Co2 with pics stepBYstep

[Matt Nace]

Changed to reduce the clicking back and forth, may take a little to load.

This is for a 2 liter bottle.


-Drill a hole in the cap, and silicone a piece of airline tube in. I usually cut it after a few inches for a connection to a check valve.


Let that sit over night.
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My ingrediants, I use Fleischmann's Bread machine yeast and regular sugar.
[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/nace9/fishpics/DIYco2/Sugar%20and%20Yeast.JPG
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You need to allow the yeast to be room temp, so measure out a 1/4 tsp and set it aside.



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You will also need two cups of sugar. I suggest a funnel for putting it in...with the least spillage. Put that in your bottle awhile.

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I use nice warm water(not hot or you can kill the yeast) I fill it half way, then shake very well to help disolve the sugar. I then fill it up to where the bottle starts to curve in as the next pic shows.

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After about 10 minutes since I put the yeast aside, and my bottles are filled with the sugar and water, I pour the yeast in through the funnel and let it sit on top.

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Doesn't matter if it is in a big clump or not as it hits the water.

As you can see in my next pic, my sugar has not all disolved, but is settleing. I find it never does for me, and it never matters, so don't be alarmed. The sugar will be used and the yeast will get their fuel.

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As you can see, within minutes the yeast has activated.
[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/nace9/fishpics/DIYco2/yeast%20is%20active.JPG
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Yours may take a tad more time, but mine usually activates very quickly.

Now hook it up.

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Here are my filters and how I put them in

HOT Magnum


Magnum 350

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Mine usually lasts for a month, but I try to change it every 3 weeks.

Use check valves if you place it lower than your aquarium water level.

Very easy.

[dattack]

Nice step by step.  I would like to add that if you don't like to use silicone, go to your hardware store and get rubber stoppers.  Drill or nail a small hole through the rubber stopper and add a small rigid airline tubing which then connects to regular flexible airline tubing.  Works like a charm without waiting for silicone to dry or get brittle after many uses.

[equinom]

Oh My Gawd! * LOL!!

Some of those pics! *I especially like the 1/4 tsp shot!

The only things that are different between your and mine are:

I am using regular Fleish. yeast - not Bread Machine yeast. *I figured that was a marketing ploy for the yeastly challenged.

I do not have silicone on the inside of the caps - just the outside. *Easy to fix.


My dry ingredient measuring devices (spoons and cups) are stainless - not plastic. *And the liquid measuring cup is glass.
My funnel is smaller, and is also stainless.

I am not using Lipton tea bottles, I am using Diet Coke, and I removed the labels.

Your high tech method of the elastic band around the intake is much more complicated than my reactor. *I have an airstone that's packed inside thin walled rigid tubing with gravel, with some filter sponge material at each end - trying to keep that CO2 in the water as long as possible

There, are your chops busted enough? *My spouce is still laughing at me, when he saw the pics of the yeast/sugar and then the 1/4 teaspoon. *He said, "Boy, you have really impressed them with your intellect - they need to show you the measuring spoon!"
I guess we all know what he is not going to have for a while....

OK... I'll add silicon to the inside of a bottle, and only install that one. *This is my last try, though. *I am spending more time on the CO2 than the fish, and I am still using the Excel - so what's the point?

[Somonas]

great matt,  why don't you put that on a website so I don't have to click, back, click, back, click back click back

[luvfishies]

Somonas, you should post a pic of your bubble counter...ingenious!

[Somonas]

I don't use it anymore. It Was the weakest link, goodbye !!

(silicone always came off)

=)

You really don't need silicone if you make your hole the right size for your air line to fit in snuggly.

I use the same yeast as you but the normal kind, not the bread machine stuff.. I believe the normal kind lasts a little longer as bread machine yeast activates faster.

Oh, also.. I went to my local pet store and bought this package by hagen with three green hose connectors with a little airline in the package. Anyways, the connectors are excellent for connecting the airline to your bottle.

DIY Co2 is ok.. but a big PNA I think, plus if you save your pennys and buy the real thing, it will pay for itself in the long run!

I've got the 20 co2 tank so far, just need to get the regulator

[equinom]

Added the silicon to the inside of the caps - ever since there has been nary a CO2 bubble.

Would the fumes from the silicon kill the yeast?  I didn't let it cure very long...

[Backdraft Bagel]

The silicone fumes might, if you didn't buy 100% pure silicone. Unless marked "aquarium safe" or "100% pure silicone" you should assume the product contains arsenic as a curing agent.

[equinom]

Hey Back -
I used aquarium silicon.  It still smells bad, but I don't think there is arsenic in there.
Now that silicon has cured for several days I am going to set up one more bottle.  If this one doesn't produce - I'm done with DIY, and go to just Excel.