Taking the Co2 plunge

**Krilorn** · 02-04-2012, 04:49 AM

Hello all this is my first post here on The Barr Report, although ive been on Aquaria Central for a couple of years now. I have been looking into getting Co2 for my planted 40breeder and thought i could get some good advice from all you fellow plant geeks as im still learning. I can get a 5lb tank locally for around $66 filled. After looking around I was thinking of going with http://www.aquabuys.com/p/co2-combo-...ontroller.html . I have $300 set for the budget and this would allow me to pick up a decent diffuser and stay within budget. To my thinking this would be a good system for around my 300$ budget and cover everything, am I missing anything? Anyone think I could do better with the $ I would be spending?

**Left C** · 02-04-2012, 09:52 AM

Do some searches and Googling about the Milwaukee regulator on the forums. You might change your mind about it. You could not even pay me to use a Milwaukee regulator. IMO, it is a POS!!!

Also, you can use a simple timer and a 4 dKH drop checker instead of the more expensive Milwaukee pH controllers.

Many folks are purchasing two stage regulators on ebay. Then they get a good post body kit (I suggest one with a "1" series Ideal needle valve). Now, they have an excellent regulator assembly for the money. maknwar, oldpunk78, bettatail and btimmer92 are some of the folks with post body kits.

Some people are getting the Aquatek regulators. This might be better than the Milwaukee for a cheap regulator.

**Krilorn** · 02-08-2012, 09:19 PM

As i understand it the problems with the regulators are the possiblity of end of tank dumps. Wouldnt going with teh ph controller avoid this? As in if the regulator does allow a dump of some sorts, the ph controller will read this and shut down the system. Am i wrong on this?

**Krilorn** · 02-08-2012, 11:01 PM

anyone out there?

**Left C** · 02-08-2012, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Krilorn

As i understand it the problems with the regulators are the possiblity of end of tank dumps. Wouldnt going with the ph controller avoid this? As in if the regulator does allow a dump of some sorts, the ph controller will read this and shut down the system. Am i wrong on this?

The problem is not with all regulators. The problem is not with two stage regulators nor with good single stage regulators (could get an argument here), but with a few of the cheap, poorly designed, poor QC single stage models of regulators can possibly have EOTD and many have had EOTD in the past. You can avoid this if you exchange the cylinder when you notice the high pressure gauge start to fall. You can somewhat tune a system like that with a pH controller like you are suggesting. I run a Victor two stage regulator with a Burkert solenoid and an Ideal "1" series needle valve tuned with a 4 dKH drop checker. I do not run a pH controller and I run my CO₂ tanks until they are empty. I don't have EOTD.

**Krilorn** · 02-08-2012, 11:24 PM

So much confliting information out there, makes this research a PITA. I think im just going to go with my original plan and pray that i dont have any nightmares. That was the only setup i could find that would be anywhere near my 300$ budget.

**Left C** · 02-08-2012, 11:46 PM

You couldn't pay me enough money to use the junk in that kit that you picked out. Well maybe you could pay me enough. I'd use it for a few seconds and then go back to what I'm using now.

Originally Posted by Krilorn

So much confliting information out there, makes this research a PITA. ...

I'm not seeing conflicting regulator information on this site.

**Krilorn** · 02-09-2012, 12:05 AM

Just that with my research ive found a ton of good ratings and reviews out there for the milwaukee regulators. Tons of local people also suggested that the kit i found would be a good kit for the money i had to spend. I havent found a dual stage regulator for less than 200-250ish and that + tank puts me over budget. If anyone can point me to a better setup with ph monitor for less ive love to see it, i just havent found it.

**Gerryd** · 02-09-2012, 12:13 AM

Hi,

I used that same exact setup for my first 2 years of c02....

The controller works fine. The bubble counter leaked at times, and the needle valve sucked, but...it did in fact get c02 into the aquarium..I had to watch the NV though as it could change BY ITSELF...

I always filled my tanks PRIOR to them emptying so EOTD was not an issue for me...

That being said......can you get the tank now, go NON c02 until you can afford better c02 equipment?

C02 is difficult enough as is w/o adding POSSIBLY inferior hardware into the mix...

Just a thought...

**Krilorn** · 02-09-2012, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Gerryd

Hi,

I used that same exact setup for my first 2 years of c02....

The controller works fine. The bubble counter leaked at times, and the needle valve sucked, but...it did in fact get c02 into the aquarium..I had to watch the NV though as it could change BY ITSELF...

I always filled my tanks PRIOR to them emptying so EOTD was not an issue for me...

That being said......can you get the tank now, go NON c02 until you can afford better c02 equipment?

C02 is difficult enough as is w/o adding POSSIBLY inferior hardware into the mix...

Just a thought...

Ive lasted about a year and a half so far without it so yes I could go without it. That being said, Ive seen what a difference Co2 can make to the health of the plants and thought that I could take baby steps into Co2 with the kit I had found. I could go cheaper without a ph controller, but being my first setup, I thought the controller would save me from a brainfart moment and crashing my tank. I have no issues, later down the road, upgrading to a top notch system, but like I said im working with a budget atm.