calcium Reactor CO2

[Guest reeffoto]

I went to get my Co2 bottle swapped out yesterday and the guy asked which type I wanted.  He said one is more pure than another.  The bottle I had before was of the more pure type which they didn't have any of.  I was not sure if you need a certain type of co2 for a reactor so I held off.  So is there a requirement or would I just be better off with the more pure co2

[Guest Kimo]

That's weird - Where did you go? I always fill up at Robert's O2

 

Jamie

[Guest reeffoto]

I went to Roberts in Glen Burnie.  This was the 4th time I had swapped bottles and was never asked.

[michaelg]

carbon dioxide is carbon dioxide.  How much difference was the cost?  I have only ever been given one option.  Are you sure the guy wasn't smoking something?  Tell him you want the "beer quality grade" and you will be fine.  That is really weird.  There price did go up though- It cost me $25 for a re-fill last Monday....

[davidm]

there may be a difference in cost for scientific grade vs medical (ie clinical care quality).  there may even be a third designation for beverages.  I don't think it would matter at all for our purposes.  I would expect any contaminations, even at the cheapest grade, would be so low it wouldn't matter.

David M

[Guest reeffoto]

I found out the difference in the co2.  One is dryer than the other.  The dryer for goes through a filter process before being transfered to the final bottle.  The price is the same for either.  Just a little FYI the price of co2 went up at Roberts oxygen.  I think last time I paid $14 and yesterday it was $22

[Gatortailale]

I have been paying around 22 or a little more for the past year at the Roberts in Sterling off 28.  Never been asked for grade.  I have a 5 lb tank. (15lb is too tall for stand and they don't have 10 lb ones :[ )

[Gatortailale]

Anyone have to do any service work to their regulator?

 

Been having problem the last week plus with needle wheel and regulator.  I get a nice stream of bubbles going; come back 6 hours later and nothing.  I have the pressure up to 20 or more and tank shows it has lots of pressure.  

 

Do I need to clean anything on the needle valve?

[kd233]

I had the same problem with my bubbles stopping.   I removed the regulator and blew out the line real quick.  Bubbles went back to normal after that.

[michaelg]

Man- I have a seriously leakage problem.  Any suggestions where the problem might be?  First tank lasted a year, second 6 months, now I blew through 1/3 a tank in 3 days.  Needless to say it is off line until I come up with a plan.  I do have an extra regulator that I could try as well as a replacement needle valve.

[ReefMon]

Spray some soapy water all over the regulator to check for leaks, it will blow bubbles for you at the leak point.   I've had to tighten up several joints, and redo the Teflon tape to mine in the past, as well as having a bad O-ring that seals the tank to the regulator.

[Guest reeffoto]

When you get a new bottle are you replacing the washer between the bottle and the regulator.  When I get my bottle swapped out there is a new one attached to the bottle.   Also you have to be careful with the compression fittings if you bump them wrong they leak.  I went through a bottle real fast because of that.  You can check for leaks with soapy as mentioned previously.

[Guest Kimo]

Heh my regulator is dead.

 

I tried it out with a new bottle of CO2 (yes it went up in price, and no they didn't ask what kind I wanted) the other day and watched the CFM needle just go all the way around and the regulator start blowing CO2 out.

 

Not good.

 

Anyone have an extra or a place where I can get one for a reasonable cost?

 

Thanks,

 

J

[traveller7]

Anyone have an extra or a place where I can get one for a reasonable cost?

J

I've got a spare w/o needle valve you are welcome to borrow or buy.  I think I've got $25 into the thing.