Premium AQUATEK CO2 Regulator with Integrated Cool Touch Solenoid

I researched for about a week to figure out what new regulator to get and I almost had one built for me but decided I would give this one a try. I can tell you that it was easy to setup and took minutes to get the flow just right. I have been doing fish tanks for well over a decade and this is a quality product and I will be buying another one. The only thing that would fail on this is the solenoid and that can happen to all of them (even the most expensive). I don't have any problems with it turning off or on and the bubble count goes right back to where it was the day before. I could buy 5 of these for the price of another custom one and I would rather have 5 of these if that says anything. I use it with a glass and ceramic diffuser and it works great no pressure issues at all. This one is worth the few dollars more for the non preset pressure. If you are looking for a new Regulator or even new to C02 Look no further 'You will love this thing'. I also purchased polyurethane tubing on amazon I inserted a link for it Polyurethane Clear Tubing, 3/16" ID x 5/16" OD x 1/16" W, Working Pressure: 74 PSI this tubing is a bit to thick to connect to the regulator so I use short lengths of smaller diameter tubing to connect to the Regulator and then connect this tubing to it using brass splicers. This tubing is amazing and will limit the amount of C02 loss greatly and polyurethane is the best for c02 and both are prime eligible so it worked out great. The bubble counter that comes with this works just fine but I did upgrade to this upaqua bubble counter Professional CO2 Bubble Counter with Double Check Valve as I trust the check valve much more i put two check valves on so I will just leave the one that came with this system empty for insurance and add the upaqua as my bubble counter.

Highly recommend! I ordered this to use on my AquaMaxx SR-1 Calcium reactor with a 5lbs CO2 tank. I did a lot of research online and found this brand to be very well respected and still within a reasonable price point. It's made well and is very accurate and reliable. When i first installed the setup, the CO2 pressure would swing quiet a bit leaving me unable to dial in the bubble rate. I initially thought it was the regulator causing this problem. After examining the whole system closely, i realized the check valve i had purchased separately was allowing gas to escape! I swapped it out with a Mur-lok check valve and it solved the problem. It was not the regulator but the check valve. After this, i was easily able to get it dialed in and for the past two weeks, the PH inside the reactor has not fluctuated more the .05. I use a Neptune Apex Lab grade probe to monitor. Very impressed and highly recommend this product!

This is a review after using this Premium AQUATEK CO2 regulator with the solenoid for the last two years. Using with 4lbs steel tank, so far two times of refills, and I use this for my 36 heavily planted tank with the timer on it. First of all, had absolutely no issue with using this, even though it was a open boxed item. Running smooth without any issue of leakage at all. Second, you better have a JBJ type of bubble counter directly inserted into (I dont recommend to use their bubble counter), with the needle valve all the way open, so that I can adjust the flow rate by the major knob to adjust the flow rate into my tank (I do this slowly because the full effect of the turning the major know takes at least a whole day). This is a regulator that is dealing with a high pressure, and must be handled carefully with a correct tool to install/uninstall. Craftsmanship and quality is good, and I do recommend to any planted tank hobbyists.

I bought this to replace a Milwaukee model that started hissing on me. I found this one much easier to use than my old model. The main knob is more responsive and doesn't stick like my old one did. Also, the gauges actually work. I've been using this for a few months and have had no issues at all. With the Milwaukee I was always having to fiddle with the fine tuning to keep it consistent, but this one was pretty much a set once and forget about it. I've been very impressed. Update 3/8/2015: After refilling my tank I've found that this regulator is leaking behind the nut (between the nut and the main part of the body). I've been completely unable to make the leak stop. May try some plumber putty but I'm doubtful it will help. Lasted less than a year. Not happy. Update 3/11/2015: Contacted the company. Only a 90 day warranty. They suggested contacting a gas company. Quality!

I bought this as my first regulator for my aquariums, though through my job I'm not unfamiliar with tanks and regulators. Even then I took it to the local large aquarium shop to make sure I knew what I was doing before I started using it. It started out working great - set the bubble rate, adjusting slowly to my indicator and water tests... came on and off with the timer... then it suddenly stopped working well. It can be REALLY hard to get a slow rate - either off or a huge dump of bubbles... you have to be very careful when adjusting. It wasn't like that at first, the needle valve allowed for slow/fine adjustment and now it doesn't. If I set it at a certain rate on my timer, the next day there will be no bubbles despite changing nothing... a little adjustment of the needle valve gives a dump of bubbles and I can get it to where it needs to be. I bought this unit in hopes it was a setup and done (or more so than others) but it's not that simple. Not sure if this is normal or not for a CO2 tank regulator for aquariums.