Making A DIY C02 Unit and C02 Mixture Article

Grumpy_Marine · 12-27-2006, 01:18 PM

ok i have tried three mixtures and got same results..... only time bubbles come from bottle are when i shake it up then bubbles roll out fast. then die and stop bubbles all together. I found a leak in top so i made new one and resealed it. i have tried 1 tsp of yeast with 2 cups sugar and no bubbles. I store yeast in fridge when not using per instructions on bottle of yeast. I am using activated dry yeast. What is considered too hot for the water levels? I go till water feels warm to me and add to bottle... should i turn water hotter or colder?

Mahamotorworks · 12-27-2006, 07:19 PM

I would check for other leaks. How old is the yeast you are using? What other mixtures have you tried? What you have listed sounds about right to me. Maybe a little more Yeast. Warm water is warm water. It will end up room temp so it really shouldnt matter. The only thing that will kill it close to boiling water.

MAHA

Grumpy_Marine · 12-27-2006, 10:34 PM

ok so close to boil is hot... thanks maha solved my questions with that statement. Just wasnt sure how hot was to hot. My yeas is good till 2008 it says... but i just opened last month, it says to use remainder of can within 4 months of opening.

I have tried 2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp yeast
2 cup sugar 1 tsp yeast
2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp yeast

but now i have 2 cup sugar 1 tsp yeast, after sitting over night no bubbles. I capped the bottle and shook like there was no tomorrow and hooked up top with tube, ran tube into bottle with water, now i got bubble at steady rate of 1 bubble per second. Going to go with a bubble counter just so i can see it working since everytime i need to check i have to pull tube from filter gets to be a pain after a while. Will have set back up tomorrow. Took out the check valve as it wasn't doing much for the system from what i can tell.

Can i hook up airstone to the tube without having a pump or something to force the co2 out of it? i saw stone said great for co2 diffusion... but how will co2 created in DIY diffuse through airstone wouldn't it need pressure or something? Will follow your DIY guide on MFT for powered DIY CO2 when we move to new place for now i play cheap route.

Lotus · 12-27-2006, 10:40 PM

To test if the water you're using is too hot, put your pinkie finger in the water. If it's too hot to keep your pinkie finger in, it's too hot (old cook's way of working with yeast). Above 110F is too hot for the yeast.

I usually use 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon yeast.

You can put an airstone on the end of the tubing, but the CO2 doesn't dissolve that well. A wooden airstone works a little better. You can also put the tubing into your filter intake, where it's chopped up by the impeller, which gives a reasonable level.

Testing your pH and KH will give you a much better idea of how efficient the system is overall (both CO2 production and how much is dissolved).

Mahamotorworks · 12-27-2006, 10:42 PM

No prob on the help with the water.

I have use some really hot water before to disolve the Sugar and it worked fine for 2 weeks.

The only thing I can think is is the tube is somewhat clogged that runs to the filter. If you are getting bubble in the counter then It should be working. Dose the bottle feel like itis under a lot of preasure? If it dose then you have a pinched or clogged hose.

MAHA

Grumpy_Marine · 12-28-2006, 01:36 AM

nope all is well now, just waiting on the silicone to dry so i can hook up tomorrow with bubble counter, was working fine after resealing the mixture cap. I have it going into the filter for diffusion which worked well till the mixture died. Will be taking the intake pipe apart checking for clogging and rehooking the system tomorrow.

Big Vine · 01-26-2007, 12:37 AM

So once the open end of the tubing is hooked to my HOB filter intake tube, and the other end is sealed into the drilled 2L bottle cap...

1) Do I just find another (undrilled) cap to put over the bottle while I shake it (once the ingredients and water are in there)?

2) Then I remove that cap, and then replace it with the drilled cap that's hooked to the airline tubing?

3) What about shaking the bottle every few days---do I detach the drilled cap and put an intact cap back on whilst doing so?

Basically what I'm getting at is...
4) Does the mixture become so 'explosive' that it will overflow---as would be the case with soda pop immediately after shaking it? (the reason I ask is because I've heard people use the term 'bomb' in conjunction with this, and I've never tried it)

Thanks,
Big Vine

drumminfish · 01-26-2007, 12:44 AM

If you put the undrilled cap on, shake it up, then let it sit, yeah it will explode....but if you shake it up and then take the cap off relatively quickly, then you shouldnt have any problems.

I know with batches of wine that I've made (same method) if I put a cap on and shake it up too much, the cap shoots off if I don't take it off quickly (like 5 seconds) so I imagine it would be pretty much the same with CO2 mixtures. Just don't leave the cap on long, if you didn't mind you could even put your palm over the top of the bottle and invert it a few times, that way you could let out the building pressure easily by lifting your hand.

Big Vine · 01-26-2007, 01:37 AM

Thanks Drummin.
I guess my main concern was that (1) the shaken-up mixture might make a mess all over the place as I uncap it, and (2) I also have a rather nightmarish image in my mind of the pressure also causing the mixture to travel up the airline tubing, foul the tank, and result in the death of everything inside of the tank.

How far up the bottle will the mixture 'rise' to as it starts to ferment?
(I'm assuming it won't reach the tubing IF the tubing only sticks about 2-3 cm inside of the bottle, as suggested at the start of this thread).

Sound about right?

Thanks,
Big Vine

drumminfish · 01-26-2007, 01:41 AM

Well when I used to make mixtures, I would initially fill it up (two liter bottle) to the line where the top of the bottle starts to curve, and it never went much about that. And if you're really afraid of the mixture going up the tube into the tank, you could add a second bottle as a bubble counter, and it should catch any mixture without letting it get into the tank. I posted a picture of the setup I was using earlier in this thread, click here.

12-27-2006, 01:18 PM	#101
Grumpy_Marine Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oceanside California Posts: 741	ok i have tried three mixtures and got same results..... only time bubbles come from bottle are when i shake it up then bubbles roll out fast. then die and stop bubbles all together. I found a leak in top so i made new one and resealed it. i have tried 1 tsp of yeast with 2 cups sugar and no bubbles. I store yeast in fridge when not using per instructions on bottle of yeast. I am using activated dry yeast. What is considered too hot for the water levels? I go till water feels warm to me and add to bottle... should i turn water hotter or colder? __________________

12-27-2006, 07:19 PM	#102
Mahamotorworks Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Thule, Greenland Posts: 1,722	I would check for other leaks. How old is the yeast you are using? What other mixtures have you tried? What you have listed sounds about right to me. Maybe a little more Yeast. Warm water is warm water. It will end up room temp so it really shouldnt matter. The only thing that will kill it close to boiling water. MAHA __________________ 75G Freshwater: 3 Angel Fish and a lot of guppies. It is at my Brothers house while I am out of country. My Facebook Page

12-27-2006, 10:34 PM	#103
Grumpy_Marine Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oceanside California Posts: 741	ok so close to boil is hot... thanks maha solved my questions with that statement. Just wasnt sure how hot was to hot. My yeas is good till 2008 it says... but i just opened last month, it says to use remainder of can within 4 months of opening. I have tried 2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp yeast 2 cup sugar 1 tsp yeast 2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp yeast but now i have 2 cup sugar 1 tsp yeast, after sitting over night no bubbles. I capped the bottle and shook like there was no tomorrow and hooked up top with tube, ran tube into bottle with water, now i got bubble at steady rate of 1 bubble per second. Going to go with a bubble counter just so i can see it working since everytime i need to check i have to pull tube from filter gets to be a pain after a while. Will have set back up tomorrow. Took out the check valve as it wasn't doing much for the system from what i can tell. Can i hook up airstone to the tube without having a pump or something to force the co2 out of it? i saw stone said great for co2 diffusion... but how will co2 created in DIY diffuse through airstone wouldn't it need pressure or something? Will follow your DIY guide on MFT for powered DIY CO2 when we move to new place for now i play cheap route. __________________

12-27-2006, 10:40 PM	#104
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	To test if the water you're using is too hot, put your pinkie finger in the water. If it's too hot to keep your pinkie finger in, it's too hot (old cook's way of working with yeast). Above 110F is too hot for the yeast. I usually use 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon yeast. You can put an airstone on the end of the tubing, but the CO2 doesn't dissolve that well. A wooden airstone works a little better. You can also put the tubing into your filter intake, where it's chopped up by the impeller, which gives a reasonable level. Testing your pH and KH will give you a much better idea of how efficient the system is overall (both CO2 production and how much is dissolved). __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

12-27-2006, 10:42 PM	#105
Mahamotorworks Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Thule, Greenland Posts: 1,722	No prob on the help with the water. I have use some really hot water before to disolve the Sugar and it worked fine for 2 weeks. The only thing I can think is is the tube is somewhat clogged that runs to the filter. If you are getting bubble in the counter then It should be working. Dose the bottle feel like itis under a lot of preasure? If it dose then you have a pinched or clogged hose. MAHA __________________ 75G Freshwater: 3 Angel Fish and a lot of guppies. It is at my Brothers house while I am out of country. My Facebook Page

12-28-2006, 01:36 AM	#106
Grumpy_Marine Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oceanside California Posts: 741	nope all is well now, just waiting on the silicone to dry so i can hook up tomorrow with bubble counter, was working fine after resealing the mixture cap. I have it going into the filter for diffusion which worked well till the mixture died. Will be taking the intake pipe apart checking for clogging and rehooking the system tomorrow. __________________

01-26-2007, 12:37 AM	#107
Big Vine Super Fish Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 3,895	So once the open end of the tubing is hooked to my HOB filter intake tube, and the other end is sealed into the drilled 2L bottle cap... 1) Do I just find another (undrilled) cap to put over the bottle while I shake it (once the ingredients and water are in there)? 2) Then I remove that cap, and then replace it with the drilled cap that's hooked to the airline tubing? 3) What about shaking the bottle every few days---do I detach the drilled cap and put an intact cap back on whilst doing so? Basically what I'm getting at is... 4) Does the mixture become so 'explosive' that it will overflow---as would be the case with soda pop immediately after shaking it? (the reason I ask is because I've heard people use the term 'bomb' in conjunction with this, and I've never tried it) Thanks, Big Vine __________________ "The more it eats, the more it excretes." 75 gal. - 11" tiger oscar

01-26-2007, 12:44 AM	#108
drumminfish Little Fish Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florence, AL Posts: 279	If you put the undrilled cap on, shake it up, then let it sit, yeah it will explode....but if you shake it up and then take the cap off relatively quickly, then you shouldnt have any problems. I know with batches of wine that I've made (same method) if I put a cap on and shake it up too much, the cap shoots off if I don't take it off quickly (like 5 seconds) so I imagine it would be pretty much the same with CO2 mixtures. Just don't leave the cap on long, if you didn't mind you could even put your palm over the top of the bottle and invert it a few times, that way you could let out the building pressure easily by lifting your hand. __________________ 20g Plants - Rotala indica, Rotala wallichii, Crypt. wendtii, Java fern, Hornwort, Microsword Fish - 2 ghost shrimp, 2 neons, 4 otos 5g Plants - Java fern, some kind of hygro Fish - 3 female guppies

01-26-2007, 01:37 AM	#109
Big Vine Super Fish Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 3,895	Thanks Drummin. I guess my main concern was that (1) the shaken-up mixture might make a mess all over the place as I uncap it, and (2) I also have a rather nightmarish image in my mind of the pressure also causing the mixture to travel up the airline tubing, foul the tank, and result in the death of everything inside of the tank. How far up the bottle will the mixture 'rise' to as it starts to ferment? (I'm assuming it won't reach the tubing IF the tubing only sticks about 2-3 cm inside of the bottle, as suggested at the start of this thread). Sound about right? Thanks, Big Vine __________________ "The more it eats, the more it excretes." 75 gal. - 11" tiger oscar

01-26-2007, 01:41 AM	#110
drumminfish Little Fish Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florence, AL Posts: 279	Well when I used to make mixtures, I would initially fill it up (two liter bottle) to the line where the top of the bottle starts to curve, and it never went much about that. And if you're really afraid of the mixture going up the tube into the tank, you could add a second bottle as a bubble counter, and it should catch any mixture without letting it get into the tank. I posted a picture of the setup I was using earlier in this thread, click here. __________________ 20g Plants - Rotala indica, Rotala wallichii, Crypt. wendtii, Java fern, Hornwort, Microsword Fish - 2 ghost shrimp, 2 neons, 4 otos 5g Plants - Java fern, some kind of hygro Fish - 3 female guppies