AquaticLife's compact CO2 regulator

[Tug]

I found this compact CO2 regulator from AquaticLife that fits a small paintball sized carbon dioxide cylinder and comes with an adapter that converts from a small paintball thread to a larger standard CGA320 thread. Anyone have some insight they would share on the advantages/disadvantages for a 10 gallon tank? Any information on the electronic solenoid they use would be helpful?
http://reefbuilders.com/2010/10/25/aquaticlife-compact-co2-regulator-nano-reef-crowd/

 

[barbarossa4122]

Looks good/cute.

 

[Tug]

Does anyone have any experience with AquaticLife products and/or paintball regulator setups?

 

[Left C]

Somethings things stand out:

• it has the same (or similar) crappy needle valve that many cheap regulators, needle valve assemblies, manifolds, etc use
• it doesn't offer fine control with its 0 to 200 psi working pressure gauge
• it is a single stage regulator

Maybe you could add an inline needle valve like the Fabco NV-55 or something similar and make it work.

 

[Tug]

Thanks Left C.
I was thinking the same thing.

The inline needle valve is a great Idea. Unfortunately it wouldn't fix the fact that it's a single stage regulator. I might use it for the 10 gallon tank I have. It would save on space. I was thinking of temporarily bumping up the CO2 levels a little until the plants grow in.

Are there any precautions to reduce the effects of the "end of tank dump" with single stage regulators?

 

[hbosman]

Thanks Left C.
I was thinking the same thing.

The inline needle valve is a great Idea. Unfortunately it wouldn't fix the fact that it's a single stage regulator. I might use it for the 10 gallon tank I have. It would save on space. I was thinking of temporarily bumping up the CO2 levels a little until the plants grow in.

Are there any precautions to reduce the effects of the "end of tank dump" with single stage regulators?

EOTD can be minimized or prevented by, not letting the cylinder go completely empty. If you see the high pressure gauge go from 800 psi to 100 psi for instance, then you could refill the cylinder before the pressure drops enough for the regulator to get irratic. The wasted CO2 probably wouldn't be significant.

 

[pat w]

EOTD can be minimized or prevented by, not letting the cylinder go completely empty. If you see the high pressure gauge go from 800 psi to 100 psi for instance, then you could refill the cylinder before the pressure drops enough for the regulator to get irratic. The wasted CO2 probably wouldn't be significant.

CO2 in the bottle is a liquid under pressure and will maintain a constant pressure of ~1070 psi as long as there is some CO2 in the liquid state. It's after the last of the liquid is converted to a gas that you'll see the pressure begin to drop. Once you start to see the pressure drop you need to be thinking about a refill.

Through some research I've found that 44g of CO at 1 atmosphere will take up 22.4 liters of volume, yielding ~1150 liters of gas from a 5 lb. bottle. FWIW

Pat

 

[Matt F.]

Somethings things stand out:

• it has the same (or similar) crappy needle valve that many cheap regulators, needle valve assemblies, manifolds, etc use
• it doesn't offer fine control with its 0 to 200 psi working pressure gauge
• it is a single stage regulator

Maybe you could add an inline needle valve like the Fabco NV-55 or something similar and make it work.

I am not a fan of Chinese or Taiwanese made aquarium products. Sure the glassware might look good, but for functional items such as this, I'm not a fan. The quality is just not there. I am assuming it is the same unit/components as teh Archaea unit and those you can buy on ebay.

I ammend: I do use JBJ bubble counters.