The Tunze 7077/3 hand tightening regulator may not yet be widely available for sale in the US but that hasn’t stopped us from putting a review unit through it’s paces. Fresh out of the box, the Tunze 7077/3 is a regulator like many others. It includes a primary and secondary pressure reduction with tank and regulator pressure gauges. The needle valve has a very solid feel and it adjusts bubble rate with great dexterity and consistency. Unlike many regulators with a blocky plastic knob for regulating pressure in the first stage of the reg, the Tunze 7077/3 has a more recessed metal knob that adjusts with the same finesse as the needle valve. The 7077/3’s main selling point is the hand-tightened fitting which allows for easy connection to your CO2 cylinder without the use of tools. We connected and detached the 7077/3 regulator several times to several tanks with pressures from 500-1500 PSI and the hand-tightened fitting never failed. Nearly all aquarium CO2 applications require the use of a solenoid and/or bubble counter and it’s too bad that the 7077/3 doesnt ship with either. However, bubble counters are cheap and since solenoids are one of the weakest components in a complete CO2 regulator, the lack of an included solenoid is not a deal-breaker. With an MSRP of $129 $93.12, the robustly built 7077/3 is a still a solid-feeling, modern regulator that is a true successor to the previous Tunze 7077/2. It may not be a selling point for some but the refined design and full stainless steel build of the 7077/3 actually makes this regulator much more attractive to look at. The Tunze 7077/3 CO2 regulator is a higher end component for the planted aquarium or calcium reactor set ups and we expect this product to be popular with the more discerning hobbyist. Lots more pics after the break.
