DIY co2 from wine

[martialtheory]

I had this crazy idea a few weeks back. I know that when making wine, its basically like co2 generator. I also knew a really cheap way of making wine. Its no $80 bottle of wine but way better than any cheap wine I ever had.

So why not make wine and use the co2 to inject my tanks?

First all the supplies!

Next make the holes and pull the airline through.

Then I chulked it up to prevent any air leaks

Then made the mixture.

Very simple, first add 1 teaspoon of yeast and hydrate it. It takes about 15 minutes. Then add half a cup of sugar and the 3 containers of concentrated grape juice. Afterwards add 6 cups of water and mix.

Then I tefloned the bubble counter and connected the system.

But then the problems. I waited almost 10 hours now and still no co2 bubbles. Most dissapointing

Then a few days later, finally SUCCESS!!

I finally got my co2/wine generator working fully functional.

I turned it into two 2 liter bottles connected with a t connector. And filled it with my getto wine.

Then connect it to a wooden airstone and it works

Then I connected the glass difusor and prayed that it worked.

AND IT WORKS!! Yes sweet sweet success at last.

But its not all good news. My sister squeezed the bottles and the negative pressure from releasing the bottles caused fish water to get into the bottle. So I have co2 but no cheap wine *tears* I'm going to have to show you wine drinking results in a few months.

 

[LesbianChap]

So, just a single fermentation? Most the sites I'm finding say you should ferment the grape-juice twice...Also, how long does the fermentation last, and how's the wine turn out? Personally I don't like dry wines. Have you any other tricks for getting the wine sweet and nice?

Hell, if I can knock out two birds with one stone, and use my aquarium to further my alcoholism, I'm all for it.

 

[martialtheory]

hahah thats excatlly what im saying! all this time with all the alcohol that we made and threw out. lol

you do have to ferment twice. But this stage is only the primary fermentation. A second round is needed when the co2 stops and siphon into another sterized jug with a sterilized tube and mouth peice. Then place it somewhere at 60 to 70 degrees for a month

 

[Plecosterone]

If your making wine anyway it is great. The worse that can happen is your fish will hate you when stop doing it.

 

[LesbianChap]

hahah thats excatlly what im saying! all this time with all the alcohol that we made and threw out. lol

you do have to ferment twice. But this stage is only the primary fermentation. A second round is needed when the co2 stops and siphon into another sterized jug with a sterilized tube and mouth peice. Then place it somewhere at 60 to 70 degrees for a month

Then I'm guessing after the month you strain it (coffee strainer work?) into your "wine bottle" for refridgeration and serving?

 

[martialtheory]

no need to strain. After the primary fermentation, the dead yeast will collect on the bottom. So as long as you don't shake the container much, u can collect it without collecting the dead yeast.

And yes, place it in the fridge for a month then serve and enjoy. its not bad. I made it before and its better than any cheap bottle of wine I had before.

 

[LesbianChap]

no need to strain. After the primary fermentation, the dead yeast will collect on the bottom. So as long as you don't shake the container much, u can collect it without collecting the dead yeast.

And yes, place it in the fridge for a month then serve and enjoy. its not bad. I made it before and its better than any cheap bottle of wine I had before.

How's the taste? Is it dry or sweet or what?

 

[martialtheory]

No its sweet. Very light on the dry part though. But it depends on the temperture and how much sugar you initally added. The less and if the second fermentation has a higher temp, it should produce a more dry wine.

 

[Sploke]

The second stage is not really a "second fermentation". When you rack it into a secondary container, you're waiting for the yeast to settle out and the wine to clear. Then you can rack it off the fines and bottle it if you want to. Grape juice is generally made from concord grapes, which don't make the best table wine. Most store-bought juices also contain preservatives which tend to inhibit the ferment. Chilling the wash will help the wine to clear. If you want to talk real winemaking feel free to PM me, I've been homebrewing for a few years now. If its just for CO2 production, you're better off with a straight sugar wash, its cheaper.

 

[LesbianChap]

More sugar, cooler when you take it off the tank...got it!