Cool Room Temp=Less co2 output in DIY

WaterBaby

WaterBaby

Senior Member with Senior Moments
Sep 23, 2002
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So I guess it's like trying to get bread dough to rise in a cold room. Yeast slows down when it's cold.

I noticed that in the morning, there are less bubbles coming from my Hagen system (we cut back the heat at night downstairs). As soon as the room warms up in the morning, the bubbles start flowing more steadily. I wonder if I insulated the canister somehow, it would help. But I have read on other posts that you really don't need co2 at night anyway, right?

Pressurized systems don't do this I bet.... Having tanks near exterior walls don't help either. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
 
I have the same problem. I'm not too concerned about it since I run my lights in the afternoon/evening and by then it has heated back up again. I have read some people put their bottles in a bucket filled with water, and add a small heater to the bucket to keep a constant temperature. I think that's a little overboard but if you are having algae problems I guess it would be good to keep a constant rate.
 
Just insulating your diy setup shouldn't help. Yes it will take longer for your setup to cool off at night, but then it will also take longer for it to heat back up durring the day.
 
I think I'm having the same problem. Cold weather here. Should I see foam on top of the sugar/water/yeast mixture? I popped off the cap, and it smells like CO2, pretty strongly, but I don't see bubbles moving through the lines.
 
Try a better yeast. Bread yeast pretty much stops below about 70°. A good wine or ale yeast is best. I do have some packets of Red Star Premier Cuvee yeast available. It works quite well between 45° and 95°.

And you can reuse it. Just pour off the liquid, saving the sludge and pour in new sugar water. It's also about 3X more alcohol tolerant than bread yeast.
 
I am going to try that type of yeast because as of right now I have a small heater in a bucket that has the 2L bottles submeresed in it.
 
Rex Grigg said:
Try a better yeast. Bread yeast pretty much stops below about 70°. A good wine or ale yeast is best. I do have some packets of Red Star Premier Cuvee yeast available. It works quite well between 45° and 95°.

And you can reuse it. Just pour off the liquid, saving the sludge and pour in new sugar water. It's also about 3X more alcohol tolerant than bread yeast.
Click to expand...

This is really useful. I haven't seen many DIY guides mention this at all.
 
i find the decrease in output to be optimum for my tanks, the warmth for my bottles comes from my tank light, so naturally when theyre off, it cools down, and the CO2 production slows for when its not needed, with no action on my part. btw, great pages rex! i'm gonna see about making one of those nice pvc reactors.
 
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