CO2 tank placement

[RobC]

Hi, reaching out to you wise people....

I am mid a new tank build and looking to maximise space, which got wondering... Can you place a CO2 tank horizontally??

Thanks

 

[ndrwater]

As long as it's secure, yes. Not an issue to be horizontal

 

[Thales]

Yep

 

[DCR]

I don't believe you should without some type of internal tube to keep the regulator in the vapor space. Otherwise you are feeding liquid into the regulator. The regulators are not designed for flashing liquid and it is likely to damage the seats. It also puts the rupture disc in the liquid phase which may prevent it from working properly to relieve excessive pressure in an extreme event.

 

[RobC]

As long as it's secure, yes. Not an issue to be horizontal

Thanks

 

[ca1ore]

A big no-no! You should not run a CO2 tank horizontally. The way they work is that much of the CO2 inside the cylinder is in liquid form (right up to the point that the contents are used up -which is why the pressure gauges don't change until the very end); you can lay it on its side temporarily, but once you start to use it, the tank valve and regulator cannot handle the liquid and it will severely damage the latter.

 

[dantimdad]

I work for a company that manufactures cylinders. I just asked and the answer is no. They make special horizontal mount tanks but they are way more expensive and fairly large.

 

[ndrwater]

A big no-no! You should not run a CO2 tank horizontally. The way they work is that much of the CO2 inside the cylinder is in liquid form (right up to the point that the contents are used up -which is why the pressure gauges don't change until the very end); you can lay it on its side temporarily, but once you start to use it, the tank valve and regulator cannot handle the liquid and it will severely damage the latter.

I just learned something today!!!

 

[ca1ore]

I have been using CO2 tanks for many decades - on planted FW tanks long before I uses a CaRx on my reef tank. It still gives me the heebie jeebies to think about some of the foolish stuff I did with them - like leaving them out in the sun, trying to use them horizontally and/or using a brass coupler to refill a small one from a larger one. It's a wonder I didn't blow myself up.

 

[dantimdad]

Tried the coupler thing once.... once.

 

[RobC]

A big no-no! You should not run a CO2 tank horizontally. The way they work is that much of the CO2 inside the cylinder is in liquid form (right up to the point that the contents are used up -which is why the pressure gauges don't change until the very end); you can lay it on its side temporarily, but once you start to use it, the tank valve and regulator cannot handle the liquid and it will severely damage the latter.

Thanks so much!

 

[Sailingeric]

I have found that mine is best sitting beside my kegs of beer. I have never thought about sitting it horizontally but good info to know as I moved my kegarator behind a faux wall in my garage/mancave/fish tank room and space is tight back there.

 

[naterealbig]

Or to save space you could mount it externally.... It's out of the way, and looks cool. Which is the most important thing.

 

[dantimdad]

If I run one, I can have it done in spun or polished stainless or aluminum or I could have one of 1000+ colors done for free. I would definitely leave it sitting out for all to see.

 

[naterealbig]

If I run one, I can have it done in spun or polished stainless or aluminum or I could have one of 1000+ colors done for free. I would definitely leave it sitting out for all to see.

@dantimidad - that's awesome. I tried for days to source a colored CO2 cylinder, but couldn't find anything, other than ridiculously priced tanks on 4x4 websites. Would you mind sharing your source?. I'd love to have a colored and polished tank.

 

[dantimdad]

I work for the company who designs and manufactures them. You have to be a business and buy in quantity to get them... unless you happen to work here.

 

[dantimdad]

BTW, U.S. made tanks are not going to be cheap. They are held to a much higher standard than imports. Throw in the time spent to do a custom finish when it's pulled off the line by hand and you have a pricey cylinder indeed.

 

[KrisReef]

I just learned something today!!!

#Me too! Makes sense but I never thought correctly about this.

Custom finished cylinders might become a thing.

 

[jda]

If using a tank on the side ever worked, it was only on accident. If the liquid level was below the valve, then it would be OK, but if it was above, this could get pretty bad. Remember that the gas wants to expand at about 800 PSI and can do so until the last droplet is in the tank.

 

[OutsideBrian]

@dantimidad - that's awesome. I tried for days to source a colored CO2 cylinder, but couldn't find anything, other than ridiculously priced tanks on 4x4 websites. Would you mind sharing your source?. I'd love to have a colored and polished tank.

Yea I have one of the Powertank setups for my Jeep talk about having expensive hobbies