That's only one part on KH. You also want to make sure you've got at least 3dKH otherwise you could see big pH swings when your CO2 levels fluctuate.
question regarding diy co2.
- Thread starter terror
- Start date
You should be able to produce bubbles by blowing into the tube.
If not, something is wrong......probably a check valve. You probably will not get CO2 bubbles if you can't get bubbles by blowing.
Sounds like you're going through a lot of changes with mixing the stuff up.
If you continue to be unsuccessful try this:
Fill a 2ltr. bottle half way with tepid water(100°-110°). Pour in 2 cups of water and shake till totally dissolved.
Drop in 1/4 tsp. of yeast and shake to get the water nice and oxygenated.
Fill to within 4" of the top with more tepid water and set the 2ltr. aside.
Now take a separate cup and put 1/4 tsp. of sugar into it and add 1/4 tsp. of yeast. Add just enough water to it to be able to stir it up well and get it cooking(yeast working on the sugar). Let it sit for 10mins. and add the small cup to the contents of the 2ltr. bottle and cap it.
When I use this method I get CO2 bubbles within 15mins. As the mixture matures you should see faster bubbling.
Diane Walstadt says that the extra little cup you make up works to 'jump start' the 2ltr. bottle, and gets it going sooner.
I have found that the easiest way to tell if you're getting bubbles is to just attach your tubing to the 2ltr. bottle and stick the other end into the tank and watch for bubbles. A newly mixed batch will probably take a few minutes to fill the tubing and force CO2 into the tank water. Once you see bubbles you can hook the tubing to your reactor.
Again.......I don't believe that DIY CO2 will push CO2 into a tank though a reactor if you can't blow through it and make bubbles. Make sure you can make bubbles before expecting your mixture to.
Len
If not, something is wrong......probably a check valve. You probably will not get CO2 bubbles if you can't get bubbles by blowing.
Sounds like you're going through a lot of changes with mixing the stuff up.
If you continue to be unsuccessful try this:
Fill a 2ltr. bottle half way with tepid water(100°-110°). Pour in 2 cups of water and shake till totally dissolved.
Drop in 1/4 tsp. of yeast and shake to get the water nice and oxygenated.
Fill to within 4" of the top with more tepid water and set the 2ltr. aside.
Now take a separate cup and put 1/4 tsp. of sugar into it and add 1/4 tsp. of yeast. Add just enough water to it to be able to stir it up well and get it cooking(yeast working on the sugar). Let it sit for 10mins. and add the small cup to the contents of the 2ltr. bottle and cap it.
When I use this method I get CO2 bubbles within 15mins. As the mixture matures you should see faster bubbling.
Diane Walstadt says that the extra little cup you make up works to 'jump start' the 2ltr. bottle, and gets it going sooner.
I have found that the easiest way to tell if you're getting bubbles is to just attach your tubing to the 2ltr. bottle and stick the other end into the tank and watch for bubbles. A newly mixed batch will probably take a few minutes to fill the tubing and force CO2 into the tank water. Once you see bubbles you can hook the tubing to your reactor.
Again.......I don't believe that DIY CO2 will push CO2 into a tank though a reactor if you can't blow through it and make bubbles. Make sure you can make bubbles before expecting your mixture to.
Len
thanks...
i tried blowing into the hose , from the smaller softdrink bottle.
because the diy i used is from
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html
where theres a smaller bottle in between thebig bottle and the tank..
i was able to get air thru. i removed the hose from the diffuser, and was able to blow air thru...
could it be because of the long hose?
or is it the diffuser? i have the ceramic type diffuser.
i also mixed a new batch of yeast...
hope this one works...
i tried blowing into the hose , from the smaller softdrink bottle.
because the diy i used is from
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html
where theres a smaller bottle in between thebig bottle and the tank..
i was able to get air thru. i removed the hose from the diffuser, and was able to blow air thru...
could it be because of the long hose?
or is it the diffuser? i have the ceramic type diffuser.
i also mixed a new batch of yeast...
hope this one works...
Yes, it would be difficult to blow through the small bottle(what I call the bubble counter) because there is an open area within it that must have pressure build up before it goes from there into the reactor.
What are you using for a 'diffuser'?
And are you using check valves? If so make sure that they are installed the right way. They should allow air(gas) in but keep water from back-flowing out.
Have you mixed up a batch of sugar/yeast that is producing bubbles?
Don't forget to measure your tank's kH and that it's at least 3.0-3.5.
Len
What are you using for a 'diffuser'?
And are you using check valves? If so make sure that they are installed the right way. They should allow air(gas) in but keep water from back-flowing out.
Have you mixed up a batch of sugar/yeast that is producing bubbles?
Don't forget to measure your tank's kH and that it's at least 3.0-3.5.
Len
thanks.
can i remove the small bottle?
what is it for ? i don't have a check valve on since theres the small bottle
I use one with a ceramic top..
its transparent and has a ceramic top...
i forgot the brand...
will post a picture later
Haven't measured kh yet...but our water is not that soft. because sometimes my tank gets those watermarks...
thenew batcf of yeats i mixed. there's some bubbles on the top... don't know if its producing co2 yet...
i used instant yeast... put the rest in the fridge.
can i remove the small bottle?
what is it for ? i don't have a check valve on since theres the small bottle
I use one with a ceramic top..
its transparent and has a ceramic top...
i forgot the brand...
will post a picture later
Haven't measured kh yet...but our water is not that soft. because sometimes my tank gets those watermarks...
thenew batcf of yeats i mixed. there's some bubbles on the top... don't know if its producing co2 yet...
i used instant yeast... put the rest in the fridge.
I don't think you need the second bottle.
From my own experience, limited though that may be, I chose for a juice bottle instead of pop bottle, that way it doesn't collapse when you grab it.
You don't 'need' a check valve as long as your CO2 generator is above the water line of your tank, i.e. prevent a possible syphon. But for the $2 it costs for one, why risk it?
From my own experience, limited though that may be, I chose for a juice bottle instead of pop bottle, that way it doesn't collapse when you grab it.
You don't 'need' a check valve as long as your CO2 generator is above the water line of your tank, i.e. prevent a possible syphon. But for the $2 it costs for one, why risk it?
thanks!
i'lll remove the small pop bottle
i've read that glass bottles sometimes explode?
i have some check valve already... but don't they reduce the flow of co2?
i'lll remove the small pop bottle
i've read that glass bottles sometimes explode?
i have some check valve already... but don't they reduce the flow of co2?
If properly set, I always incude an intermediate bottle in DIY. If the fermentors foams over, it is not in the tank. If the check valve fails (quickly with CO2), tank water will not back-siphon if the fermentors cools down or otherwise slows down.
I do not believe DIY will build sufficient presure to punch through a ceramic diffuser. Back pressure is not a good thing on DIY. Please do not use the ceramic diffuser, you are risking explosion.
I do not believe DIY will build sufficient presure to punch through a ceramic diffuser. Back pressure is not a good thing on DIY. Please do not use the ceramic diffuser, you are risking explosion.
thanks,
guess i'll have to buy a co2 tank..
for the meantime, i'll just use an airstone istead of a diffuser..
will this work??
guess i'll have to buy a co2 tank..
for the meantime, i'll just use an airstone istead of a diffuser..
will this work??
I'll never understand why people make things more complicated than they need to be.
When I was using DIY CO2, I just mixed up a bottle of sugar and yeast as explained previously in this thread, ran an airline out of it and into the bottom of the siphon tube of my filter. The gas was sucked up the tube and through the filter where it was chopped up and dispersed into the water table. No back pressure at all. Just make sure the liquid in the 2ltr. bottle is 3" to 4" below the cap. I never got much foaming or any over flow into the tank, but if you're nervous about that, use the small bottle in the middle of the line(the bubble counter) as a safety valve against yeast mixture in the tank.
A better option for a reactor, than the filter is a small power head.
Most are submersible and can be placed way down low in the tank. You run the tube into the intake of the power head(on the bottom) and it smashes up the bubbles and distributes them into the water. Much better absorption this way.
BTW, I agree with Robert with regard to using air stones or anything similar....not a good idea.
Len
When I was using DIY CO2, I just mixed up a bottle of sugar and yeast as explained previously in this thread, ran an airline out of it and into the bottom of the siphon tube of my filter. The gas was sucked up the tube and through the filter where it was chopped up and dispersed into the water table. No back pressure at all. Just make sure the liquid in the 2ltr. bottle is 3" to 4" below the cap. I never got much foaming or any over flow into the tank, but if you're nervous about that, use the small bottle in the middle of the line(the bubble counter) as a safety valve against yeast mixture in the tank.
A better option for a reactor, than the filter is a small power head.
Most are submersible and can be placed way down low in the tank. You run the tube into the intake of the power head(on the bottom) and it smashes up the bubbles and distributes them into the water. Much better absorption this way.
BTW, I agree with Robert with regard to using air stones or anything similar....not a good idea.
Len
