diy co2 help

When I was using DIY I would use a cup and a half to two cups of sugar to a teaspoon of yeast add warm water...voila.

In your 2 liter bottle put 2 cups of sugar, then add 2 cups boiling water. Shake to dissolve and let cool to room temp.

Then in 1/4 cup tepid water, (between 80* and 100*), add 1/4 teaspoon of activated dry yeast and stir with a fork until creamy. Do not use "super activated" or "rapid rise" yeast, you want the normal stuff. As soon as it is mixed nice and creamy with no clumps add a couple pinches of sugar and whip it in with the fork until there is lots of bubbles. Let it sit for 10 minutes and pour it in to your bottle. That's it.

I started using DYI CO2 on a low light 10g set up about 3 months ago & IMO it's made a noticeable difference. I've seen my baby java ferns experience a spurt (& they tend to grow slow, really slow).

I use this recipe -

1. about 1L of tepid water
1. 2 Cups of Sugar
2. 1/4 teaspoon of yeast
3. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
4. top off with tepid water

It's basically a "dumb-downed" version of this recipe(s) I got from here: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...cts/14453-diy-co2-guide-pictures-recipes.html

I don't use a fancy diffuser, just an air stone. Although I've read that the Hagen Nutrafin CO2 ladder works well w/ DYI CO2 set-ups & is relatively inexpensive.

I use a 2- 2L bottles, one for my CO2 mixture & the other as a gas separator so that I don't get as much of that yeast muck feeding into my tank.

The mixture lasts me about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks before I have to redo it.

You have no need of a bubble counter as you have nearly no control over DIY CO2.

No matter the size of container, use 3 parts water, 1 part sugar, pinch of yeast. Don't start it w/ the water >80-85°F, and there is no need to go out of your way to dissolve the sugar, time will do that for you.

No baking soda! The Na is worse for the yeast than the pH change the bicarb, is supposed to minimize.

You will probably want to replace that nano diffuser w/ something that provides a lot less back pressure.

http://http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/diy-aquarium-projects/43742-diy-co2-question.html#post325769 <more...

Squawkbert - Since I'm new to using DYI, I'm always looking to learn more as I go. I understand that Baking soda is used as a buffer to keep ph swings to a minimum as a result of the CO2 injection.

Squawkbert said:

No baking soda! The Na is worse for the yeast than the pH change the bicarb, is supposed to minimize.

Click to expand...

But what is "Na"? And what exactly does it do to the yeast? Just want to know.

On my next mixture I'll nix the baking soda (& retest PH) & observe.

Thanks

Na is sodium (as in sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda).

Sodium ions are bad for yeast, I'm not certain why.

Do not add boiling water into any plastic! It will melt.
Use hot tap water to dissolve the sugar, but it needs to be cool to luke warm before the yeast can be added.
I just use warm tap and add sugar slowly while mixing. Then toss in yeast and seal it up. 1.5-2cups sugar, teaspoon yeast, fill rest with water up to the curve of the bottle, but no more, good to go.