Warren Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I think this kit is really intended for small (nano) planted tanks of 20L or less. In fact it's probably only approaching economic for tanks 10L or less. If 88g means there's 88g of gas per cylinder then a 5-6.8kg setup is far more economic. 6800g / 88g = 77.27 refills. 1 refill on a 6.8kg bottle costs about $30 vs $35.60 for an 88g cylinder - approx 91.7 x the price... So, only good for a nano tank where one of these 88g cylinders will last a long time. Based off the usage from my planted tank of approx 6.8kg gas per 12 months for 1200L 6800 / 1200 / 365 = 15.52mg / L / Day so for a 100L tank 100L * 15.52mg / L = 1.552g / day 88g / 1.552 = 56.68 days Given approx 365 days per year 365 / 56.68 = 6.43 refils per year = $35.60 * 6.43 = approx $230 per year for CO2 refills (ouch)!!! Results may vary depending on the actual usage of CO2 for the given tank but this gives you a rough guide. I hope my maths is right... Of course, for a 10L tank this is only $23 per year on average and nice and small compared to a big CO2 setup... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 What sized tanks are you guys using these kits on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I have mine on a 130l for the moment. I got sick of DIY co2, and had $100 of animates vouchers to use up, and nothing I wanted to buy from animates. I will eventually switch it to my 37l and go for a pro c02 for the next tank I upgrade too. Saving for a 6fter as we speak. I installed it after lunch today, and I have lovely pearls on all my plants at the moment, at around 1 bubble every 2 seconds. The diffuser is a bit rubbish, but I have a decent one around here somewhere that I will probably swap out later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted December 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 the 88g cylinder running about 1 bubble per second for 24/7 (without turning it off at night) a cylinder lasted about a month $30 for a refill so its about a $1 per day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 That's good - my maths was about right. One thing I forgot to mention in my last post was I turned off the CO2 at night so it was on for exactly 12 hours a day. Based off that usage and yours, you would get approx 60 days if turned off at night. Leaving the CO2 on 24/7 will double the already high cost of running this system... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 will a soda stream bottle fit on the regulator that comes with the Fluval kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 I reckon it might to be honest. the bigger of the two appears to have a similar size thread. I will try it once the bottle runs out. and let you know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Hmm Half used since the 29th. not a good sign at all. Have kicked it back to 1 bubble every 2 seconds, Might have to turn it off at nights. If it uses 88g in 2 weeks, its not going to be good value. if the sodastream bottle fits it will be outstanding value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Soda stream bottles will not work. That isn't to say that you couldn't get an adapter from en engineering place. hardest part would be getting something to open the valve on the soda stream bottle. I might look into it later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Sorry to bring this up again... Is anyone still using these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I'll take that as a no... :lol: Has anyone still active got anything to say about these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artem Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ive used the cheap chinese one, which can be imported. The bottles were kind of a pain and I ended up upgrading to a proper CO2 setup after about 6 months - the 3 bottles lasted me about that much on a 90L tank. Turning it off at night was what really annoyed me because its difficult to get the bubble count just right, on the chinese one anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecap Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 sodastream set up is good for my 22L lasts 3-4 months Sodastream bottle from farmers $35.... refills $6 from gas shop Sodastream adaptor http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=924 $44 (about a week to get here) Glass diffuser $12, bubble counter $8, non return valve $8, Hosing $5 and Regulator with needle valve & solinoid $115 from Valray (trademe) Saves the expensive refills of the little bottles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Fantastic. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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