Mini CO2 canister from Nature Aquarium

[illumnae]

Anyone have any reviews/comments on this? It's a silver canister that they display at their counter with its own valve but no pressure display. I have a few questions for anyone who's used it before:

1. is the valve a needle valve?
2. how do you know when the tank is running empty since there's no gauge
3. is there "end of tank syndrome" with this canister?

I'm considering getting one for my nano setup, but as it's quite pricey for its size i thought i'd better ask around first.

would i be better off doing DIY co2 or just excel dosing?

[PlAnTaNoOb]

The only info I can provide is that it's made of aluminium. That's why its so light and so nice looking, as advertised by Mr Chan.

[marle]

you might want to consider the hassle of having to top up the canister frequently due to its small volume.

[xaine]

Yeah, true. Having a small canister will have the CO2 deplete in no time, constant topping up will be a hassle. Though nice looking, but if you want a small canister, might as well DIY with a soda bottle. Same size or smaller anyway.

[illumnae]

Topping up shouldn't be an issue as this is for a nano setup so i'll probably be running a low bps rate. if i get the 1 litre one, it should last about the same time as the 5 litre one on my 4x2x2.

anyone who's used it before can shed some light upon my queries? =)

[uklau]

Whether to use CO2 or Excel, it is very dependant on the type of plants & the growth rate that you want. For nano tank, I prefer dosing Excel to CO2. Slower growth rate means less pruning & more time to enjoy the tank.

[torque6]

That is the UP brand canister for CO2, very expensive and top up same as 3-5L co2. At 1 bps maybe can last you 1 month, whereas for normal size tanks, it will last us 6-9 months.

I wanted to get it too when i wanted a nice co2 system, but Chan himself did advise me against it. So now eyeing his JBJ solenoid on Catalina cylinders from Swee Hin.

[alechim]

These miniature CO2 can last longer if it is a nano tank, those small ADA CO2 canisters can last around 2 mths each for a set of 3 different canisters. But at a cost and the ADA ones are not refilable

[lEddyl]

Anyone have any reviews/comments on this? It's a silver canister that they display at their counter with its own valve but no pressure display. I have a few questions for anyone who's used it before:

1. is the valve a needle valve?
2. how do you know when the tank is running empty since there's no gauge
3. is there "end of tank syndrome" with this canister?

I'm considering getting one for my nano setup, but as it's quite pricey for its size i thought i'd better ask around first.

would i be better off doing DIY co2 or just excel dosing?

1. yes. using dymax soleniod
2. there's gauge, comes with the soleniod
3. what you mean?

using 1 litre tank with my 2ft tank. last me about 3mths. 2bps

http://www.up-aqua.com/00-dm-page/00...rplant-big.jpg

[illumnae]

so i'll have to get an additional solenoid instead of using the provided valve? =)

[oblivion]

its better to get a solenoid, for the control and the needle valve
the provided valve with the canister is not a needle valve
terribly inaccurate in my experience with it
i owned one before for a nano setup which i have already sold off (going 100% low-tech no co2!)

the dymax single gauge one works well with it and being smaller in size, won't unbalance the canister when affixed on top
normal solenoid sizes eg jbj, are not so stable with it and a light knock can cause the can to topple over

and the only way to tell when the co2 is running out is via the gauge on the solenoid

[williamng]

I dont recommend you buy this unless you have a space constraint. Not economical.

[vurbul]

Recommend a solenoid valve to go with it. Tuning the bps with the provided valve is really a hair pulling experience.

Although the Dymax ones would look really good with it, I'm using it with JBJ solenoid. But you have to mount it with the gauge facing up though.

[illumnae]

thanks for the feedback guys =) after the information and advice from all of you, i've decided not to go high tech and stick with excel dosing for my carbon source instead

[daoism]

anyone can know how much does 1 small canister like that cost?

[alechim]

If you are talking about that similar canister display at NA, its about 9 red notes $90.