components for co2

It is not mandatory necessarily, but i would not ever go without it. Most people i feel will agree with me who have used co2. Your going to need to get a regulator, needle valve, and maybe a solonoid. Use all 10k bulbs, actinics have not proven to show any benefit to plants. I would wait for more flourite. But i have used a 50/50 mix and it does well, i just get paranoid (What if it could be better).

thanks for the info.

I am planning to change out the acintic, to 2 more 10k or maybe 6700k.

so i would have 2 of each, 10000k and 6700k

Good choice.

ShaneSmith said:

Your going to need to get a regulator, needle valve, and maybe a solonoid.

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regulator?
is there diff types?, the o2 tank comes with a regulator, do you mean reactor?

thanks!

The regulator you have should be fine, you'll want to add a needle valve and possibly a bubble counter. The valve lets you adjust the amount of CO3 and the counter to give you an idea of how much you are using and to see that it really is working.

If the regulator is adjustable you may need or want to dial back the second stage to reduce the output pressure. You may have quite a bit of pressure as it was setup for quick bursts when filling a fish bag.

You'll also need some way to deliver the CO2 may it be a reactor or diffuser.

There are quite a few options, looking over some of the past threads on CO2 will give you a good idea of the possibilities open to you.

Being as the bottle was for O2 before, check with the gas folks and see if they will refill with CO2. They may want to retest the bottle. 20# should last you quite a while too.

Im not sure but I think you could probably use the regulator on the tank. You could ask when you go to get it refilled.

yep that should get you going

Switching the tank from o2 to co2 will require a change in the fitting atop the tank. This means you will have to, at least, get an adapter for the regulator you have, as o2 regulators don't fit co2 tanks. Ask at the place where you get your tank done what CGA fitting will go on and then get an adapter to go with the regulator you have to ensure a mate for it.

Bert H said:

Switching the tank from o2 to co2 will require a change in the fitting atop the tank.

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Bert is correct. Many gases use specialized threading on both the regulator and tank shut-off to assure that gases don't get mixed up and then surprise a user. If you can find adaptors or change the threading you might make it work but if not I think you will need a CO2 threaded tank and regulator. As Bert suggested, go to a welding or gas supply store and ask.
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Jeff