FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Never used either system. This is all brand new. Good thing my LFS carries refill for the Nutrafin. I'll have to get them to order refills for the other. I will keep the Excel addition regular and constant. It won't be long before I can get the pressurized system...I've just had a couple of unexpected bills pop up on me in the last couple of months. How much do the typical bottles run for the pressurized and how big of a bottle should I get? I know that you just refill them once the CO2 is gone right?

I'm ordering some plant on Friday (payday!!)

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

How much do the typical bottles run for the pressurized and how big of a bottle should I get?

The cost of the bottle heavily depends on your area. tetratech, who lives only about 40 miles from me, gets it for $20 less and his refills are $10. I payed for my full bottle (his is nice and shiny silver, mine is gray) $100 and $20 for each refill. This would be for the 5 liter bottle, which would also be the one I would recommend to you. BUT - make sure you can store it upright in the stand - remember, you wanted to measure its height.

I know that you just refill them once the CO2 is gone right?

Right, but make sure your provider (usually a welding supply store) does that for you.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh yeah, I forgot to measure!!

We have a welding supply store just down the street where a guy I know that does planted tanks gets his CO2 bottle refilled. I'll ask him how much his set-up cost. Okay, I'll provide mesurements after lunch.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

i have a 5lb bottle you can have for free if you can make the trip up to austin

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Now that sounds like a deal that I can't refuse! I love Austin.....now to get some time off from work.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

from what you've said it sounds like they won't miss you for a day or two

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Now moondog,

You got Melissa so excited about your offer that she probably forgot to measure the cabinet height yet again

Well, getting a free 5l bottle is always a good thing. But before you drive up there (how long is that trip? ) make sure that your "Refiller" takes bottles from a different place. My provider does not take my bottle and refills it, he replaces it with a full bottle (and that is where you may have a problem with giving him one that he didn't sell you). This process has the distinct advantage that I am in and out of the store in no time and I can hook up the bottle again quickly.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

that seems strange to me. the place i used to go would replace the bottle, no questions asked. and if you paid cash, they gave you the same price no matter what size bottle you brought in. but you couldn't get a 20lb bottle in exchange for 5lb of course

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Better save than sorry, right?

I mean, that's nothing that a call couldn't fix.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Dang, busted. Yes, I forgot to measure the stupid cabinet....again. That will be the FIRST thing I do when I walk in the door from work tonight.

I just got off the phone with the local CO2 tank refiller and they said no problem...they will refill that 5 lb. tank that Moodog said he would give me, so, I'm all set there. They said that they might have to test it if it's out of test date, but the refill, with tax and all, will run around $15. Not too bad.

Ingo, Austin is about a 5 hour drive from here. Considering it's Texas we're talking about 5 hours is nada. I need a vaction anyway.

Moondog, I'm making my plans for this summer after school is out...gotta wait until the young-un isn't going to school you know.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

$15 sounds like a lot to me, but i know i was probably spoiled i got my 20lb replaced like that for $5 cash in wisconsin, but considering i got the original for free i can't complain about it too much

well, i'll be gone that week i told you about in june, but my summer is pretty wide open besides that. so come on up any time

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Hi,
$15 each, is what I paid here in the Denver area to have
my bottles hydrostatically tested. They are then rated
as safe for five years when they must be tested again.
My refills cost $9 and some change (tax).

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Sounds good! Okay I have those measurements. I have 18.5 inches to play with under my tank will that bottle and all the do-dads fit in that space?

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Hi,
Depending upon the manufacturer and model of the regulator,
you should be able to fit it in. Mine takes 19 inches but
then I have the gages set slightly askew so I can see them
from a different angle.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Melissa,

My setup (as seen on page two of your thread) is about 18" tall, with the highest point being the top of the bubble counter.

So, 18 1/2 may be tight but seems feasible as a bubble counter does not have to be perfectly straight and could lean a little. In the worst case, aquariumplants.com makes a new and improved regulator that is much lower in profile, but $$$.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, the 18.5 is from the floor of the cabinet to the top edge of the cabinet. I have some space to play with since my tank stand is away from the wall about 6 or 7 inches to fit my HOB. I can lean the CO2 tank up against the wall...still have it out of sight and let the regulator stick out, I think it will work.

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

ummm...will it work?

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Hi,
"leaning" the tank frankly scares the heck out of me.
I've see tanks fall over, snap off a fitting, and become
rockets that punched through military aircraft hanger
walls.

You have to handle these things with care. They contain
compressed gas and are dangerous. That is why the
government requires periodic testing for safety. Always
handle these things carefully and be sure that they cannot
be tipped over by some accident or a pet exploring.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Yikes... That's no bueno!!!

What is the diameter of a 5 lb bottle? I could put it on the floor behind my tank if it's not too big around. That would net me several more inches of height. Anyone konw tha diameter?

---

~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Hi Red,
The diameter of my bottle is roughly 5 inches.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

the bottle i have is exactly 18 inches tall and about 5 inches diameter. i would expect almost every single 5lb bottle to be roughly the same dimensions.

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Melissa,

Did you ever decide on a CO2 method? Are you going to try the non-pressurized kinds?

I would love to know how that works out. I just got another 55g that I am going to plant. I was seriously considering a pressurized system, but I'm getting a new (used) car that I have to help pay for (with my part-time job salary...oh yeah), so there won't be much money left over to get a pressurized setup. It sucks being a poor college kid.

Let me know how that works out for you.

And show us some pictures when you get the tank planted!

*Kristin*