Building my first CO2 chamber, advice on parts?

[artgecko]

Hi guys,
After numerous people told me that I should be able to construct my own CO2 chamber, I've decided to give it a go.
I wanted your advice on the parts, as I will be ordering almost all of them online.

So far, this is my shopping list. I'd appreciate your feedback on additional things / parts needed or if what I've selected won't work. I will need to be able to gas about 12-14 rats at a time (probably 1 litter at a time).

CO2 tank (planning on ordering 2 to have a backup)

Coiled Remote hose with slide check (I'm assuming that I will be able to control the flow of the CO2 with the slide check valve?)

Airtight bin (I'm assuming that I will drill an air release hole/s near the top) Is this bin large enough or too large for the number of rats I will need to euthanize? If you have other suggestions I would love to hear what bin you use.

If you have any other feedback or input, please feel free to post! I am not "handy" at all and trying to build this is definitely a big step for me. I'm a little paranoid that I will mess up something, thus resulting in the CO2 chamber not working properly.
Thanks for your time and help!

[Freakie_frog]

Here's some tips. CO2 is heavier than air so it sinks to the bottom of the tub. So place the fill hole at or above rat head level this way you don't waste loads of gas trying to fill a huge tub.
Also when filling the tub fill it slowly, the sound of rushing gas panics the rats and they pee and poop on each other plus they take shallower breaths so it takes longer to put them down. Relaxed rats lay down in a dark bin which is where the co2 is collecting and the breath deep and full because they are relaxed.
Put a couple of vent holes in the top. As the CO2 replaces the air you need a place for the air to go so that the lid or the valve doesn't pop off and defeat the purpose. Give them time to expire so many times people hear them stop moving and rip the tub open only to have the rats come two a minute or two later when they hit the fresh air..

[artgecko]

Thanks! Do you think the parts I linked are sufficient and is the tub deep enough to allow the CO2 to settle sufficiently?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

32 quarts is very big how many rats do you want to euthanize at once?

If you do need such a large kill tank, you do not want a paintball canister it will be too small, you will have to refill it all the time, not even sure it will do the job.

Smaller kill chamber are much more efficient.

In a small tub (7 quarts) I euthanize 2/3 breeder rats 5/7 medium and about 10/14 small at the time.

If you have such a large tub but hardly any rats it will take you longer and you will need much more CO2.

[artgecko]

Thanks for the advice Deborah. I was just going on the dimensions given of the tub... On your advice, I will get a smaller one. Does it need to be air tight or can a regular "snap lid" one do?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thanks for the advice Deborah. I was just going on the dimensions given of the tub... On your advice, I will get a smaller one. Does it need to be air tight or can a regular "snap lid" one do?

I use a simple 7 or 15 quarts latch tub.

[artgecko]

Thanks!
Out of curiosity, do you use a paintball canister for your CO2, and if so, how many uses do you get out of it with a container that size?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thanks!
Out of curiosity, do you use a paintball canister for your CO2, and if so, how many uses do you get out of it with a container that size?

I used to but after having someone inexperienced overfilling it (which is scary when it happen, good thing it did not happen in the car) I decided to have people a little more professional doing it and now instead of filling up once a month it's down to once a year.

I have a 10 lbs container with regulator and the place just exchange the tank when I need them to.

[artgecko]

Hmm.. I may have to look into that. Where would you go to get a tank like that / service? A welding supply place? We don't have many options in town. I think there is one paintball place and one welding / equipment supply place here. I have not contacted them for rates yet, but I was estimating it would be about $6 per refill on the paintball CO2 canister.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Welding company, company that service hospitals.

I use Airgas, http://www.airgas.com/?gclid=CIq85dWw88ECFcFj7AodaS8A0A

The highest cost is your regulator and the first tank but after that I my cost has been $20 a year vs $5 every month at the paintball places (which are rare and mainly open on weekend) and most importantly you get professional service.