What is your DIY CO2 recipe?

[Heady]

Seems like everybody has their own. Please post yours and maybe we can get a consensus...

BTW what happens if you add more yeast than normal? Is it harmful or just not helpful?

[anonapersona]

Gelatine: 2 packets of Knox gelatine in 1 cup cold water, 1/2 cup sugar dissolved in 1 cup hot water, combine and mix, chill overnight.

Cube gelatine and add to 64 oz jug.

Add 1/2 teaspoon yeast to 1 cup warm water wait until it disperses, add 1/4 teaspoon sugar and wait a few more minutes to see some action, then add that and 2 teaspoons baking soda and another 3 cups warm water to the jug.

When the mix slows, I pour off half of the liquid, trying to keep the gel cubes in the bottle, then add more room temp tap water.

I've been using bread yeast, ale yeast, and champagne yeast. I think the bread yeast like the baking soda more than the beer and champagne yeasts do. I use a yeast nutrient with the beer and wine yeasts in addition to the baking soda, they did poorly with only baking soda. I will be looking at using less baking soda and more nutrient in the next few months, but the nutrient makes sticky foam when used in large amounts (1 teaspoon) but 1/4 teaspoon seems OK, some foam but not a foamover, at least when combined with baking soda and gelatine.

Bottles last about 3 to 4 weeks, so it takes a while to do many tests of different mixes.

[NJ Devils Fan]

I have 3 CO2 bottles. I fill each half way with warm water and add 3/4 teaspoon of yeast and 1 1/2 cups to each.

[Glenstorm]

Originally posted by Heady
BTW what happens if you add more yeast than normal? Is it harmful or just not helpful?

gotta be careful with that! The biggest worry would be an overflow into your tank. had it happen and it was not good. Let's just say I have started a new planted community tank.:(

[somefinnfishy]

Originally posted by Glenstorm


gotta be careful with that! The biggest worry would be an overflow into your tank. had it happen and it was not good. Let's just say I have started a new planted community tank.:(

I stoped useing diy co2 for this reson will be adding presurized with in the month.Your earlier tread freaked me out as I have all my favorite fish in the 4 tank central water system:eek: I would lose hundreds in fish and maybe even passion for the hobby all together:(

[valerie]

I use a gallon juice jug. Fill it about 4"from teh top with water. Add 3-4 cups of sugar, 1tsp of brewers yeast. this recipe usually last for about 3 weeks.

[Starry]

My recipe is at http://aquaplants.web1000.com/art1.html

I haven't had any overflow problems, but then I've only been using this recipe for about a year. I actually add more yeast than most people because I'm not using a very effective reactor (read: airstone). Just don't fill up your bottle too much. Once you the the Jell-O and you're just adding the water and yeast on top, you don't need a lot of water. Just enough to cover the yeast.

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Great Recipe Starry. I've been looking for alternative jello recipes.

Here are some links to the recipe I have been using.

http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquasource/jello.shtml

http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquasource/cotwotwo.shtml

[rdelbalso]

Isn't the jello mixture more expensive than just the sugar and yeast mixtures. Also, how do you do the jello mixes without eating all the Jello?:D

[Glenstorm]

Originally posted by rdelbalso
Also, how do you do the jello mixes without eating all the Jello?:D

Not sure what you mean but it normally eats away at the available surface area as it goes. Initially I get these interesting veins that the yeast progresses through. Eventually though the Jello liquifies, because I have the bottle in a heated bath to warm the culture.

[Bristlenose Chuck]

LOL, That was a joke. Think about it. :D

[rdelbalso]

Bristlenose, I'm glad somebody got it. Yeah, I know sometimes my humor can be kind of dry!

[Glenstorm]

OOPS!!!

I need to think about a curfew for posting at night. It was late last night and I misread.

That is funny!!

It makes me think about the biproductive potential of these DIY systems. Any body make beer with theirs?


Dan