Making A DIY C02 Unit and C02 Mixture Article

[rescottpac]

Using the airstone should create greater surface area to facilitate diffusion much like the reason behind the alveoli in the lungs. Took your advice and placed the stone directly underneath the intake for the powerfilter (probably a 90% capture of CO2 released). We'll see how it works. Thanks!

[qaffle]

I personally did just about the same setup, but I did a few things different that made the process better, in my opinion, and the setup easier.

On putting the air lines through the cap: First drill the hole a bit smaller then the size of the tubing. Now, cut the tubing on an angle, so the end of the tubing is like so
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now stick the end of the tube through the hole and pull it, if you cut the hole small enough you'll probably need to use a pliers (or your teeth) to get the tube through. This will make a very tight seal and probably if done correctly won't need the sealant, although I used it and I would recommend using it.

Next I'd recommend connecting this line to a gang valve (for instance this. This allows for you to do a couple things including:

• Split your C02 to multiple outputs
• Run more then one C02 bottle at once. This may not seem useful if you have a small tank, but even then it is. When your one C02 bottle begins to run low you can then mix up another, connect that to the gang valve (depending on which you get you may have to hook it up to one of the outputs and open the valve for that all the way; converting the output to an input MAKE SURE TO OPEN THE VALVE IF YOU DO THIS) and while the second starts to begin to produce the first bottle will be dying off keeping a bit more of a uniform C02 production.
• When changing your C02 bottle you can just close the valves to keep the line going from the valve to the tank pressurized, getting C02 into your tank faster.
• Control your C02 output. If you want less C02 you just crack the valve open a small amount leaking it into the room instead of the tank.

Finally I suggest (like previously mentioned) connecting from the gang valve to a bubble counter of sorts. Mine was just a smaller bottle, such as a 1 liter water. To make this you fill the bottle with some water, a third full or so it doesn't matter, then using the same process as used when making the C02 bottles you put 2 holes in the cap; now pull the tube carrying C02 in into the bottle far enough so the end is in the water, again as deep into the water as you want, and stick the tube going out to the tank in the open part of the bottle (the part without water in it).

So my setup was (stopped doing this because i stopped putting that much care into my tanks)
yeast bottle(s)->gang valve->bubble counter->check valve (i didn't actually have one but probably should've)->tank

I never could get the C02 to diffuse properly though... I should post this as an article somewhere...

[RySites]

Okay for some reason I've been doing this lately and (though none of the ingredients have changed) things have been going badly. When I add all the ingredients and come back an hour later my sugar has hardened and no activity is taking place. I'm wondering if my room temperature, around 62 degrees, has anything to do with that. I use lukewarm water initially when making it. Thx for any help.

[rescottpac]

I dissolve all ingredients (except yeast) overnight and then add the yeast and tighten the cap. Have had no problems at all. Room temp gets down to about 60 at night, and ranges from 64-68 during the day.

[Vinh]

Is yeast from a bakery the same thing??? My dad is a baker and he might be able to get me a supply of it.

[depthC]

Yep bakers yeast is what i use and it works. There are a variety of types of yeast and ive never messed with them but id assume they would work also.

- depthC

[itchy armpits]

how much bubbles per sec should there be?

[Vinh]

Im using a 1.25 litre bottom instead with 2cups sugar and nearly tablespoon of yeast. Filled water to the near neck mark where it starts to curve into the lid. Used warm water...

How long should it be if using warm water?

[depthC]

Bubbles per second IMO doesnt matter much. When i use fresh yeast that i jsut opened i get 1 bps which is nice but then on my next batches the bubbles come in short 1-2 second bursts. So how many bubbles per second you get is luck i guess.

Using warm water it shouldnt be too long, id say a hour or two but i dont really know. Dont be to worried when it starts, give it a day and if its not working you got bad yeast or a leak in your unit.

- depthC

[Somonas]

I dont use a bubble counter. In my opinion a bubble counter is an unnecessary failure point. If you monitor your PH every couple of days you can get a more accurate idea of your co2 levels then you can get with bubbles per second...
a couple days after I change the bottles I can hear whoosh woosh woosh up the filter intake,,, every 1/2 -1 second, I have no idea how many bubbles are in the woosh, probably more than one. 1 week later the wooshes are farther apart, and then when the PH is around half way between the start (6.0) and neutral, I change one bottle