CO2 Tanks

Centennial offers both new and used CO2 tanks, in either aluminum or steel, in the following sizes:

• 5# CO2 Tank
• 10# CO2 Tank
• 15# CO2 Tank
• 20# CO2 Tank
• 50# CO2 Tank

Specifications for new aluminum tanks

Specifications for all used tanks vary based on the manufacturer.

CO2 tanks can be used for draft beer, soda systems, aquariums, inflating tires, adjustable shocks for 4-wheel vehicles, hydroponics, cleaning condensers and other equipment, and paintball.

The ratio of CO2 needed to push beer is 1# of CO2 to 1-16 gallon keg. A 5# CO2 tank should last 5 full size kegs. If you are not achieving this usage then this is an indicator of a leak in your draft beer system. Our recommended trouble-shooting for leaks is to take a spray bottle with water and spray each connection on your draft beer system. If a bubble forms this is an area that needs to be addressed. In a typical 1 keg draft beer cooler there are approximately 12 different connections that can cause a CO2 leak.

If you are going to have your CO2 tank filled with Nitrogen – the valve inside your tank needs to be a CGA 580 valve. This type of valve requires a regulator that can handle 2000 PSI inlet pressure. Unless you have a blender box to mix CO2 and Nitrogen, you wouldn’t use straight nitrogen on a beer system. However, straight Nitrogen can be used for a wine system to provide pressure without carbonation. It can also be used for hydraulics on cars, filling your tires, and blowing out sprinkler systems.

If you are going to have your CO2 tank filled with Blend gas (which is 25% CO2 and 75% Nitrogen) the valve inside can be either a CGA 580 or a CGA 320. The CO2 regulator you select needs to match the valve in your tank. A CO2 regulator can be used on a CO2 tank filled with blend gas as long as the inlet pressure is rated at 2000 PSI.

Maintaining your CO2 Tank

1. All CO2 tanks need to be hydro-tested every 5 years. This is performed by a DOT qualified re-test stations. The purpose of the hydro-test is to make sure the tank is still in good working condition. That there are no cracks in the neck, excessive pitting, rust and that they are pressure tested to verify they can be used safely for a compressed gas. If you exchange your CO2 tank you should look at the date of the tank you are receiving in exchange and confirm it is still in date and not ready to expire. Test dates will be stamped in the shoulder of the cylinder. If the cylinder is old, you need to find the most recent date. The marking is identified with month and year it was tested and also the re-test station ID number.
2. CO2 tanks should never be exposed to excessive heat conditions. A CO2 tank exposed to an excessive heat condition will build pressure and discharge the CO2 through the safety. This can be a dangerous situation in an enclosed area because of the CO2 vapor and displacement of oxygen in an enclosed area.
3. When transporting CO2 tanks do not keep them in your car or the trunk of your car for an excessive time period especially if the weather is warm.

Trouble-shooting the CO2 Tank

1. Leaks can occur at the neck of the cylinder and under the handle and around the safety. The best way to find the leak is to spray a solution of soap and water on these areas and look for bubbles.
2. A CO2 tank is very temperature sensitive. The warmer the tank the more the pressure builds inside the tank and the content gauge on your CO2 regulator can read higher normal. The cooler the tank is, for example you store the CO2 tank in your kegerator, the content gauge on your CO2 regulator will read lower than normal. The best way to know how much CO2 is left in the tank is to set the tank in a room at a normal room temperature for about an hour. Then put your CO2 regulator on the tank to get an accurate reading of the contents in the tank. The normal pressure of a full tank of CO2 is 700-800 psi at room temperature. A quick test is to un-hook the CO2 tank from CO2 regulator and crack the valve in a safe direction. If a white stream of vapor escapes, (also known as snow) you still have a good amount of CO2. If the stream is clear and not opaque the cylinder is almost empty.