Co2 tank filling locations...

I also posted this in the Des Moines area forum as I live about half way between Des Moines and the Waterloo area so please excuse my double posting as i am trying to find a couple locations near me to possibly accomplish what I am asking...I am doing research on calcium reactors and was curious if everyone on here that uses one does an exchange on their Co2 tanks or if they own their own and have them filled when empty. If you own your own tank where in the area do they fill personal tanks at? I am trying to figure out if it would make more sense for me to purchase my own tank or to do an exchange. So far I have purchased everything i need to get a calcium reactor up and going with the exception of a Co2 tank. Thank you in advance.

 

So far it looks to me like sporting goods stores that support the paintball hobby and home brewed beer supply stores will fill privately owned tanks. Welding supply stores prefer to do the exchange method with their own inspected tanks. So if i buy it looks like Scheel's and possibly Dicks sporting goods for this area.

 

Out of curiosity i called Scheels today and spoke to them about filling Co2 tanks...they were in the process of moving to their new store location. The lady said they used to fill at the campus square location and imagine they still would . Their new location will open for business on saturday...which is the day i am coming over for a trip to AC&C. Since originally posting this I have aquired a tank from a co-worker who owned a welding shop...the tank is a 5# tank...never been filled...and was free...cant beat that...anyway I will be bringing it with me Saturday and will see what the new Scheels has to offer...i will let everyone know a price to fill if. Have success there for everyones future fyi. I probably wont need the Co2 or calcium reactor for awhile until my bio load increases but this has been bugging me for some time on where to get this accomplished so i might as well get it filled.

 

Well scratch that idea then...thanks for letting me know...another place i found was a place in des moines known as fessler carbonics...they specialize in filling Co2 tanks for those in the home brewed beer making hobby...also found a place in iowa city called iowa fire that helps home brewed beer enthusiasts fill their Co2 tanks...beer hobbyists also use 5# and larger tanks....i will call both places and see if a welding style tank with the propane style valve is something they can work with and how much it would cost to fill. The des moines location is more convenient for me but for the cedar falls waterloo eastern iowa area i will let everyone know what iowa fire says.

 

Oh and thanks josh for letting me know that about scheels...saved me from walking in there with a empty tank and looking like a fool. Lol

 

Yeah...i just found airgas in waterloo up by the river on west 4th...i was going to see about trying them out also.

 

Where's the one airgas in cedar falls?

 

Is it just south of super target, the new scheels, farm and fleet? Off of 58?

 

Thank you again...i will call in the morning toget saturday hours.

 

Called all of the above places that i mentioned and they were willing to fill the co2 tank for me but seemed a little put off in doing so. I did call fessler carbonics and the secretary gave me the days they filled co2 which is tuesday,wednesday and friday from 8am-2pm. She was very accommodating and said that as long as my tank was clean and date stamped that it would be filled and that it would only cost $14 for a 5# tank. So i think i've found my place? I do appreciate everyone's help though.