Do you think maybe that it's CO2 that's bubbling off the tablets? Cuz that would be a cool cheap source of CO2.
Alka-Seltzer
- Thread starter Shocker6966
- Start date
yes it's CO2. the sodium bicarbonate of the tablet mixes with water releasing carbon dioxide. depending on your water chemistry, my guess is the reaction would be strongly basic. in any event, it would be very hard to control the level of CO2 you'd end up with.
First off, I never intended to simply dump a couple tabs in the tank and see what happens, I meant to react it separately and collect the gaseous CO2, and leave the rest behind much like the yeast/sugar method. I just intend to do it much faster and in greater volume.
With large enough/strong enough a vessel to handle the volume of gas and/or the pressure produced and a flow control system you could generate and deliver the CO2. I've toyed with the idea of generating CO2 via baking soda and vinegar and quite frankly its something I may toy with again since I've decided to start planting my tanks.
I know for the most part you are all likely thinking that it's an entirely bad idea, but I'll toy with it nonetheless and post any progress I make. It won't be for a while seeing as how I expect a few messes before successes and will wait for the snow to leave so I can work outside.
Acetylene gas is produced in a similar fashion by evaporating the gas from acetone off of a porous media inside the cylinder itself.
Last edited:
sounds like a good idea in theory, but those tablets don't last very long and i dont expect they make enough co2 to be economical.
I remember seeing a plan for a diy co2 system using sodium bicarbonate and whatever acidic solution you have readily available that went something like this:
Sodium bicarbonate and an acid (muriatic acid is very strong, even when diluted with water, and very cheap, but dangerous to work with. plain white vinegar is a better option.) are combined in a reaction vessel of some sort. The gas produced is fed through a check valve into a large flexible container such as a garbage bag. An air pump is placed inside this bag, and the output is fed through a needle valve, and then into a reactor. When the bag gets close to empty, you recharge and reconnect the reaction vessel to fill the bag with co2 again. This has several disadvantages though:
a) it's big
2) it's hard to get airtight
III) it requires an airpump and a bunch of work.
It's easiest to get a small co2 tank and regulator and a needle valve. A complete setup can be had for under $75. Check your local classified ads for the tank and regulator. A setup used for welding is perfect. You will need a fitting or two and a needle valve, easily found at a welding shop, hardware store, or mail order. Good luck!
Sodium bicarbonate and an acid (muriatic acid is very strong, even when diluted with water, and very cheap, but dangerous to work with. plain white vinegar is a better option.) are combined in a reaction vessel of some sort. The gas produced is fed through a check valve into a large flexible container such as a garbage bag. An air pump is placed inside this bag, and the output is fed through a needle valve, and then into a reactor. When the bag gets close to empty, you recharge and reconnect the reaction vessel to fill the bag with co2 again. This has several disadvantages though:
a) it's big
2) it's hard to get airtight
III) it requires an airpump and a bunch of work.
It's easiest to get a small co2 tank and regulator and a needle valve. A complete setup can be had for under $75. Check your local classified ads for the tank and regulator. A setup used for welding is perfect. You will need a fitting or two and a needle valve, easily found at a welding shop, hardware store, or mail order. Good luck!
Only one problem - welding uses argon or helium, not CO2. You are correct though, the welding gas place is the same place to get CO2 and equipment, as well as virtually all other compressed gases too.
The setup, does not mean the specific gas , just the equipment, and I have never seen a helium tank in any metal shop, only argon or oxygen.