Problems with DIY CO2

Omega

Omega

Clowning Around
Dec 29, 2005
674
0
0
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Surrey, BC, Canada
How long does it take to start producing bubbles?

Mine's been going for 24 hours now and still nothing. I used two cups of sugar and a tsp. of fresh bread yeast in a two-liter pop bottle. The water was lukewarm when I put it in and I filled it up to about three inches from the top. There is no leeks or kinks in the tubing so I don't know what I'm doing wrong, if anything, here. Should I have dechlorinized the water?

Any help would be appreciated.
 
It probably should have started. The two things I can think of is either if however you have t6he tubing installed is leaking, or maybe that the "lukewarm" water was hotter then that. I use cool water to not worry about it, since it will warm up to room temp. Chlorine won't kill yeast, at least not when mixed into tapwater.
 
Or

You used the wrong type of yeast. (what brand was it?)

Or

It was already dead to begin with (most likely the culprit, I would guess). just because you just bought it, doesnt mean it cant be dead already
 
Recipe

This is the recipe I use for a 2litre soda bottle. Hope it helps:
  1. Dissolve 1 cup sugar with 500ml water. Pour into clean bottle.
  2. Dissolve 1 tsp yeast, a little warm water (2tbsp?) and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl. Set aside for 10mins. Agitate every 1 min. You should see many small bubbles and the yeast mixture gets more frothy. I use Instant Dry Yeast.
  3. Add yeast mixture into bottle. Using a small funnel helps.
  4. Top up with cold tap water to 3/4 full.
  5. Optional: Add 1tsp baking soda to reduce frothing.
  6. Shake well.
With this recipe and a leak free setup, you should see CO2 bubbles in a matter of hours.

My CO2 bottles use no silicone and works good. If you want more advice on making a silicone free diy CO2 generator, let me know.
 
Last edited:
Mine usually started producing within 30 minutes. Regular bread yeast activates quickly at around 100-105 degrees so unless the water was "hot" to the touch it was probably fine. Maybe it is a bad batch?

To check for leaks get a spray bottle with a bit soap in it and spray on the possible spots. I thought mine was leak free until I tried that and found two small ones.

Some of you have crazy routines for this stuff! I add 2 cups sugar, 100 degree water to the curve in the bottle, 1/2 tsp yeast, done.
 
I took the top of the bottle off and inspected the seal. It's in there real good with plenty of silicone that cured for two days. The air hose is perfectly fine.

It smells like my bread machine does when it's mixing doe. I should try my new yeast with that and see if the bread rises.

The type I used is "Bakipan" and it's "Active Dry Yeast" with an expiry date a year and a half from now. The label says it's ideal for bread machines.

www.bakipan.com

I don't know. Maybe I'll have to start over.
 
Omega said:
I took the top of the bottle off and inspected the seal. It's in there real good with plenty of silicone that cured for two days. The air hose is perfectly fine.

It smells like my bread machine does when it's mixing doe. I should try my new yeast with that and see if the bread rises.

The type I used is "Bakipan" and it's "Active Dry Yeast" with an expiry date a year and a half from now. The label says it's ideal for bread machines.

www.bakipan.com

I don't know. Maybe I'll have to start over.
Click to expand...

Id reccomend you starting over.

Here is the way I do mine, lasts generally about three weeks.

Fill 2 l bottle up 3/4 with hot water, put 2 cups sugar in, shake the bottle well, let sit until water cools down slightly (about 30 min). Add 1/4 tsp yeast, cap the bottle, turn bottle upside down-right side up one time, hook it to my reactor. Starts producing within 30 min.

Blue
 
Salihan said:
I'll try your way today. Sounds easier than the recipe I found on the net a while ago.
Click to expand...

It works! And it's already bubbling after less than an hour. Thanks! A lot easier!

I don't use silicone at all. I got this off the net and works well. I drill a hole in the cap smaller than the tube. Cut the end of the tube in an angle and push it in the hole. Use a pair of long nose pliers to pull the tube through the hole. The tube will expand and give it a great seal without silicone. If the tube goes in easily without using pliers, the drilled hole is too big and the gas will leak.
 
:rolleyes: might as well add my recipe...

measure and set aside 1 cup and 2 tsp sugar.
fill another glass with 1cup of 105F water, mix in 2 tsp sugar. add 1/2 tsp yeast to the sugar water, stir vigorously for 1 minute and let sit. (this helps activate the yeast)

meanwhile....

fill the 2L bottle 1/4 with same temp water, pour in remaining 1C sugar and 1/2 tsp baking soda thru funnel, fill to 1/2 with water, shakeashakeashakeashakea! shake till there are no granules left.
then pour the activated yeast mixture (should be slightly foamy on top by now) in, making sure all the yeast residue gets into the bottle. top it off to the curve, cap with a regular cap, shake once or twice, and set er up!
 
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