C02 safety

[captexas]

Josh -
What's your address so I can call 911 and have them on standby? :flamer: :police:

LOL, I don't have any experience with CO2 tanks, but I would imagine you could put some water around the connections and if you have a leak you will see the gas bubbles. I know you should keep the bottle standing upright so if it does blow, hopefully it will shoot up and not sideways through your house. A hole in the roof is easier to fix than a hole in someone's torso! :-D If you use common sense and you are careful, I don't think you will have any problems. Wait, this is San Antonio, no one here has common sense!

BOOM!

[ziggyrocket]

Hehe, now your talkin my language...co2 rockets are simple. Go to home depot or the local hardware store with a 3 liter bottle, and find a rubber stopper that fits very snuggly into the neck. Next, stop by academy on your way home and pick up a needle for airing up basketballs. Take the 3-liter, and hot glue some fins on it, and i usually do a body tube to make the cg a little more forward. Slap a nose cone on, and any essential artwork ie: woody the woodpecker, then find a stand. I used to use a chemistry ring stand, but anything will work that gives you the relief under the neck for your c02 line going into the needle. plumb the needle into a c02 line, set your c02 regulator for 135psi, and open the valve...stand back, and watch that sucker fly. I have seen them go about 300ft in the air.
Have fun, and dont loose an eye :D

[Tim Marvin]

I think they are probably addressing the issue if the bottle gets knocked over and the valve is broken. 3000 lbs of pressure escaping through the valve opening in the bottle will send that bottle through your house! Literally! It will go through walls and people if they are in the way. The bottle can also explode into shrapnel. Just make sure you put it in a secure place or purchase a small steel rack to hold it in place. You can probably get a rack from a welding supply store.

[TexasState]

I'm an ex-Respiratory Therapist major, so I know alot about the danger of flying CO2. CO2 bottle is very dangerous. It can fly around and knock a hole in the wall. Leave it under your aquarium stand. If you want to test for leak, you might be able to get them tested. Take it to the place where you normally buy CO2, and ask if they can test it for you. They have a pool where they can test the bottle of leaks. If your bottle leaks, get back with me, and I'll tell you the next step.

[TexasState]

The place where they store respiratory related bottle in the hospital; the wall have to be fire-proof for awhile.

[ziggyrocket]

oops....he used the word ROCKET...i swear

[VGB]

I use a chain secured to the inside wall of my cabinet to keep my 10 lb. CO2 bottle up right. Another thing I have noticed, salt and aluminum do mix well, especially if you keep the bottle under the cabinet. Steel bottles are availiable but also corrode (rust).

I have had my bottle for about three years now and it was showing signs of corrosion, especially on the bottom. Every time I refill it, I apply a fresh coating of good epoxy primer. It dries fast and protects the aluminum against corrosion which MAY eventually weaken the bottle and possibly cause it to fail.

When I get mine re-filled, its by weigh and the bottle pressure is only about 1000 psi. Lasts about 9 months with my Korallin reactor.

Try not to lose the gasket that goes inside the bottle valve to seal the regulator. If this is applied right and not over-torqued, you shouldn`t have a problem with leaks in this area.
VGB

[TexasState]

Try not to lose the gasket that goes inside the bottle valve to seal the regulator.

What does the gasket look like? Is it a white hard plastic part? Or is it a black, rubber part?

[VGB]

The gasket to my bottle is a hard grey plastic...I get mine re-filled at Natwell at Culebra and IH-10. They sell the gaskets there.

[Derek B]

Can someone tell me the cost for CO2 refill and also what it costs to buy all the parts for a reactor when starting from scratch.

[TexasState]

http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/pic12.asp

http://www.myreefcreations.com/main.html

And several pumps:
Circulation pump( Mag 2, Eheim, etc.)
Feed Pump ( Gravity, Maxijet 600, etc.)

About $5 to $10 to fill a 5 pounds Co2 bottle.

For safety purpose, certain reactors should be used with a pH controller.