CO2: Paintball or Standard Cylinder

Curious what everyone thinks about rigging up a paintball co2 system vs using traditional high pressure cylinders. I was planning on getting a nice paintball setup for about $115 all said and done, but then noticed I could get a 5lb setup for about $160. I feel like the extra $45 would be worth it, but I'm tight on space which is what makes paintball setup nice. Obviously the 5lb will last about 3x longer, but, qualitatively, how much longer? Are there benefits to having stable pressure for that much longer, or am I thinking too much into this. Maybe the paintball setup is as small as I like to think it is?

Curious to hear your thoughts for either setup.

Standard cylinder all the way, you can get an adapter for the regulator to use paintball tanks for about $15. It's so much nicer to have the ability to scale up with a bigger tank(s) than to use the paintball system with its different thread pattern on the paintball tanks. It's also more cost effective to use the larger tanks. I run a 20lb tank to several aquariums currently 5 outlets and it lasts me 8 months to a year (mind you my co2 levels are fairly low.) If size is an issue you can just run the co2 tubing to where you want than try to hid the canister near your tank.

I'm just putting together a system myself and got the Regulator for a normal tank and am planning to go with a 5lb tank unless I can find a good price on something bigger. Always good to have the option to easily downsize if you want but if you start lower its much harder to go up to a big tank.

I want to agree with the other 2 on versatility and longevity. When I did my research I ended up with the bigger cylinders. There is also a 2.5 lb cylinder. I have one tucked away under a small tank stand/cabinet. Its about the same size as large paintball cylinders.

Well I ended up scoring a RedSea CO2 kit NIB for $60. $20 for a 24oz CO2 cylinder means my initial outlay is less than half what the 5# would have been. I'll take that. Though, I will have to fork out a little extra to DIY a solenoid valve, should be about $20 DIY.

For anyone who is interested Amazon has a Milwaukee dual guage regulator with needle valve, bubble counter and solenoid for about $90, new 5# CO2 cylinder for about $60, that's what I was leaning towards until this fell in my lap.

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Its only 10oz but you can mount the bastage!!!

anderson_p_r wrote:Well I ended up scoring a RedSea CO2 kit NIB for $60.  $20 for a 24oz CO2 cylinder means my initial outlay is less than half what the 5# would have been.  I'll take that. Though, I will have to fork out a little extra to DIY a solenoid valve, should be about $20 DIY.

For anyone who is interested Amazon has a Milwaukee dual guage regulator with needle valve, bubble counter and solenoid for about $90, new 5# CO2 cylinder for about $60, that's what I was leaning towards until this fell in my lap.

That sounds nice. I would like to know how your going to make a solenoid?

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A couple of fittings, a 12v converter, and a standard outlet timer.  Should be right around $20 when done.

Also, it should all be here by tomorrow thanks to Amazon Prime

It's DIY in the sense that it's not the RedSea solenoid valve, those run about $90.

Got my 24oz cylinder filled for $8.

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A couple of fittings, a 12v converter, and a standard outlet timer.  Should be right around $20 when done.

Also, it should all be here by tomorrow thanks to Amazon Prime

It's DIY in the sense that it's not the RedSea solenoid valve, those run about $90.

Oh, I understand!

I built my first regulator from spare parts. I work at a gas company that did in house repairs so at that time had access to boxes of old parts and solenoids. Before the company was sold to a cooperation I also got free gas (perk).

Yeah, my solenoid ended up costing about $35 because I saved the time and got the parts at Ace, rather than shop around for them cheaper at someplace like Lowes. Still, saved money and it works great, so I'm now worried.

anderson_p_r wrote:Got my 24oz cylinder filled for $8.

Ouch! That's almost double what I pay for mine! Try going to Sports Authority they fill for around $4 for that size of tank.

We just had a Sports Authority open down the street from my work, I'll check them out when I need it.

Aww, I thought this was a post about paintball