Kamon

That was the price I was shooting for.

Regulators are usually expensive. Is there a "cheaper" one?

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

Here is a new 5# aluminum cylinder, $60, with free shipping.

Here is a pretty good regulator for less than $40 plus freight; you will need to pick up a needle valve and adaptor to fit the regulator, try Rex Grigg or Greenleaf. Skip the solenoid and bubble counter....keep it simple!

Kamon

Seattle: Thanks again! I'll contact Rex Grigg for the needle valve. I did not read anything about him selling adaptors, though.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

What you will do is remove the 3/8" O.D. Outlet Barb with Shut-Off from the regulator body and install either a needle valve with a 3/8" base or a needle valve with a different O.D. base and use an adapter. Rex sells lots of different adaptors or they can be purchased at a plumbing supply store. Don't forget, Teflon tape goes on the threads of all connections.

Kamon

Seattle: I think I understand. I'll email Rex for a needle valve with a 3/8'' base. If I can get one with a 3/8'' base, I wouldn't need an adaptor, right?

Also, has anyone had any experience with a Nova Extreme T5HO 2x24w Freshwater 30'' light fixture?

I'm thinking of buying two for my 29gal.

Kamon

Oh, I almost forgot.

I've been to many different pet stores and cannot find anything to measure K, NO3, P, Fe, etc in ppm. Where in the world can I find this?

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

The only test kits I use regularly are the Nitrate test kit and PH test kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API).

Kamon

I bought the CO2 tank and regulator you suggested, Seattle. What are the advantages of having a solenoid? I'm not actually sure what a solenoid is.

Rex Grigg has about three different needle valves. I'm not sure which one to buy.

Any help?

Ahura-sama

Damn, you know if that barb on the shut off valve can be removed w/out removing the adapter to the shut off valve??

I like the shut off valve in addition to my needle, but that included-barb's making my set up redundant. (I had to use a bridge piece of 3/8 tube to connect it to my 3/8 barb of the needle).

I've tried removing the barb, but it is stuck to the valve's adapter, and apparently that adapter is proprietary or something.

Edit:
SOlenoid is basically an electronic operated shut-off valve. For our sake, it's usually hook up to a ph controller and set it so that at certain lvl of co2 saturation the controller would tell the solenoid to shut off the co2.

Expect it to be expensive.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

A solenoid is basically a valve controlled by a magnet. It is used to turn on and turn off the flow of CO2 from the tank to your needle valve. It can be controlled by a timer or a PH controller. I don't use them, although some individuals do. They are known to fail, I just run my CO2 24 hours a day.

I like Rex and have purchased from him in the past, but he can be slow. I use the Ideal needle valve, but they are expensive. Why not give Orlando a call at Greenleaf Aquarium ((352) 371 - 1550) and see what needle valve / adaptor he recommends. He offers several different models. BTW, skip the bubble counter as well. If you want to know what your bubble count is, stick the tubing in your tank. I use an inexpensive drop checker to measure my CO2 level and don't worry about the bubble count.