Refilling of CO2 cylinders

**RonWill** · 26th Sep 2003, 23:13

Hi all,

My CO2 fizzled out and I lugged the cylinder to a LFS opposite Thomson Medical but I was turned down.

Reason? The operator alleged that my 5 litre bomb, stamped 03-1996, is "too old" and cannot be refilled !!

Have anyone experienced such claims? I wasn't aware that such things have a "shelf-life"!

In the end, and very reluctantly, I bought a new 5 litre cylinder stamped 04-2003.

Question: Does anyone know who will refill an 'expired' cylinder? TIA for any suggestions.

**timebomb** · 26th Sep 2003, 23:25

Is that the same tank that we exchanged with each other, Ronnie? If it is, sorry. I have never experienced such a thing as a tank not being refilled just because it's too old. As far as I know, the age of our gas tanks does not matter very much because unlike tanks belonging to divers which can thrown about all over the shop, ours are hardly moved once they are setup. It would be almost impossible for our tanks to develop cracks.

Anyway, you can pass me that tank when you come around to my place. I usually bring the tanks to NIE in Jurong for refilling. I'm quite sure they wouldn't give me any problems because unlike Nature Aquarium which does exchanges, NIE will give you back the same tank.

In any case, it's always good to have a reserve tank around so it isn't a total loss.

Loh K L

**RonWill** · 27th Sep 2003, 02:50

Originally Posted by timebomb

Is that the same tank that we exchanged with each other, Ronnie? If it is, sorry. I have never experienced such a thing as a tank not being refilled ... <snip>

Anyway, you can pass me that tank when you come around to my place. I usually bring the tanks to NIE in Jurong for refilling.

Kwek Leong, yup... it's the one that I swapped my 10 litre for... but don't lose sleep over it. Goes to show we're all learning something new everyday (now we know that cylinders have a "expiry dates" too!

).

Many thanks tho, for offering to refill at NIE but only if you're passing that way or topping up yours as well.

Can't help wondering if anyone else has encountered such similar situ.

... back to researching on cylinder's shelf life.

**Jeremy** · 27th Sep 2003, 04:12

Back in the days of army life, i handle the extinguisher stores.

Duno if the guys who refill fire extingushers, can refill the tanks. What they do is they can also re validate the tanks.

Maybe you can check with Fire Armour

**RonWill** · 27th Sep 2003, 04:54

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Duno if the guys who refill fire extingushers, can refill the tanks. What they do is they can also re validate the tanks.

Maybe you can check with Fire Armour

Hi Jeremy, I don't know what "Fire Armour" is or how these cylinders can be revalidated. Care to elaborate?

BTW, are you the same Jeremy I spoke to this morning? If so, welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy your visit. There's always something to do or learn here.

If there's any killie you're particularly interested in, sound it out and I'm sure the guys & gals here will see to it that you get infected with... urm... not SARS but "killie-fever"

**zmzfam** · 27th Sep 2003, 08:01

If you are working or staying in Jurong, you can drop by Soxal. They do top-ups as well as certify your tanks in case they find it dubious - take a few days though.

AQ has an old thread regarding top-ups at Soxal but a bit hard to find since their search is not working well.

**timebomb** · 27th Sep 2003, 17:12

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Back in the days of army life, i handle the extinguisher stores.

Jeremy, are you the same Jeremy from sg.rec.aquaria?

Loh K L

**sard** · 29th Sep 2003, 13:30

For CO2 tank, I think every 2 yrs have to certified once, else soxal will not top up for you. if you want more information, please visit soxal web site and give them a call. i usually do one to one exchange from Capricon at Parsir Ris, just did it 2 days ago...

kc · 3rd Oct 2003, 17:44

Hey! My Co2 tank is already 3 years old and I just got it refilled by Soon Heng (Yishun). They told me that they send it to Qian Hu for refilling.

I heard about Soxial story. They need to validate tank but only once. This the first time I heard about this.

There is also another LFS in Woodlands than flatly refuses to accept Co2 refilling. I got to go all the way to Yishun. Is there some kind of regulation for safety reason? As you know, in Singapore there are all kind of regulations, just like the external pump case. Have you ever heard about the 'No U turn' story?

**Wahter** · 3rd Oct 2003, 23:45

Here in the USA, the shops that refill the CO2 are supposed to make sure they only refill the aluminum CO2 tanks which have been 'tested' within the last 3 to 5 years. It's supposed to be for safety purposes. I think one of mine will need to be tested next year, before they will refill it for me. I read on the 'net, that the heavier steel CO2 tanks don't need to be tested as often.

Hope this helps,

Walter

**A.Rashid** · 4th Oct 2003, 00:03

There is also another CO² topup co but all the way in Tuas also on the spot top up... but let me tell you It's really damn far, plus the heat there... cant stand it... but's it's cheap... if you got yr own transportation good else forget the idea. The place is
Chem-Gas Pte Ltd
Pager: 92151250
Work: 68978998
(near to Tuas Power Station)
No. 3 Tuas View Lane, S(637641)
But call him 1st b4 coming down.

**zmzfam** · 4th Oct 2003, 07:52

Originally Posted by A.Rashid

But call him 1st b4 coming down.

Any particular person that we should be looking for?

**A.Rashid** · 4th Oct 2003, 10:29

Opps sorry... contact Mr Vincent. call him to check out the price for your volume.

**checkerboard** · 8th Oct 2003, 21:37

Actually, my CO2 tank is really old as well, perhaps 7 years, used it for 5 years and bought it second hand then and the previous owner had it for 2 years.

The previous time I sent it for refilling, I went to Bioplast.

Very good price and they check for leaks. Do not require certification and everything is done in 20 minutes while you look at their plants.

Maybe you can try your luck there. Many people have no problems refilling it there.

yew kiat

FC · 8th Oct 2003, 22:22

Hello Yew Kiat,

Thank for sharing.

I heard that refilling through bigger CO2 tank will not give full refill compared to factory refill, what is your experience with Bioplast (which uses big tank refilling method)?

**checkerboard** · 8th Oct 2003, 22:29

the previous time before last that i refilled from Bioplast, it lasted me close to a year for a five litre tank.

and as Freddy you might recall, i use a manual regulator operating at 1 bubble per second 24 hours a day, so i think there is not much lesser CO2 using the big tank refilling method.

also, it is definitely more convenient than going all the way to Tuas. Maybe you get a little less CO2, but can save a lot of petrol!

regards,
yew kiat