DIY CO2 newbie support group

The reactor vessel is the bottle which contains the yeast mixture.
The gas seperator bottle is just a smaller bottle with water only. This helps to keep the CO2 "goo/snot/what-cha-macallit" out of the tank.
Tubing - self explanitory
Diffuser - breaks the CO2 up in smaller bubbles.
 
James0816 said:
The reactor vessel is the bottle which contains the yeast mixture.
The gas seperator bottle is just a smaller bottle with water only. This helps to keep the CO2 "goo/snot/what-cha-macallit" out of the tank.
Tubing - self explanitory
Diffuser - breaks the CO2 up in smaller bubbles.
Click to expand...

But on this article here:
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html
the generator is the bottle with the CO2 mixture, while the reactor is the part that mixes the water and the bubbles.
 
Interesting...I always thought that reactor and generator were the same things.

I guess by that definition...your actual tank is the reactor as that is where the bubbles diffuse into the water. ;o)
 
aquanurse said:
OK....dumb question but I am very new. Like yesterday starting new. Can you not use the little tablets that fizz like alka seltzer for Co2? That is what they were advertising them for. HELP so much to learn.
Click to expand...


FYI if this hasnt been answered yet..here you go.

There is no real advantage to using these, it gives you a quick shot of Co2 and then it escapes. No substainable amounts left for the plants.
 
I fell in to the same trap when I first did diy co2, about how certain things were called. Do a google search for diy co2 reactor and most likely you come up with how to do a diy co2 generator. I guess when you google things google it by what you want it to do. If you want to make co2 search diy co2 generator. If you want to diffuse the co2 I search diy diffuser which then results in a diy reactor!! There are several different diffusers out there. I believe it is passive, which is just putting an airstone on the end of the line and letting the current move the co2 around. Then I believe there is also mechanical, which is more like a reactor where you are purposly breaking down the co2 and trying to get 100% dissolution.
As cobfreak mentioned above, I did build the dual venturi reactor and personally it does a great job, but I dont like it. Tank is filled with co2 bubbles. IT need tweaking. I am working on it. The bubbles are too large. I believe I read on tom barr's website you want more of like a vapor. Where the bubble is so small it cant fight current. I havent been able to work on mine yet, work and soon overtime and school will make it harder, but ill keep plugging away at it.
cob whats your ph at today?
 
I checked my pH this afternoon and it was 7.8. It's still producing a very steady stream of bubbles. I'm trying to figure out how to go about my next step at this point.

Here's a question: what is it about the size of the bottle that changes the amount of CO2 being produced? Is it just a matter of the amount of yeast mixture I can put in the bottle?

Specifically, I now have a new setup that would use 2 juice bottles (I think they're 1.89 ounces). I have been told to use two 3 liter soda bottles; but then I've also been told to use these stronger juice bottles for a better seal on the lid. If I used two 3 liter bottles, would I be then using a recipe with more yeast? Is the ratio of the three main ingredients (yeast, sugar, water) critical to something? Or could I just use a recipe that used more sugar and yeast and however much water it takes to fill the juice bottles 2/3rds full?

Basically I don't really feel like using 3 or 4 of these juice bottles. Actually now that I think about it there are larger juice bottles. Maybe I should get some of those. but anyway, any thoughts on the size question? Basically what does the larger bottle allow me to do?
 
when co2 is being generated it is from my understanding, the yeast consuming the sugar. The more yeast...the faster the sugar is consumed. more co2 at once but quickly running out. I use a 2liter bottle. If I were to use a juice bottle, I would use one about the size of a 2 liter bottle. using a 3 liter bottle is pointless if you are still going to do your original recipe. Personally I use 2 cups sugar and 1 packet of yeast which is over a teaspoon. It gives me lots of co2 and runs strong for a week and then slows down around 10 days. Hope this makes sense
 
Here's the new generator setup:

CO2generator.jpg


I just siliconed it (after this picture,) which is not my favorite part. I'm still not sure about the sizes of things. I'll just try this (soon, I think,) and see what happens.

I maybe transfer the 2 liter bottle to my 20gallon, although right now i'm pretty sure that one doesn't need CO2.
 
Looks good!

If you put the 2 litre on the 20 gal tank how will you 'count' how much c02 is going in so you don't hurt your fish.

Also, how are you dealing with the night and lights out phases?
 
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