DIY CO2 newbie support group

[jasonG75]

Did you see a difference in growth? Do small fish get stuck?
I only see a different on the plant on the left only...

Stuck? No.

correct because that is the side where it is concentrated at. Water Sprites really love Co2, in any amounts. It went from a mid-level plant to reaching the top of my tank in 1 week. You might not see this type of result say with Vals, or Anubias or otheres. But with sprites they LOVE IT.

 

[connor_09]

So today I started my DIY CO2 system, just done the generator and separator so far but all seems to be going well, just gonna wait for the silicone to set before I get on with the rest of it...



as you can see I've cable tied the bottle together, and silicon both top and bottom of the lids where the tubing enters and exits, I also slotted my tubing through the biro pen in my separator and siliconed all possible gaps (even though it was an extremely tight squeeze) oh and has inserted a check valve.

Can't wait to start producing some CO2!

 

[cobfreak]

Very nice work. Where'd you get that tubing? Do you know what it's made of?

I am still using standard store bought airline tubing which I think in the long run is wrong, but it's working so far.

 

[connor_09]

http://www.midlandwaterlife.com/hagensiliconeairlinetubing305m10ft-p-479.html

that's the stuff although I got it from my local fish store, and it's silicone.

 

[fastlight81]

connor, I see the check valve between the two bottles, which is good(not necessary imo), but make sure you place a check valve between the tank and your co2 bubble counter/seperator

 

[fishycat]

Looks good Connor, only concern I have is the gas separator - the longer hose has to be underwater... I'd have pushed the tube down to the bottom so that the bottle didn't have to be filled more than halfway. Less chance for yeasty water to get into your 2nd tube... It would help to trim the 2nd hose closer to the cap (allow 1/4" of line to stick in).

You'll have to remove the zip tie when you change your co2 batch, or things'll be pretty awkward.

 

[ghostshrimpman]

very cool

 

[fishycat]

Now I'm wondering though if I'm going for too much yeast. Hmmm.

James has got it. More yeast = lots of co2 reaction right off the bat, but they will consume the sugar faster & then die off.

Less yeast allows for a slower yet longer yield of co2. Bread bakers use less yeast which allows a long rise (co2!) time to make flavorful bread.

There is also the issue of sugar alcohols which affects the yeast, but I think that becomes an issue more with the jell-o method (where the alcohol sits above the layer of food/jell-o).

 

[ghostshrimpman]

i agree

 

[jimsfault]

i've read that valves made of any metal degrade worse than those of made of plastic (when using them for co2). true?