Reddit mentions: The best sports & outdoors airsoft & paintball
We found 940 Reddit comments discussing the best sports & outdoors airsoft & paintball. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 417 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini
- Connect to paintball CO2 tank, no adapter required, no assembly required. (PLEASE NOTE: Paintball tank is NOT included, for demonstration purposes only). Please fill up your paintball CO2 tank if you purchased the tank online (e.g. Amazon) before using the regulator. The paintball CO2 tank is shipped empty due to safety concern.
- Cool-touch industrial solenoid design
- Precision needle valve for fine tuning release of CO2
- Include bubble counter with integrated check valve
- Compatible with most CO2 atomizer and diffuser
Features:
Specs:
Height | 4.5 Inches |
Length | 3.5 Inches |
Weight | 1.05 Pounds |
Width | 3 Inches |
2. Empire 24oz CO2 Tank
- Built using the legendary repeater valve
- Refillable CO2 Tank; Ships empty
- Averages 1000 shots on most paintball markers
- Includes safety burst disk
- NOTE: Date on the item is the manufacturing date, not the Expiration Date.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 1.2 Pounds |
Release date | April 2012 |
Size | 24 oz |
3. Feyachi Reflex Sight - Adjustable Reticle (4 Styles) Both Red and Green in one Sight!
- Reticle allows for 4 different styles. Dot, Circle/Dot, Crosshair/Dot, Crosshair/Circle/Dot combinations. All in one sight!
- A 33mm lens provides quick target acquisition. Wide field of view to maintain situational awareness.
- Very sturdy and secure rail mounting system. Will not come loose, made to last.
- Parallax corrected & unlimited eye-relief, where the dot goes, so does the bullet!
- Ultralight, waterproof and shockproof - Powered one 3V lithium battery (included).
Features:
Specs:
Color | Matte |
Height | 2.12598 Inches |
Length | 3.11023 Inches |
Weight | 0.25625 Pounds |
Width | 1.14173 Inches |
4. Hydra Aquatic CO2 Paintball Adapter
- Use CO2 Carbonator to make carbonated water, without adding any chemicals, healthier and safer
- Whether at home or outdoors, no need to the power-ups, make sparkling drinks anytime and anywhere, let sparkling drinks accompany your healthy life
- Each cylinder carbonates up to 60 liters of water, Compatible with Drinkmate, Kitchen Aid, Aarke, and other similar carbonated appliances
- PASONG Carbonators are made of lightweight aluminum to exacting standards set forth by the US Department of Transportation. The highest quality standards are maintained to ensure safety and purity of the CO2 refills
- Please let us know if you meet any problem on our product, we will reply you within 24 hours
Features:
Specs:
Height | 1.25 Inches |
Length | 1 Inches |
Weight | 0.05 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
Number of items | 1 |
5. Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2-5A4 CO2 Paintball Tank CGA 320 Adapter
- Converts CGA 320 to paintball tank
- Enhanced safety feature: pressure relief hole relieves overpressure when detaching the adapter from CO2 cylinder
- Anodized aluminum construction
- Perfect CO2 solution for portable draft setups
- Max OP 1800 PSI
Features:
Specs:
Number of items | 1 |
6. Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank
- Lightweight DOT and TC certified aluminum 20oz CO2 cylinder Made in the USA
- Five year retest cycle
- exceed all industry standards
- Tank may be labeled Tippmann or Empire
- Tank must be filled prior to use
- NOTE: Date on the item is not the Expiration Date.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 10.75 Inches |
Length | 3.25 Inches |
Weight | 1.85 Pounds |
Width | 3.25 Inches |
Release date | March 2005 |
Size | 20 oz. |
Number of items | 1 |
7. FogTech MotoSolutions Anti-Fog 30ml Bottle Paintball or Glasses
- Exercise Gear, Fitness, MotoSolutions FogTech Anti-Fog 30ml Bottle Paintball or Glasses Shape UP, Sport, Training...
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 0.15 Pounds |
8. NcSTAR Red Dot Sight TACTICAL RED DOT WITH 4 DIFFERENT RETICLES/BLACK
Made by NcStarRed Dot SightsHeads up display
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 3.149606296 Inches |
Length | 2.199999997756 Inches |
Weight | 1 pounds |
Width | 5.099999994798 Inches |
Size | One Size |
Number of items | 1 |
9. Dye Precision I4 Thermal Paintball Goggle
- The Dye Precision i4 Goggle System is the smallest profile, lightest, and best field of vision goggle system available. The thermal lens leads the industry in optical clarity and provides a distortion and fog free field of vision regardless of the weather
- The anatomically correct i4 mask system offers the best in comfort for all facial contours. The i4 is tested at twice the current impact ASTM and CE standards. Dye's proprietary dual stage foam combines open and closed cell foam technology.
- The i4 sets the industry standard for anti-fog technology. The thermal lens provides distortion-free optical clarity and a fog free field of vision regardless of weather.
- Precise blade angling and proven venting configuration make the i4 breathable and comfortable during long days of play.
- Ear protection is critical, but it does not need to be bulky. The i4 system features a compression formed earpiece that is soft, flexible, and extremely lightweight.
Features:
Specs:
Height | 7.8 Inches |
Length | 8.6 Inches |
Weight | 1.3 Pounds |
Width | 8.5 Inches |
Release date | November 2009 |
10. Vortex Optics SPARC Red Dot Sight Gen I - 2 MOA Dot (SPC-AR1)
- The Sparc sight features a 2 MOA daylight bright red dot that is quick to spot and paints your target regardless of lighting conditions or background. The dot returns to the last intensity used when powered up.
- High quality, fully multi-coated lenses offer up a clean, wide field of view. With unlimited eye relief and parallax free, the sight gets you on target fast.
- Rear-facing controls offer quick access and are viewable from the shooting position.
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof the anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum body is rubber armored and built to handle the most extreme conditions.
- The sight operates using a AAA battery and offers up to 300 hours of power at max brightness. After 12 hours, an automatic shutoff prevents accidental battery rundown.Nitrogen gas purging with o-rings-seals delivers fogproof, waterproof performance.
Features:
Specs:
Color | black |
Height | 3 Inches |
Length | 5.9 Inches |
Weight | 0.85 Pounds |
Width | 4.6 Inches |
Release date | January 2017 |
Size | One Size |
Number of items | 4 |
11. Dye Proto Primo Paintball Loader Hopper - Black
- 200 ball capacity
- Primo loader helps sort and funnel as you shoot for a consistent vertical feed
- Featuring a positive shelf designed to relieve pressure on paint balls
- Comes with a clear spring loaded lid for easy reloading
- Powered by minimal agitation of the gun
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 5.6299212541 Inches |
Length | 8.8582677075 Inches |
Weight | 1.5 ounces |
Width | 4.2519684996 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
12. Ninja Paintball Scuba Fill Station
- Ninja Brand Scuba Fill Station
- N Logo is on the Scuba - If it isn't on there then its not a Ninja
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 4 Inches |
Length | 7 Inches |
Weight | 1.25 ounces |
Width | 3 Inches |
13. Empire Halo TOO Paintball Loader and 48ci HPA Tank Combo
- Empire Halo Too Paintball Loader & 48/3000 Compressed Air Tank Combo Package (Tank Brand May Vary)
- Empire Halo Too Feeds 20+ BPS
- Tournament Ready Paintball Combo Package
- Tournament Ready Paintball Combo Package
- Tournament Ready Paintball Combo Package
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 3 Pounds |
14. JT Flex-8 Head Guard Grey
Spectra lens offering 260 degree field of visionDual Fusion co-molding technology creates this unique venting SystemFull head coverage for maximum protectionIncludes removable visor
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 2.15 Pounds |
Release date | August 2005 |
Size | One Size |
Number of items | 1 |
15. Trijicon GL201-C-600649 Bright & Tough Night Sight Suppressor Set, Glock 17-39 Models, White Front/ White Rear with Green Lamps
- Fits: Glock 17, 17L, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39
- Professional installation recommended
- Finish: black. Rear Notch Width-0.15 inch
Features:
Specs:
Color | White Front/White Rear with Green Lamps |
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 7 Inches |
Weight | 0.12 Pounds |
Width | 7 Inches |
Size | Glock 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25 and more |
Number of items | 1 |
16. Alien Full Protection Safety Impact Resistance Face Mask Airsoft Paintbal BB Gun, Black
- Lightweight mask is vented & has an adjustable nylon strap
- Sturdy plastic construction for maximum Protection
- Light weight construction for comfort and mobility
- Eyes, nose, mouth, face, and ear protection. Washable
- Covers entire face and eyes from airsoft bbs
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
17. Dye Special Edition Thermal Lens Paintball Goggles - Black
Double pained, Thermoformed Inner Lens for fog and distortion free vision | Lightweight | Built-in visor | 260* Peripheral vision | 10 second lens change | Superior comfort foamSLS Tirodial lens gives you the ultimate in vertical and horizontal peripheral visionPatented 1/4 turn buckle quick change ...
Specs:
Color | Black |
Weight | 0.7275254646 Pounds |
Number of items | 1 |
18. Milwaukee Instruments MA957 Dual-Valve CO2 Adjustable Flow Pressure Regulator, Dual Reading psi and kg/cm
CO2 pressure regulator has two valves to independently measure flow rate and remaining CO2 tank contents (CO2 tank sold separately)Valves have dual-scale readings in psi and kg/cmNeedle valve flow control provides precise flow adjustment and measurementSolenoid valve has 6ft/1.5m power cordIncludes ...
Specs:
Height | 4.40157479866 Inches |
Length | 7.5984251891 Inches |
Width | 6.09842519063 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
19. JT SplatMaster Z200 Shotgun, Red
- Uses .50 caliber paintball ammo
- Includes reusable target and game play instruction
- Shoots up to 100 feet with marksman accuracy to 50 feet
- No batteries or Co2 needed
- Spring Action Firing
Features:
Specs:
Color | Blue |
Weight | 1 Pounds |
20. TIPPMANN A5 Gun 4+1 Xray MEGA Set + Remote + Neck Guard
Kit contains an authentic semi-automatic Tippmann A-5 marker; other components of the kit are from other manufacturers and may vary by brandComplete paintball kit with marker, tank,loader, harness, extra paint tubes, neck guard, and gogglesIncludes a 20 oz CO2 tank, 4+1 harness, & tubes, PMI Xray Go...
Specs:
Color | A993 |
Weight | 11 Pounds |
Release date | August 2010 |
Size | B993 |
🎓 Reddit experts on sports & outdoors airsoft & paintball
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where sports & outdoors airsoft & paintball are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Yeah, the only difference is that I used the Fluval diffuser. The glass diffuser is a lot more fragile - I dropped mine and it shattered. The Fluval one is a clunky piece of plastic, but holds up well. I've been re-evaluating my setup and will be replacing my DIY system with something more robust. Before I get into why, let me go share some advice with they DIY system...
 
First off, I'd also get a check valve. This will prevent siphoned water to back up into your CO2 setup. There are bubble counter/check valve combinations, even a diffuser/counter/check valve combo.
I haven't purchased these, so I can't comment on the quality. I will say - I purchase most if not all my supplies from Amazon with great success. I always buy the least expensive equipment. Most of it I can tell comes from China, but the quality is still pretty good - it gets the job done.
 
Second, the DIY setup is good, but does not last. The DIY kit you can get on Amazon is awesome - fits right on any standard soda bottle and has a nice needle valve and pressure gauge. My problem is durability, the setup I used to create the tank I have in the picture has recently broken down. The pressure gauge ripped off (because the tubing wore down) and although I tried to reattach and seal it, there was a slow leak that I wasn't willing to try and repatch. This is the second DIY kit I've broken, they both broke at the tubing piece that connects the gauge and the bottle cap. The main reason why it breaks down is because I shake the shit out of those bottles to stir up the Baking Soda and/or Citric Acid. I never really paid attention to the pressure gauge flopping to and fro, but now I realize that after enough "fros", the tubing worn down until it tore off. So if you stick with the DIY setup, try to either not shake it like a polaroid picture - or hold the pressure gauge steady.
 
The DIY system is cool because it makes you look like Walter White and also provides a "cheap" way of getting CO2 into your tank. All you have to buy after you have your setup is Baking Soda and Citric Acid. Baking Soda, I get at Costco for cheap and is so big it will last forever. Citric Acid - I haven't really looked in depth at purchasing local - but Amazon sells these 5lb bags for $15. I think it's the best deal on Amazon. I've only bought two bags total (I tried it in my 75 gallon tank - STUPIDEST IDEA EVER - but that was when I was really new to the hobby). I'd say for a 5-10 gallon tank, 1 5lb bag of Citric Acid should last you for maybeee a year - depends on your bubbles per second obviously.
 
One major con I have for the DIY system besides durability is that it's all manual. Sure - you can figure out how to rig up a solenoid of some sort and what not to get it on a timer- but seems like more trouble than it's worth for a DIY system. I let my CO2 run 24/7 which isn't ideal - but as the picture above clearly shows - it works. The other downside of it being manual is that baking soda surprisingly doesn't mix all the way with water. So when you introduce it to the citric acid solution (which mixes well with water) - the entire reaction may not occur until you shake it and baking soda then reaches the citric acid. Having to periodically check my CO2 system isn't terribly difficult, especially if you chose the DIY setup to save money - but sometimes if too much citric acid is transferred into the Baking Soda side - a fuckton of CO2 is created and now either is pumping into my tank or my soda bottles look like they're ready to explode. I will say - this has happened to me very rarely. I've seen my soda bottles build a lot of pressure before - but never bursted. So it's not the end of the world, just an unexpected inconvenience.
 
The other major con I have is refilling. Sure refilling doesn't take that long, empty the neutral baking soda/citric acid solution and add a the the right amounts of the new solutions in. But after doing it so many times - I'm kinda tired of it. I sometimes have extra soda bottles at the ready with the solutions and unscrew the old ones and pop in the new ones. Good plan, but still takes time and effort.
 
If you're careful not to shake the tubing of the pressure gauge, content with either having CO2 run 24/7 or manually turn it on and off AND are willing to periodically refill soda bottles, then I'd say give the DIY system a shot.
 
I chose the DIY setup when I first started the hobby and wasn't sure how dedicated I would be. Also - I didn't have a great paying job that would warrant me paying more for a convenient/foolproof CO2 setup.
 
Which brings me to what I plan on doing now. Now that I'm more interested in the hobby, I've decided to step my game up. For starters, I have a 75 gallon tank rigged up to a 20 lb CO2 tank that I have to refill every 3-4 months. I live by a small hydroponics shop that refills my CO2 tank for $20. I don't know if $20 is cheap, but the store is close, convenient and gets the job done. I also attached a $40 solenoid to it so I could connect it to a timer. This setup has been AWESOME. Very simple, and 100% reliable. I just take my empty 20 lb tank to the store and get it filled and plug it back into the solenoid.
 
Because my 20lb CO2 tank setup has been so successful in my 75 gallon, I've decided to do something similar for my 5 gallon. While a 20lb CO2 tank is complete overkill - there are pretty good alternatives out there. I've looked at using the Fluval 20G CO2 kit and using Threaded CO2 Bike Tire Cartridges. The diffuser that comes with the Fluval system is huge and I would never use it. So basically I'm paying $30 for a regulator that can't even easily attach to a solenoid. Also those 16g bike tire cartridges seem small and wasteful. So your costs are $30 for the setup and ~$30 for the CO2 cartridges - which who knows how long those last. The main benefit to this setup is that it's super small. This seems like a good setup for sure and was very close to going for it, but I've decided to go with something else.
 
I'm buying a 24 oz Paintball CO2 tank ($25) , a CGA 320 Adapter (CGA 320 is the size of the standard CO2 tank threading) ($10), and a regular solenoid ($40). The prices seem reasonable except for that CGA 320 adapter piece. $10 for a piece of metal. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the same piece at Home Depot or Lowe's and I'm also lazy. So I'd rather pay the $10 then figure out how to jerry-rig my own. The adapter allows the threading of a Paintball tank to connect with the threading of a standard CO2 solenoid. Considering the Fluval setup is $60, I'd say this $75 paintball setup is worth it - especially since it now has a solenoid! The main difference is CO2 refill. Dick's Sporting Goods (also local for me) refills 24oz paintball CO2 tanks for $5 and every 5th fill is free. I think 24 oz will last me a long time anyway. In any case - I think the main obstacle whether it is using a 20lb CO2 tank or using a 24oz Paintball tank is where you're going to get that CO2 filled. You can search for a local Airgas or like a place that sells/refills Fire Extinguishers. Bars use CO2 as well for beer - but you don't need food grade CO2, that's just overpaying.
 
I know I went a little overboard, but this is all information that I've recently researched and figured I'd share it. I can't comment on the performance on the paintball tank setup just yet, but I assume it will work fine.
 
TL;DR DIY systems are cheap and good, but not 100% reliable/consistent and must be manually turned on/off/. You may or may not marry a woman named Skyler White during the process. Major costs are $15 for DIY rig, $15 for a 5lb bag of Citric Acid. I'd recommend using a 24oz Paintball CO2 tank because they can attach to a solenoid and are reliable and consistent. Major costs are $25 for a 24oz Paintball Tank, $10 for a CGA 320 Adapter, a $40 solenoid. $5 fill ups at Dick's Sporting Goods.
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:
$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.
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.
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:
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.
What size tank do you have?
If you are set on the paintball set up, you can't go wrong with the Aquatek mini regulator. It is the regulator I have set up on my 15 gallon and it has been fantastic. Basically, the parts you will need are:
Obviously, CO2 setups aren't cheap, but with the paintball route you can do it relatively inexpensively compared to the full scale regulator route. Good luck! I'd be happy to clear anything else up for you if you have questions.
Edit: Make sure you have a check valve in the system somewhere. This will keep aquarium water from flowing up the line into the regulator. Some of those items I listed (like the GLA diffuser) have them built in, which will solve that problem. However, if you choose products without a check valve built in you will need to add one. Here are some (also more tubing there to choose from).
oooh I'm a fan of the salvo, my favorite non magfed marker, so I'm going to assume you aren't running the tippmann magfed adapter or the deadcell tippman magfed adapter, which, if you want a magfed salvo, go with the deadcell version, but, assuming you are hopper fed, definitely grab a Proto Primo, they're easily the best gravity fed hopper on the market. Also, everyone is going to tell you this but for good reason, if you don't already, get an anti-fog mask.
Also, if you were looking for some sort of scope, I'll tell you what I tell everyone, a red dot wont do anymore good than iron sights unless you're using first strikes. NCStar makes a cheap red dot that I had on my 98 if you want to dabble in them.
Take good care of that marker, it's essentially a 98c in an arguably tougher, milsim body, take good care of it and it will last forever, I still have my 98 from 8 years ago and it's still shooting like the day it came out of the box.
Any marker is the best marker in the world if you enjoy playing with it, keep on shooting!
EDIT: also, since the salvo has the quad rail, idk how you grip the marker, but I'm a big fan of angled foregrips, only reason I don't have one is because I'm a bigger fan of gripping the magwell, also, should you want to get another marker at some point, anything with picatinny rails will accept a grip.
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:
CO2
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Some on here we'll advocate buying CO2 parts individually, but I feel that it took too much research to do that myself. In most cases, a kit of some kind will do well. Cheaper kits, such as the aquatek regulator will work, but occasionally you do run into a dud or faulty needle valve.
Personally I have a GLA Regulator kit but they are pricier. In this case, you get what you pay for and they are excellent quality and a no-fuss solution. CO2 gas should be pretty cheap in your area, it costs me only about 15-17 dollars to fill a 5lb.
Light
-------
You noted you want the breeder to be high-tech, so in this case you will need to buy light that fits high light tanks. The two types of light I recommend are T5HO (High Output) or LEDs. I use LEDs on all my tanks now.
Most on this sub highly recommend Finnex lights. For the 40 breeder you would want something from their RAY II line, which is their strongest light. If you are looking more for medium light you can get a Planted+ 24/7. It all depends on ultimately what you want to grow and what your goals are.
A pricier option is something like BuildMyLED, there fixtures have slightly better optics and build quality, and all of there fixtures can be dimmed. They can be purchased at many different light color temps. I have some of these as well and they do well.
If you still like fluorescent T5HO is the way to go for bright tanks. I can't comment too much on recommendations, just be wary that the quality of the fixture (the reflectors) can really make a difference on PAR light intensity. Obviously you'll want to buy daylight bulbs (4500-7000k).
Two things:
One. That light is made for a refugium. A lot of people will say that it's "harsh" or "cold" - that's because it's not really made for humans to look at - it's not a "display light". It'll work just fine for growing plants (it'll work really well, actually), but it will lack a lot of the "warmer" colors that look good to human eyes. Finnex makes a few others that are comparable: Plantet+ 24/7 (adjustable colors/remote/timer), Ray (bright white light), Ray 2 (very powerful white light).
Ultimately the light you choose will depend on a few factors. What kinds of plants will you grow? How deep is the aquarium (more powerful lights are needed for deeper water columns)? Do you mind if the light is "harsh"?
Of those considerations, I'd put the most weight on the tank dimensions and the plant specifications. Trying to push light through 24 inches of water for a carpeting plant? You'll want a Ray 2. Have an 8-inch deep tank that you want to grow some swords in? Don't waste your money on anything fancy.
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Two. That CO2 kit is a money pit and here's why:
So let's say you spend 25 bucks on the kit plus 15 bucks for some cartridges. That's an upfront of 40 dollars with a 15 dollars per month in perpetuity. That means that one year of this kit will cost you $220.
Instead you could go for this paintball setup for the same price:
That build adds up to $205, will be WAY less work in the long run, much more stable, and simply easier to run. Also if you ever get sick of it and want your money back - it'll retain a lot of it's value. You could probably re-sell that whole set for 170-ish used. Also, that tank will last you a good few months before needing to be refilled.
CO2 can really help your tank flourish, but it takes a considerable buy-in. Go all the way or go home. Half-assing it to save money on sub-par equipment will just cause you headaches and a lot more money in the long run. I spent about 250 on my setup two years ago and haven't had to spend a PENNY on it since.
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PS: /u/Elhazar, are you really gonna go around using the little 2 in "CO₂" and pretend like it's nothing? Well aren't you fancy!
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.
Hi /u/VolkovME! Thanks for the lengthy reply; I really appreciate it.
I've looked at LED setups in the past, as well as a paintball CO2 setup, but I got a bit overwhelmed and wasn't sure what I should go with. Which Finnex LED system would you personally recommend? I visted their site and I'm really unsure of the power needed. I have this Fluval CO2 kit bookmarked as well as this adapter for the paintball canister. Would this be an acceptable setup for CO2, or would you recommend something else? Would I still dose the tank with the "Leaf Zone", or do you recommend a better substitute?
Unfortunately I'm not sure what plants I had; I always just picked the plants I liked at Petco, and they were generally under the "aquatic plant combo" tag. Is there a specific brand of mineralized soil you would recommend?
Thank you again for the helpful comment and advice; it really is appreciated!
One thing I've seen over and over is that Dwarf Hairgrass needs pressurized CO2 in order to get an established carpet so you really might want to consider that. Our set-up consists of an AQUATEK CO2 Mini Regulator, 2 Empire 20oz CO2 Tanks (which are the same as what they use for paintball and very cheap to fill - and they last for months), a Reactor 100 diffuser (our Fluval broke...sucks), a Fluval 88g Bubble Counter, and a Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit. You'll need airline tubing too and a drop checker. It very simple to set up and use, if you'd ever consider it and your hairgrass would love you for it...but it really looks like everything in there is thriving so nicely!
Hairgrass also needs light so maybe cut back on whatever is blocking light from getting down to the hairgrass. If you do go with CO2, make sure you shut it off when your lights aren't on, since the plants can't use it without light and watch the indicator so you don't gas your tank and fauna. CO2 would also help regulate your pH, which your shrimp would love. Mine holds at a steady 6.8.
Maybe you could cut back your sword a bit and plant some of the runners in another tank, or if you don't have one, maybe you have a friend that would like some?
I think your tank looks great, a little jungly, but I bet the shrimp love that! Love your variety of Fauna!
Good luck!
Some of this is repeated from a comment about a motorcycle being the only means of transportation but some of this is specific to winter riding. Remember you have two goals, staying alive and comfort.
I always keep this in mind: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Storage
Gear
Some other random notes
Last but the most important, RELAX. Its just water (most of the time). Sure their tires are better, but people race in rain conditions all the time while going much faster than you will. After the first week or two of rain, you won't even think it is a big deal. Sure parts of it sucks. Some of it is awesome.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Waht type of budget are you looking at?
There isn't much that goes into cleaning airsoft guns. A cleaning rod, some microfiber cloths, and a bit of rubbing alcohol is all it really takes for an AEG. For GBBs (I assume his G19 will be GBB) he might need a valve key to disassmeble the mags.
Maybe a gun rack or gun case
Patches are always a good gift
Comfy socks, like Darn Tough, are awesome.
If he uses midcap mags (No winding wheel on the bottom) he might like an Odin Sidewinder. It's an amazing speedloader. They've announced an updated version but I don't know when it's coming out. If he already has a Sidewinder there's a sound dampening thingy for it.
Edit: On a $250 budget you can get him some nice stuff:
Vortex Crossfire II 1-4x24 scope is an incredible scope. I know I'd be ecstatic to get one if I didn't already have one.
Salomon boots are awesome boots. Peoples feet can vary a lot so boots might not be a great gift but Amazon does have a good return policy
A Dye i5
or i4 are great masks. Again, preferences may vary. He might prefer goggles and separate lower face protection.
This might sound stupid and isn't really airsoft related, but I got a label maker and it's been awesome.
This looks awesome!
I don't have too much to input, but I do have the same setup (Aquatek Mini) and I can vouch for it. I haven't had any issues, but I have heard that the Customer Care is great. Also, my paintball co2 lasted about 4 months in a 29g.
Adding some references...
Profit!
EDIT:The regulator comes with a bubble counter, but for NOT come with tubing! You will need to buy the tubing, diffuser, and the co2 indicator. Amazon sells everything you need and is free shipping with their Super Saver option.
First, most guns operate around 90 psi. 10-20 psi is ridiculously small.
There is a trade off that you have to confront.
CO2 holds WAAAAY more energy than compressed air ever will. If size is your main concern, CO2 would be the way to go. The reason, as you know, is because CO2 goes through a phase change and there's a lot of energy in that step.
Yes, there are 2 or 3 oz co2 bottles. You're going to want to ask on mcarterbrown.com where ot get them. They are specialty made in limited runs for people who play pump paintball. I think they go for 40 bux. The same customers also buy very small compressed air tanks.
Now then, CO2 has a lot more energy stored, but god damn is it dirty. First, you need to make sure it expands. That expansion uses up a lot of heat. If you are continuously running the bottle, it is entirely possible that everything will freeze up. BUT, if it's only 10-20 psi, that may just be a small enough flow to where ambient temperature will work. However, with a constant flow I would bet that your device would freeze up on CO2 Either way, you will probably want to buy an old school "expansion chamber."
https://www.amazon.com/Kingman-Paintball-Expansion-Bottomline-conversion/dp/B00APL4KPK/ref=zg_bs_3488731_1
That's a really crappy one. Try to buy a used one (pbnation.com or mcarterbrown.com) that has multiple chambers and FINS. The one with the fins is really great. (20 bux).
Compressed air in a small tank may struggle to provide you with enough energy to run for 1 hour. A larger tank, like a 45 cubic inch/4500 psi (called a 45/45) would definitely last you.
Either way, you will need at least two regulators. All tanks, whether CO2 or HPA, expel air out of them at 800 psi (standard) or 400 psi (low pressure HPA tanks only). So you will need to regulate the pressure down from 800 down to 100 using a high pressure regulator. If you are using CO2, (Or even if not) one of the best most consistent regulators is a Palmer's male stabilizer.
https://palmers-pursuit-shop.myshopify.com/collections/stabilizers
90 dollars.
You want to put this 100 psi air into some sort of dump chamber, roughly the size of your thumb or larger. I highly recommend using macroline and macroline fittings in order to make these connections.
http://www.oringmonkey.com/macroline-fittings-c-210.html
The straight one here is 8 dollars. It's a premium, higher costed macroline fitting. Most go for 4-5. But o ring monkey is good people and I always order from there. Pick up some 010 o rings to fix any leaks you may get in your macroline fitting later (which will definitely occur with CO2). The macroline connectors fit into 1/8 NPT threads, which is easy enough to drill and tap.
https://www.amazon.com/Vermont-American-20371-Carbon-Steel/dp/B000K1LZ76
Then feed that into a low pressure regulator. Now these are getting rarer as most guns have ditched them. Anyways, once again Palmers is going to be your best bet for CO2, and they're one of the best regs there is, hands down. I cannot say for certain that such a regulator will get down to 10 psi and work properly. This is outside the range of almost every paintball gun there is. You definitely are going to have to "Ask the Experts" over at mcarterbrown.com
Most Low Pressure Regulators (LPR) output the air through microline which is different from macroline. You want SOFT microline for the fittings. The only source of soft microline that I have ever been able to locate is from a guy on mcarterbrown.com . His handle is "maggot" and you are looking for his "autococker hose kit." 12 bux
http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/dealers-forum/255801-slps-kit-cocker-parts-macroline-halfblock-delrin-grips-benchmark-sliders.html#post2949265
As far as refilling, CO2 is very easy to refill from a larger bottle wit a CO2 fill station
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Paintball-Mini-Fill-Station/dp/B0023U7RH4
As far as refilling HPA, it is really easy to do so from a scuba fill station.
https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Paintball-SCUBA-Fill-Station/dp/B001T6I1K0
Of course, be warned. DO NOT EVER PUT OIL INTO A HPA TANK AS IT CAN AND WILL EXPLODE That's really the only thing you'd have to worry about with filling.
Good question. It's certainly worth buying used equipment, given the right equipment. I'd suggest going with Tippmann stuff - they're rock solid, easy to maintain, and ubiquitous. I use a Tippmann X7 Phenom as my main marker, and have a Tippmann A-5 with Response Trigger as my backup.
That being said, those are fairly medium/high end woodsball markers. If you want to go cheaper, you can get the 98 Custom, which is a great marker - in fact, most fields use it as the marker they give to players, since it's incredibly easy to fix, and sturdy as all get out. If you want to go a little higher, I'm sure you could find an A5 package that's fairly affordable. I'm sure you could find used equipment for cheaper, too - just make sure they have a full tank you can test the marker out with (to ensure there are no leaks, ball breakages, etc).
Don't worry about getting super high end equipment. My X7 Phenom performance vs the 98 Custom is remarkably little - it's more about air conservation (it has a builtin regulator), and the little things they've done to the marker. You'll play fine with one of the lower end Tippmanns.
Other people will also recommend Ions or other brands, but since I haven't used them much, I don't feel comfortable really advising one way or the other. All of the equipment I've played with extensively has been Tippmann, and I've loved them (most woodsball players feel the same).
in case you don't want to go threw the hassle of the used market:
Marker: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Mini-GS-Paintball-Gun/dp/B00LBJUD4C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521136125&sr=8-4&keywords=empire+mini+gs
hopper/ tank:https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Halo-Paintball-Loader-Combo/dp/B003FVP506/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1521136199&sr=1-4&keywords=halo+too
mask: https://www.amazon.com/Dye-Paintball-Goggles-Thermal-Lens/dp/B016SACUTY/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1521136264&sr=1-4&keywords=dye%2Bi5&th=1
a very respectable first setup if you are looking for something that you can learn the basics on and even play decent speedball with. I would look into a carbon fiber tank and a new hopper as some solid upgrades (these will do the job for a long time, I still run my halo on my axe when I loan it out) if you choose to keep up with it and want to put some more money into quality of life. Empire sells solid markers and personally what I suggest for beginners looking to go the speedball rout. they have really good customer support. The dye I series are simply my favorite masks, easily replaced with another mask that better suits your face or is more aesthetically pleasing to you.
The fluval CO2 system requires you to use disposable co2 canisters. The system comes in two sizes, 20 gram and 88 gram. Depending on the CO2 requirements of your plants, it could end up getting a tad expensive. You may be able to get away with it on such a small tank, but it the long run it may be cheaper to purchase a larger, refillable system.
Assuming you go with the 20 gram kit, which is recommended for up to 15gal. That's ~$28 + S&H. Assuming you are conservative with your CO2, You'll probably use 1 canister every 2 weeks. A 20 gram 3 pack is $14 + S&H. Over the course of a year you will spend ~$145 + S&H for CO2. Over 2 years, that number will be around ~$250 + a lot of S&H. Plus, if you decide to upgrade your tank, you'll also have to upgrade your CO2 system.
If you have the money to spend up front, you'll save yourself time and money in the long run. Get a 24oz Paintball CO2 tank from Amazon for $21. Get it filled at your local sporting goods store for ~$4. Get a diffuser from Amazon for ~$11. Then get a Paintball CO2 Regulator from GLA for $189. One fill up on your tank is equal to more than 34 20 gram canisters from Fluval and it only costs about $4 to refill, and if you have a Dicks Sporting Goods near you, 5th refill is free. Total cost is $221 + S&H, but that regulator is quality made and will last you years.
This is the set-up I use on my 7.5 gal and I'll be honest, after all other methods of "low cost" CO2 injection failed me and wasted my money, shelling out $200 for a regulator was quite painful, but this was the single best purchase I've ever made in my 20 years of keeping fish. So, if you can afford it, or can wait a bit and save some cash, it's worth it.
The simple fact that Fluval wants to charge you 13.99 for just over 2.1 ounces of CO2 when you can get a 24oz tank filled for $4 should make you question the purchase of their system.
Before I talk about your wishlist I'm curious if you want the CO2 for a 20-30 gallon setup or the 12 gallon setup. Paintball would be great for the latter, but I'd strongly urge you go with a full sized reg and tank for a 20-30 gallon setup. Either way, heres my info.
Regulator-Looks good. Some people like it and others don't. Give it a shot and see how you like it. Make sure to get a timer for the solenoid so you don't have to manually turn it off and on everyday. Home depot has these for ~$5.
Tank- I got this tank and it works great. It is 20% larger than the one you selected and nearly the same price. The 24 oz one has been running on my 10 gallon tank since November 1st and it isn't empty yet.
Check valve- I got this check valve, it didn't work, so I sent it back. I started getting these check valves instead and I prefer them. You'll end up getting a larger amount and spending more over time, but the failure rate is quite low. Unless you sit on it like I did. Since they're so cheap I put two in line between the diffuser and reg just in case one fails.
Drop checker-That one works, but is overly expensive. You can get the same thing on eBay for $2. It ships from out of the country, but is the exact same thing for 1/8 the price. Even if you get the Rhinox one you'll need to get 4DKH solution to calibrate the drop checker and make it functional.
Tubing-Its just some tubing. Theres nothing more to say. You don't really need CO2 resistant tubing though. I use airline tubing and it works fine. Only issue is it gets brittle on the diffuser over time so I need to use more. Maybe CO2 resistant tubing is better for this reason.
Bubble counter/diffuser-You don't actually need two diffusers or a bubble counter. Just get an all in one. I use this one and am quite happy with it. The check valve isn't really that good, but the bubble counter portion and diffusion are solid. If you want to get a bubble counter so you can measure bubble rate right after the reg and right before the diffuser to check for leaks you can do that. Or you can use soapy water to find leaks and not worry about bubble rate.
A green tint to your water is usually cyanobacteria. Does the tank get natural sunlight? Try to avoid it if possible. Also long photoperiods can cause this. Some antibiotics can help to clear that up if you can't get rid of it but usually caused by too much light. Also you didn't mention anything about fertilizers or the plants you're using what kind of plants or are you using in the tank? Also go to the planted tank forum (just google it) and read, read, read... Especially on fertz and lighting. I use the EI dosing method.
You also want to light that has a color temperature range around 6000k to 7500k, tho you can get away with a 10000k light often. I like the finnex ray 2 and planted plus light. And i would start with around 7 hrs of light (preceded by 1.5-3 hrs of co2 enrichment.
Here's the link to the adapter not sure if it's available in the UK. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008ZAAP2K?pc_redir=1412262887&robot_redir=1
And again go to the planted tank forum there's just too many different aspects to list everything here(water hardness, plant types, fertz regimes, algae types, substrates, etc, etc...) and there's a lot of good information and a whole lot of much smarter people than me on that forum. A great resource..
Considering you posted that you just had your first game then I'm assuming your talking about a newbie setup for getting into the hobby. With that being said $200 (USD?) Is going to be a bit on the low side for getting a reliable setup. Bare bones set up is going to be getting a gun, goggles + face protection, battery, charger, and BBs.
Good eye protection is an absolute must IMO as your eyes are very expensive to repair, used everyday, and don't come with a warranty. Impact resistant lenses are a must (no mesh eye protection unless you like fragmentation going in your eyes). Dye Mask My wife uses this mask and it gives good protection, doesn't fog up much, and is relatively comfortable. Can even wear glasses under them but it's a bit of a snug fit for them. This will cover your eye and face protection in an economic package. There is something like a $30 one that doesn't have the thermal lenses but I don't know how well they perform and fogging is a real pain to deal with so I think the extra $10 for thermal lenses is worth it.
Airsoft branded batteries are usually over priced so get generic purpose batteries. The decision is between lipo and nimh with lipo having a more expensive start up cost (a proper balanced charger isn't cheap) and needs more care/upkeep to properly use. Nimh are cheaper to start with (a smart charger plus a 9.6v 1400mah battery can be gotten for 35. Nimh are older tech and much bulkier but almost fool proof to use as long as you don't do anything truly idiotic with then.
The fun and expensive part of this whole endevor is the gun. This is where the wallet weeps and where investing in quality will pay off in fewer issue and potentially less upgrade/repair costs down the road. What style of gun do you want to get? We could suggest the most economical and starter friendly M4 for example but it doesn't help if your interested in something like an AK or something more exotic instead. The thing though is that most decent beginner guns are going to run closer to $150 or more which really cuts into that $200 budget when your already sinking $35 into your battery kit and $30 or $40 into your eye protection.
BBs is the last thing but again something important to get. Don't buy cheap BBs as they risk breaking the gun. Never use .12 BBs as they love to shatter. I highly recommend elite force BBs as they are good quality and not insanely expensive. .25g BBs are a good balance between indoor and outdoor play while I prefer .28 for outdoor settings. A bottle of BBs can range from $15 to $25 depending on how many you need and the weight of them.
I've bought a mask already - I did a bunch of research (a lot on this sub) and quickly realized that should be the first thing I invested money into. Especially since I wear glasses - I won't have any fun if they won't fit under the mask. The first time I went out I bought one with thermal lenses that can be changed out. I don't remember the brand. But it fits my head perfectly and has only fogged up once. The rentals they had were nasty, quite frankly.
I've been poking around amazon and found this hopper. I've read that no matter the marker, an electric hopper is the way to go. This one seems to be a reasonable price and people seem to like it as well.
I suppose I should also add that my boyfriend and I are splitting the cost of that haul since there are two markers. Mostly. He's putting in 50 I'm putting in 75 - I'm taking to the sport more than him so I see myself using everything more. We've already talked about buying new tanks and feeders for it. And the field we go to rents tanks as well - which is great because that is still cheaper than renting all the gear.
Within the next 2-3 paycheck's I'll probably buy the GoG. I think I'm still going to throw down for this haul - I have a few friends that I could maybe drag along if I had the extra gear to help them out. Haha.
I know it's lame but I really like the look of the Tippmanns. I like the more rugged look than the sleek fancy contours of the GoG! But I once I get better I know I'm going to prefer something that performs well.
For $200 I recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AWB3DIM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
for $20 I recommend this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y3SZEJC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I own both, and so far both have been reliable, you'd think the $20 one would be a POS but it is surprisingly well built. And if you aim it at a mirror in dim light the red dot in the scope is almost impossible to see... meanwhile, the Votex one is very obvious, almost like you're pointing a laser towards someone, so for stealth the cheaper one is better. But for build quality and toughness I am guessing the Votex is superior.
I actually ordered everything individually from Amazon. I’m sure you could probably find everything locally as well but it was easier for a newbie like me to get it all from the same place.
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_J3vBDbY97P8E0 - $22 ( + $5 to fill with CO2)
Aquarium CO2 Regulator with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7P8TL3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $53
AQUATEK CO2 Paintball Tank CGA... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $12
aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-11473... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N36MAO4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $18
AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z6vBDbMW07193 - $8
Century 24 Hour Plug-in... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVFF59S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $9
Aquarium Carbon Dioxide CO2... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9DGXV0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $11
Total: $148
Again, total newbie and this is the bare minimum of quality and price I was comfortable with. I plan on upgrading to a bigger tank and a better regulator in a few months. Do your own research too.
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.
Very cool. I have also been researching co2 setups. Is this the one you used on amazon? I also noticed that aquatek makes a mini regulator. Am I correct in assuming that the only difference in them is that the mini regulator uses a 24 oz paintball co2 tank and the standard size uses the 5 lb tank?
Also, absolutely gorgeous tank you have! I really like the open top style. May I ask also what kind of lights you are using? I really like how they look. Thank you!
When I started I pieced together a kit from decently priced items. I bought a Tippmann A5, tank, remote, and mask for maybe $200 or so. It was a pretty good setup for starting out, IMO, and you can add all sorts of frivolous / helpful things to something like an A5 when you have some playing money.
I'd suggest the BT-4 Combat, just for starting out. I actually JUST bought one on ebay for $70. They're $80-$100 on Amazon. From what I've seen of it, it's pretty similar to the A5. Thehiddenhedgehog uses one to good effect on his youtube channel.
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintball-Combat-Marker-Black/dp/B002Q8A88I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457389411&sr=8-1&keywords=bt-4+combat
I like Empire tanks personally. I've used them since I started.
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Energy-40020-Empire-20oz/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457389001&sr=8-1&keywords=paintball+c02+tank
This was my first mask. Took a .68 to the face my first game. Worked great! I've upgraded a few times since then, but I still have it and really like it.
http://www.amazon.com/US-Army-Ranger-Performance-Goggle/dp/B001TKP74E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457389082&sr=8-1&keywords=us+army+paintball+mask
$87 marker + $22 tank + $26 mask = $135. Add whatever shipping would be and that leaves plenty of room for pods, a remote line, and any gear you might want (vest, camo, boots, gloves, etc).
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.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLS8K2U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_V-Ckzb3WBZ7KF
Mesh is a pos but easy to pull out and replace if you desire, I've used it a couple times, straps are a little finicky but still pretty good for price
Also on mobile so idk if linking works right
Yes, but holy shit, why would you pay so much for that?
You'll need a fill station. This is the one I got for mine, and it works just fine for what I need it for.
Max pressure for that is 3000 PSI though, so if you upgrade to a 3342 tank, you shouldn't use it with that tank.
A fill whip is also a good idea. This is the one I have. It will connect directly with the QD fitting on the end of the Marauder.
With those you get a complete fill station and a longer fill hose at about half the cost of the Benjamin SCUBA adapter.
Good luck, have fun, be safe!
Basic components of a pressurized CO2 system:
Regulators: there are many brands and components to a regulator. I recommend a regulator with a solenoid, and a bubble counter. The solenoid allows you easily control your CO2 using an inexpensive timer, or an expensive pH controller. A bubble counter is a simple way to guess how much CO2 gas is in your aquarium. You may want to shoot for 3-4 bubbles per second depending on lighting and plants. I personally recommend the Milwaukee regulator and have used one reliably for years.
CO2 tank: A 10 lb tank might last you 3-4 months before needing refilled. You can get a 20lb but they are huge and ridiculously heavy. On my 29gal, a 10lb tank lasts 6 months. Tanks ship empty and you have to find a local source to fill it with CO2. Try welding supply or home brew beer supply. You will need disposable seals too.
Diffuser: This is where you have a lot of options. Ceramic diffusers are effective on small-medium tanks. CO2 reactors and DYI options using your filtration system are effective on a large size tank. I can't give any recommendations on these 2 options, sorry, hopefully someone will chime in.
Other important equipment includes CO2-safe tubing, a drop checker, maybe a brass check valve if needed, and the aforementioned timer. Hit me up if you would like recommendations for these items.
I have an $150 Pilad 1x42 red dot which is great but honestly it saddens me to say I still prefer my $16 Feyachi I run a protector for it but i definitely don’t feel the need to baby it all the time which is great.
I bought a $30 version as well , and both are the same quality (though the $30 actually has less brightness settings!)
Bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat $16.
Here is the $16 one on my MP5K
And the $30 one on my Calico
Some really solid advice. As it turns out, Full Auto isn't allowed on the course I played on last weekend, and I'm not sure if we're going to get to do any woodsball this summer (I live in Alaska, so it's a short season), so I guess I'll focus on Speedball and consider a woodsball marker for next summer if I can find a game.
I prefer to purchase things on Amazon so would you mind looking over this list to make sure I'm getting the right things?
Halo Too loader
http://www.amazon.com/Invert-Halo-Loader-48ci-Combo/dp/B003FVP506/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1
Mask
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R4O0PU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&smid=A32DO2WY2M0IZT
Pack (decided I liked this style vs the vertical ones)
http://www.amazon.com/GenX-Global-Horizontal-Harness-Black/dp/B003MZKTM4/ref=sr_1_24?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1345691239&sr=1-24&keywords=paintball+pack+gen+x
Tank (Do I need a cover? someone said that you should have a cover to protect a carbon fiber tank)
http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Carbon-Fiber-Paintball-Tank/dp/B001UYIDZY/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1345691561&sr=1-3&keywords=hpa+carbon+fiber
Gun
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Eclipse-Etha-Paintball-Gun/dp/B005VQZFQC/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_2
A note about the gun: I am really hesitant to splurge on the Ethas, because while it comes pretty highly recommended, I just can't get over the fact that it looks like a toy. Also, it seems that it's more suited to speedball, and I particularly want to maintain the delusion that I'll be able to find some woodsball games. Am I going to have any issues with trying to woodsball with the Ethas?
Thanks mate, really appreciate it. I am still on the fence about this helmet:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00083DEUM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mainly because of the horror stories some of my friends have told me who have gotten shot on the sides and back of their heads. Also the full helmet looks cool imo.
As for pants go (yikes!) definitely on the pricier side of gear. But I'm sure they're worth the investment.
Now I need to find a solid pair of cleats. Getting into paintball has been quite the investment ;)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001COQOZI?pc_redir=1409138158&robot_redir=1
So the sight can be yours for $25 as well, or $30 with the deflector. The deflector attaches to the rail in front of the sight. The optic I have is missing the screw that goes between the rail slots but it'll still hold nice to the rail. I kinda like it like this because it wont slide and I don't have to worry about aligning it on the rail.
It'll come with the Allen key and a spare battery, as well as the original box (and the instructions if I can find them)
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.
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
I’ve seen gaps in goggles all the time becuase the goggles don’t fit the head very well. I don’t thinks it’s good especially since a bbs almost hit your eye. I’ve never seen any gaps in a Dye mask or revision goggles. There is probably more but this is in my experience.
https://www.amazon.com/Revision-Military-Desert-Locust-Goggle/dp/B007HKPCMW
https://www.amazon.com/Dye-Precision-Thermal-Paintball-Goggle/dp/B002YHFMHS
Also the dye mask is the best thing I’ve ever bought in airsoft lol
This is crazy, cause I had this list put together, let me know what you think of this stuff? May go with your diffuser tho as it seems cheaper, is it also a c
Drop checker or do I need to get one of those too? Also, should I be dosing stuff on top of this CO2 setup? Like should I use Excel and other stuff still?
Ohhh ok, wasn't sure if you tried cutting the top off of it or not.
JT CO2 Tank 12oz w/repeater https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-t03AbGZWQRJ7
Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2-5A4 CO2 Paintball Tank CGA 320 Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iu03AbTZCMEKR
CO2 Regulator Aquarium Mini Stainless Steel Dual Gauge Display Bubble Counter and Check Valve w/ Solenoid 110V Fits Standard US Tanks - LP150 PSI - HP2000 PSI Accurate & Easy to Adjust Comes w/ Tools https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C6HKTN6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Fu03AbFC8ZJ3S
Rhinox Glass Drop Checker Kit - 3 Seconds to Read CO2 levels - 3 Minutes to Setup - Fastest way to ensure sufficient Co2 in Planted Aquarium - Includes pH Reagent indicator solution & Color chart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005C74ZCA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Xu03AbX7A0N5G
Pollen Glass CO2 Diffuser with U-Shape Connecting Tube for Aquarium Planted Tank (20 - 50 US gallons) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2LZOCE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dv03Ab406ZNJT
AQUANEAT 25 FT Airline Tubing Suction Cups Control Valves Tee's Check valves Aquarium Air Pump Accessories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Z8ZR9H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sv03Ab2DJ19BC
Rhinox Brass Check Valve for Aquariums - Sturdy, Reliable, Anti-Leak, Anti-Backflow, Non-Return CO2 Air Valve That Ensures One Directional Water Flow, Perfect for Sensitive Fish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IHXW5SC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Gv03Ab2QEHCZQ
Interesting. With lower intensity light, you probably don't necessarily need a heavy fertilizer regimen. To save a buck, would say that API "Leaf Zone" and Flourish (the base micro mix) would probably be all you'd ever need. But that might not be quite enough phosphate. You can keep an eye out for phosphate deficiency and wait until you know you need to dose. I've been using the GLA ferts, but it's overkill, and i never dose extra nitrate.
With low light, i don't think you really need CO2, but it's a nice addition. It can help to really suppress the majority of algae, but it's really only a necessity with very intense lights. The planted+ would take you up to medium-high light, and you might want to invest in CO2. I'm running the fluval kit with a lot of luck in my 5.5G light light tank. You can upgrade it to a paintball tank and it's more than enough. Probably the cheapest way to get into pressurized CO2, and you don't have to invest in the adapter and paintball cylinder first thing.
I wouldn't recommend DIY. Once you start doing it, you'll get tired of changing the solution every couple of weeks and it's not as consistent as pressurized. It's a good solution in a pinch, but you'll definitely want to look into pressurized eventually.
You could find a decent build for ~$100-200. If you get anything <$100, keep in mind that it's priced that low for a reason (cost vs quality).
I'd look into a paintball setup. A 20 oz tank on Amazon is $20. About $5 per fill at Dicks sporting goods (Buy 5 get 1 free or something like that). $15ish for the adapter (you don't need it if you buy a regulator designed for paintball tanks - see: Aquatek mini regulator
In that scenario, it'd cost slightly over $100 for that setup.
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&amp;_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!
Thanks, that helps confirm what we thought.
If the goal is to serve from the sodastream and feed your beer kegs, here’s what you have to do:
Firstly, you need to think of your sodastream bottle/cylinder as a mini CO2 tank. You will be replacing your 5lb CO2 cylinder with the 9/12oz sodastream bottle. You’re going to bypass the sodastream machine completely, as it’s not necessary. Also, keep in mind that most CO2 regulators have checkvalves, which means the gas only flows one way (this is good, don’t want beer in your reg!).
If you’re trying to do something else (fill the sodastream cylinder for reuse, or use your big CO2 tank to run your sodastream unit), there are different parts/steps to use. Let me know if I got it wrong and you still need help.
If you lock yourself into only purchasing these "kits" then I would just go head buy fluval as they're pretty much all around that range. Same thing with the replacement CO2 carts.
If you're really looking to save money in the long run, I would buy each part separate, they tend to be cheaper on amazon that way.
What you need is
Regulator
Co2 Tank (paintball tank is cheapest and easiest to fill locally)
Adaptor (only if you bough a paint ball co2 tank)
bubble counter and check value (pick it up at your LFS)
This is the set up I run at my 10 gallon dutch, I've had it for 2 months now and the PSI on the CO2 tank haven't dipped in the slightest. I'm estimating the CO2 to last me almost three months, (right now I'm about two months 1 week in since filling the co2 tank)
I also didn't fill it all the way.
Regulator (it says not for aquarium use but it’s perfectly fine. Read the reviews, plenty of paid ole are using it for planted tanks.)
Hydroponics (Co2) Regulator Emitter System with Solenoid Valve Accurate and Easy to Adjust Flow Meter Made of High Quality Brass - Shorten up and Doub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016NGH4M6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_y49oQQvbnDObI
Co2 tank
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_WS6y6wpDabbwP
Co2 tank adapter
Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2-5A4 CO2 Paintball Tank CGA 320 Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_ygLvJnhVJyGBc
Have been running this setup for awhile now and don’t have any issues.
Ouch, yeah, I didn't know you were in CAN. I have one I would send you for free (you pay postage) if it's worth it to you, let me know. (this is the one I have : http://www.amazon.com/Hydra-Aquatic-CO2-Paintball-Adapter/dp/B008ZAAP2K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1425580260&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=Paintball+Adapter)
But yes, my lesson in CO2, spend the money and buy a real setup. budget / DIY on a nice tank just ends up being a waste of time and causing issues/frustration. I ended up buying the Aquatek Mini regulator w/ a Solenoid and a Paintball canister and it's awesome on my 20 gallon.
It's a 24oz Paintball CO2 canister and this regulator that is designed to screw right on top paintball size tanks.
Has an electric solenoid so i can plug into my timer and have it shut off over night. I'm very happy with it. It's amazing how much more green everything got after I found a good flow rate.
Please buy a 20 dollar red dot from amazon, Its a toy gun!
I can vouch for the cheap sights, they are perfectly fine. Spend money on the gun to make it shoot better, not the sight to view the bbs :)
Edit: Here is the sight i have here and [here] (https://www.amazon.com/Sights-Screen-Shield-Tactical-Protector/dp/B01N4P5XX7/ref=pd_sim_200_4?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=DF7ZCNEQBJBNY7Y9FMV8) is the cover i use to protect it.
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 understand it's for fun and all, but why not spend $150-$200 on a nice quality red dot and save money in the long run but avoiding the cheap ones all together?
Like this
http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-advanced-micro-dot-with-push-buttons-and-up-to-50k-hour-battery-life-md-ads
Or
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AWB3DIM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479423421&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=vortex+sparc+ar&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41rxtx7oqGL&amp;ref=plSrch
Picked up a 34 a couple weeks ago and knew I couldn’t keep it stock for very long. After a DD Threaded Barrel and Compensator , TTI Magwell , RMR , Trijicon Suppressor Height Night Sights , and the most annoying trigger job I’ve ever done (Pyramid Flat Face ) it is complete.
It took me at least an hour of messing with the trigger to get it working because when I first installed it, it would travel all the way to the rear and not fire. I had to take the entire thing apart and adjust the tiny screws to get good trigger travel and reset. Besides that headache the trigger is amazing.
I should also add that the stippling doesn’t look perfect because I did it. I’d rather get a super aggressive feel and have it look decent at a distance, than have it slide in my hands but look perfect.
Get some Fogtech to deal with the fogging up problem. That stuff is amazing and works great. A fan built in sounds gimmicky and something that will break on your first wipeout.
I dont wear glasses so don't know which googles will be big enough to go over them. But try them out at a shop and you'll be good to go.
Vortex SPARC AR
Or
Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot
Or
HOLOSUN HS403B
All are good, but for the prices the Primary Arms or Holosun are a better bet due to the 50k hours battery life.
Then buy a lightweight magnifier with QD mount so you can either leave it on our take it off depending on your current setup or shooting preference.
That's all pretty much in the $300 range for both the dot and the magnifier.
This is what I have been using for a while. It works great and is a pretty good price.
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&amp;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&amp;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&amp;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&amp;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&amp;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&amp;psc=1
Paintball tank @$21.49 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&amp;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.
> just want something that I can play with my friends in our backyards (it's huge so don't worry).
Check OP's post
> Paintball is much more expensive than airsoft
https://www.amazon.com/JT-SplatMaster-Z200-Shotgun-Red/dp/B0094KSYW8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503283439&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=paintball+pump+gun
> nerf is just cringe worthy
Not really, it's a mater of your opinion and perspective.
Iron sights will be perfectly adequate. Having a red dot or not is not the main factor in playing well. Much more about tactics, technique and experience. A red dot does definitely help with faster target acquisition especially in darker areas where iron sights are hard to see due to lack of light. Red dot sights are also really fun to use imo.
I'd definitely recommend a TRS-25 + riser if your budget can stretch to it. Waterproof, lifetime warranty, good battery life, good parallax correction. Otherwise one of the field sport type red dots which ktmrider119z recommended or one of these style sights. The open style sight is good for CQB because of the different dot shapes, but if you knock it, it will be more likely to lose it's zero position. Also less weather resistant than the tube types. You'll also need a lens protector to go in front of it. You can DIY one with a dremel + lexan or buy a rail mounted one.
Like others have pointed out, you're spending a lot of money. Hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing considering we know nothing about your budget.
Some tips for your selections:
As for a vest, given the stuff you've already picked out, the obvious choice would be a Condor MOPC in black. Plate carriers are generally highly modular, so with some additional MOLLE pouches you can set up your rig however you want.
Edit: model, not brand
Lots of this info is from my answer in the other thread where you asked, but:
A ten gallon is still quite a small tank, with only slightly higher margin for error. You'll have to be bang on your fertilization measurements in either size to avoid catastrophic levels of algae.
I'd say save up a little while longer and get a decent electronic marker. I was in the same boat as you a few months ago and bought a Tippmann A-5 Package off of amazon.com
I've since replaced the mask it came with, tank, remote line, and got a new barrel for the gun and I'm still not close to done. Starter markers are great for woodsball, but if you're anything like me after a few days playing woodsball you're going to start to have an itch for speedball or xball. Now I'm wishing I had just gotten an electronic marker at the beginning instead of the A-5.
I put these on my glock17 and love them, but I like the taller sights, they work better for me, and give me the option of a can down the road.
https://www.amazon.com/Trijicon-Suppressor-White-Outline-Models/dp/B00BRGT7IW/ref=pd_sim_200_45?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=KQG0PPM94NXC69C9BEBV
Sorry to bog you with questions! I just started checking out GLA and I figured to use a paintball co2 tank you would need to use this regulator?:
http://greenleafaquariums.com/products/gla-gro-co2-regulator-paintball.html
with this paintball tank:?
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Energy-40020-Empire-20oz/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I'm just a little paranoid about whether they'll fit together (i just bought an eheim filter and it's not fitting together well with these custom outflow/intake pipes i bought on ebay) thanks so much again!
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...
What kind of filter are you running? cansiter or HOB?
I suggest two routes:
Good luck and check out my post history for another 22long setup with carpeting monte carlo
What size tank is that? In my experience you have to seriously overdose iron to keep even a reddish color, I use seachem iron added to the minor elements while estimative index dosing. With that light if your tank is less =&amp;amp;lt; 18" tall, you will need some carbon added. You may be able to get away will excel for a bit but long term going with an "estimative index" fert and co2 injection will be cheaper and easier.
Also, swords are heavy root feeders so you definitely need to get some root tabs for them the grow and flourish.
This is my current co2 setup that's easy to put together and only cost a few dollars every few months to fill for my 29g:
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
Oh wow. Yeah, I've had to tweak the adapter but I always try to take it away from the SodaStream and take it off the pump when I do it.
I actually did something similar to what you did- somehow broke the brass part- my first time setting it up. Luckily, I was using this tank- instead of blowing the brass part off, it triggered the safety burst disk, which dumped all the CO2 out (loud hissing, terrified me) and froze the whole tank and countertop.
The general store where I refilled the CO2 was able to replace the safety pin with a new one, it's a standard design. Ever since that I've been super cautious with it- treated it like a loaded gun, never pointed it at anything, always adjust the adapter with the adapter removed- and it's been fine.
You would rather get these if your really keen on getting a mask that fully covers your head. It is a bit more pricey, but it is worth it since it will be very comfortable and is a cousin to one of the most reputable googles in paintball, the JT Proflex.
Here's the regulator I have... there are mixed stories about it. It's been fine for me.
http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464028443&amp;sr=1-2-catcorr&amp;keywords=co2+regulator+aquarium
You're looking at around $150 for a full CO2 setup. You'll need a regulator, a tank, a diffuser/reactor/way to get it into the water column, and some air line tube. Overall, it's not hugely difficult, but will make a really big difference on your plant growth if you're OK with spending the $$$.
Edit: You can also always look around plantedtank.net for a used setup. There's always people there upgrading.
Hey pro tip, Amazon sells really decent ones(nothing super special but very functional) for like $15.
link 1:
link 2:
Safety glasses should be strong enough. Check if there are any markings that say "ANSI rated". If you have a paintball mask that will definitely work though, and I would go with that. If you get shot in the tooth there is a good chance that it will crack/be damaged. Not something you want to mess with.
Red dots/ACOG/magnifying sights are plenty useful. You can get a pretty decent NCStar sight for $25. There is also one for $10 if you want a better primary or sidearm, or something else. For a pseudo-ACOG this will work. For a holo (I prefer these over red dots as they give a better sight picture and reticle) this should be fine.
What kind of gun do you like? M4, AK, G36C, MP5, etc.
What kind of pistol? 1911, Glock, M9, p226, etc.
Is that Canadian dollars or USD?
Edit: Problem with Canadian airsoft is that everything is 2-3 times more expensive. So if you can, buy from a U.S. retailer and go for the "Canadian legal" option, and they should adjust it for you, albeit at an extra fee. But $30 is nothing compared to the $200 it might cost to get the same gun in canada.
Edit 2: I'm retarded and can't Canadian airsoft. Evike offers this service for $8, which should make the trip over the border easy. The only other additional fee would be buying an upgraded spring, but that's extremely cheap.
Assuming you don't want a full-sized scuba/welding tank, most people seem to go with the paintball canister + regulator setup. You can get the paintball canister from most of your sports stores that sell paintball supplies - they generally come in sizes around 20/24oz, but I think I've seen some larger. They run from $20-40, fills ranging around $5 (these are my local Academy Sports prices). The regulator is probably the priciest up front cost - usually around $90. I'm sure there are cheaper and more expensive versions of both of these.
Most people also add a bubble counter - pretty standard, and usually costing less than $5 - and an aerator/atomizer/diffuser (many different names for something that basically "dissolves" the co2 into the water). I haven't found a perfect solution for this yet - I've used fine airstones, ceramic discs, water ladders, and I'm currently using a powered diffuser.
I run a standard 30g tank at 1.5 bubbles per second. My swords and java moss are going crazy, but I've had problems with getting any sort of carpet going (more an issue with my tank parameters than an issue with the co2). I tried the DIY system for a while, but I have to say that I much prefer the high tech method.
One thing I would suggest is to make sure you've got a reliable source of co2 refills. Luckily all of my Academy Sports seem to do refills, but if they weren't an option, there's not a whole lot else around me. People have suggested wielding supply stores and paintball specific shops, but they're rare and randomly placed by me.
Gonna second what a few other people said - mesh doesn't make good eye protection. BBs can and will shatter into your eyes. If you can't get contacts or prescription goggles, I wear ESS Innerzone 3 goggles over my glasses. Dye i4/i5 goggles also fit over my glasses, although they're pretty expensive. The Dye Special Edition looks way less sleek, but has as good antifog as the i4/i5 and fits over glasses too.
Co2 set ups are unfortunately not cheap. The aquatek mini regulator on a paintball canister seems to be a pretty popular choice. You'll need a diffuser, some co2 "proof" hose, and ideally a Co2 indicator as well, but those things are all cheap little addons.
I personally use liquid Co2 instead of pressurized (shrimp tanks, so I dont want to risk suffocating them), so I cant give a first hand recommendation for any particular system. The folks over at /r/plantedtank surely can though.
to piggy back im pretty sure this is the oem for the same sight. i have had this one for a while and would highly recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/Feyachi-Reflex-Sight-Adjustable-Reticle/dp/B01HPWATOC
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
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&amp;psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WTXYN0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;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.
Isn't it the $60 one in this list? Because as far as I can see, those are exactly the same as this and this and this and this. I hate to be down on your new toy, but in my honest opinion, even plastic open sights are better than a sub-$100 optic on an AR.
Sounds like a paintball system would be a good fit. I think the aquatek is the cheapest that's actually somewhat reliable.
http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=cats&amp;Edit=2&amp;EditU=1&amp;Regit=2
You can get your fertilizers here. You want potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and some form of phosphorus, I don't remember what type specifically. Then you also want plantex CSM+B.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY?pc_redir=1396136717&amp;robot_redir=1
Here is the CO2 regulator. It's a good deal, and a good way to enter pressurized CO2 for cheap.
I have the 88g fluval kit but I converted it to use paintball co2 canisters. So much cheaper! 20oz refill is 5$ at dicks sporting goods and the actual canister was 30 bucks, but I’m sure you could get a cheaper one if you looked around. 20oz usually lasts me a month and some change. Link below if you’re interested in the adapter. It’s the one I use. There’s some videos on YouTube too.
https://www.amazon.com/Hydra-Aquatic-CO2-Paintball-Adapter/dp/B008ZAAP2K/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?keywords=paintball+co2+adapter&amp;qid=1564547495&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-14
Here's a list of all the equipment for the tank. The paintball tank I bought from my local military surplus/paintball shop. Refills are $6. It's a pretty simple setup. I chose the inline diffuser to reduce clutter inside the tank. Plus, the co2 is absorbed into the water by the time it hits the tank. Here's a current (as of today) pic of 1 months growth http://i.imgur.com/KvyECwm.jpg
I'm working hard on my own design, but some shortcut notes (hopefully this helps, as I've purchased a dozen paintball hoppers, all of which was wasted money for the most part)!
https://www.amazon.com/Proto-Primo-Paintball-Loader-Hopper/dp/B0036FHJLE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480181082&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=proto+hopper
https://www.amazon.com/Tippmann-Low-Profile-Cyclone-Hopper/dp/B000X04RJM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480181136&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=tippmann+hopper
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNM7oA8DBP6/?taken-by=outofdarts
Not sure what your budget is but this is meant to be used with paintball tanks. I have it set up on a 24oz empire tank for my 20g long and it's been great for the two months I've been using it.
I like the riser but not the tan sight. if it were black I'd be on board tho (here is the one I have). on the PDW I also enjoy a FAT suppressor flying out the front. like this one
I use an anti-fog solution this one actually so far it's worked great, specially in the winter
For one, the cyma ak doesn't come with rails so mounting it would require an additional optics mount.
For two I may be just bad at internetting right now but I have no idea what battery/charger you get when you buy that bundle so can't comment on it.
mag, mask, and goggles, and
bb's totally finebuy the .25g BB's for slightly more, just remember to wash bio-BB's before use. Lots of youtube tutorials for that.P.S. if you choose a gun that is optics friendly, or decide to later buy a mount for that gun, amazon has a whole bunch of cheap red dots like this that work totally fine. I use 1 of these specifically as my cqc sight and I've never had a problem with it even in sunny conditions.
I did a paintball cylinder system with this valve http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TJCPSY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
So far it's been great. Really easy to dial in - set it and forget it.
Do you think the tank in the link is good? I was thinking of getting it but I don't know if it's good or not?
http://www.amazon.com/Invert-Halo-Loader-48ci-Combo/dp/B003FVP506/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373733330&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=halo+too+hopper
That does help immensely. Thanks! Do you have any experience with that regulator versus this one?
Just got this setup, plants seem happy and its really easy to setup (first time planted tank here)
Tank Also available with a free refill (~$5) at dick's but its ~$27 there
Regulator
Tank to regulator adaptor
Total cost = $125
My tank is 135 gallons planted discus and community.
These are probably outside of your pricerange, considering the cost of the gun, but they're the best full facemask that you can buy.
This is pretty good for 20 bucks
https://www.amazon.com/Feyachi-Reflex-Sight-Adjustable-Reticle/dp/B01HPWATOC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1539663427&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=feyachi+reflex+sight&amp;psc=1
You just need a scuba fill station. Something like this.
They mount to the bottle and allow you connect your tank to fill of the bottle.
A true bonafide, field-grade compressor is going to run you north of $3,000 unless you're looking at the little 110v PCP chinesium made ones. Those are a crapshoot and not worth the dice roll IMHO
I would ditch the sidearm and put that money towards a better primary gun, as sidearms aren't really necessary and rarely your primary will break down.
Also I woud recommend this red dot over that one, because it gives a better sight picture and is less flimsy.
Pretty sure this is it because I have it as well and it looks similar.
Maybe it's just for me but every reticle but the dot is kinda blurry for me. But it works better than the iron sights on my x95.
Defogging product is your best bet. The EG2's have huge vents (annoyingly large enough that snow and water fall through the top easily) so venting is not the issue.
I use Cat Crap myself, you just spread it on with your fingers and wipe smooth with a cloth. If you're worried about scratches though you could try this it works alright, not as good as cat crap. The only annoying thing is you have to apply it before hand as it needs several hours to dry afterwards.
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9nWmzbHHP82B9
I got it back in April and it seems amazon doesn't carry it anymore. I run 2-3 bps and everything seems great
This mask is a common rental mask with added full head protection. Rental masks are notorious for being just bad masks. If you feel like you absolutely need a full head mask, go with a JT Flex-8 Headguard. This was my first mask and I still have it. I have i4s now but my friends use it when we play.
But seriously, if you don't absolutely need full head protection, don't get it. It looks kinda stupid, and it's hot and sticky. Not to mention more area to clean when you're done playing. Whatever you get though, get it with a thermal lens.
Since I just set up one of these systems, I may have some helpful information:
I purchased http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY and it came with an Aquatek bubble counter and check valve. Considering this option could bring your price down a bit.
Don't forget you will probably need a timer for your solenoid if you are running fish. (may want one for fish-less too)
I was trying to use old paintball co2 tanks that I had laying around, but I was not able to. Be aware that if your tank was not hydrotested within the past 5 years, it will not be filled by any reputable refilling location. A hydrotest is about the price of a new 24oz tank. So an unforeseen cost for me was 2 new paintball tanks.
Hopefully this was helpful! Sorry about format, I'm on my phone.
Filter: Corner Hamburg Matten Filter
Sourced from Stephan Tanner of Swiss Tropical. Contact: swisstropicals@gmail.com He is awesome to work with and contact.
Jetlifter (Part of the HMF) uses air from a Tetra Whisper 40 Air pump.
Lighting: Finnex Stingray
CO2 Setup: Aquatek Reg , Standard 20 oz paintball co2 tank, Co2 Diffuser from Co2art, and random co2 grade tubing. No bubble counter as of yet.
Hardscape material: Dragon (Ohko) stone and manzanita wood.
Substrate: SL Aquasoil
Plant list: Hygrophilia Pinnitifida, Downoi, Monte Carlo, Fissidens Fontanus, Blyxa Japonica, Velvet 3 color buce, Little Red Star Buce, Krivbass Buce, Little Apple Buce, and Dark Skeleton King Buce.
Petri dish was one I got off of amazon.
Frosted Glass film off of amazon as well.
I guess if you want to know there is a bag of ceramic media hiding behind my filter.
Annnnd there you go the entire list of stuff in my tank.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008TJCPSY?pc_redir=1395109144&amp;robot_redir=1 this is really the best you can do for the price.
I just set up this regulator on my 5.5 and though it's too early to tell if I'll like it long term, it was easy to set up and run and relatively cheap. (Sorry for the full link, I'm on mobile). http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!
Here are your smile-ified links:
Milwaukee regulator
disposable seals
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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly&nbsp;bot
https://www.amazon.com/Protection-Safety-Resistance-Airsoft-Paintbal/dp/B00GLS8K2U
Not quite the same but pretty close. Also, there are many other options via airsoft masks that aren't quite the same.
That Sparc AR red dot is worth about $200 on Amazon, PSA, and Midway. 2 MOA. So $445 AR with red dot or $200 red dot and $245 AR, whichever makes you happier.
yes like this but only in .50, they are marketed as "low impact" they don't shoot very far but they work well enough. you can put a bunch of kids on a speedball field with them and they won't hurt each other.
I went ahead and purchased the stuff below. I think this will be good for casual play.
Gun https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C2NH25O/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Red Dot
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPWATOC/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Hopper
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036FHJLE/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I put one of these: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001COQOZI/?tag=dp-us-20 on mine and love it even more now.
Here's a great deal on a tank and hopper; http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003FVP506?cache=61b7619bac973d9162859a37f1c86151#ref=s9_simh_gw_d4_g200_i1&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=mobile-1&amp;pf_rd_r=0ZS2A0ZZ28KQM5DS8Z9S&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=1634797062&amp;pf_rd_i=507846
Shot out red dot/reflex sights work great as a sillouette ring. Just attach it and use to box in a target.
Like these
Brings life to an otherwise busted piece at least.
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.
$10 Regulators from eBay? The ones I've seen have 1+ month shipping estimates... I'm so spoiled by Amazon.
How well would these items work?
https://www.amazon.com/JT-SplatMaster-Z200-Shotgun-Red/dp/B0094KSYW8
I've found it's spring works well in mega blasters.
also part #88284 3/4 x 10-1/2 compression springs serve as a good upgrade to the marker.
I run the following. I spent countless hours researching and decided I didn't want a $100+ regulator. I went with 5 lb over a paintball setup because paintball tanks only hold 20 or 24 oz. If you're also taking cost into consideration a 5 lb tank also holds 5 x 16 oz = 80 oz = 4x the amount of CO2 capacity for 3x the price. In addition you don't need the adapter and it's easier to fill 5 lb tanks (at least in the bay area).
Total cost under $200.
This is the system I use, it hooks up to paintball co2 tanks which makes it alot easier to get then filled. Alot of people will tell you you need to spend alot on a system but I've used this on a 10 gallon for over a year all together and just got a new one for my 55 and I think it work really well.
Check this out at Amazon.com
AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_9O82Bb5S8EGPT
http://i.imgur.com/kujrMR6.jpg
2.5 gallon
Fauna: 4x White Cloud Minnow
Flora: Hemianthus Callitrichoides
Cryptocoryne Parva
Marimo Moss
Unknown plant in the back. Trying to find something to fill in the back.
Driftwood: Manzanita
Equipment: Beamswork 12" LED
Deep Blue Biomaxx Nano Filter
Rhinox Glass Drop Checker
Rhinox 1000 Glass Diffuser
Empire Paintball 24oz. CO2 tank
AquaTek Mini CO2 Regulator
AquaTek CO2 Tubing
DIY Teabag + Activated Carbon filter
Plug Timer
Dosing: 0.5 mL/day Flourish Excel
0.5mL/week Flourish Comprehensive
CO2: 8 hours, Light: 8 hours, offset 30 minutes.
Wow, for the much just keep en eye out for a used Dye I4 mask or just get it new. All masks or even just goggles will affect aiming down sights and most will require a riser for the sight to see properly.
Blackout your tank for 3 days. This will kill off the hair algae (caution: it may also start to effect your plants as well though). Use a fork to 'spaghetti twirl' the hair algae & get it out of the tank. What you're holding is a CO2 regulator. They aren't cheap, and only certain types don't need a CGA320 to paintball adapters. This looks similar to what you have in your picture. I would probably suggest this to eliminate most of your problems. It looks like he has dwarf baby tears & maybe dwarf hair grass? I found it difficult to save my dwarf baby tears after an hair algae bloom, but was able to save the grass.
Awesome, thanks for your input! I'm looking at what you suggested as well as what Thaix suggested and I'm wondering what the major differences or pros/cons of each setup is. I'm obviously not super-savvy with with stuff, but as far as I can tell the only real difference in the type of tank being used? Your suggestion looks a little more intense and uses a larger CO2 tank, which I might need if I ever want to upgrade to a bigger tank, but I can't really look at those and see what the major differences are. =/
Hmm, the light may be good. What kind of light is it? The regulator can be expensive. A whole paintball CO2 setup consist of: Paintball tank, regulator CO2 proof tubing and a diffuser keep in mind there are many varieties and versions of this equipment.
I have this https://www.amazon.com/Trijicon-Suppressor-White-Outline-Models/dp/B00BRGT7IW with my osprey on my g19. The rear sights leave a little to be desired in daytime. At night, they all glow nice and I use them as an indicator to the way to my cot.
Any that you can recommend? Prefer paintball 20-24oz tank due to space constraints...
I just saw this and am mildly curious about it... currently researching more about it.
https://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
ALL the stores near me have nothing but these:
https://www.amazon.com/Gulfstream-Tropical-AGU00512-Diffuser-Aquarium/dp/B005DGJBYW/ref=sr_1_17?s=pet-supplies&amp;rps=1&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468007204&amp;sr=1-17&amp;keywords=CO2+Diffuser&amp;refinements=p_85%3A2470955011
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https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Pressurized-88g-CO2-Kit-Ounces/dp/B004G44ZQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468007002&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=co2+system+fluval11
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 :)
https://www.amazon.com/Protection-Safety-Resistance-Airsoft-Paintbal/dp/B00GLS8K2U These look pretty similar.
Sure I am using the Aquatek Regulator Mini with a Paintball tank from Dicks Sporting Goods (which also sells refills for 5$ a pop). I use a standard ceramic diffusor.
Ferts are Thrive liquid all in one and GLA's dry fert EI package (you can see them to the right of the aquarium). The only reason I have both is because I suspect that Thrive led to a Staghorn algae outbreak back in April - leading me to pick up the GLA dry ferts. I've recently gone back to Thrive and no SHA so far).
Sure! I had started a thread here when I was buying my parts.
Light: Wave-point 6-Inch 8-Watt Daylight Micro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light
Rocks: Seiryu Stone(I soaked them in 12% muriatic acid for 5 - 10 minutes)
CO2 Regulator: AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini
CO2 tubing: GLA Clear CO2 Resistant Tubing
Check valve: Atomic Check Valve
Diffuser: Up Aqua 8/12 mm atomizer
Soil: ADA Amazonia Powder
Plants: Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'
I also ripped the bracing off the front of the tank because I didn't like it.
Yep, I use a paintball tank to push beer when tailgating at college football games.
EDIT: In my experience it is more expensive to push kegs, I can get 5 lbs of CO2 for $14 in my big tank or 1.25 lbs of CO2 for $5 in my paintball tank.
This adapter will allow you to connect a standard regulator designed for larger tanks to a paintball tank.
The Aquatek mini is a paintball regulator. I know because it's been in my wishlist taunting me for months :) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY
If it's within your budget, this is my go to CQB gun:
TM M93R with folding stock (it says its for the gbb version but it does fit albeit loosely), couple extended mags, replacement slide, and a red dot. The replacement slide has a slot for a silencer but I don't have one so I can't recommend one.
Looks great so far!
I would definitely go for CO2. I don't think I've seen anyone grow a nice HC carpet who didn't have it. You're probably going to want it anyway because if you have a light that is strong enough to grow HC but don't have any CO2, you are going to get algae problems.
When I flooded my tank after DSM I blasted CO2 and the HC transitioned fine, no melting whatsoever.
If you already have a paintball canister this is a great regulator that's relatively cheap: http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY.
Can I use smaller canisters on the Pro-se series complete kit you suggested? Would I just need an adapter, like this one to do so?
If you want to go really cheap try this one out.
It has unlimited field of vision. I sighted it in when I first got it and haven't needed to adjust it since. I have put several hundred rounds down range with it staying true. Good enough for a .22 but didn't stay true for more than a dozen shots in 5.56
Also if you really want to do co2 well, just give in and buy a cheap paintball tank and the aquatek mini. http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY
This is the nozzle I use.
The container I use is the JT 20 oz which I got from the local Dicks store but this Empire one on Amazon should also work.
Like this one I say get the silver one to be different.
Something like this
https://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1520910198&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=aquatek+co2+regulator
I found this one also this morning.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TJCPSY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=A34950EJPC3UHN
Seems like a deal with the solenoid. Reviews seem decent.
A route I'm going for/currently have is using fluval 88g (I got a dennerle c02 kit uses same fittings fluval about 88UsD dennerle I got for 110 USD) then all you would need to buy is the adapter to fit it to paintball tanks about 7 dollars then a small refillable paintball tank aprx 20 dollars from what ive seen.
I chose this route cause I wanted to use c02 and experiment with it before I got a "bigger tank"
https://www.amazon.com/Hydra-Aquatic-CO2-Paintball-Adapter/dp/B008ZAAP2K
this is the adapter you can use I got mine used.
Whilst I'm at it do you guys know how to plug holes like the ones on this mask? https://www.amazon.com/Protection-Safety-Resistance-Airsoft-Paintbal/dp/B00GLS8K2U
If you are using your Paintball tanks there isnt much "DIY" you can do. You'll have to get a regulator to inject the CO2 into your fish tanks.
Something like this.
https://smile.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1491578117&amp;sr=8-10&amp;keywords=paintball+regulator
Of course you will have to get the tank refilled with C02 when empty.
If you want to do a DIY CO2 setup chekc out this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JzvfHO31Ug
I have the basic fluval one in my 20gallon tank, its ok, but I ditched the co2 chamber you fill up and leave for a bubble counter and a diffuser, it's still not very consistent because those little cartirdges don't hold the same pressure for very long, for the price (and the price of those little cartridges) i'll be upgrading to this for my next tank http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413049402&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aquarium+co2+regulator+with+tank
It's only about $20 more than the fluval kit - minus the hoses and diffuser, bubble counter, etc. and I already have the co2 tank from an old paintball gun, and the big co2 tanks are about $4 to fill and should last a very long time, but what I like MOST is that it has a shutoff, you set the co2 output to the desired amount (count the bubbles) and leave it, you unplug it and it will shut off the co2, so you can have it on the same timer as your lights and it will turn on and off with them, no having to sit there with a very touchy valve and hope you dont blow your hose out and water everywhere!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPWATOC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I have one of these and it's ok so far. I don't have much in the way of expectations for something that cost $19.
You did say cheap ... I put it on a .22.
You need two things. I purchased a scuba tank to fill mine at home, etc. But if you need to fill a single tank they'll need these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JONEI4/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_26Gqtb1CHFC66
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T6I1K0/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_O8Gqtb1WBWPST
I'd be really surprised if your local shop didn't already have a DIN adapter (it's needed to fill scuba tanks from their compressor).
Here is the fill station
It hooks up to any standard scuba tank. You can ask the local scuba shops about used tanks, or even look on craigslist for them to try to save money.
Here is a pre-packaged set up that has everything you would need, but it's a little bit more expensive than buying a used tank.
And there is more! I bought a paintball canister adapter on Amazon and attached my Fluval regulator to 22 oz of CO2 at 4 bucks a refill from any sporting goods store. The 22oz canister was around $16.
https://www.amazon.com/Hydra-Aquatic-CO2-Paintball-Adapter/dp/B008ZAAP2K
Don't get it. It's worth spending the extra money to get this.