CO2 tubing for Reactor?

[Mark]

I was wondering how many of you are using CO2-stable airline tubing over regular airline tubing in your calcium reactor set ups. I read that up to 20 percent of the CO2 is lost through regular silicone tubing. I figure the CO2 stable tubing I see at mailorder sites would make the CO2 supply last longer. I'm collecting all the pieces to set up my future reactor, and didn't whether to get this stuff.

[Greg Hiller]

Mark,

The loss of CO2 though the wall of the tubing is really not that great, certainly not of concern for the 10 inches of so of line of flexible tubing. I use standard Homedepot 1/4" rigid tubing for running CO2 all over my house to my three calcium reactors. Only the last 10" or so is flexible tubing. You don't really need, IMO/IME CO2-stable airline tubing, CO2 is not really very likely to degrade tubing. Pure O2 would do a lot more damage.

FWIW, when I get my 20# CO2 cylinder refilled it costs $10. If you are going though CO2 fast I'd look for a leak in your system and not assume that it is leaking THROUGH the tubing at any significant rate.

[Mark]

Thanks, I guess for now I will just use my standard airline tubing.