Reddit mentions of Empire 24oz CO2 Tank

• Regulator-$60
  
  
• 24 oz paintball tank-$23
  
  
• Paintball to CGA-320 adapter-$10
  
  
• Airline tubing-$7
  
  
• Diffuser-$12
  
  Total for everything is $112 not including tax.
  
  I use this regulator and the needle valve is a bit touchy, but its solid and works well enough. The solenoid has never stuck either. You can set it and forget it.
  
  People are going to call out using airline tube vs CO2 proof tubing. CO2 proof tubing is completely unnecessary at the pressures what we work at and isn't very flexible, so I like the airline better.
  
  This is my favorite diffuser because it has a halfway decent check valve, it has a build in bubble counter, and you can remove the ceramic disc without taking everything apart. I have 4 of these running in different tanks and 2 have had zero issues. The other two had small leaks that I sealed with gorilla glue and they've worked perfect since.

Agreed. All that's involved in "hacking" a sodastream is adjusting and installing an adapter.

I don't refill the canister myself- I take it to a store to do it. I'm honestly terrified of messing with the full CO2 canister because I'm aware of how much force it contains. I actually avoid pointing the tip of the tank at myself (treat it like a loaded gun) when getting a refill.

Also, the tank I got has a safety burst disk.

Before I answer your questions, I want you to know that getting more advanced meaning spending a lot more money and time. A lot us learn by making mistakes, and that's how I started, by making a lot of mistakes.

I don't know what level of planting you want to do. It can be as easy as adding a few amazon swords into your tank right now, or as difficult as buying new light, CO2 equipment, fertilizers, etc.

If you want to save a lot of money from mistakes then here is what you should do:

• Buy a new tank. preferably a big one like a 75G at least since you'll probably want a lot of fish and some of those fish will need a good size tank. I think 75G minimum is the perfect size for beginner as oppose to 55G because of the width. It gives you comfort zone for a lot of fish. Look for it on craiglist first, and be patient. Of course you can get bigger tank if you want
  
  
• You'll need substrates. I personally like Eco-Complete. $22.99 on Amazon. You can also have a layer of sand on top. I use pool filter sand. Something like this
  
  
• You'll need light. 7000k Light is great for plants. LEDs will save you tons of money in the long run. Personally recommend Finnex. They simply have the best LEDs out there. There is a used one on Ebay for very cheap. link I don't know how much I can trust them, I personally would buy a new one if I have the money.
  
  
• You'll need plants. If you live close by Miami, I can give you a few good places to go to. If not your LFS can provide you with these. There is also a seller on Ebay called FishRUs who has some very good plants. You can start with amazon swords, anubias, or whatever plants you want. You'll make mistakes and kill plants, but that's what we humans do. Just make sure you utilize google.
  
  
• You'll need fertilizers. Don't waste your money on Seachem. Read this page Fertilizer can be purchased here
  
  
• You'll need a CO2 system. Aquatek Mini for 87.99 + CO2 tank $26.59. Then go to a local paintball shop and refill your CO2 bottle for $3-4.
  
  
• Water change. You can use Aqueon Water Changer $27.99 you can also buy the 50FT version if you need. You won't regret this buy, trust me.
  
  
• You'll need a filter. Sunsun Canister Pro Kit $97.99 Probably the best canister out there for this price. You can go FX5 if you have the money.
  
  
• Purigen filter media ~$20
  
  
• API Test Kit $22.99
  
  
• There are a wide variety of cichlid. I don't know what you like, but I personally LOVE South America cichlids. These fish are also compatible with your gouramis. You can get a few rams, and 4 angelfish to begin. Discus are beautiful, but don't try it until you feel comfortable with the basics and do enough research. Along with those, you can also get some tetras and corys catfish.

This setup has a solenoid that can be connected to a timer, here are the links.


Tank: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007XKFQCM/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Regulator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01KVG6PI8/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Adapter for tank to reg: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Bubble counter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N2M2B6E/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's not the proper type of paintball tank. The tank you have listed is a non-refillable tank and is much smaller than what you would want for your 36 gallon. What you will need to do (if you want to go the paintball tank route) is pick up a fillable tank like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintball-24oz-CO2-Tank/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1426530499&sr=1-5&keywords=paintball+tank

They are empty when you purchase them (regardless if you purchase them online or in a store) but you can easily get them filled at most sporting goods stores or paintball shops/fields for $5 or so. I have a 20 oz on my 15 gallon that has been running for 5 weeks or so now and has gone through less than half the tank (I run at about 3 bps).

Everything else looks good though!

Edit: That tubing is also no good. That's just airline tubing, but you will need special CO2 tubing for your setup. Co2 can escape from standard airline tubing.

As I'm sure you already know, Plant growth and health is limited by 3 factors on a sliding scale. Light, nutrients, and co2. If any of them are not present it inhibits the plant's ability to uptake the other two. I struggled for a very long time in my 20 gallon until I CONSISTENTLY provided all 3.

• At first it was the lighting. I couldn't get algae under control so I cut my light schedule then slowly tried to ramp it back up. It fucked up everything in my tank and black beard algae went ham on everything. The final solution I came to and the one that has been working excellently now is a schedule of - On from 7am-1pm, off til 5pm, On from 5pm to 9pm. The "siesta" in the middle allows for a build-up of CO2 (Walstad Method) and also severely inhibits bad algae growth (I need some algae as I have ottos, snails, and amano shrimp). First, I would suggest my lighting schedule and see how it works for you. If you aren't using timers they are absolutely essential to healthy plant growth. (Keep in mind we are using the exact same light, Planted+).
  
  
• Nutrients...I can't stress enough how important consistent, long-term fertilization is. I have some low-grow repens in my tank. When I first planted them they barely did anything. Once i dialed in my CO2 injection, and was consistently EI dosing for a few weeks they absolutely exploded. Something then happened in my family and I neglected the fertilization schedule for just about 1 week...and eeeeevery, single, part of it completely died off and melted away aside from the central stem. Instead of pulling them, I figured, "what the hell" and just started fertilizing again and within 3 weeks they were absolutely gorgeous and taking over my tank again. If you get a 1lb bag each of Potassium Nitrate, Monosodium Phosphate, and a Trace product called CSM+B, they will run about $30.00 total and last you for YEARS. Dosing is beyond easy as long as you have a scale ($8 on Amazon). Here is the calculator I use: http://www.aquariumcalculators.com/aquarium-plant-food/estimative-index/
  
  
• Seeing that you are in Alaska it seems like CO2 is going to be the most difficult aspect to integrate into your system. If you have access to a sporting goods store that refills CO2 canisters for Paintball then you can do what I am doing. All you would need (These are literally the items I bought from Amazon):
  
  
  • CO2 canister: link
    
    
  • Adapter to run canister to a silinoid regulator: link
    
    
  • Silinoid regulator so you can turn the co2 on and off with your light timer: link
    
    
  • We havent talked about filters but if you happen to be running a canister filter you can inject the CO2 inline with a reactor like this on your outflow: link
    
    
  • And in case you aren't running a canister a simple diffuser like this will do jut fine: link
    
    The startup cost is a bit, but once you are up and running it only costs ~$4.00 to refill a 24oz. Canister and one canister lasts me a month and half easy.
    
    If you don't have access to co2 refills then a DIY setup would be the only option and I have absolutely no experience with those unfortunately. One other option, while more expensive, are the fluval injection systems: link
    
    

1. Make sure you fertilize consistently. I highly recommend EI dosing.
   
   
2. Try my lighting schedule
   
   
3. Figure out a way to introduce co2 to your tank.

I was recommended this Beamswork light on here awhile ago and it has been great for me for the last year or so. If you are looking for a budget light this one has been great for me so far.

As far as co2 goes it is super easy to do honestly. It only cost me about $100 to set mine up and it is great knowing I can put almost any plant in and it has a chance. I am currently starting a carpet in my tank since I've had the co2 setup for awhile. Here is my setup:

But here is a copy pasted comment explaining my setup and links to all the parts I used that I gave to someone else:

Ok. I'll try to type out my whole setup.

The biggest parts of the setup are the tank and regulator. I use an Empire/Tippman co2 tank with a Double Sun Hydroponics Regulator.

Now, aquarium regulators aren't made with paintball tanks in mind, but most sporting goods stores won't refill tanks above 24oz due to safety reasons. So instead of buying a 5lb tank that no one can refill, I just use a simple Aquatek Paintball co2 adapter to attach the regulator to the tank I have. So for that part of the setup you just attach the adapter to the regulator and then after you fill your Co2 tank attach the tank to the adapter, done (make sure the regulator is plugged in and everything is tightened if you have already filled the co2 tank). Do not attach the adapter to the Co2 tank first, the adapter opens the tank so you'll just empty your Co2 into the air. So attach everything to the Co2 tank last lol.

I also use teflon tape on the tank threads and adapter threads just to help prevent any loss of co2 through the adapter. It probably wouldn't leak without it but I would rather be sure so I just wrapped up both pieces before the install.

Now that you have your regulator/tank setup we just need to get the co2 into the aquarium. I attach Aquatek co2 tubing to the bubble counter that comes attached to the regulator and attach it to a Rhinox check valve, this prevents any water from getting to the regulator, then run co2 tubing from the check valve to a Rhinox co2 diffuser, this condenses the co2 into tiny bubbles so it absorbs into the water.

Boom, almost done. We have co2, we are getting it into the tank, but now how do we know how much? We need a NilocG co2 drop checker and some Drop Checker Solution to put in it. This will come with a card that says the proper colors. I would suggest starting with low co2, check the next day, if the drop checker is still blue, increase the co2 a tiny bit and check again the next day, repeat until it turns green, yellow is bad and you might gas your fish so don't increase co2 too much at a time to protect the fish.

If you have four tanks, you might as well just invest in a paintball canister and regulator, and then split the line to all four tanks. I got my 24oz CO2 Tank for 20$ and the Regulator for 80$. Refills are 5$. Using it on one tank, and so far has lasted me 5 months. It's gonna be way better than buying four crappy CO2 systems, then just one good one and splitting if four ways. You can just get a bigger CO2 tank to compensate for the additional aquariums.

Basically, you need a tank, a regulator some airline, a bubble checker would be good to have and a diffuser. Also, you'd like a timer of some sort as you really do not need to have co2 running 24/7 nor would you probably want to.

My setup:

• 24oz Paintball co2 tank: $30 at paintball shop filled with co2.
  $23 dollars on Amazon - though I would have still needed to get it filled at paintball shop for $5 which brings it $28. $2 more - i think it's better at that to support the local shop and plus I didn't want to wait for the tank to come to my house as that would have arrived later than anything else.
  
  
• Adapater to utilize paintball co2 tank - $9 on Amazon
  
  
• Bubble Counter - $10 on Amazon I know the regulator has a bubble counter, however with the paintball tank it would not work as it'll be horizontal instead of vertical - you can choose cheaper ones. I just liked this $10 one. Btw a bubble counter will show you how much co2 you're adding or at least how fast as not every bubble counter counts it at the same pace but a good gauge to see how much you are adding - ie. you really cannot ask how many bubbles per second you should be running. the 1-2 bps that I run might be different on your bubble counter)
  
  
• CO2 Regulator - $60 on Amazon
  
  Price for this setup: $109
  
  If you need a timer, there's plenty of options. I already had one, but you can find them on Amazon.
  
  
• I was able to get this one as an add-on for $3.54 for something else though now it's $14.50 :/ and ironically I switched to a smart switch idea for my build anyways.
  
  
• Got this smart switch to control my autodoser and some other things -if it works it's a good $20 spent.
  
  Though in the end, you would need a timer and if you already have one then you won't have to buy one. Or if you have extra smart switches either that you can set a schedule on.
  
  Other tanks:
  
  Instead of the paintball tank you can get a regular co2 tank:
  
  
• 5lb from Amazon - $62 + ~$20 to fill at an air place It would have brought my setup to $141 if I went that route. It might be $50 more than the paintball tank, but it only increases price by $40 because you don't need the adapter nor the bubble counter. Pros: It could be cheaper. 24oz paintball is $5 to fill(in most places) a 5lb which is ~80oz can be anywhere from $10-$20. If it's on the lower end of that range where you live it's cheaper. Other pro is that less often you need to fill it. Negative: Larger and harder to hide. It won't fit in my setup or how I have my tank setup.
  
  Of course, that's just buying the stuff to build the system.
  
  You can watch videos about it on Youtube like Aquarium Co-Op's Co2 guide but I can still try to break it down.
  
  Get tank and properly secure it to the regulator.(I'd recommend watching a video on that as the regulator does need to be open for this part apparently). If using the paintball tank, secure the adapter to regulator first. DO NOT secure it on the paintball tank first. If you do it with the way the adapter is built, I'm guessing you'd be losing a bit of co2. Though, I haven't tried it, I'm logically thinking that it ain't good. If you use a 5lb tank or larger, there's something about some disc or gasket or something that is supposed to help keep it from leaking. I'm going to refer you to youtube on that one. I didn't use any on my paintball setup except for the gasket already on the tank. I did use some plumbers tape on the adapter to regulator though. I'm just hoping I don't have a leak and I'd be pretty confident to assume that I don't as I still have CO2 in my tank after a couple of weeks.
  
  All you need to do now is to attach the airline hose(some people will say to use co2-proof hose to prevent co2 loss, but I decided to skip that and you can decide what you wish to do as I might be right or wrong on that part along with other people who claim airline tube is sufficient) to the regulator. So after you attach the hose to the regulator, attach the bubble counter somewhere along the line before the aquarium(I think I did that right). Of course, if you use the 5lb or larger tank, you should be able to use the bubble counter that came with the regulator as it would stand vertical. The line eventually gets connected to a co2 diffuser which will break up the co2 into smaller bubbles to easily be dissolved better into your water. Of course, there are other ways to get the co2 into your tank, but this is the way I do it. Youtube can show you other ways, or other redditors for that matter. One thing to note is that you should also have a check valve to prevent water from going from the aquarium to your system. It should most likely be closer to the water than the co2 system. The bubble counter I use, also has a check valve for whatever that one is worth. Some diffusers come with bubble counters and check valves as well. Speaking of diffusers, i forgot to add that to my price. but that can run anywhere from $5 on up. Also the diffuser might have to be cleaned due to algae once and awhile.
  
  The system should be ran using a timer to coincide with your light cycle and should run basically when the lights are on. I turn my co2 on 1 hour before the lights turn on and turn it off 2 hours before the light turn off. Hypothetically, you can run it 24/7 however it's better not to as the risks are a bit too much for putting something in your tank that is not being used as the plants typically don't use co2 with the lights out and you can risk running into a situation where you deplete the oxygen in your fish.
  
  Overall, I think it's worth it at least for me. But also be cautious that adding too much co2 might be detrimental to your fish. If you are running it and your fish are all gasping for air, you definitely are putting too much in but you should never get it that far which some way to check it would be a good purchase for this. I just use the method of figuring out the ppm of CO2 based on pH and KH. I'm not sure how accurate it might be but it has been stable and my fish are doing fine as well as my plants and the algae is at bay. There's also what's called a CO2 drop checker that you can purchase to measure this.
  
  If you really want to get into this, I'd recommend researching it further yourself and maybe wait on some other more "experienced" redditors to answer as I might and could be wrong on some things. I know I've read some people don't think the ph/kh calculation method is good and to buy a drop checker, but I'm pretty confident in using it for my tank but I might be undosing the co2 for all I know. Though on the flipside, I could be overdosing, though my fish are not showing any signs of symptoms of said overdosing. But I could be wrong on that. If I am, please let me know. :) Definitely do your own research, like you should on anything. :) At least, get a good footing and confirmation from other sources.

I bought these: Empire 24 Oz

Fully agree co2 is great for any level. You can dial back the output via the regulator for your current tank and dial it up if/when you go bigger.

This was my shopping list to get pressurized co2 going:

Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM

AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY

Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G (Note you can choose a different diffuser if you want)

AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW

Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052M9886

The 24 oz tank lasts for 3-4 months on my 29g at ~3bps

You can frequently find them in thrift stores too. And get an adapter to put in a paintball co2 tank. That's what I did.

The sodastream itself was $1 at my local thrift store. It costs ~$5 to fill the tank and it lasts for forever.

With those plants yes you do need c02. And very high lighting. That light probabaly won't be enough. I'd guess you'd need two of those. Personally if you're trying to save money I would just go buy a 48 inch t5-t12 4 bulb shop light and hang it above the tank. For the c02 if you want to save money you could buy a paintball c02 tank, a small adaptor, and then a regulator/solenoid for that. And then you will want to buy and diffuser/atomizer/reactor. Personally I would go with an inline reactor you'll save a ton of c02 and there for more money. All of these things I just mentioned can be bought on amazon.

Lighting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GWAJGW0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Xvk-wb1EQ4JXR

(Bulbs for lighting: www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLL5IG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_yyk-wbCP0NEWE)

C02: (tank) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_Bzk-wbCKB2M5G

(Adaptor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_DAk-wbPXGA6R8

(Regulator) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydroponics-Extoic-Injection-System-Regulator-Grow-Room-Flow-Meter-Control-CO2/221446697164?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35626%26meid%3D2b21bf0137344d8aa2d826341e206413%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321217917654

(sorry for the long link)

(Reactor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DGJDXQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_2Ck-wbWCH2VM5

^you do need a canister filter for that so if you don't have one of those here's a cheap one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00896IILA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_VGk-wbNBS50GK


Realistically this is just the beginning of things you'll need to get a tank like that. But that is a cheap and good start. If you have any questions feel free to ask. It can be daunting but it's worth it!

I would try the search bar here on this subreddit and check out plantedtank.net There's lots of great info there. But I'll try to go into a bit more detail. Let's start with the CO2 system first. I forgot to give you the link to the actual paintball tank in my other post so here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintball-24oz-CO2-Tank/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=zg_bs_15399271_4 Plants need CO2 obviously and when they're in the open air, it's very easy for them to take it in. Now when they're underwater, it becomes much more difficult so we need a way for us to provide them that in our aquariums. The regulator just regulates how quickly the CO2 comes out of the paintball tank. The regulator I linked has a solenoid built in as well. That's really handy because it lets you set your regulator on a timer instead of the CO2 being on 24/7. There's a little golden dial on the regulator called the needle valve and that's what determines how fast the CO2 comes out. Now you want CO2 proof tubing because if you just buy regular airline tubing, the CO2 will decay the material over time. So you'll have your CO2 tubing connect to the bubble counter. The bubble counter literally counts how many bubbles are coming out of the regulator/paintball tank. It's a nice way to measure. In my 20 gallon long aquarium that's heavily planted, I have about 2-3 bubbles per second. That bubble counter also has a built in check valve. The check valve makes sure you don't get water from your aquarium going into the tube and then into your paintball tank. So then you have CO2 tubing go from your bubble counter to the atomizer. The atomizer is a type of diffusion. It turns the CO2 bubbles into tiny bubbles so they diffuse better in the water. Instead of the bubbles just rising to the surface, they get absorbed by your plants. Then you're going to have a drop checker in your aquarium somewhere. The drop checker will have the 4kdh solution in it along with ph solution. The drop checker is used to see how much CO2 you have in your water. Too much CO2 can be harmful for fish. But the solution in the drop checker will either be Yellow, Green, or Blue. Blue means you don't have enough CO2, Green is good, and Yellow is too much. Oh and in terms of your question about corys and Eco-Complete I would do some research online. I've heard people say Eco-Complete is fine for them but I've also heard it can damage their barbels. A possible solution would be to have an inch or so of sand on top of the Eco-Complete. That way it would be safe for them to dig in to. Of course the sand will settle over time. Now let's talk about EI dosing. The main thing to know is that when you keep high demand plants with a high tech tank, they need those ferts. They absorb those which helps them grow and out compete algae. If you don't have those and have deficiencies, it'll show because your plants won't be as bright as they can be, or red, or the leaves will start decaying etc...

For anyone wondering about the CO2 Setup, here is a quick writeup that includes all of the Amazon links and prices:

I am using a TV stand for my aquarium that looks like this and the entire CO2 setup fits in one of the smaller cubby holes. I am using a 24OZ Empire paintball tank that has this adapter hooked up to this regulator.




Those three items will makeup the majority of the cost of pressurized CO2. The other things I bought were a drop checker, a CO2 diffuser and CO2 airline tubing.

Finally, I bought an outlet timer since the regulator I previously mentioned has a solenoid valve.


The core components are the tank, adapter, regulator, tubing, and diffuser. The total of those came to $130. Adding on the dropchecker and timer brings the total to $160. Filling up the paintball tank at my local sporting good store cost 5$, but that should last this tank anywhere from 3-6 months.


You may be able to assemble the entire setup for cheaper if you can find a cheap paintball tank and a smaller diffuser, or already have some of the items needed.

I am like you, and have done DIY until very recently. Spend the money. You won't regret the purchase. I was only slightly over 100 bucks on mine, but it was worth every penny to be rid of the hassle. The only issue with the valve I'll recommend is that you can't go over 1500 PSI even though the bottle I'll recommend is rated for 1800. Make sure to mention that when you get the bottle filled. The regulator is only rated at 1500. Here is what I bought.

CO2 Regulator
CO2 Tank
CO2 Diffuser

So yea, some tips. Don't fill tank over 1500 PSI. Make sure green knob is all the way in off position and it's not plugged in when you screw on the regulator. Screw on the regulator ALL THE WAY. Plug regulator in, slowly open the green knob. This assumes you have all the tubing hooked up. The bubble counter is super handy :) It only costs me 5 dollars to fill up the tank at Dicks sporting goods store. So after the upfront cost, I can run multiple tanks with a splitter off this, for a 5 dollar every few months fee. Totally worth it for the consistent bubbles and lack of hassle from DIY. If you get a timer, you can plug your regulator and light into it and you can control when the CO2 and light come on. You just need to trust us man, 130 bucks for this is worth it... so worth it. The bubble counter comes in the regulator I linked. The only things you'll need to buy other than what I posted for a 100% system is silicon tubing to link it all up, and maybe some suction cups. I didn't list this because that's a few dollars at most on Amazon. Don't listen to the 300 dollar crowd, my system is sub 150 and works just as well as theirs.

Would highly recommend a system.

You put this regulator on a paintball tank itself of any size but here's a 24 oz rather than a full co2 tank, easier to transport, easier to fill, cheaper tank cost, somewhat better for smaller tanks but too small for larger ones.

I am quite happy with the following (I use on a 10 gallon and a 3 gallon at the same time using a T-fitting and two diffusers and two indicators):

Diffuser @$16.99 ea https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXFUGE5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This diffuser is good for hanging on the side of your tank. There are many others to choose from.

7 day timer @$14.65 (Three prong plug for regulator solenoid): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LYHEHG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You DO NOT want to let it run overnight because they say it will suffocate your fish.

CO2 indicator @#17.89 (need one for each tank) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z9KWTHS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CO2 proof tubing @#9.99 (regular tubing may leak CO2!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UCOFJW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Regulator with bubble counter and solenoid @$69.99 (Yes, this one works great at that price) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N42JPDV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Adaptor fitting to get regulator attached to a paintball tank @$9.90 (I had to modify this part, so pay attention): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Paintball tank @$21.49 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dicks Sporting Goods will refill for $5 using your tank.

The issue with the adaptor is that the one I got had a bleed-off relief hole too far down in the threads such that the hole was exposed even when the tank was fully screwed in because the thread depth on the tank was shallow (fewer turns total) compared to the adaptor, Had to plug and re-drill the hole.

You should at least look at these components as part of your evaluation.

I just went to a tank system, its only been set up for about a week. I'm using a paintball tank. This seemed easiest for refills, only $5 at Dick's. This is all the equipment I got for it:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M49QDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WTXYN0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The regulator came with a bubble counter/check valve which was a nice little surprise. I then bought 10 or 20 feet of tubing from The Home Depot for $5.00. Make sure you get thread tape to seal things up, I initially did not use it and it leaked a lot.

I've been running for a week and so far so good, I have the solenoid plugged in to the same timer as my light.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007XKFQCM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467401793&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=co2+canister&dpPl=1&dpID=41qj8TP2sqL&ref=plSrch

I've had a good experience with it, but only for a 5 gallon tank. For a tank as large as yours, you might run out of citric acid quicker than is actually worth it.

For about 120 bucks you can get yourself a legit pressurized CO2 setup. I think you'll thank yourself in the long run to just drop the coin now and be done with it.

Regulator

Tank

Diffuser

Trust me, you'll be happy you went this route. This way you can put it on a timer, you won't have to turn it on and off each day, and you won't have to mess with mixing baking soda and citric acid every week.

This is the inside of my valve:

https://imgur.com/gallery/ON4lR

This is the bottle I'm using:

Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NlWVzbJY2N7V8

oh ok so just something like this for the timer?
Also what tanks do you use, would this work well? And for tubing is it one size fits all for the fancy small diffusers and stuff

Hello! I also have a twenty long, and I was just researching this exact thing :)

I have done a lot of research and have all of my equipment picked out. Since you also have a twenty long, this should probably work for you, or at least get you in the right direction. You'll need:

A CO2 Regulator, bubble counter, and check valve. It's all in one, so you don't have to buy them separately.

A CO2 Tank. Should last you a few months, at the very least. You can upgrade to an actual CO2 tank, but I'm not sure the specifics, as I didn't want to go that route. This one that I'm recommending is actually made for paintball guns, but will work with the CO2 Regulator mentioned above, when combined with

An Adapter. This adapter allows you to hook the paintball CO2 can up to the Aquatek CO2 Regulator.

CO2 Proof Tubing. To connect the CO2 Regulator to the

CO2 Diffuser. This makes the CO2 into little bubbles, that travel through your tank. The smaller the bubbles, the better.

A CO2 Drop Checker. This will allow you to constantly monitor your CO2 levels, and will tell you if you need to turn the bubbles up or down. Always start out really low (like 1 bubble per 2 seconds) and then turn it up slowly, until the drop checker is a nice green color. Note that the drop checker is delayed by about two hours, so the color you see is what the levels were like two hours ago. If your fish start gasping, turn the bubbles down, no matter what color the drop checker is.

Edit: Also note that the CO2 should be running with your lights, and off when they are off. If you have a bubble-maker of any sort in your aquarium, run it opposite of the CO2, or it'll just dissolve your CO2 up. This usually means running the bubbler when your lights are off, overnight. If you have the CO2 and bubbler going, theyll just cancel each other out instead of helping your tank.

Let me know if you have any questions :)