Parts and Advice Please

At present I'm trying to gather all the components for a 96lt planted tank. I'm aware that it is possible to use DIY yeast/sugar/water Co2 with a small tank such as this but I would like to be sure that the Co2 being injected into the tank is at a constant and would also like to employ at night time shut off valve.

I will need to buy all the components associated with the co2 system and I am hoping to do it as cheap as possibly or get them second hand. My first question is about a 2.0L 2.95kg Aqualung-UK dive bottle that I have in my possession. It comes with a regulator but I am fairly sure that it is not suitable to be attached to a solenoid valve. However, I am interested in using the bottle to store the Co2. The thread dimensions of the bottle at 22mm. Does anybody know what the standard thread dimensions are on a solenoid valve and is it feasible to use this bottle as part of a pressurised system?

See pictures of regulator and bottle below!










Regards

Denis

When people are getting their fire extinguisher refilled with Co2, what parts of the solenoid needs to be removed or is the co2 refilled thought the solenoid. I'm trying to figure this out as I need to get a connector for the above aqualung bottle to make it into a male connector which the female solenoid valve will then be screwed into. Hence the above question! if the solenoid valve must be removed in order to refill the bottle what is there to prevent the CO2 escaping after it has been refilled.

Acara, you might know a little about this (being into diving and all) but where would I get my hands on a DIN connector that would leave a male connect available to have a solenoid valve screwed onto it?

Hi, I've recently bought this complete kit. I'm waiting to get the plants I ordered before I start using it but I've tested it and am happy, great price too!
cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Regulator-Electronic-...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The following info might help you understand what you need if you're using the diving gear. You can turn off the gas at the point of the pressure reducer. stores.ebay.co.uk/AquaticMagic/Co2-System-Setup.html

It could work out as cheap to buy the above kit, I've found all the little seperate parts expensive

Also forgot to say that it fits on to my standard Irish fire extinguiser. Good luck!

don't know if this is any help to you but i recently paid a visit to BOC gases to get co2 for my reef setup.I'm using the deltec solenoid and regulator at the moment but these would'nt fit their bottles.I got a connector from fishantics to fit a larger bottle,it cost 15 euro.Hope this helps.

that will be not working man you just spend many for nothing, the pressure of co2 and rise of ph in tank with the yast kill them, that will a better to use a normal boutle and yast you can find on the forum,

Huh?...........................didn't follow, sorry

Thanks guys for the advice so far, both in PM and posting form. So far I think I have sourced (or I should say kind members have offered me the following) gauges, solenoid, and the majority of the components that will get my pressurised CO2 system up and running. The only part I need to locate now is the stop valve that is located on gas bottle. I haven't done an awful lot to source this part but I know its specification and what it looks like.







I think you get the idea of what I am looking for!!! I am going to try the guys in Fishantics tomorrow to see if they have one or can point me in the right direction. I have been able to find stop valves for water and gas mains but after discussion with a few people these would simply not be up to the pressure requirements and I don't want to be the person to test them to see if they are. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Anyways the part I'm looking for is a LPG Bottle Valve with both of the threads being 22mm. So if anyone knows a seller in Ireland please let me know.

Regards

Denis

adriano210 wrote:

that will be not working man you just spend many for nothing, the pressure of co2 and rise of ph in tank with the yast kill them, that will a better to use a normal boutle and yast you can find on the forum,

Hi adriano,

I'm not sure but what I think your getting at is that if I try and use the pressure bottle for a yeast/water/sugar that it will kill the yeast and that it wont work in the tank. I understand your concern, but I will not be using a yeast/water/sugar mix to generate CO2. I will be getting the bottle filled with pure CO2 at my local gas filling station (yet to be decided). I have used (and still do) the DIY co2 in the past but I want to have a constant supply of co2 on my next planted tank. I find that DIY co2 is far to variable in the amount of gas it produces, looks unsightly, takes to long to catalyse once the yeast/water/sugar has been mixed, connections are prone to failure and I would think is more time consuming than pressurised CO2 systems.

A brief update on my position regarding getting the necessary piece for setting up a CO2 system. Popped into FishAntics in Dun L. yesterday and enquire if they knew where I might get a valve suitable for an aqualung and that will take the associated pressure. The guy in the shop knew his stuff and said that although it was difficult it was possible to get such a piece. He then mentioned that most of the CO2 refilling facilities would not refill the aqualung due to regulations that all pressurized bottles need to be tested annually and only used with the specific fitting designed for them. This is not what I wanted to hear. However, he did give me a couple of alternatives. The first was to go the fire extinguisher route and they stock the associated metal adapter piece. The second was to rent a CO2 bottle from BOC gases Ltd. and have them refill it when needed. For a fairly large bottle the rental cost is 70euro and it is only 28 euro for the fill. He said that he had only filled his once in three years which sounds like a very good deal to me. But I don't have space for a very large CO2 tank so I will most likely go the Fire extinguisher route. Does anybody know how much a 2kg (decent sized) fire extinguisher costs or does anybody have one second hand that I might buy off them.

I would just like to add that the guy in Fishantics really knew his stuff and although I was not looking to buy anything he still gave his advice and time freely.

D+D up off the Ballymount Road is probably the only place were you can walk in off the street and purchase a fire extinguisher for a reasonable price.