CO2 - How do you get started easily and safely?

[Bradders]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning for CO2 usage, but really want to start small, safe and easy so I can cut my teeth before doing anything uber-professional. Ideally a kit that makes this easy but gets me to understand the mechanics and requirements.

I have been reading the forum and also more broadly, but the more I read the more I think 'well, what do I need to dip my toe in, see some plant improvement and not kill my fish?'. Some of this can be read, but some of it comes with experience, and thus, I am asking here! For example, you can see kits like this online, but are they really OK, reliable and something to start with?

So, if you were to start out with CO2, where would you start to 'dip your toes' to learn, see some small results and not harm the fish?

Thanks,
Brad

 

[bazz]

Hi,
I personally have got a lot of time for Colombo and their offerings but I wouldn't use the kit you have linked purely because of the price and the fact that the bottles are single use. (Again I personally think) you would better off using for example,
Strideways Pro CO2 Regulator + 2kg co2 fire extinguisher - cheapest on ebay - delivered!! Fishtank welding etc | eBay + NEW Inline Diffuser – 16/22 – CO2Art | Aquarium CO2 System Specialists or New Bazooka Flux_ Diffuser – Large for Tanks above 250L – CO2Art | Aquarium CO2 System Specialists + CO2 Resistant Tubing – CO2Art | Aquarium CO2 System Specialists + CO2 Drop Checker Kit – CO2Art | Aquarium CO2 System Specialists
All of the above should work out fractionally cheaper than the aforementioned Colombo set, will arguably give you better components and a more stable and versatile system and will most definitely give you more and cheaper options to replace CO2 bottles,

Colombo 800g CO₂ Bottle - Aqua Essentials

The Colombo 800g CO₂ Bottle is a non-refillable pressurised bottle specifically for the Colombo CO2 - Aqua Essentials

aquaessentials.co.uk

This is just a very quick run down and as always there are many different ways to reach the desired result.

 

[Bradders]

Cheers Bazz great advice. But 52cm won't go anywhere near my smaller cabinet, and I was hoping for advice on some 'kits' to start my understanding, and keep me relatively safe!

Do you and others think that (although disposable) the Colombo device would be a good starting point to dip ones toes? Or another kit similar?

 

[PARAGUAY]

It's all about the Regulator with solenoid maybe check the sponsers on here, Something suitable for 600 g MIG welding bottles for a smaller aquarium( Halfords, Machine Mart around £16) buy all your drop checker, tubing, diffuser etc from sponsers too, give yourself a good weekend 2 or 3 days to set it up were you can observe everything, the AE one look expensive

 

[OllieTY]

Grab a second hand regulator from eBay and a co2 fire extinguisher. I store my bottle alongside the stand, but got some thick black tights to put over the bottle to make it look a little neater

 

[bazz]

Do you and others think that (although disposable) the Colombo device would be a good starting point to dip ones toes? Or another kit similar?

I'm afraid I don't mate, certainly not for a 100l tank and you would be locking yourself into a system that requires you to pay £46.99 + P&P for a replacement 800g cylinder. Sure you can get adaptors/find cheaper alternatives but you might as well begin with a decent Regulator and work backwards towards a smaller cylinder, leaving you with the option of increasing capacity at a later date should you get a larger tank (cabinet space) which I believe is what you are aiming for. You can do all this within the budget of the Colombo set.

I was hoping for advice on some 'kits' to start my understanding, and keep me relatively safe!

You don't need a kit just common sense, a little research and some understanding, you can ask questions on here before you buy anything or before you commission your system if you have any doubts. At the end of the day pressurised CO2 is pressurised CO2 whatever receptacle it comes in.

But 52cm won't go anywhere near my smaller cabinet

I found a Decree Absolute and keeping the bottle at the side of the cabinet solves this problem!

 

[Bradders]

OK, got it and thanks for the advice. Let me look around and come back. Cheers everyone.

 

[Blinxy]

I wouldn't use the kits as they are usually a considerable mark up, I have a 30l cube coming for my bedroom and so I was going to use sodastream and a regulator from co2 supermarket. Price for their 'mini' regulator and adapter is considerably less then Colombo, not to mention official colombo bottles are like 2-3x the price as normal mig welding gas per gram which is just the same as colombo gas just a different sticker and bottle size.

 

[Andy Pierce]

£47 for 800g = 17g/£. You can get disposable 600g bottles of CO2 from many sources for less than £20 e.g. SIP Welding Gas CO2 - 600g | Halfords UK for £15.50 for 600g = 38g/£ or 2.2L Co2 Welding Gas - The Welders Warehouse with £66 for 2600g = 39g/£ or what I have now which is Clarke CO2 Gas Cylinder (600g) - Machine Mart - Machine Mart £16.80 for 600g = 36g/£.

 

[Andy Pierce]

Having run out, I just got in the 2.2L option listed above from Welder's Warehouse and I am super impressed! The two tanks each hold 1300g (liquid) CO2 but they are wider diameter than the 600g options and not really any taller - a little under 37cm high and just over 10cm in diameter. Also, they come with a flat-bottomed plastic collar base so they don't tip over and roll around - they just stand upright on their own. Probably they can get away with this because they are wider diameter.

 

[hypnogogia]

@Bradders I’d also say the Columbo unit is less safe than what @bazz suggested as it doesn’t include a solenoid to allow you to shut CO2 off overnight. This could result in you gassing your fish overnight.

 

[Scaperinc]

Go strideways co2 dual stage reg , i wasted so much money faffing with diy.