CO2 Costs

[sphelps]

Slow leaks are pretty common for Ca reactors, most people don't even know they have them. Charge your line to double your running pressure, close the tank valve and see if it holds pressure for an hour, if it doesn't you have a leak. You could also have a leak in the actual reactor so you could pressure test that as well but you need to be more careful when doing so. Most reactors on the market are also pretty terrible at dissolving CO2 and/or making the most of it before the effluent, so some reactors are more efficient when it comes to CO2 usage. I would say A 20lb bottle should last about a year on the average system but it's highly variable, one of my previous systems (SPS dominant, 200G total) ran on the same CO2 tank for it's entire lifespan and while that was only around 2.5 years once the reactor was setup and I supplemented with Kalk it gives an idea how long a tank could last. IMO 2 months for 10lbs is way too short and something is off.

For CO2 here in Calgary it's around $30 to $40 for a 20lb bottle and probably not much less for a 10lb. Pretty much everywhere will also charge an extra $10 for expedited service, so you can't wait a week or so it costs more. I now use Oxipro just because they do an exchange system, you just exchange tanks so no waiting and I think it's around $40 but there's no hydro-test or other inspection cost ever added.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

Not sure why I was going through so much, before on the 250g the bottle would last 4-6 months and I had way more corals and clams it seemed, water volume now is 550 gallons, running a large calcium reactor and was running it off a needle valve about 4 drops per second. Switched to dosing and at 250 ml a say

Do you mean bubbles per second or the effluent from your reactor?

[Dez]

I think I paid $32 a couple of weeks ago for 10lbs

[Madreefer]

I called the place to make sure I wasn't overcharged and that's the price they charge, was no error. I guess Praxair is where I'll be getting it next time.

[arrowan54]

45 for ten pound in medicine hat

[Doug]

Just checking on prices here. Lease at one is around $125/yr. App $35 for 20#refill. Like Steve,s just drop off and get a new one.

With own tank at another place, about $50 for 20# refill and about $40 for 10#. That seems a bit expensive.

Think i will go with the lease option?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Doug

Just checking on prices here. Lease at one is around $125/yr. App $35 for 20#refill. Like Steve,s just drop off and get a new one.

With own tank at another place, about $50 for 20# refill and about $40 for 10#. That seems a bit expensive.

Think i will go with the lease option?

where did you call Doug?

depending on how long it takes to use the tank up, buying it is a lot cheeper. you figure if you have a high usage and use two tanks per year leasing it is going to cost you about 195/year for gass, if you own the tank and pay 50.00 which I think is high it is only going to cost you 100 per year. at one tank it is even worse. tank rentals only would work if you are using more than 7 tanks a year

Steve

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Doug

Just checking on prices here. Lease at one is around $125/yr. App $35 for 20#refill. Like Steve,s just drop off and get a new one.

With own tank at another place, about $50 for 20# refill and about $40 for 10#. That seems a bit expensive.

Think i will go with the lease option?

Leasing for $125/year is pretty expensive. I bought my tank from Oxi-Pro, if you buy one of their tanks you can do the exchange option, you can rent too but they told me it's much cheaper just to buy it. I paid $200 for the tank and there is no additional charges each year.

[shiftline]

Share the secret Doug. I fill mine at hardcore paintball in Kelowna. Good to know about the Vernon place

[Doug]

Its just at CheckMate Fire Prevention. That was the first on my list to call.