Reddit reviews Aquarium CO2 Regulator with Solenoid 110V-Mini Dual Gauge Display Bubble Counter,Check Valve Fits Standard US Tanks-Accurate and Easy to Adjust (HP2000PSI,LP150PSI) Flow Meter
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This aquarium CO2 regulator is built with high quality material, designed for long-lasting dependability and durability. Strong and durable material is specifically designed to deliver precision measured amounts of CO2 in pressures LP 150 PSI /HP 2000 PSIThe CO2 aquarium regulator is compatible with most of high density tubing to inject your aquarium with CO2 quickly and easily. It also works well with most CO2 atomizers and diffusersThe mini dual gauge display is easy to read your setting,the universal CGA320 inlet connection suits for most brands of carbon dioxide tankCome with a tighten tool , a hex wrench, a extra seal ring and a detailed instructions for use(not include tube and carbon dioxide tank)The plant metabolic rate can be increased quickly,create the best growing conditions
I did it that way for a while. It worked well enough, but it'd run out fairly quickly especially as those cheap valves and seals broke down.
Also, the system works by "priming" the pressure with reactant CO2. As pressure is released into the tank the pressure sucks up more reactant keeping the pressure high. However I ran into a problem where all the sodium bicarbonate would settle down into the bottom of the bottle, meaning the citric acid solution could only react with the very top layer of the sodium bicarbonate in the bottle. This resulted in a slow reaction and a hard-to-control bubble rate.
Then, toward the end of the reactants life (or if the bottle got shaken up somehow), the remaining sodium bicarbonate layer kind of collapses resulting in a very high rate of reaction and my pressure would spike dramatically, and again those cheap valves couldn't handle it well and it would dump a TON of CO2 into the tank unexpectedly, depleting my reactant quickly and creating instability in my tank.
I also didn't have the ability to easily start and stop the gas when the lights were off without manually adjusting the valve, which I could never quite get back into that sweet spot again.
The reactant isn't cheap either. Spent probably $100 in reactant in the year that I operated this system and I had to replace the valve twice.
In the end I ditched that whole apparatus and just went the bottled CO2 route. $53 for the regulator with a solenoid that I hooked up to a $5 timed power switch. $50 for a CO2 bottle that I've now operated for 3 months without an observable drop in tank pressure. This thing will last me at least a year I'd bet if not more at 3 bbs. The bottle also costs $15 to refill when I finally get around to needing to do that.
Of course all the diffusers and stuff that I already had worked with this system just fine. I use this with my canister. Love it.
Get this and this and you're golden. Have 2 sets for my 40G and 25G and been working flawlessly
I have this one and have had no problems with it. The needle valve can be a touchy when you move it - meaning if you mean to move it a miniscule amount, sometimes it moves more than you wanted. You have to play with it some. I been happy with it overall for my first CO2 regulator.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7P8TL3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have no experience with these...but look: Just read the reviews before you buy.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7P8TL3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077XVFQ46
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KK7YLRK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5S617H
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002P39I8U
I actually ordered everything individually from Amazon. I’m sure you could probably find everything locally as well but it was easier for a newbie like me to get it all from the same place.
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_J3vBDbY97P8E0 - $22 ( + $5 to fill with CO2)
Aquarium CO2 Regulator with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7P8TL3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $53
AQUATEK CO2 Paintball Tank CGA... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $12
aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-11473... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N36MAO4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $18
AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z6vBDbMW07193 - $8
Century 24 Hour Plug-in... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVFF59S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $9
Aquarium Carbon Dioxide CO2... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9DGXV0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $11
Total: $148
Again, total newbie and this is the bare minimum of quality and price I was comfortable with. I plan on upgrading to a bigger tank and a better regulator in a few months. Do your own research too.
I run the following. I spent countless hours researching and decided I didn't want a $100+ regulator. I went with 5 lb over a paintball setup because paintball tanks only hold 20 or 24 oz. If you're also taking cost into consideration a 5 lb tank also holds 5 x 16 oz = 80 oz = 4x the amount of CO2 capacity for 3x the price. In addition you don't need the adapter and it's easier to fill 5 lb tanks (at least in the bay area).
Total cost under $200.
I have bought both this one that is not available anymore and this one with no problems with either. Until I get one that comes defective 2-3 times in a row, I am sticking with the cheap amazon regulators.