Best paintball tanks according to redditors
We found 162 Reddit comments discussing the best paintball tanks. We ranked the 24 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 162 Reddit comments discussing the best paintball tanks. We ranked the 24 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Maybe a similar process to make these
Blackout your tank for 3 days. This will kill off the hair algae (caution: it may also start to effect your plants as well though). Use a fork to 'spaghetti twirl' the hair algae & get it out of the tank. What you're holding is a CO2 regulator. They aren't cheap, and only certain types don't need a CGA320 to paintball adapters. This looks similar to what you have in your picture. I would probably suggest this to eliminate most of your problems. It looks like he has dwarf baby tears & maybe dwarf hair grass? I found it difficult to save my dwarf baby tears after an hair algae bloom, but was able to save the grass.
Total for everything is $112 not including tax.
I use this regulator and the needle valve is a bit touchy, but its solid and works well enough. The solenoid has never stuck either. You can set it and forget it.
People are going to call out using airline tube vs CO2 proof tubing. CO2 proof tubing is completely unnecessary at the pressures what we work at and isn't very flexible, so I like the airline better.
This is my favorite diffuser because it has a halfway decent check valve, it has a build in bubble counter, and you can remove the ceramic disc without taking everything apart. I have 4 of these running in different tanks and 2 have had zero issues. The other two had small leaks that I sealed with gorilla glue and they've worked perfect since.
Step one:
Purchase
Step two: Put everything together
Step three: Profit!
EDIT: A few extra things that I remembered and also mentioned below. The regulator comes with a bubble counter, but for NOT come with tubing! You will need to buy the tubing, diffuser, and the co2 indicator. Amazon sells everything you need and is free shipping with their Super Saver option.
What size tank do you have?
If you are set on the paintball set up, you can't go wrong with the Aquatek mini regulator. It is the regulator I have set up on my 15 gallon and it has been fantastic. Basically, the parts you will need are:
Obviously, CO2 setups aren't cheap, but with the paintball route you can do it relatively inexpensively compared to the full scale regulator route. Good luck! I'd be happy to clear anything else up for you if you have questions.
Edit: Make sure you have a check valve in the system somewhere. This will keep aquarium water from flowing up the line into the regulator. Some of those items I listed (like the GLA diffuser) have them built in, which will solve that problem. However, if you choose products without a check valve built in you will need to add one. Here are some (also more tubing there to choose from).
Regulator (it says not for aquarium use but it’s perfectly fine. Read the reviews, plenty of paid ole are using it for planted tanks.)
Hydroponics (Co2) Regulator Emitter System with Solenoid Valve Accurate and Easy to Adjust Flow Meter Made of High Quality Brass - Shorten up and Doub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016NGH4M6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_y49oQQvbnDObI
Co2 tank
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_WS6y6wpDabbwP
Co2 tank adapter
Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2-5A4 CO2 Paintball Tank CGA 320 Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_ygLvJnhVJyGBc
Have been running this setup for awhile now and don’t have any issues.
Before I answer your questions, I want you to know that getting more advanced meaning spending a lot more money and time. A lot us learn by making mistakes, and that's how I started, by making a lot of mistakes.
I don't know what level of planting you want to do. It can be as easy as adding a few amazon swords into your tank right now, or as difficult as buying new light, CO2 equipment, fertilizers, etc.
If you want to save a lot of money from mistakes then here is what you should do:
Two things:
One. That light is made for a refugium. A lot of people will say that it's "harsh" or "cold" - that's because it's not really made for humans to look at - it's not a "display light". It'll work just fine for growing plants (it'll work really well, actually), but it will lack a lot of the "warmer" colors that look good to human eyes. Finnex makes a few others that are comparable: Plantet+ 24/7 (adjustable colors/remote/timer), Ray (bright white light), Ray 2 (very powerful white light).
Ultimately the light you choose will depend on a few factors. What kinds of plants will you grow? How deep is the aquarium (more powerful lights are needed for deeper water columns)? Do you mind if the light is "harsh"?
Of those considerations, I'd put the most weight on the tank dimensions and the plant specifications. Trying to push light through 24 inches of water for a carpeting plant? You'll want a Ray 2. Have an 8-inch deep tank that you want to grow some swords in? Don't waste your money on anything fancy.
----
Two. That CO2 kit is a money pit and here's why:
So let's say you spend 25 bucks on the kit plus 15 bucks for some cartridges. That's an upfront of 40 dollars with a 15 dollars per month in perpetuity. That means that one year of this kit will cost you $220.
Instead you could go for this paintball setup for the same price:
That build adds up to $205, will be WAY less work in the long run, much more stable, and simply easier to run. Also if you ever get sick of it and want your money back - it'll retain a lot of it's value. You could probably re-sell that whole set for 170-ish used. Also, that tank will last you a good few months before needing to be refilled.
CO2 can really help your tank flourish, but it takes a considerable buy-in. Go all the way or go home. Half-assing it to save money on sub-par equipment will just cause you headaches and a lot more money in the long run. I spent about 250 on my setup two years ago and haven't had to spend a PENNY on it since.
----
PS: /u/Elhazar, are you really gonna go around using the little 2 in "CO₂" and pretend like it's nothing? Well aren't you fancy!
Agreed. All that's involved in "hacking" a sodastream is adjusting and installing an adapter.
I don't refill the canister myself- I take it to a store to do it. I'm honestly terrified of messing with the full CO2 canister because I'm aware of how much force it contains. I actually avoid pointing the tip of the tank at myself (treat it like a loaded gun) when getting a refill.
Also, the tank I got has a safety burst disk.
Just letting you know on Amazon you can gat a new tank like that for about 200 dollars
If you already have paintball tanks, you'll need a regulator (I have this one from Aquatek and it's been fine for two years. Nothing spectacular though) as well as a bubble counter and diffuser. I like atomizers as you get excellent diffusion with them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY this is what I use. Very well made.
> Could do with a regular Ninja HPA tank for around 100$
Where, used? Also note the one in the pic is 77ci.
But OP, it looks like the 68ci's sell for less than the 77's:
https://www.ansgear.com/Ninja_Lite_Carbon_Fiber_Air_Tank_68_4500_w_Adju_p/ninjatanklw-68-gry-adj.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Carbon-Fiber-HPA-Tank/dp/B00BNX2O5W/
So you could save a good bit going with the slightly smaller tank. But if you think you might upgrade your marker at some point, maybe it's worth investing in the marginally bigger/lighter tank. Really though I don't think there's anything wrong with what you have there.
I just set up this regulator on my 5.5 and though it's too early to tell if I'll like it long term, it was easy to set up and run and relatively cheap. (Sorry for the full link, I'm on mobile). http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
Get him the Aquatek Mini Regulator:
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409346703&sr=8-3&keywords=aquatek
Assuming you don't want a full-sized scuba/welding tank, most people seem to go with the paintball canister + regulator setup. You can get the paintball canister from most of your sports stores that sell paintball supplies - they generally come in sizes around 20/24oz, but I think I've seen some larger. They run from $20-40, fills ranging around $5 (these are my local Academy Sports prices). The regulator is probably the priciest up front cost - usually around $90. I'm sure there are cheaper and more expensive versions of both of these.
Most people also add a bubble counter - pretty standard, and usually costing less than $5 - and an aerator/atomizer/diffuser (many different names for something that basically "dissolves" the co2 into the water). I haven't found a perfect solution for this yet - I've used fine airstones, ceramic discs, water ladders, and I'm currently using a powered diffuser.
I run a standard 30g tank at 1.5 bubbles per second. My swords and java moss are going crazy, but I've had problems with getting any sort of carpet going (more an issue with my tank parameters than an issue with the co2). I tried the DIY system for a while, but I have to say that I much prefer the high tech method.
One thing I would suggest is to make sure you've got a reliable source of co2 refills. Luckily all of my Academy Sports seem to do refills, but if they weren't an option, there's not a whole lot else around me. People have suggested wielding supply stores and paintball specific shops, but they're rare and randomly placed by me.
I tired a diy Co2 set up a few years ago about the same thing I think you're working out and it was a bitch, I could never get it to work right and I had to manually turn it off and on every day and it turned into to much hassle. I really suggest you go with this. I've been using one since I gave up on the diy and I just got another one for my 55. Having the solenoid really helps, get it dialed in where you need it and have it set to a timer and all you have to do is check the tank for when you have to refill it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_-aeaCbC4WRRCQ
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
Co2 set ups are unfortunately not cheap. The aquatek mini regulator on a paintball canister seems to be a pretty popular choice. You'll need a diffuser, some co2 "proof" hose, and ideally a Co2 indicator as well, but those things are all cheap little addons.
I personally use liquid Co2 instead of pressurized (shrimp tanks, so I dont want to risk suffocating them), so I cant give a first hand recommendation for any particular system. The folks over at /r/plantedtank surely can though.
As I'm sure you already know, Plant growth and health is limited by 3 factors on a sliding scale. Light, nutrients, and co2. If any of them are not present it inhibits the plant's ability to uptake the other two. I struggled for a very long time in my 20 gallon until I CONSISTENTLY provided all 3.
The startup cost is a bit, but once you are up and running it only costs ~$4.00 to refill a 24oz. Canister and one canister lasts me a month and half easy.
If you don't have access to co2 refills then a DIY setup would be the only option and I have absolutely no experience with those unfortunately. One other option, while more expensive, are the fluval injection systems: link
I wouldn't recommend DIY. Once you start doing it, you'll get tired of changing the solution every couple of weeks and it's not as consistent as pressurized. It's a good solution in a pinch, but you'll definitely want to look into pressurized eventually.
You could find a decent build for ~$100-200. If you get anything <$100, keep in mind that it's priced that low for a reason (cost vs quality).
I'd look into a paintball setup. A 20 oz tank on Amazon is $20. About $5 per fill at Dicks sporting goods (Buy 5 get 1 free or something like that). $15ish for the adapter (you don't need it if you buy a regulator designed for paintball tanks - see: Aquatek mini regulator
In that scenario, it'd cost slightly over $100 for that setup.
Is this what you're talking about? And then no need for an adapter?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY?pc_redir=1398546860&amp;robot_redir=1
This setup has a solenoid that can be connected to a timer, here are the links.
Tank: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007XKFQCM/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Regulator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01KVG6PI8/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Adapter for tank to reg: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Bubble counter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N2M2B6E/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
What kind of filter are you running? cansiter or HOB?
I suggest two routes:
Good luck and check out my post history for another 22long setup with carpeting monte carlo
Light: Wave-point 6-Inch 8-Watt Daylight Micro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light
Rocks: Seiryu Stone(I soaked them in 12% muriatic acid for 5 - 10 minutes)
CO2 Regulator: AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini
CO2 tubing: GLA Clear CO2 Resistant Tubing
Check valve: Atomic Check Valve
Diffuser: Up Aqua 8/12 mm atomizer
Soil: ADA Amazonia Powder
Plants: Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'
I also ripped the bracing off the front of the tank because I didn't like it.
Free shipping doesn't apply over the border - most places in Canada, shipping isn't included until you spend 300+
You linked to Amazon.com, doesn't free ship to Canada (or at all, in most cases). Here's the same model tank on Amazon.ca (total ripoff, but just showing for comparison) - https://www.amazon.ca/Ninja-Carbon-Fiber-HPA-Tank/dp/B00L4I4DPU/ref=sr_1_5?s=sports&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1509629982&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=Ninja+HPA+tank
I would try the search bar here on this subreddit and check out plantedtank.net There's lots of great info there. But I'll try to go into a bit more detail. Let's start with the CO2 system first. I forgot to give you the link to the actual paintball tank in my other post so here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintball-24oz-CO2-Tank/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=zg_bs_15399271_4 Plants need CO2 obviously and when they're in the open air, it's very easy for them to take it in. Now when they're underwater, it becomes much more difficult so we need a way for us to provide them that in our aquariums. The regulator just regulates how quickly the CO2 comes out of the paintball tank. The regulator I linked has a solenoid built in as well. That's really handy because it lets you set your regulator on a timer instead of the CO2 being on 24/7. There's a little golden dial on the regulator called the needle valve and that's what determines how fast the CO2 comes out. Now you want CO2 proof tubing because if you just buy regular airline tubing, the CO2 will decay the material over time. So you'll have your CO2 tubing connect to the bubble counter. The bubble counter literally counts how many bubbles are coming out of the regulator/paintball tank. It's a nice way to measure. In my 20 gallon long aquarium that's heavily planted, I have about 2-3 bubbles per second. That bubble counter also has a built in check valve. The check valve makes sure you don't get water from your aquarium going into the tube and then into your paintball tank. So then you have CO2 tubing go from your bubble counter to the atomizer. The atomizer is a type of diffusion. It turns the CO2 bubbles into tiny bubbles so they diffuse better in the water. Instead of the bubbles just rising to the surface, they get absorbed by your plants. Then you're going to have a drop checker in your aquarium somewhere. The drop checker will have the 4kdh solution in it along with ph solution. The drop checker is used to see how much CO2 you have in your water. Too much CO2 can be harmful for fish. But the solution in the drop checker will either be Yellow, Green, or Blue. Blue means you don't have enough CO2, Green is good, and Yellow is too much. Oh and in terms of your question about corys and Eco-Complete I would do some research online. I've heard people say Eco-Complete is fine for them but I've also heard it can damage their barbels. A possible solution would be to have an inch or so of sand on top of the Eco-Complete. That way it would be safe for them to dig in to. Of course the sand will settle over time. Now let's talk about EI dosing. The main thing to know is that when you keep high demand plants with a high tech tank, they need those ferts. They absorb those which helps them grow and out compete algae. If you don't have those and have deficiencies, it'll show because your plants won't be as bright as they can be, or red, or the leaves will start decaying etc...
I don't know about shipping/ availability in Australia but I just decided to go high-tech (in the US). I got this regulator which comes with a check valve/ bubble counter. It works on Paintball CO2 cans. Unless you want to go a very "professional" route, there is probably other things you can get for cheaper.
What size tank is that? In my experience you have to seriously overdose iron to keep even a reddish color, I use seachem iron added to the minor elements while estimative index dosing. With that light if your tank is less =&amp;amp;lt; 18" tall, you will need some carbon added. You may be able to get away will excel for a bit but long term going with an "estimative index" fert and co2 injection will be cheaper and easier.
Also, swords are heavy root feeders so you definitely need to get some root tabs for them the grow and flourish.
This is my current co2 setup that's easy to put together and only cost a few dollars every few months to fill for my 29g:
Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY
Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G (Note you can choose a different diffuser if you want)
AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW
Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052M9886
Any that you can recommend? Prefer paintball 20-24oz tank due to space constraints...
I just saw this and am mildly curious about it... currently researching more about it.
https://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
ALL the stores near me have nothing but these:
https://www.amazon.com/Gulfstream-Tropical-AGU00512-Diffuser-Aquarium/dp/B005DGJBYW/ref=sr_1_17?s=pet-supplies&amp;rps=1&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468007204&amp;sr=1-17&amp;keywords=CO2+Diffuser&amp;refinements=p_85%3A2470955011
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https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Pressurized-88g-CO2-Kit-Ounces/dp/B004G44ZQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468007002&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=co2+system+fluval11
The Aquatek mini is a paintball regulator. I know because it's been in my wishlist taunting me for months :) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Compressed-Tank-Adjustable-Regulator/dp/B01JSRLYSM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1523832425&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=ninja%2Btank&amp;dpID=414kvKCmGJL&amp;preST=_SX300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
Not sure what your budget is but this is meant to be used with paintball tanks. I have it set up on a 24oz empire tank for my 20g long and it's been great for the two months I've been using it.
I tried it and hated it. It was impossible to dial in the bubble rate. It was either too low or two high. Took me days of fiddling with it to even get close to where I wanted it and then the CO2 ran out. And the cylinders aren’t refillable so you have to buy new ones every time. I would stay away.
I’ve had much better luck with a paint ball CO2 tank (~$30) and this regulator:
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_cZ6pGVJIqqHXd. A lot more expensive I know but much much more reliable. The CO2 lasts at least 5-6 weeks for my 29 gallon tank and only costs around $6 to refill.
Sounds like a paintball system would be a good fit. I think the aquatek is the cheapest that's actually somewhat reliable.
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9nWmzbHHP82B9
I got it back in April and it seems amazon doesn't carry it anymore. I run 2-3 bps and everything seems great
If you want CO2 and want to use paintball tanks go with this one It needs no adapter and has a solenoid.
If you want to use larger C02 tanks go with this one. It also has a solenoid. (You would need an adapter to use paintball C02 on this one)
With those plants yes you do need c02. And very high lighting. That light probabaly won't be enough. I'd guess you'd need two of those. Personally if you're trying to save money I would just go buy a 48 inch t5-t12 4 bulb shop light and hang it above the tank. For the c02 if you want to save money you could buy a paintball c02 tank, a small adaptor, and then a regulator/solenoid for that. And then you will want to buy and diffuser/atomizer/reactor. Personally I would go with an inline reactor you'll save a ton of c02 and there for more money. All of these things I just mentioned can be bought on amazon.
Lighting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GWAJGW0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Xvk-wb1EQ4JXR
(Bulbs for lighting: www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLL5IG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_yyk-wbCP0NEWE)
C02: (tank) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Bzk-wbCKB2M5G
(Adaptor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_DAk-wbPXGA6R8
(Regulator) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydroponics-Extoic-Injection-System-Regulator-Grow-Room-Flow-Meter-Control-CO2/221446697164?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&amp;_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35626%26meid%3D2b21bf0137344d8aa2d826341e206413%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321217917654
(sorry for the long link)
(Reactor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DGJDXQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_2Ck-wbWCH2VM5
^you do need a canister filter for that so if you don't have one of those here's a cheap one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00896IILA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_VGk-wbNBS50GK
Realistically this is just the beginning of things you'll need to get a tank like that. But that is a cheap and good start. If you have any questions feel free to ask. It can be daunting but it's worth it!
You can frequently find them in thrift stores too. And get an adapter to put in a paintball co2 tank. That's what I did.
The sodastream itself was $1 at my local thrift store. It costs ~$5 to fill the tank and it lasts for forever.
From what I have seen, for a Carbon Fiber tank that runs in this size, the closest thing to your price point is probably Empire's. It's $140 (a little over your request), but still pretty good.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052F61TW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_crtMBb9ZME44V
Automag classic on ebay for under 89 bucks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-Automag-Paintball-Gun-Marker-/231451446697?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item35e394cda9
Gorilla air 3000 PSI Air tank - 49 @ amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Aluminum-Paintball-Regulator-Rounded/dp/B00BOD3F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1421691599&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=gorilla+air&amp;pebp=1421691603109&amp;peasin=B00BOD3F40
Revvy hopper 28 (or find a better deal on something else-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/371238282457?lpid=82&amp;chn=ps
Dye i3 mask-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dye-i3-mask-/261736421938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item3cf0b4da32
Best part about an automag is that they are completely modular. want a different body later? upgrade it. want an xvalve in order to keep up with faster guns? upgrade it. want a better grip frame? upgrade it. want a better rail? upgrade it.
aand now you have two guns.
Never heard of it. But here's the parts to do that.
Carbonation cap with fittings.
Mini CO2 regulator with adapter
Co2 Tank
Tubing
Hose clamps.
Something like this
https://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1520910198&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=aquatek+co2+regulator
The fluval CO2 system requires you to use disposable co2 canisters. The system comes in two sizes, 20 gram and 88 gram. Depending on the CO2 requirements of your plants, it could end up getting a tad expensive. You may be able to get away with it on such a small tank, but it the long run it may be cheaper to purchase a larger, refillable system.
Assuming you go with the 20 gram kit, which is recommended for up to 15gal. That's ~$28 + S&H. Assuming you are conservative with your CO2, You'll probably use 1 canister every 2 weeks. A 20 gram 3 pack is $14 + S&H. Over the course of a year you will spend ~$145 + S&H for CO2. Over 2 years, that number will be around ~$250 + a lot of S&H. Plus, if you decide to upgrade your tank, you'll also have to upgrade your CO2 system.
If you have the money to spend up front, you'll save yourself time and money in the long run. Get a 24oz Paintball CO2 tank from Amazon for $21. Get it filled at your local sporting goods store for ~$4. Get a diffuser from Amazon for ~$11. Then get a Paintball CO2 Regulator from GLA for $189. One fill up on your tank is equal to more than 34 20 gram canisters from Fluval and it only costs about $4 to refill, and if you have a Dicks Sporting Goods near you, 5th refill is free. Total cost is $221 + S&H, but that regulator is quality made and will last you years.
This is the set-up I use on my 7.5 gal and I'll be honest, after all other methods of "low cost" CO2 injection failed me and wasted my money, shelling out $200 for a regulator was quite painful, but this was the single best purchase I've ever made in my 20 years of keeping fish. So, if you can afford it, or can wait a bit and save some cash, it's worth it.
The simple fact that Fluval wants to charge you 13.99 for just over 2.1 ounces of CO2 when you can get a 24oz tank filled for $4 should make you question the purchase of their system.
Since I just set up one of these systems, I may have some helpful information:
I purchased http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY and it came with an Aquatek bubble counter and check valve. Considering this option could bring your price down a bit.
Don't forget you will probably need a timer for your solenoid if you are running fish. (may want one for fish-less too)
I was trying to use old paintball co2 tanks that I had laying around, but I was not able to. Be aware that if your tank was not hydrotested within the past 5 years, it will not be filled by any reputable refilling location. A hydrotest is about the price of a new 24oz tank. So an unforeseen cost for me was 2 new paintball tanks.
Hopefully this was helpful! Sorry about format, I'm on my phone.
CO2
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Some on here we'll advocate buying CO2 parts individually, but I feel that it took too much research to do that myself. In most cases, a kit of some kind will do well. Cheaper kits, such as the aquatek regulator will work, but occasionally you do run into a dud or faulty needle valve.
Personally I have a GLA Regulator kit but they are pricier. In this case, you get what you pay for and they are excellent quality and a no-fuss solution. CO2 gas should be pretty cheap in your area, it costs me only about 15-17 dollars to fill a 5lb.
Light
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You noted you want the breeder to be high-tech, so in this case you will need to buy light that fits high light tanks. The two types of light I recommend are T5HO (High Output) or LEDs. I use LEDs on all my tanks now.
Most on this sub highly recommend Finnex lights. For the 40 breeder you would want something from their RAY II line, which is their strongest light. If you are looking more for medium light you can get a Planted+ 24/7. It all depends on ultimately what you want to grow and what your goals are.
A pricier option is something like BuildMyLED, there fixtures have slightly better optics and build quality, and all of there fixtures can be dimmed. They can be purchased at many different light color temps. I have some of these as well and they do well.
If you still like fluorescent T5HO is the way to go for bright tanks. I can't comment too much on recommendations, just be wary that the quality of the fixture (the reflectors) can really make a difference on PAR light intensity. Obviously you'll want to buy daylight bulbs (4500-7000k).
I bought these: Empire 24 Oz
Basically, you need a tank, a regulator some airline, a bubble checker would be good to have and a diffuser. Also, you'd like a timer of some sort as you really do not need to have co2 running 24/7 nor would you probably want to.
My setup:
$23 dollars on Amazon - though I would have still needed to get it filled at paintball shop for $5 which brings it $28. $2 more - i think it's better at that to support the local shop and plus I didn't want to wait for the tank to come to my house as that would have arrived later than anything else.
Price for this setup: $109
If you need a timer, there's plenty of options. I already had one, but you can find them on Amazon.
Though in the end, you would need a timer and if you already have one then you won't have to buy one. Or if you have extra smart switches either that you can set a schedule on.
Other tanks:
Instead of the paintball tank you can get a regular co2 tank:
Of course, that's just buying the stuff to build the system.
You can watch videos about it on Youtube like Aquarium Co-Op's Co2 guide but I can still try to break it down.
Get tank and properly secure it to the regulator.(I'd recommend watching a video on that as the regulator does need to be open for this part apparently). If using the paintball tank, secure the adapter to regulator first. DO NOT secure it on the paintball tank first. If you do it with the way the adapter is built, I'm guessing you'd be losing a bit of co2. Though, I haven't tried it, I'm logically thinking that it ain't good. If you use a 5lb tank or larger, there's something about some disc or gasket or something that is supposed to help keep it from leaking. I'm going to refer you to youtube on that one. I didn't use any on my paintball setup except for the gasket already on the tank. I did use some plumbers tape on the adapter to regulator though. I'm just hoping I don't have a leak and I'd be pretty confident to assume that I don't as I still have CO2 in my tank after a couple of weeks.
All you need to do now is to attach the airline hose(some people will say to use co2-proof hose to prevent co2 loss, but I decided to skip that and you can decide what you wish to do as I might be right or wrong on that part along with other people who claim airline tube is sufficient) to the regulator. So after you attach the hose to the regulator, attach the bubble counter somewhere along the line before the aquarium(I think I did that right). Of course, if you use the 5lb or larger tank, you should be able to use the bubble counter that came with the regulator as it would stand vertical. The line eventually gets connected to a co2 diffuser which will break up the co2 into smaller bubbles to easily be dissolved better into your water. Of course, there are other ways to get the co2 into your tank, but this is the way I do it. Youtube can show you other ways, or other redditors for that matter. One thing to note is that you should also have a check valve to prevent water from going from the aquarium to your system. It should most likely be closer to the water than the co2 system. The bubble counter I use, also has a check valve for whatever that one is worth. Some diffusers come with bubble counters and check valves as well. Speaking of diffusers, i forgot to add that to my price. but that can run anywhere from $5 on up. Also the diffuser might have to be cleaned due to algae once and awhile.
The system should be ran using a timer to coincide with your light cycle and should run basically when the lights are on. I turn my co2 on 1 hour before the lights turn on and turn it off 2 hours before the light turn off. Hypothetically, you can run it 24/7 however it's better not to as the risks are a bit too much for putting something in your tank that is not being used as the plants typically don't use co2 with the lights out and you can risk running into a situation where you deplete the oxygen in your fish.
Overall, I think it's worth it at least for me. But also be cautious that adding too much co2 might be detrimental to your fish. If you are running it and your fish are all gasping for air, you definitely are putting too much in but you should never get it that far which some way to check it would be a good purchase for this. I just use the method of figuring out the ppm of CO2 based on pH and KH. I'm not sure how accurate it might be but it has been stable and my fish are doing fine as well as my plants and the algae is at bay. There's also what's called a CO2 drop checker that you can purchase to measure this.
If you really want to get into this, I'd recommend researching it further yourself and maybe wait on some other more "experienced" redditors to answer as I might and could be wrong on some things. I know I've read some people don't think the ph/kh calculation method is good and to buy a drop checker, but I'm pretty confident in using it for my tank but I might be undosing the co2 for all I know. Though on the flipside, I could be overdosing, though my fish are not showing any signs of symptoms of said overdosing. But I could be wrong on that. If I am, please let me know. :) Definitely do your own research, like you should on anything. :) At least, get a good footing and confirmation from other sources.
If you want to use a paintball setup, there's this.
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1347676610&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aquatek+paintball
How high do you have the pressure up to?? The only time mine ever did that is when I got impatient and turned the pressure up a bit too high. I'm not an expert, but it might be time to invest in a regulator.
I use this diffuser with this regulator in both my tanks (a 55g and a 75g). I use the included bubble counter for my 75g and it works great. I've bought way more expensive diffusers and none worked as good as the one I referenced here so don't be tempted to spend more than you need to. I really do suggest a regulator, though. I think you might be having pressure issues.
If you have four tanks, you might as well just invest in a paintball canister and regulator, and then split the line to all four tanks. I got my 24oz CO2 Tank for 20$ and the Regulator for 80$. Refills are 5$. Using it on one tank, and so far has lasted me 5 months. It's gonna be way better than buying four crappy CO2 systems, then just one good one and splitting if four ways. You can just get a bigger CO2 tank to compensate for the additional aquariums.
I was recommended this Beamswork light on here awhile ago and it has been great for me for the last year or so. If you are looking for a budget light this one has been great for me so far.
As far as co2 goes it is super easy to do honestly. It only cost me about $100 to set mine up and it is great knowing I can put almost any plant in and it has a chance. I am currently starting a carpet in my tank since I've had the co2 setup for awhile. Here is my setup:
But here is a copy pasted comment explaining my setup and links to all the parts I used that I gave to someone else:
Ok. I'll try to type out my whole setup.
The biggest parts of the setup are the tank and regulator. I use an Empire/Tippman co2 tank with a Double Sun Hydroponics Regulator.
Now, aquarium regulators aren't made with paintball tanks in mind, but most sporting goods stores won't refill tanks above 24oz due to safety reasons. So instead of buying a 5lb tank that no one can refill, I just use a simple Aquatek Paintball co2 adapter to attach the regulator to the tank I have. So for that part of the setup you just attach the adapter to the regulator and then after you fill your Co2 tank attach the tank to the adapter, done (make sure the regulator is plugged in and everything is tightened if you have already filled the co2 tank). Do not attach the adapter to the Co2 tank first, the adapter opens the tank so you'll just empty your Co2 into the air. So attach everything to the Co2 tank last lol.
I also use teflon tape on the tank threads and adapter threads just to help prevent any loss of co2 through the adapter. It probably wouldn't leak without it but I would rather be sure so I just wrapped up both pieces before the install.
Now that you have your regulator/tank setup we just need to get the co2 into the aquarium. I attach Aquatek co2 tubing to the bubble counter that comes attached to the regulator and attach it to a Rhinox check valve, this prevents any water from getting to the regulator, then run co2 tubing from the check valve to a Rhinox co2 diffuser, this condenses the co2 into tiny bubbles so it absorbs into the water.
Boom, almost done. We have co2, we are getting it into the tank, but now how do we know how much? We need a NilocG co2 drop checker and some Drop Checker Solution to put in it. This will come with a card that says the proper colors. I would suggest starting with low co2, check the next day, if the drop checker is still blue, increase the co2 a tiny bit and check again the next day, repeat until it turns green, yellow is bad and you might gas your fish so don't increase co2 too much at a time to protect the fish.
Get a paintball tank from your local sports store and the Aquatek Mini regulator. That should get you in under $120. I run this on my 10 gallon with a 20oz paintball tank and it takes roughly 6 weeks to empty the tank.
This is the nozzle I use.
The container I use is the JT 20 oz which I got from the local Dicks store but this Empire one on Amazon should also work.
I am using the citric acid and baking soda mix. The DiY system has been pretty consistent for me so far, apart from my 4 year old inadvertently opening up the needle valve and almost gassing my fish...
The regulator you linked appears to only be available with European plugs and voltages (220v in Europe vs 110v in US). It does look nice, and the reviews are good. I guess I'm mainly just hesitant to drop $80-100 on a regulator that seem to have less than stellar reviews, like Aquateck's Offerings. The reviews on it aren't bad, but there are some real horror stories in there. At least with a DIY solenoid system I could potentially build in some fail safes (like 2 solenoids for instance). Seems like one has to spend $200+ on a regulator to get something truly reliable, which is a little disappointing.
I may just bite the bullet and go for the one I linked with a 24oz paintball tank, but kind of just exploring other options.
Filter: Corner Hamburg Matten Filter
Sourced from Stephan Tanner of Swiss Tropical. Contact: [email protected] He is awesome to work with and contact.
Jetlifter (Part of the HMF) uses air from a Tetra Whisper 40 Air pump.
Lighting: Finnex Stingray
CO2 Setup: Aquatek Reg , Standard 20 oz paintball co2 tank, Co2 Diffuser from Co2art, and random co2 grade tubing. No bubble counter as of yet.
Hardscape material: Dragon (Ohko) stone and manzanita wood.
Substrate: SL Aquasoil
Plant list: Hygrophilia Pinnitifida, Downoi, Monte Carlo, Fissidens Fontanus, Blyxa Japonica, Velvet 3 color buce, Little Red Star Buce, Krivbass Buce, Little Apple Buce, and Dark Skeleton King Buce.
Petri dish was one I got off of amazon.
Frosted Glass film off of amazon as well.
I guess if you want to know there is a bag of ceramic media hiding behind my filter.
Annnnd there you go the entire list of stuff in my tank.
Very cool. I have also been researching co2 setups. Is this the one you used on amazon? I also noticed that aquatek makes a mini regulator. Am I correct in assuming that the only difference in them is that the mini regulator uses a 24 oz paintball co2 tank and the standard size uses the 5 lb tank?
Also, absolutely gorgeous tank you have! I really like the open top style. May I ask also what kind of lights you are using? I really like how they look. Thank you!
I know this isn't what you were asking for, but look into a paintball CO2 system.
The cost:
$20 for a 20oz empty CO2 tank on amazon
this is what I bought
you refill that shit for like $3-5 at any paintball store or welder etc.
you buy maybe $5 worth of odd junk from home depot, and you have a huge step up from the yeast CO2 bs (I used to do the same thing for 12 months).
In the end, this option was cheaper since I didn't burn through all of my yeast and sugar.
check out this thread for step by step directions or just msg me if you wanna look into it.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=115850
Hmm, the light may be good. What kind of light is it? The regulator can be expensive. A whole paintball CO2 setup consist of: Paintball tank, regulator CO2 proof tubing and a diffuser keep in mind there are many varieties and versions of this equipment.
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.
Also if you really want to do co2 well, just give in and buy a cheap paintball tank and the aquatek mini. http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
Hi, I am by no means a pro but I will tell you what i do for my co2.
Regulator: This is what I use. no qualms so far.
Adapter: this is an adapter so that I can use my regulator with paintball canisters (from a sporting goods store) similar to this.
I opted for the full size regulator as opposed to this one since its much easier to adapt the full size to a smaller nozzle than it is to upsize a small one (I dont even know if its possible).
Most people that use co2 have it go either into their canister filter to dissolve the bubbles, use a diffuser (glass thing with white disk), or any number of other products, that's up to you.
most people also use a drop checker like this but I dont and havent noticed any problems.
One downside is that at night when you turn the co2 off (plants dont photosynthesize at night) you can have ph swings.
These ph sswings and co2 swings can (i believe) cause the hell that is BBA a very hard to eradicate algae.
Total cost for me was i believe ~$150-$170 but to fill the tanks at a sporting good store is usually 5 dollars.
i wish it was a ninja.. here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Tank-Valken-68-4500-HP-Pink/dp/B009G5XGZQ
Here's the regulator I have... there are mixed stories about it. It's been fine for me.
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464028443&amp;sr=1-2-catcorr&amp;keywords=co2+regulator+aquarium
You're looking at around $150 for a full CO2 setup. You'll need a regulator, a tank, a diffuser/reactor/way to get it into the water column, and some air line tube. Overall, it's not hugely difficult, but will make a really big difference on your plant growth if you're OK with spending the $$$.
Edit: You can also always look around plantedtank.net for a used setup. There's always people there upgrading.
Looks great so far!
I would definitely go for CO2. I don't think I've seen anyone grow a nice HC carpet who didn't have it. You're probably going to want it anyway because if you have a light that is strong enough to grow HC but don't have any CO2, you are going to get algae problems.
When I flooded my tank after DSM I blasted CO2 and the HC transitioned fine, no melting whatsoever.
If you already have a paintball canister this is a great regulator that's relatively cheap: http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY.
Sure I am using the Aquatek Regulator Mini with a Paintball tank from Dicks Sporting Goods (which also sells refills for 5$ a pop). I use a standard ceramic diffusor.
Ferts are Thrive liquid all in one and GLA's dry fert EI package (you can see them to the right of the aquarium). The only reason I have both is because I suspect that Thrive led to a Staghorn algae outbreak back in April - leading me to pick up the GLA dry ferts. I've recently gone back to Thrive and no SHA so far).
Buy one from amazon....
https://www.amazon.com/Tippmann-Aluminum-HPA-Tank-3000/dp/B00TT67GRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&amp;keywords=13+ci+air+tank&amp;qid=1569667888&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-2
That’s a HPA Tippmann 13/3000 , you can also get a Ninja Paintball one for about $20 more.
Hope this helps
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.
If you are using your Paintball tanks there isnt much "DIY" you can do. You'll have to get a regulator to inject the CO2 into your fish tanks.
Something like this.
https://smile.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1491578117&amp;sr=8-10&amp;keywords=paintball+regulator
Of course you will have to get the tank refilled with C02 when empty.
If you want to do a DIY CO2 setup chekc out this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JzvfHO31Ug
Looking for CO2 on 20 gallon Long tank. I will most likely do a paintball setup as its a small tank and cheaper. I am wondering if there is a difference between the regulators Chinese Regulator and AQUATEK. Aquatek is $50 more but the reviews point that aquateks ratings are actually worse 3.5 ish vs 4
azodin blitz 3 http://www.amazon.com/Azodin-Blitz-Paintball-Purple-Silver/dp/B0184MLAVS/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1456864428&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=azodin+blitz+3
empire halo 2 loader http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CLNE1M?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
guerrilla tank http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BOD3F4A?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
valken pod harness http://www.amazon.com/Valken-1951-Harness--Harness-Fate/dp/B003LMCBLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1456864464&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=pod+pack
what i started with in 2011 (i had the blitz 2 though)
It was in my shopping list - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_ttl/188-7116644-8649134?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2DZCVVNVUGMVT&amp;coliid=I1IL4PKH6YI15K
Sorry to bog you with questions! I just started checking out GLA and I figured to use a paintball co2 tank you would need to use this regulator?:
http://greenleafaquariums.com/products/gla-gro-co2-regulator-paintball.html
with this paintball tank:?
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Energy-40020-Empire-20oz/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I'm just a little paranoid about whether they'll fit together (i just bought an eheim filter and it's not fitting together well with these custom outflow/intake pipes i bought on ebay) thanks so much again!
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1414044611&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aquatek
I was looking at this, how long does a 20oz tank last you op?
P.s I've used this diffuser and the bubbles are smaller
http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-Diffuser-Aquarium-3-1-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=sr_1_11?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1414044741&amp;sr=1-11&amp;keywords=aquatek
I have the basic fluval one in my 20gallon tank, its ok, but I ditched the co2 chamber you fill up and leave for a bubble counter and a diffuser, it's still not very consistent because those little cartirdges don't hold the same pressure for very long, for the price (and the price of those little cartridges) i'll be upgrading to this for my next tank http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413049402&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aquarium+co2+regulator+with+tank
It's only about $20 more than the fluval kit - minus the hoses and diffuser, bubble counter, etc. and I already have the co2 tank from an old paintball gun, and the big co2 tanks are about $4 to fill and should last a very long time, but what I like MOST is that it has a shutoff, you set the co2 output to the desired amount (count the bubbles) and leave it, you unplug it and it will shut off the co2, so you can have it on the same timer as your lights and it will turn on and off with them, no having to sit there with a very touchy valve and hope you dont blow your hose out and water everywhere!
You need to get a quick disconnect fitting, they would be the paintball standard.
here is an example
Sorry for my Noobness but what excactly is an SLP (I assume that means slip?) Tank and how do I know if I am getting the right tank. Was going to get one from amped but they are sold out right now so I was looking at this one.
&#x200B;
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Carbon-Fiber-Paintball-Tank/dp/B00ANOMEJS/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=ninja+hpa+tank+90&qid=1557523960&s=gateway&sr=8-6#customerReviews
When I started I pieced together a kit from decently priced items. I bought a Tippmann A5, tank, remote, and mask for maybe $200 or so. It was a pretty good setup for starting out, IMO, and you can add all sorts of frivolous / helpful things to something like an A5 when you have some playing money.
I'd suggest the BT-4 Combat, just for starting out. I actually JUST bought one on ebay for $70. They're $80-$100 on Amazon. From what I've seen of it, it's pretty similar to the A5. Thehiddenhedgehog uses one to good effect on his youtube channel.
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintball-Combat-Marker-Black/dp/B002Q8A88I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457389411&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=bt-4+combat
I like Empire tanks personally. I've used them since I started.
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Energy-40020-Empire-20oz/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457389001&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=paintball+c02+tank
This was my first mask. Took a .68 to the face my first game. Worked great! I've upgraded a few times since then, but I still have it and really like it.
http://www.amazon.com/US-Army-Ranger-Performance-Goggle/dp/B001TKP74E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457389082&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=us+army+paintball+mask
$87 marker + $22 tank + $26 mask = $135. Add whatever shipping would be and that leaves plenty of room for pods, a remote line, and any gear you might want (vest, camo, boots, gloves, etc).
My set-up:
U.P. Aqua Simple Regulator
http://www.amazon.com/U-P-Aqua-UA-148-Simple-Regulator/dp/B005VS1GD6?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2-5A4 CO2 Paintball Tank CGA 320 Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Interstate-Pneumatics-WRCO2-5A4-Paintball-Adapter/dp/B00I2UMZ2Q?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
Empire Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Energy-40020-Empire-20oz/dp/B0008G2WAW?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
You can go about this in one of two ways for a 20g, and that budget.
You could DiY the system with yeast, which come in kits, or you can roll your own with little difficulty (There is still an investment). There are a number of helpful videos on youtube that go into depth on DiY systems. The one caveat to remember is they tend to require a bit more maintenance.
Alternatively, what I did, was go with a paintball setup. A (filled) 20oz tank would run you about $35 total (you can't buy filled tanks online...fyi, but they can be filled in any paintball shop/sporting goods store), You will need a regulator
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417545781&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=Co2+aquarium+regulator
specifically for C02 tanks, C02 hose, a diffuser (all of which are shown on the "also bought with" in that link, (the bubble counter is included with that regulator) and a CO2 monitoring kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-A7551-CO2-Indicator-Kit/dp/B0052M9886/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_4?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=1VV65A9WW5SXZ0GGAF06
The indicator will be crucial, the fastest way to killing your fish is to overdose CO2 (happened to me almost).
Oh....and a 3-prong outlet electric timer, preferably one with the ability to set multiple on/off periods.
A 20oz system on a 20g tank would probably last 5-6 months.
And lots of reading here, and lots of youtube videos.
Hello! I also have a twenty long, and I was just researching this exact thing :)
I have done a lot of research and have all of my equipment picked out. Since you also have a twenty long, this should probably work for you, or at least get you in the right direction. You'll need:
A CO2 Regulator, bubble counter, and check valve. It's all in one, so you don't have to buy them separately.
A CO2 Tank. Should last you a few months, at the very least. You can upgrade to an actual CO2 tank, but I'm not sure the specifics, as I didn't want to go that route. This one that I'm recommending is actually made for paintball guns, but will work with the CO2 Regulator mentioned above, when combined with
An Adapter. This adapter allows you to hook the paintball CO2 can up to the Aquatek CO2 Regulator.
CO2 Proof Tubing. To connect the CO2 Regulator to the
CO2 Diffuser. This makes the CO2 into little bubbles, that travel through your tank. The smaller the bubbles, the better.
A CO2 Drop Checker. This will allow you to constantly monitor your CO2 levels, and will tell you if you need to turn the bubbles up or down. Always start out really low (like 1 bubble per 2 seconds) and then turn it up slowly, until the drop checker is a nice green color. Note that the drop checker is delayed by about two hours, so the color you see is what the levels were like two hours ago. If your fish start gasping, turn the bubbles down, no matter what color the drop checker is.
Edit: Also note that the CO2 should be running with your lights, and off when they are off. If you have a bubble-maker of any sort in your aquarium, run it opposite of the CO2, or it'll just dissolve your CO2 up. This usually means running the bubbler when your lights are off, overnight. If you have the CO2 and bubbler going, theyll just cancel each other out instead of helping your tank.
Let me know if you have any questions :)
Here's another option with a cheaper (smaller) tank, different regulator, better diffuser, and a less expensive bubble counter.
If you're looking for just the gun, A TMC will be your best bet. If you also want some other equipment here are some links.
This is a molle vest that also comes with pouches
GZ XINXING Black Tactical Airsoft Paintball Vest (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077P7GC76/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-8jPDb57S6RNT
I would also recommend a dump pouch so you don't lose any mags in fast reload situations.
Warrior Quest 1000D Nylon Folding Tactical Dump Pouch - Foldable Molle Magazine Mag Dump Pouch (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076H97B14/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f-jPDbXKJ4AEA
Depending on how much paint you shoot your going to want a tank. I use a 13ci 3000 on my TMC and I can get about 5 mags before I'm out.
HK Army Aluminum HPA Tank - 13/3000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MH4XJM7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c.jPDb07B4QAK
You don't need to splurge on anything dance when it comes to the gun. However, YOU NEED A GOOD MASK.
Here's the mask that I use. It's wallet friendly and hasn't fogged up on me once.
Empire Helix Goggle Thermal Lens - Black Header https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M9HWOBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sakPDb62F98GB
All of these items I personally use myself, and all of my loadoat costed me about 350-400 bucks.
Honestly, and I mean this, don’t waste money on lower end systems. You’re going to go through system after system trying to dial in your CO2.
I’m not sure how many gallons your tank is but at least get a paintball sized tank and ball out on a regulator. Green leaf aquariums and CO2 art are both reputable companies and you’re going to save yourself A LOT of trouble by doing it right the first time.
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hi0ZDbG95F8VW
https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/gla-gro-paintball-co2-regulator.html
Buy once, cry once.
one cart would be a little hard to do..but im bored atm so I guess I can link stuff from head to toe lol
Head: Dye Mask + Beanie
Neck: Neck wrap thing
Chest: SS Lv119 Overt + SS Micro Flight
Back: Flatpack or Minimap
Hands: Gloves
Belt: Ronin or HSGI Slim
Sidearm: G19
Primary: Mp5
Boots: Merrell
Regulator: Dual or nothing
Tanks: Slim yet plenty of air
also not even going off your 1k budget lol. pick and choose what you want but this is one of my setups. can always buy knockoff versions if you like it
I would like to jump in here and say that The_Golgothan is absolutely correct. I personally went down the road of Fluval CO2 system with their proprietary crap and over the course of about a year I spent an incredible amount of money. Then I went DIY CO2 but recently almost killed all my fish with a pressure spike that caused a rush of CO2 to pump into the water. Finally I did it right:
I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SNCQ4WS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
With this: https://www.amazon.com/Tippmann-40020-Aluminum-Paintball-Tank/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=co2+tank+paintball&qid=1572994194&sr=8-1
I got the paintball canister filled at my local sporting goods store for $5.00.
It took about 10 minutes to setup and install in my tank. Fluval CO2 is highway robbery.
This is the regulator: http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450136175&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aquatek+mini+co2+regulator
On a timer from 11am to 7pm
Using just a regular glass diffuser. I had an inline diffuser but it sprung a leak (at the co2 connector luckily) and I never replaced it.
oh ok so just something like this for the timer?
Also what tanks do you use, would this work well? And for tubing is it one size fits all for the fancy small diffusers and stuff
> aquatek mini paintball regulator
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
this one?
This is the inside of my valve:
https://imgur.com/gallery/ON4lR
This is the bottle I'm using:
Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NlWVzbJY2N7V8
$10 Regulators from eBay? The ones I've seen have 1+ month shipping estimates... I'm so spoiled by Amazon.
How well would these items work?
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hf.RCbX4S3XV1
This is the regulator!
> 4) There are carbon fiber 17, 22, 25/4500 etc tanks on amazon and ebay. They are not called paintball tanks. Check high pressuure tanks like below IORMAN 0.35L 4500psi Carbon Fiber Air Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYTL3PV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fEcRCbA56ADB7
Does it have the DOT cert?
It's a 24oz Paintball CO2 canister and this regulator that is designed to screw right on top paintball size tanks.
Has an electric solenoid so i can plug into my timer and have it shut off over night. I'm very happy with it. It's amazing how much more green everything got after I found a good flow rate.
Awesome, thanks for your input! I'm looking at what you suggested as well as what Thaix suggested and I'm wondering what the major differences or pros/cons of each setup is. I'm obviously not super-savvy with with stuff, but as far as I can tell the only real difference in the type of tank being used? Your suggestion looks a little more intense and uses a larger CO2 tank, which I might need if I ever want to upgrade to a bigger tank, but I can't really look at those and see what the major differences are. =/
I've had a good experience with it, but only for a 5 gallon tank. For a tank as large as yours, you might run out of citric acid quicker than is actually worth it.
For about 120 bucks you can get yourself a legit pressurized CO2 setup. I think you'll thank yourself in the long run to just drop the coin now and be done with it.
Regulator
Tank
Diffuser
Trust me, you'll be happy you went this route. This way you can put it on a timer, you won't have to turn it on and off each day, and you won't have to mess with mixing baking soda and citric acid every week.
http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=cats&amp;Edit=2&amp;EditU=1&amp;Regit=2
You can get your fertilizers here. You want potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and some form of phosphorus, I don't remember what type specifically. Then you also want plantex CSM+B.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY?pc_redir=1396136717&amp;robot_redir=1
Here is the CO2 regulator. It's a good deal, and a good way to enter pressurized CO2 for cheap.
That does help immensely. Thanks! Do you have any experience with that regulator versus this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007XKFQCM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1467401793&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=co2+canister&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41qj8TP2sqL&amp;ref=plSrch
Here is the mobile version of your link
Well it goes like this: a marker can only perform as well/quickly as it can get air and paint, so you always want to have your loader and tank outperform your marker, and never have your marker outperform your loader/tank.
Basically, if you think you're going to stick with it, I'd recommend spending a little more. If you can up your budget for marker/tank/loader to about $350, you'd be in business and wouldn't need to upgrade for a while.
Try and find a used loader such as an Invert Halo Too, Empire Prophecy Z2, or Dye Rotor in the $50-75 range.
A tank, you're probably going to be able to find some 45-50 ci or 68 ci 4500 psi tanks for $80. There is a link in r/paintball right now for an Empire 68ci/4500psi tank brand new on Amazon for $105, too, and that would be good for ~5 years.
Now let's call it $200 left over for a marker. You could easily find a used Invert Mini for that price, which is a marker perfectly capable of holding it's own at any level. Also, that puts you in range for Proto Rail (aka PMR) markers from 2010-2012, some Proto M7s (a great marker!), or a first-gen Planet Eclipse Geo, or a used Etek3 (keep in mind these would all be used at that price, but it's always better to buy a cheaper used marker than to buy a new marker and continually be upgrading, because that would ultimately cost more).
I'm sure I left out some points, so I'll edit as I think of them, but feel free to ask any other questions.
EDIT: look thru all the PbNation B/S/T sections too. There are always good deals
Here you go...select the 68/4500 option. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0052F61TW?cache=1194adf48645468e61b80647889779da&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;qid=1411234192&amp;sr=8-3#ref=mp_s_a_1_3
I just went to a tank system, its only been set up for about a week. I'm using a paintball tank. This seemed easiest for refills, only $5 at Dick's. This is all the equipment I got for it:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M49QDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WTXYN0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
The regulator came with a bubble counter/check valve which was a nice little surprise. I then bought 10 or 20 feet of tubing from The Home Depot for $5.00. Make sure you get thread tape to seal things up, I initially did not use it and it leaked a lot.
I've been running for a week and so far so good, I have the solenoid plugged in to the same timer as my light.
I got these three things.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1414104173&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MFGRLA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1414104269&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008UCOFJW/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr1_1?qid=1414104332&amp;sr=8-1-fkmr1&amp;pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
I am quite happy with the following (I use on a 10 gallon and a 3 gallon at the same time using a T-fitting and two diffusers and two indicators):
Diffuser @$16.99 ea https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXFUGE5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
This diffuser is good for hanging on the side of your tank. There are many others to choose from.
7 day timer @$14.65 (Three prong plug for regulator solenoid): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LYHEHG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
You DO NOT want to let it run overnight because they say it will suffocate your fish.
CO2 indicator @#17.89 (need one for each tank) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z9KWTHS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
CO2 proof tubing @#9.99 (regular tubing may leak CO2!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UCOFJW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Regulator with bubble counter and solenoid @$69.99 (Yes, this one works great at that price) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N42JPDV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Adaptor fitting to get regulator attached to a paintball tank @$9.90 (I had to modify this part, so pay attention): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Paintball tank @$21.49 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Dicks Sporting Goods will refill for $5 using your tank.
The issue with the adaptor is that the one I got had a bleed-off relief hole too far down in the threads such that the hole was exposed even when the tank was fully screwed in because the thread depth on the tank was shallow (fewer turns total) compared to the adaptor, Had to plug and re-drill the hole.
You should at least look at these components as part of your evaluation.
I did a paintball cylinder system with this valve http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TJCPSY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
So far it's been great. Really easy to dial in - set it and forget it.
Sure! I had started a thread here when I was buying my parts.
So you'll want everything that I put in the other comment for the 15 lb tank, but you want this regulator instead and then the tank itself of any size but here's a 24 oz
This is the regulator I use: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TJCPSY?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s03
The CO2 tanks are about $20 and $6 to refill. One tank lasts me a couple months at 2 bubbles/second.
If you lock yourself into only purchasing these "kits" then I would just go head buy fluval as they're pretty much all around that range. Same thing with the replacement CO2 carts.
If you're really looking to save money in the long run, I would buy each part separate, they tend to be cheaper on amazon that way.
What you need is
Regulator
Co2 Tank (paintball tank is cheapest and easiest to fill locally)
Adaptor (only if you bough a paint ball co2 tank)
bubble counter and check value (pick it up at your LFS)
This is the set up I run at my 10 gallon dutch, I've had it for 2 months now and the PSI on the CO2 tank haven't dipped in the slightest. I'm estimating the CO2 to last me almost three months, (right now I'm about two months 1 week in since filling the co2 tank)
I also didn't fill it all the way.
I am like you, and have done DIY until very recently. Spend the money. You won't regret the purchase. I was only slightly over 100 bucks on mine, but it was worth every penny to be rid of the hassle. The only issue with the valve I'll recommend is that you can't go over 1500 PSI even though the bottle I'll recommend is rated for 1800. Make sure to mention that when you get the bottle filled. The regulator is only rated at 1500. Here is what I bought.
CO2 Regulator
CO2 Tank
CO2 Diffuser
So yea, some tips. Don't fill tank over 1500 PSI. Make sure green knob is all the way in off position and it's not plugged in when you screw on the regulator. Screw on the regulator ALL THE WAY. Plug regulator in, slowly open the green knob. This assumes you have all the tubing hooked up. The bubble counter is super handy :) It only costs me 5 dollars to fill up the tank at Dicks sporting goods store. So after the upfront cost, I can run multiple tanks with a splitter off this, for a 5 dollar every few months fee. Totally worth it for the consistent bubbles and lack of hassle from DIY. If you get a timer, you can plug your regulator and light into it and you can control when the CO2 and light come on. You just need to trust us man, 130 bucks for this is worth it... so worth it. The bubble counter comes in the regulator I linked. The only things you'll need to buy other than what I posted for a 100% system is silicon tubing to link it all up, and maybe some suction cups. I didn't list this because that's a few dollars at most on Amazon. Don't listen to the 300 dollar crowd, my system is sub 150 and works just as well as theirs.
Would highly recommend a system.
I have this regulator: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TJCPSY?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
I have a 12 gallon long which I inject 3 bps into an ADA pollen beetle diffuser. I clean it weekly or every other week with bleach (once it gets algae and bubbles get larger). This is important. Just make sure you run it under water and then give a prime bath afterwards. You don't want bleach getting back into your tank.
along with 2 20oz paintball co2 tanks. I have never had an EOTD and I've had it run out a few times. The bubbles just get less and less until it totally stops.
Maybe I just replaced them once the bubble count got really low, avoiding the EOTD?
Either way, the output decrease was noticable and it was obvious I needed a refill. That's why I keep two tanks.
For anyone wondering about the CO2 Setup, here is a quick writeup that includes all of the Amazon links and prices:
I am using a TV stand for my aquarium that looks like this and the entire CO2 setup fits in one of the smaller cubby holes. I am using a 24OZ Empire paintball tank that has this adapter hooked up to this regulator.
Those three items will makeup the majority of the cost of pressurized CO2. The other things I bought were a drop checker, a CO2 diffuser and CO2 airline tubing.
Finally, I bought an outlet timer since the regulator I previously mentioned has a solenoid valve.
The core components are the tank, adapter, regulator, tubing, and diffuser. The total of those came to $130. Adding on the dropchecker and timer brings the total to $160. Filling up the paintball tank at my local sporting good store cost 5$, but that should last this tank anywhere from 3-6 months.
You may be able to assemble the entire setup for cheaper if you can find a cheap paintball tank and a smaller diffuser, or already have some of the items needed.
Don't get it. It's worth spending the extra money to get this.