DIY CO2 recipe for 20oz bottles

Attempt #3 at DIY CO2:

5 Cups warm water @ ~ 107degreesF
1 1/2 cup pure sugar - Added to warm water and completely disolved.
Fill shot glass 3/4 with sugar mixture.
2L sitting in water bath. Water outside container is ~ 110
Add 1/4 tsp yeast to shot glass. Let sit 5 minutes.
Watch snow globe effect of yeast in shot glass
after 5 minutes....gingerly stir/mix yeast.
Let sit another couple of minutes.
Add contents of shot glass to 2L bottle. Cap. Mix well.
Add 1 tsp baking soda. Cap. Mix Well
Place 2L bottle in water bath near tank @ ~ 84 degrees
Connect airline tubing from seperator bottle to air stone.

Now we wait. <crosses fingers>
 
< have never bothered to activate yeast

I just make my sugar water ~90°F, shake until sugar is totally dissolved, add a little yeast and seal it up. If you see any foaming but no CO2 in the tank, you have a leak.

re: Surface area - One day, I'll test that theory. It does make sense to me interms of bread yeast being a "top fermenter", but it may well be that a small population at the correct temperature can make as much CO2 as a large population at a lower temperature. Maybe when my nephew gets a little older, we can test this as a science fair expt.
 
I must be a complete failure. I just can not get this dang ole co2 to work. There is no foaming at all on the top of either bottle. tested for leaks again and no leaks. I can't imagine this is that dad gum difficult to do.
 
I have better luck with mine using RO water or bottled water..and I say you heated the water too hot;it should be warm not hot; 90 is plenty,I don't take the temp of it,just use a heater set about 85 in a bucket to warm the water up,or use the microwave until the water "feels" warm.you dont want the water steaming hot.
I just mixed a new 2 liter bottle last night before bed and right now its bubbling away like mad out of the wooden air stone set under the filter intake
you should be seeing output in a matter of hours,a day at the most.you either still have a leak,or the yeast is no good,or you killed the yeast with too hot of water

your mix looks fine,same one I use and get at least 3 weeks from
 
James0816 said:
I must be a complete failure. I just can not get this dang ole co2 to work. There is no foaming at all on the top of either bottle. tested for leaks again and no leaks. I can't imagine this is that dad gum difficult to do.
Click to expand...

i dont get any foaming on top of the bottle either.. but i do get output.. Try the whole thing over with maintaining the water temp at 80 at all times. Also try and get yourself another packet of yeast from a different store. Not sure why its not working for you, it is very easy to make..
 
I know what Jeff said but I believe that I have just got to try this.

Jeff: I believe that I can run the outlet tube from the generator through the pump return flow suction orifice and approximately half way up the pump suction tubing.

Folks: Two Items
  • [1]I have reviewed many concepts with respect to installation of the outlet CO2 generator tube through the cap of the CO2 bottle.
    What is the consensus among you folks who have actually had some experience (as opposed to the general literature)?
  • [2] I have reviewed this thread and yall have gone from 0D to 360D with respect to appropriate solutions which generate the the most efficient reaction.
    Could you gurus reach a consensus on which solution I should try first?

TR
 
If you don't already have one, you should buy/make a drop checker. This will let you know how effective the DIY CO2 is with the wet/dry.

To your first question: The overwhelming consensus by people have tried multiple options(including myself) is to drill a hole in the top of the bottle top just smaller than the tube you are using. 1/4" tube, 3/16" hole. Then, cut the tube at an angle, slide the point through the 3/16" hole and use pliers to pull the tube through. It will be tight and require elbow grease, but it makes a complete seal for the pressures we are dealing with.

2) There is not a universal consensus on a proper DIY mix. For me, I used 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, 1/8 tsp yeast, and pinch of baking soda. Mix lasted 14-16 days.
 
Thx all....I'm now at attempt #4. I have the 2L from attempt #3 still connected so I am back to the 20oz bottles. This time I have used treated water that I would add to the tank directly and did not use the baking soda. I know it is easy as 1-2-3 but my 1-2-3 is turning out to be 7-8-9. Pretty funny but frustrating none the less.

I have once again brought the temp of the treated water up to about 105 prior to adding sugar. Completely disolved sugar. Poured small amount in shot glass. Put 20oz bottle back in water bath to maintain 105ish temp. Added yeast (new packet) to shot glass. No snow globe effect like attempt #3 but lots of foaming. Waited ~ 10 minutes and added bottle. Caped, shook well, connected all hoses and applied to tank.

It is fun and yet frustrating at the same time. I still feel like a mad scientist doing all this with temps and measurements and such. But all I have to show for it is algae. Grrrrrr. It'll happen....one day.
 
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