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Ok, so I'm putting together my first keg system right, and there's no one that wants to fill my CO2 in Sydney, at least no one who returns phone calls, but I did stop in at Air-Liquide today and the guy said he had a deal going on. It'd cost me about $40 to get my five-pounder filled and take minimum two weeks, or I could lease a 20-pounder for $33 a year (3-year contract) and $72 per fillup with their N2/CO2 mix specially for ales, AND when I need a trade-up, I get it in exchange in about five minutes. Well, I may be green to this, but the idea of buying another CO2 tank so I don't have to wait 2 weeks when it empties, kinda put me off, and I liked the simplicity of the deal. Whaddya say, good deal?

ps, they also have lager and stout mixes, but some of you probably already know that...

where did you call and try to get your's filled at? besides Air liquide

Eastern Fire Extinguisher... and Praxair.

after a quick google search, i found another : K.Philips Fire and Safety 902-539-6665.

an N2/CO2 mix won't give you proper carbonation unless you have it at pretty extreme pressures. it's meant as a pushing gas mostly AFAIK.

CorneliusAlphonse wrote:an N2/CO2 mix won't give you proper carbonation unless you have it at pretty extreme pressures. it's meant as a pushing gas mostly AFAIK.

Agree, best is a straight CO2 fill.

Ah that sucks.. Although I did just read it can be done under pressure for a week or so... Well, time for some experimentation, cause I'm kinda stuck with it for now. Thanks and learned something new.

brdean wrote:Ah that sucks.. Although I did just read it can be done under pressure for a week or so... Well, time for some experimentation, cause I'm kinda stuck with it for now. Thanks and learned something new.

You could always naturally carbonate your keg and then push it with the mixed gas.

Yes, yes, good thought. My question now though is will the mixed gas do anything special without a special tap? I have the Perlicks, whatever their standard is..

Not sure if you will need a different regulator for the mix or if the ordinary CO2 one will do for you, due to the higher pressure ( I think ) of the mixed gas.
In any case, in order to get the nitro pour from your system you`ll also need a special tap afaik.

Meh, I'll see if he'll trade me back for CO2. Ah well, lol.

Eastern Fire Extinguisher is the one in Glace Bay? That's where I get mine filled. Kind of a relaxed atmosphere out there (smoking and felines running around are encouraged) so I know they probably wouldn't return phone calls. I just go out and if the guy is there they do it on the spot for $40.

BrooklandBrewer wrote:Eastern Fire Extinguisher is the one in Glace Bay?I just go out and if the guy is there they do it on the spot for $40.

That's good to know...decent price too..

Is that $40 for 20lbs?

No for 5lbs.

BrooklandBrewer wrote:No for 5lbs.

ouch...not so much decent anymore..LOL

The 20lb fillup/exchange on CO2 was $42+HST at Air-Liquide, if you're leasing a tank.. Just an FYI.

brdean wrote:The 20lb fillup/exchange on CO2 was $42+HST at Air-Liquide, if you're leasing a tank.. Just an FYI.

In Fredericton, places like this would charge rediculous prices as well cause of lack of competition, and same with CB, Praxair and Air Liquide would have to send your own tank out for fillup and ya'd have a 2 week turn around as well. One place that did on site fill ups(fire extinguisher place), would charge about 45-50 for a fill up...cause they knew there was very few in town that could do it.

just an FYI , its about $25 for a fill up at Brenton's in halifax for a 20lber...very reasonable IMO.

So I did a lot of thinking about this yesterday, and some numbers research. N2 has a solubility about 100 times less than CO2 in water.. And then it occurred to me if that little N2 actually gets dissolved, it doesn't actually contribute to bubbliness at all (I was always under the impression that it dissolved well, but made tinier bubbles for its part). It really IS just for the sole purpose of making high pressure in the line without over-carbonating the beer, as some of you said. Damn... Well, cheers folks, let's see if the customer service is as good when I need a return.

brdean wrote:So I did a lot of thinking about this yesterday, and some numbers research. N2 has a solubility about 100 times less than CO2 in water.. And then it occurred to me if that little N2 actually gets dissolved, it doesn't actually contribute to bubbliness at all (I was always under the impression that it dissolved well, but made tinier bubbles for its part). It really IS just for the sole purpose of making high pressure in the line without over-carbonating the beer, as some of you said. Damn... Well, cheers folks, let's see if the customer service is as good when I need a return.

good luck!

You should ask for an N2O/CO2 mix so if you get hosed on price at least you'll be able to laugh about it while drinking your beer.

Issue settled, they're cool as %^&* down there.. Beer's carbonating now