Paintball CO2 to Reactor

[TheGrog]

I just got a deal on a regulator unit for my new CO2 reactor and the guy threw in a 5 pound CO2 tank with it. The thing is that it is a paintball gun CO2 tank.

Is there a way to convert it so that I can use it? If so, how much $$ am I looking at? Where can I get the parts to do it with?

Thanks

 

[itstheantitang]

The biggest paintball tank is a 20oz C02 tank.

Believe me, I play paintball.

 

[patedship]

You can still get the 5lb tanks that are used for welding... I play paintball as well.

 

[elliotklinger]

I imagine you would need to get special fitting to accomodate the pressure of CO2 and more likely would be expensive to convert to use with reactor. Check with LFS and see what you would need to convert it or maybe home improvement store.

 

[itstheantitang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7706868#post7706868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patedship
You can still get the 5lb tanks that are used for welding... I play paintball as well.

Okay, I never knew that. It would be a loooong day carrying a 5 lb tank on the end of your gun, though.

 

[TheGrog]

I don't have it yet, but I think it was used to fill the small paintball tanks, not attach to the paintball gun. As I am not familiar in the least bit with paintball guns, this is my best educated guess.

 

[kgross]

If it is a normal 5lb tank, like I think it is, you will just need a normal co2 regulator to fasten onto the tank.

Kim

 

[bassnman11]

It is probably a standard tank, or you could not get refilled. Paintballers use the bigger tank to refill smaller ones. If in doubt, take it to a welding supply store and they can tell you if the valve is standard.

 

[xtrstangx]

You don't need to get anything special, just a regulator and a calcium reactor.

The only thing I've heard is that sometimes they use a lower grade of CO2 for paintball guns compared to welding stores.

 

[hahnmeister]

Wow, havent had this idea come up in a few years...lol.

Paintball CO2 (20oz max) use a machine grade CO2. The tanks, the tanks used to fill the tanks, and the mechanicals have alot of oil in the lines. The CO2 you want to use for your reactor should be medical or food grade CO2. The oil in the paintball tanks will crud up any regulator that is accurate enough to use on a reactor, and you dont want it getting into the tank water.

If there was a cheaper way to get CO2 to reactors...it would have been done already. A 5lb tank can be found for less than $50, and there is no point in being cheap when a good reg will cost you $100-150.

 

[wbeavers]

Back in the day when I still played tournament paintball with CO2. the biggest tank I ever used was a 2.5# cylinder, and that was playing ten man center. The 5# tank was most likely used to fill smaller tanks. The thing you need to know is if it has a siphon tube in it or not. Ask the guy if they filled tanks off of it standing flat or if they turned it upside down. If they filled the tanks with it laying flat then you will need to have a siphon tube removed to use it for reefing. You can also shake the tank and listen for the siphon tube to rattle on the side. The valve will not need to be changed if it has a big knob on top. I gunteched for six years. I know my stuff. You can add a filter to a regulator to clean out particles from welding gas. PM me with any questions

 

[hahnmeister]

you can clean the particles, but not the oil.

 

[wbeavers]

I have worked for three different paintball operations over the years, and we always got our CO2 from welding gas or industrial gas suppliers. There was never any oil in it. I have always used welding gas in my aquariums and have never had a problem with it.