[AndyL]

Hey folks,

After some discussion in chat about it, and meeting up with a paintball wizard... I can say for sure - using paintball CO2 bottles for planted aquaria is definitely on the horizon.

I say this because I found a source, and some rough pricing on some custom work...

Problem as with all manufacturers - is to make it worth their time and effort - they want a substantial minimum order (this case - 150).

How many of you out there would be interested? For rough estimate of 40us$ you'd get a fixed regulator, very fine adjustment needle valve (According to the manufacturer, they will do as low as 1bpm), and a tank side pressure guage. Just the basics - I'm sure one can add solenoids etc later if they wished.

Advantages: Basically initial price. Pressurized system for 70$us (20/24 oz paintball tanks/bottles are under 30$) Refills might be a little easier to find for those in areas away from industrial sources. Size could make them an attractive option for those with nano tanks at the office... And there is the bling factor - after all, no exchanges - so blow all the $ you want on a fancy bottle

Disadvantages: Long term cost - refills for the little bottles run 5-10$, and they wont last near as long as the 5lb you could get refilled for about the same price... Otherwise, it's basically the same system.

So, what sayeth APC?

Andy

 

[AndyL]

LOL Yeah I knew you'd be in a hurry to find out

The custom work is basically the regulator, while I did find a 30psi regulator last night that was designed for the paintball world, after talking to the gunsmith (or markersmith or whatever you'd call him) found it would be completely unsuitable for this application. So the regulators (the one thing that is hard to find) would have to be custom made with internals designed to put out a slower steady stream of gas. To that, I also requested the 1" guage. Buying the needle valves from the same manufacturer - saves us money - <10$ each vs buying online at 25+. A few pennies (almost litteraly) for assembly saves us on teflon tape and headaches due to leaks...

One of the nice things about the paintball system, is on multiple tanks... If you have an existing tank you could use it to refill the smaller paintball bottles. A refill kit costs 40-100$ depending on quality/source, digital scale chances are you have, or can buy for a few more dollars. Then use the large tank (upside down - so it dispenses liquid co2) to refill the smaller bottles. Thus you're getting your CO2 for the same price, but can use it on multiple systems.

Andy

 

[AndyL]

Yes that is 1 bubble per minute, I asked 4 times to make sure...

Tanks can be found at almost any sporting goods stores, paintball outfitters or on ebay, even walmart sells them. They range in sizes from 8 - 24oz, overall size, is pretty small check out some of the paintball vendors online to see the overall sizes.

Refills - probably not by your local welding shop - instead you'd have to go to a sporting goods store that dealt with paintball gear (Someone said target refilled them? I know my local canadian tire does) paintball shop, or paintball field. Chances are you have many more local options to have these refilled than their larger bretheren. I've heard prices ranging from 1$ to 10$ (10 being my local canadian tire store) for the 24oz refill...

Andy

 

[AndyL]

Well, I ordered a prototype for testing, should have it in 5 weeks... Figure on at least a couple months of testing - then some time for production units. Until I get the prototype - no idea on how long the tanks would last. I did find a spiffy 35oz paintball tank however - there may be even larger ones.

I actually may not be the one selling these, got an offer from a retailer - which I'm seriously considering accepting

Andy

 

[AndyL]

Gpodio: your information is wrong. The paintballers use the exact same CO2 we'd get for our tanks... From the same place, with the same exchange cylinders. There is no "Paintball" grade of CO2 - just industrial and medical grades. There is no oil added (this myth comes from the days of the daisie air rifles - I've heard the little daisie cartridges had oil in them)

No updates, still waiting patiently on the regulators...

Andy