The Cost Of Running Co2 Systems?

[KirkyArcher]

I've just done a little in depth calculation of the cost of ingredients I use in My Co2 yeast generators 
I use 2x 1 litre bottles of mixture and they run for 5 weeks before I need to refill them,
My 2 litre mixture uses 1.89g* of Yeast @ 9.6p, 18.6g* of Bicarbonate of Soda @ 9.2p and 453.6g* of granulated sugar @ 42.86p
making a grand total of around 62p
Divide that by the 5 weeks of run time I get from them and you're looking at a tad over 12p a week.
Is anyone who runs a pressurised cylinder system able to break down their running costs 
I just would like to know if it's worth even considering making the upgrade!
 
*​Weights are determined from measuring the volumes of ingredients that I use weighed on a set of accurate jewellers scales with the exception of the sugar measured using kitchen scales,
and prices of ingredients are broken down from products available at Tesco supermarkets.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I ran my system for about 11 years before selling it this year. I had a 5 lb bottle on a 50 gal tank and I filled the bottle once a year. I think in the end it worked out to $1/month.
 
But I could control how much co2 went into the tank very precisely while your system cannot. I could never have a mishap which could dump the stuff in your bottles into my tank.
 
When I turn the valve to shut down the flow from my cylinder to the tank, I never worried the pressure might build up and burst the container etc.
 
So is what you are asking even a fair comparison to make based on just operating costs? Would not a more appropriate comparison be the cost/gallon or liter? And if you do it that way, your costs would rise way faster than mine as the tank size and plant needs increase. And then what about the time factor. I spend about 70 minutes a year to provide all my co2 needs for that year. I don't mix, I don't throw away I don't measure ingredients. You give up a lot more time for your co2 than I did. And that has more value, imo, than the few pence/pennies spent each month to run the system.

 

[levahe]

I used to have a 3kg bottle on my tank which lasted about 3-4 months and it cost £15 for refills. I just changed to a 6kg so I should get about 6-8 months out of that and I'm not sure how much rwefills are but it won't be much more than 20ish I think.

You could use fire extinguishers, about £50 for a 5kg or £25 for a 2kg and not much for refills.
Even if you can't get refills its cheap enough to just buy another extinguisher when you run out.

The convenience and performance of pressurised co2 is worth it alone imo

 

[KirkyArcher]

I have a 2kg Co2 fire extinguisher from work when they changed the company overseeing fire safety and monitoring but was basing my consideration/justification on an upgrade alongside purchase costs of regulator with solenoid and timer as well as running costs, not a great chance of nasties getting into tank with isolation scrubber/bubble counter and non return valve fitted. so based on UK refill prices of £15 that's about a £1 a week or does it cost less to refill a Co2 fire extinguisher than a mainstream aquarium co2 cylinder?
At the moment I have no issues with the time taking to make up a mix and know of the benefits of pressurised systems over yeast generated systems which is why I'm giving the subject consideration but I still have a healthy aquarium full of healthy plants and fishes

 

[levahe]

I didn't base the decision to buy a pressurised system based on cost, its just what I preferred. I can't see any reason for you to change if you're happy with your current setup. I like the way mine is because I can set it up and forget about it for months on end ! I just need to mix up some ferts every few weeks and that's it.


Not sure how much it costs for a f e refill to be honest

 

[KirkyArcher]

Cheers levahe 

  will see if anyone else replies with a weekly running cost breakdown.

 

[DrRob]

Ahhh, now this is difficult.
 
I've set up pressurised CO2 on the same tank twice now, using different systems overall, one lower end high tech, not too heavily planted and flow wasn't so high. A 2kg CO2 cylinder lasted about 9 months on that tank. Reset it with higher tech light levels and the cylinder lasted less than half that.
 
Only cost £10 to refill the cylinder though.
 
Does make it difficult to give you a comparison properly as I have 2 different answers for the same sized tank. My other larger tank is still burning through a 2kg 9 months on despite having a sump set up that should, in theory, gas off all of the CO2, but it's nowhere near as heavily planted.
 
I also mess with the maths by putting liquid carbon (I buy gluteraldehyde 50%) in the micro solution now, but that wasn't happening with the above.

 

[Royston]

I use a pub cylinder I think it 13kg or more and it cost me £18 to swap for a full one ..I leave it on 24/7 now so I don't get ph changes so not sure how long it will last

 

[levahe]

I use a pub cylinder I think it 13kg or more and it cost me £18 to swap for a full one ..I leave it on 24/7 now so I don't get ph changes so not sure how long it will last

why don't you want pH changes?