When do you refill your co2 tank?

[Manny Tavan]

My calcium reactor co2 tank pressure is at 250 currently and I still get 10 psi at the regular. When should I consider it empty and switch out for a full tank?

[shaywood]

You probably have a week or so. I run mine until the tank is empty and pH rises. Usually get 5-6 months. Recently bought an extra so I don't have to run out to fill. 

[obrien.david.j]

I run mine empty.  If my setup read 250psi, I'd be very close to empty.   Normal full tank reading for me is around 850psi-ish.

[Bicyclebill]

I agree with all these. Around 250 psi I make plans to go exchange in the next week or so


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[Gumby]

The pressure on reading on the gauge is not a safe way to tell how close you are to running out. Co2 cylinder are filled by lbs. of liquid. Do you know what size cylinder it is? 5lb., 10lb., 20lb.? This is how many pounds of liquid co2 they put in your cylinder. After you have that info look for a TW and a number stamped in the cylinder. This is the rare weight of the cylinder and will tell you the weight minus about a 1-1/2 lbs for the valve. Unhook your regulator and put it on a scale to find out out how many lbs. are left. Once you get under 3/4lbs. You should think about changing. After I get my new cylinder I hook it up to my regulator weigh it, write with felt on the label the full amount then everytime I weigh it I can tell exact amount. 

[Higher Thinking]

The pressure on reading on the gauge is not a safe way to tell how close you are to running out. Co2 cylinder are filled by lbs. of liquid. Do you know what size cylinder it is? 5lb., 10lb., 20lb.? This is how many pounds of liquid co2 they put in your cylinder. After you have that info look for a TW and a number stamped in the cylinder. This is the rare weight of the cylinder and will tell you the weight minus about a 1-1/2 lbs for the valve. Unhook your regulator and put it on a scale to find out out how many lbs. are left. Once you get under 3/4lbs. You should think about changing. After I get my new cylinder I hook it up to my regulator weigh it, write with felt on the label the full amount then everytime I weigh it I can tell exact amount. 

Dang man, that's a pretty thorough assessment. The thing about these tanks, and @Gumby is right, is that the gauge reading is unreliable as a metric. Depending on temperature, once in place, the tank will read about 800 PSI and it will hold there until all the liquid CO2 is exhausted. Once there is not enough CO2 for it to be in a liquid state, the gauge will start dropping. If you want to be totally safe, once your gauge starts dropping you should look to replace it sometime soon, especially if you have a single stage regulator.

 

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[Gil&Fin]

I also think @Gumby is spot-on.  I  have a love-hate relationship with my calcium reactor, so I try to keep things as simple as possible.  Like @shaywood, I keep a second container and just swap them out when one is exhausted.  I hate running out, and I hate wasting CO2 by swapping out too soon.  I think it cost me $100 for the spare, which is well worth it to me.

[shaywood]

A 5 lb full bottle is $75 at Matheson Gas in tualatin. Refills are $11.55.