Ed Seeley
Member
Hi all,
I've just been to Weld UK (http://www.welduk.com/index.asp), who supply welding gear to trade and DIY and are a great source of disposable CO2 tanks which are identical to the JBL ones in all but label. You can even remove the black plastic base from the JBL tank to fit these!
I went to pick them up to save postage as they're so near and got talking to the guy there about the price of aquatic CO2 kits and he was saying about how they are basically identical to what they sell. They even sell Solenoids and can supply regulators for disposable tanks or larger re-usable tanks, called Mini-regulators (they're not on their website, but basically look absolutely identical to the ones supplied in CO2 kits).
The up-shot of this conversation was that they are looking at supplying regulators suitable for the planted tanks with brass nipples to allow our CO2 proof tubing to be used rather than the stiffer Welding tubing too. He's going to get in touch with me about this in a few days, but this may finally be a cheaper source for CO2 kits available in this country rather than getting it from Malaysia!
What I really wanted to say here was what do most people want from a CO2 kit?
Do you want a solenoid valve?
Do you really use the Dials for your regulator? (Regulators without dials are cheaper and the guy pointed out whatr do you need them for? The only thing mine tells me is when the gas is starting to run low and then about a day later it's run out anyway!
Would you rather get it all-in, without bubble counter and diffuser, or would you prefer to buy the basic regulator and CO2 tanks, then get your own diffuser and bubble counter from a dedicated place?
I'm after opinions guys as I've only used CO2 for about 8 months and have very limited experience on it. We can then help this outlet to offer kit that we actually want, rather than what the large manufacturers want to sell to us! It may not end up being lots cheaper, but it'll be good kit and the best price they can do. I'm sure it'll be way below what the aquatic manufacturers ask!
I've just been to Weld UK (http://www.welduk.com/index.asp), who supply welding gear to trade and DIY and are a great source of disposable CO2 tanks which are identical to the JBL ones in all but label. You can even remove the black plastic base from the JBL tank to fit these!
I went to pick them up to save postage as they're so near and got talking to the guy there about the price of aquatic CO2 kits and he was saying about how they are basically identical to what they sell. They even sell Solenoids and can supply regulators for disposable tanks or larger re-usable tanks, called Mini-regulators (they're not on their website, but basically look absolutely identical to the ones supplied in CO2 kits).
The up-shot of this conversation was that they are looking at supplying regulators suitable for the planted tanks with brass nipples to allow our CO2 proof tubing to be used rather than the stiffer Welding tubing too. He's going to get in touch with me about this in a few days, but this may finally be a cheaper source for CO2 kits available in this country rather than getting it from Malaysia!
What I really wanted to say here was what do most people want from a CO2 kit?
Do you want a solenoid valve?
Do you really use the Dials for your regulator? (Regulators without dials are cheaper and the guy pointed out whatr do you need them for? The only thing mine tells me is when the gas is starting to run low and then about a day later it's run out anyway!
Would you rather get it all-in, without bubble counter and diffuser, or would you prefer to buy the basic regulator and CO2 tanks, then get your own diffuser and bubble counter from a dedicated place?
I'm after opinions guys as I've only used CO2 for about 8 months and have very limited experience on it. We can then help this outlet to offer kit that we actually want, rather than what the large manufacturers want to sell to us! It may not end up being lots cheaper, but it'll be good kit and the best price they can do. I'm sure it'll be way below what the aquatic manufacturers ask!