What Co2 System

[steveg]

Can anyone recommend a good CO2 system for 260 litre tank, either with cylinder or sugar/yeast jobbie.

Thanks

Steve.

 

[Themuleous]

For that size tank, pressurised will be a lot easier and probably work out about the same price. Either you can put it together yourself or get a kit like the JBL profit sets, basic ones start at just over 100quid.

Sam

 

[steveg]

Yeah I've been looking at them (JBL ones), however, I can only find one site that states the size of the tank they are for and it says upto 200 litre, as mine is 260 I doubt this is going to be big enough to do the job.

The rest of the sites just sell the product with no guidelines on the size of the tank they are for, which makes me nervous indeed - as I may be spending 150 quid with them...

I have scoured the net looking for a suitable product, with no luck, hense this thread.

Thank for the reply though.

Ste...

 

[cheesemaker]

Yeah I've been looking at them (JBL ones), however, I can only find one site that states the size of the tank they are for and it says upto 200 litre, as mine is 260 I doubt this is going to be big enough to do the job.

The rest of the sites just sell the product with no guidelines on the size of the tank they are for, which makes me nervous indeed - as I may be spending 150 quid with them...

I have scoured the net looking for a suitable product, with no luck, hense this thread.

Thank for the reply though.

Ste...

THe JBL pressurised kit will be more than able to handle 260L. They do come with an extra lenght of reactor.
You could get a glass ceramic diffuser, much better CO2 diffusion.

I am using Profi 2 set, very pleased with it.

by the way, if you're interested in a second hand set, PM me, as I'm dismantling my tank, off to explore the world soon.

 

[BigIan]

Ebay shops are usualy good for sucvh things you can save around 30 quid i`ve noticed

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh a pressured kit can in general work on any size tank (with in reason!) it just means the small 500g tank runs out quicker. Replacing the supplied diffuser with a ceramic one as suggested would prob help diffuse it better. The supplied one is well ugly too IMHO!

BigIan is right about ebay, there are always second hand kits being sold. I got a complete (but basic) kit together with a pub 12lb CO2 bottle, etc for £85 via ebay.

Sam

 

[MoreCoffee]

steveg:

With that sized tank a pressuirsed system is really the only option. And a ceramic/glass diffuser is far better than the (Very Ugly) JBL diffuser.

When deciding what pressurised kit to get there are a few choices on type of bottle. disposable bottles, 500g (JBL & others), 2kg (JBL & fire extinguisher) and various sizes of pub bottle.
(Yes JBL do a 2kg bottle - costs about £150, new. A new 2kg fire extinguisher only costs about £15 ! )

Just my opinion, but ....
Before parting with your money, I would suggest you investigate how you will refill your chosen option.
Not sure where you are (UK or US etc) but in the UK it can be quite difficult to get the 500g bottles refilled.
Lots of people dont, and there have been quite a few posts in the past about where to get bottles filled.

Maidenhead Aquatics are usually a good option if there is one near you, but AFAIK they will ONLY refill genuine JBL bottles (500g or 2kg) but will not touch other makes (like Aqua Medic etc).

Pub bottles are usually easy to refill, but the bottles are often much larger. Fire extinguishers can be refilled eaasy enough, but make sure you get one that is in date for a pressure test ....
Many of the extinguishers on Ebay that are sold for £1 are deemed 'unservicable' and dont be tempted to buy older 'black CO2' bottles. ( Ebay Fire Extinguisher Guide )

If all this sounds like it makes pressurised CO2 too much trouble .... it's not!

All the types of bottle can be refilled, its just far better to investigate the options available in your local area before you buy, rather than waiting until your CO2 runs out !

 

[BigIan]

how easy is it to fit a pub bottle to the regulator???

 

[Themuleous]

Before parting with your money, I would suggest you investigate how you will refill your chosen option.

Good advice Mr G

how easy is it to fit a pub bottle to the regulator???

Nearly all regulators will fit all cylinders as they (as far as I know) are made to a standard size thread etc. There is a slight issue with the older JBL regs which can be a bit big but this is easy to sort with a file (that might sound drastic but its really not). Ive got a reg from that German seller on Ebay, fits like a charm and works perfectly, and I know people have no problems with Aquamedic regs.

All in all, its very easy Ian just like fitting one to a 500g cylinder! and you save a fortune in CO2 refills with the bigger cylinder.

Sam

 

[BigIan]

and after the regulator, its pretty much just a hose going to what ever form of co2 reaction i choose??

 

[Themuleous]

You got it in one

 

[Spank]

Mr G

If the Cylinders on Ebay are deemed unservicable, but still have certificates of maintenance and have been serviced previously, does that mean I could still fit a regulator on and use it in a DIY CO2 setup?

 

[steveg]

Thanks for the replys guys, all this co2 bizz is getting a bit confusing, could you have a quick look at the following links and let me know which you think would be best.

This is the sort of short list

Basic 300l off the German dude

Bit more gagety off the German dude

or the

JBL Proflora CO2 Set Vario 500 Profi Set 2


You have got me a bit worried with being able to get the bottles filled, I am from the UK (NW, Lancs) and to be honest ive not got a clue where to get a co2 bottle filled up - be a yellow pages ring round I recon. Also what would be the deal with the cylinders off the german geezer, from what I can gather from other sites you can not send pressurised cylinders by air, would it be empty. I tried to decypher the page using one of them web translation jobbies but its about as easy to read as a text message off my mam.

Do they use 240v in germany or is it 110v ???

Also I would like one that automatically switches itself off at night - not essential but I am likely to forget.

I do like the idea of a pub cylinder, bet it would last for ages, however, apart from robbing my local im at a bit of a loss of where to get one from and they proabably arn't cheep either.

I would really appreciate a little help here.

Thanks

Steve.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Mr G

If the Cylinders on Ebay are deemed unservicable, but still have certificates of maintenance and have been serviced previously, does that mean I could still fit a regulator on and use it in a DIY CO2 setup?

Hi,

I certainly dont mean that all Co2 fire extinguishers sold on Ebay would be unservicable, many would be fine. You really need to find out from the seller what the last pressure test date is - this is stampped into the tank at manufacture and is good for 10 years, after which time it needs to be retested.

I have to admit that Ebay seems to have a bit of a tighter control over them now than they used to, the out of date 'black' ones dont turn up as often.
I think it's a case of 'buyer beware' ... There are many genuine extinguishers out there, but if a fully serviced CO2 fire extinguisher for £1 seems too good to be true ... it probably is !

I got mine from Co2 extinguisher supplier who lives local to me. Cost ofor a 2yo tank was £15 (same price range as ebay, but no postage) and £15 for subsequent 2kg refills.

 

[Themuleous]

Hi steve,

Yeh Im not sure about filling those cylinders, so you might have a job doing it. As for switching it off at night, he does a solenoid but it can get quite hot apparently, but i do know people have used them without any problems. I would get everything but the cylinder from him, as that'll be your biggest problem. That said doing that it might not work out cost effective so need some more researching.

Failing that getting a JBL kit gives you everything and as long as you've got a maidenhead aquatics near by you should be able to refill the cylinder. I would however replace the diffuser cos its well UGLY!!!

Re the pub cylinders, try ebay! I got one for 5quid and a refill at a welding place for under 30quid.

Dont be put off if it seems complicated its not trust me

Sam