CO2 Regulator – Decompress Pressure Design**

Up Aqua CO2 Regulator – Decompress Pressure Design

“Simple, small, and compact for tight spaces. It is a great value for a beginner or someone who needs to mount a tank in a small area. The only disadvantage is it cannot be used with a paintball adapter.” – Ralph Cabage

– Designed with fixed decompression pressure gate for stable and accurate CO2 output that is easy to adjust with needle valve

– Comes with removable connector so regulator can be used on both side mount and top mount CGA320 (standard US CO2 thread) CO2 cylinders

– Tool-free installation

– Built-in needle valve

– Fixed outlet pressure is 45psi

Up Aqua’s Single Gauge Regulator with Decompress Pressure Design is the economical approach to a pressurized CO2 regulator. This model is one of the most simple regulators available. It is designed for novice hobbyists or for those who want simplicity.

The regulator features a single pressure gauge which reads canister pressure as well as a built in high precision needle valve. The difference between the UA-166G and the UA-168 is that the 166-G (UA129) decompresses the pressure, where the UA-168 (UA130) is straight pressure.

Up Aqua’s regulators have been voted Best in Class for multiple years running.

Important Info: Use teflon tape on any fitting that does not seal with a gasket or o-ring.

Warranty: All regulators shall be covered by a 1 year limited warranty from date of purchase.

Made in Taiwan

Components needed for your CO2 system:
CO2 Tubing
Check Valve
Bubble Counter
Diffuser or Reactor
CO2 Continuous Tester or Drop Checker

CO2 is one of the most important elements in a planted aquarium. Without CO2, plants would not be as vibrant and healthy. CO2 is as essential along with proper lighting and nutrients to promote proper photosynthesis and help plants compete with and overcome algae. During photosynthesis, plants consume CO2 and certain macro/micro elements to produce simple sugars. This is the basic building block in which a plant would grow. When one of these elements is missing, plant growth comes to a standstill. For more information on those elements, https://sevenports.com/2018/08/15/aqualifes-new-planted-tank-line/.

Carbon dioxide in an aquarium is typically introduced by using a pressurized cylinder. The cylinder is controlled by a regulator or valve and a needle valve.  Some units include solenoid valves, or they can be added later. With a solenoid valve the CO2 can be turned off at night with a simple light timer. Plants do not consume carbon dioxide during the night. This conserves carbon dioxide and reduces any chance of a drop in pH during the night cycle. Pressurized CO2 is the perfect solution for hobbyists.

The regulator is the most important component of any CO2 system.  The pressure in a gas cylinder can be over 700 psi which is too high for safe use.  The regulator reduces the pressure of the tank to a safe, usable level. The CO2 travels through a needle valve after the regulator and then to a check valve that prevents water from back siphoning from the aquarium. After the check valve, a bubble counter is needed. These are not only intriguing, but also provide a visual aid to determining the amount of CO2 entering the system. Up Aqua also offers regulator mounted CO2 Brass Bubble Counter with built in Check Valve (UA-169 or UA131).

SevenPorts offers many different options for adding CO2 to your tank regiment. We have everything from novice to the most elite components for building a CO2 system. In each category of product we have chosen the best and most reliable manufacturers because we know CO2 is a crucial component to a dream aquascape. There are many ways to add CO2 to a planted aquarium. Our Up Aqua CO2 Starter Kit is aimed towards new hobbyists just learning about adding pressurized CO2 to their planted aquarium. While our AZOO CO2 tablets offer an easy daily dose of CO2 for small tanks and more basic systems.