Please observe caution when maintianing your planted tanks, it can be a quite dangerous hobby. Actually the only danger i was in was caused by my own carelessness. It was quite a disturbing experience that made me take a little break from the hobby for several months. But anyway, the warning to be heeded. My 5lb. CO2 tank had finally run dry, so i throw it into the cab of my truck, I had helped my buddy move so i took out the cradle i built for the tank. I usually attached it in the bed of the truck with a bungee cord. I dropped it off, and being Southern Illinois, i could pick it up in a few hours. So i went home and of course forgot about bungee cording the tank cradle in the bed of the truck. After pickup i decided i didnt want the tank rolling around in the bed possibly causing the valve to rupture. So i put it in the floor board. I was about a minute from home when i heard the hiss start. THE SAFTEY VALVE HAD RUPTURED!!! with no apparent cause. In the course of 2 seconds i couldnt see a thing, white out in the cab. I took a big breath as soon as it started but i could taste the sour CO2 in the air. I rolled down the window but it made no difference, i still couldnt see at all. I got over to what i thought was the side of the road and by that time had to have air. I jumped from the truck just as my vision started to go spotty. I couldnt tell if there were any cars coming i just had to get out. After a couple good breaths i was fine and drove back home. The people who saw all this had to assume i was manufacturing meth in the truck. There was a big chunck of dry ice in the tank for a coulple hours after i put it on the patio. This situation could have been worse, if i had been in my fiance's car, the tank would have been in the trunk, where i may not have heard it, only passed out on the road when it flooded the passenger compartment throught the back seat. Or worse if i had taken her up on the offer for her to drive and go get it, she wouldnt have known anything about what was going on and lord knows what could have happened. Please learn from my foolish mistakes, it may not be very common for something like this to happen but im proof that it does.

Woah! That IS really scary. I probably would have to take a break also.
Glad you are ok. Man, that sounds tragic. Blacking out on the road is a BAD thing.

So, what would you do different to prevent/avoid this problem in the future?
Not put a filled tank in the car with you? Transport it in the bed of a truck?
What if we dont own a truck?

Again, glad you made it out of the situation ok.

-Mike B-

I saw one break at the CO2 refill place, in a closed car, this can be bad new.
So, keep it outside, standing straight up in the truck bed.

It's namely a distraction issue, and perhaps a gas issue/seeing issue in a closed car.
That's why they do not allow gas tanks shipped that way

Many still do it and do not worry, but it's not protocol for gas tank suppliers!
Some will not sell you a tank unless you have proper transportation carrying set ups.

Yeeouch, glad you did not have a serious accident!

Regards,
Tom Barr

I have no choice but to transport my CO2 in a car - no trunk either. So I have been making sure I keep the window open anytime I drive with it and I'm fortunate that it is a very short drive.

I'm curious about the fact that the relief valve apparently failed, or the tank was overfilled. Surely that is the real issue here. I'm betting that the tank was badly overfilled, given how soon the relief valve opened - probably exactly what it was supposed to do.

"So, what would you do different to prevent/avoid this problem in the future?
Not put a filled tank in the car with you? Transport it in the bed of a truck?
What if we dont own a truck?" (FacePlanted)

On most days i would have had a wooden cradle attached to a bungie cord that i built, it straps into the bed but i had helped a friend move and took it out. If it were me i would NEVER transport one in a car. I would beg, borrow, or steal a pickup if necessary. I dont think it happens too often but i would never push my luck again.

Wow, this is all good to know. I never really knew the extent of the dangers of compressed CO2 tanks. Nor did I know about what I should do to be careful with them or tips on safety & transportation.

Borrow a truck, keep them outside & upright. That's what I'll do.

The trunk probably wouldn't do much good either, huh? Just escape from behind the seat to the inside of the car. And then you might not know that anything happened until it was too late?

I'm glad this has been brought to my attention. I might not have known the safest thing to do when I get my co2 refilled. Thanks for the heads up.

-Mike B-