CO2 Nutrafin

[DarrylR]

My friend gave me a CO2 Nutrafin system but I don't understand how it works.

It says fill it up with sugar till the 1st level, than add the 2 packets than water.

But the sugar never dissolves in the luke warm water and the instructions didn't say anything about dissolving the sugar. Just Fill with sugar, add the packets, add water, put the tubing on and stick the bubble counter in the tank.

2 days later, no bubbles and nothing.

I had it beside the tank, and now I redid the mixture because I opened the compression canister and now I am hanging on my tanks wall.

At the moment, I am waiting for it to bubble. But can the CO2 still start even if the sugar hasn't dissolved. Also anyone using this product?

[Mgamer20o0]

is the packets expired?

[DarrylR]

I am assuming so... if the expiration date is on the packets, it says L0233 Del 01-2003. I have another box of these packets and it says L0115 Del 01-2005.

If these are expired, what about the sugar though? Do I need to dissolve it manually even though it doesn't say, or just let it be?

Also, what is the effects of using expired packets? It just won't activate?

[Bk718]

Best if you dissolve the sugar completely, trust me it will dissolve even in lukewarm water, just takes time.

You can always go with a homemade mix
Stabilizer: 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Activator: 1/8 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
Sugar: 1/2 cup sugar

[DarrylR]

I know of DIY CO2, but seeing I got this free, I might as well use it. I dissolved the sugar in my own DIY CO2, but in this instructions it doesn't even state it, so I left it alone.

Here is the pdf for the exact model I got
http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/CO2_Manual.pdf

[Bk718]

no no no, the mixture i gave you is not for just a regular diy co2 2L bottle, its specific for that nutrafin system

just point out that the activator is the yeast
and stabilizer is the baking soda

But i still think it would be best to dissolve the sugar completely

[DarrylR]

And it still won't activate, without manually dissolving the sugar first, right? Or mix all ingredients add water and that dissolve? Also how long does this last, a month?

I have 2 boxes of the nutrafin packets :/.

[Bk718]

And it still won't activate, without manually dissolving the sugar first, right? Or mix all ingredients add water and that dissolve? Also how long does this last, a month?

I have 2 boxes of the nutrafin packets :/.
when you fully dissolve the sugar the water solution becomes at equilibrium (each amount of water has the same concentration of sugar). I would suggest first making the solution of water+sugar, then pouring off the water into a cup and adding the activator(yeast) mixing it and leaving it for 15minutes, after 15 minutes mix the yeast again and add it to the bottle with sugar+water, add the stabilizer (baking soda) and mix once again. The yeast will have equal amounts of food (sugar) no matter where it is in the bottled mix and therefore will give you a balanced output of CO2.
From what i heard is that with the nutrafin mix the co2 lasts to about 2-3 weeks if not less. Obviously less than a regular diy with 2L bottle.

[DarrylR]

when you fully dissolve the sugar the water solution becomes at equilibrium (each amount of water has the same concentration of sugar). I would suggest first making the solution of water+sugar, then pouring off the water into a cup and adding the activator(yeast) mixing it and leaving it for 15minutes, after 15 minutes mix the yeast again and add it to the bottle with sugar+water, add the stabilizer (baking soda) and mix once again. The yeast will have equal amounts of food (sugar) no matter where it is in the bottled mix and therefore will give you a balanced output of CO2.
From what i heard is that with the nutrafin mix the co2 lasts to about 2-3 weeks if not less. Obviously less than a regular diy with 2L bottle.


This part kind of confused me, after mixing the sugar and water how can you pour out the water to add with the yeast if dissolved with sugar.

if that is not what you meant, than it means sugar+water PLUS another container with yeast+water than added to the sugar+water than added yeast?

People having problems with it as well:
http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170690&page=3

[Bk718]

This part kind of confused me, after mixing the sugar and water how can you pour out the water to add with the yeast if dissolved with sugar.

if that is not what you meant, than it means sugar+water PLUS another container with yeast+water than added to the sugar+water than added yeast?

sorry if i wasnt clear. The purpose of leaving the yeast in a different cup for 15min is so that it hydrates and will give you faster results when you add it to the actual bottle.
So let me change some steps
Dissolve sugar in water> pour some of that mix into a different cup>> pour the yeast on top and wait 15 min>> after 15 min add it back to the bottle and mix it with the entire solution. close it up and wait 30min to an hour (depending on temperature of the water)

[Bk718]

if it still dont work then i would go back to what Mg said.. the packets might be expired.. And then i would use the Homemade mix i told you about previously

[DarrylR]

:) Lol, much clearer. Thanks I will try this if the mixture doesn't bubble in another day or 2. You said it was a less recipe for the canister, but it will still work?

[Bk718]

:) Lol, much clearer. Thanks I will try this if the mixture doesn't bubble in another day or 2. You said it was a less recipe for the canister, but it will still work?
Many people here on AC are using this system with great results so yes it works.

I wouldnt wait 2 days, if you dont see even a slight bubble after 1 day, just redo the mix. (but remember to factor in water and room temperature when making the mix)

[Draal5]

Put the sugar and temped (warm) water in the fermentation canister put the lid on it and shake it real good put finger over the tube connector.

Then but in the yeast and stabilizer shake again then but in the holder; co2 in a couple of hrs its that easy.

[DarrylR]

I am guessing you are talking about the CO2 boxes packets? I tried it twice, the instructions just aren't that clear, or the packets are expired. I have done my own DIY Co2 before, just wanted to try out this product.

So if it doesn't bubble I will deem the packets expired, and try out the DIY recipe.

[DarrylR]

Well today, I am see a few bubbles on the ladder counter, is it supposed to bubble up will fast and travel up? Or it is slow and a few bubbles show, and thats it.

[Bk718]

Well today, I am see a few bubbles on the ladder counter, is it supposed to bubble up will fast and travel up? Or it is slow and a few bubbles show, and thats it.
supposed to be atleast a bubble per 5-8 seconds, going through the zig zag of the ladder and as its going towards the top its getting smaller..

[DarrylR]

Well I have 3 bubbles on the lowest row and just sitting there.

Petsmart also discontinued the Hydor Green NRG CO2 system, anyone else used this product?

[kjr928]

I just set up one of these nutrafin CO2 systems today. A couple of hours ago.

I have yet to see a bubble.

I checked the dates on the packets and it says 10/2006, so now I'm feeling a little annoyed since I just bought this thing. But anyways I guess I'll just wait until tomorrow and hope for some results.

[jpappy789]

I use that same system and it takes a while for the bubbles to show and then speed up IME. Not the best CO2 system because of that...

[DarrylR]

I am seeing bubbles it isn't just not following up the bubble track. It also says you can adjust to suit your tank. I believe the max is 20 gallon, but I am using it on my 29 gallon. So should the tube be on the last slot, or the 1,2 slot? Instructions didn't clarify which slot was able to suit which tank size, but just says stick it on the last slot.

[kjr928]

I am seeing bubbles it isn't just not following up the bubble track. It also says you can adjust to suit your tank. I believe the max is 20 gallon, but I am using it on my 29 gallon. So should the tube be on the last slot, or the 1,2 slot? Instructions didn't clarify which slot was able to suit which tank size, but just says stick it on the last slot.

It should be in the lowest slot (#1) for your tank.

[cfranco-p]

2 days later, no bubbles and nothing.
I have exactly the same problem :(


is the packets expired?
I saw the date in the activator, march of 2006 :(


Best if you dissolve the sugar completely, trust me it will dissolve even in lukewarm water, just takes time.

You can always go with a homemade mix
Stabilizer: 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Activator: 1/8 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
Sugar: 1/2 cup sugar

no no no, the mixture i gave you is not for just a regular diy co2 2L bottle, its specific for that nutrafin system
Thank you very much for the information :), I will try it !!!

C.F.

[Just Prince]

Go to the store and buy some dry yeast and baking soda that is the activator and stabilizer. I use 1/4tsp of yeast and 1/4tsp of baking soda along with the sugar amount suggested by Hagen and warm water. Shake the bottle up a little to get stuff mixing and plug it in. I usually see Co2 with in a hour. If the bubbles are not traveling up the ladder make sure it is clean and completely straight.

[jpappy789]

Baking soda is unnecessary IME.