Trouble Shooting DIY CO2 Problems

DGalt

DGalt

AC Members
Jun 1, 2008
703
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0
Connecticut
So my CO2 system has stopped working since I added a 2nd bottle and since i changed from my jello recipe to a regular recipe. Because I changed several things at once (always a bad idea) I need to troubleshoot what went wrong...but I'm not sure how to do that.

So the CO2 recipe I used was:
2 cups sugar
1/2tsp yeast
lukewarm water, probably about 1.75L (up to where the neck of the soda bottle starts to curve).

I'm not seeing any bubbles. I don't know what I should be looking for in the soda bottles, though, to tell me whether or not it's working. I mean....the yeast seemed to be reacting. But, 24 hrs later and still no bubbles.

It could be a leak somewhere in the system but I really have to doubt it. It was working fine with my old recipe. Yes, I added another bottle, but all the connection points seem tight.

Should I just try another batch?
 
I would start by taking one of the bottles and connecting it direct to the diffuser. At least I would then know whether I was getting any CO2 from the mixture. Another point to check is all connections. every connection is a potential leak point and a DIY doesn't produce much to start with. that means you can't afford to leak any bubbles.
 
I'll try connecting one of them directly to see if I get any bubbles.

I would go back to my old recipe, but it was a pain (have to let jello sit for like 2 days before it actually hardens), which is why I was switching to this method.

Does anyone see anything wrong with my recipe? Should I make any changes to the amount of sugar / yeast / water?
 
Did you activate the yeast in a seperate cup with the sugar mixture before you put it in, or did you just add it in the bottle when it was dry?
 
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