I have read the diy c02 and followed exact instructions on making one but for some reason mine never works. here is my process... i use a 2 litre bottle with a hole drilled on top with a airline through. i then take 1/2 tsp(2.5ml) of active dry yeast and then mix it with warm water 1/4 full in the bottle and mix really well. then i add about 2 cups sugar and again mix. the other end of the airline is then stuk in the tank but nothing ever bubbles. is this the process of how its done. i've been doing this and it doesnt work? Can anyone Help???
diy co2
- Thread starter chaleng
- Start date
I do DIY CO2 but I use a gel base with the sugar. That slows down the process and makes it last longer. I use a slightly larger Juice jug, it's 96oz and a tougher plastic. I fill the jug to the level I want (about 3" down from top). Pour out one cup (this space will be used for the yeast/water later). Then I pour about 1 1/2 - 2 cups in a large measuring cup. I slowly add 5 plain Knox gelatin packets, stirring as they dissolve or soak up, however you want to word it.
I pour the remaining water that's in the jug into a pot and bring to a boil. Add 2 cups of sugar to dissolve / melt. Then add the 1 1/2 - 2 cups of gel water. Stir until dissolved. Let cool for 15 - 20 min, then using a funnel carefully add to the bottle. Place in fridge to set overnight.
The next morning take the gel out of the fridge and allow to warm up to room temp.
Warm up one cup of water (warm, not hot) and add 1/8 tsp. of active dry yeast. (has to be fresh) and a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 15 - 30 min then add to the gel jug. This should put you back to the 3" bellow the top.
With that all said,,, How do you have the tubing installed to the bottle?
I used a 1" piece of hard plastic tubing (the kind used in the Luft tube in an under gravel filter, you can get them in most pet stores, in a long section. Just cut off the piece you need.) I used epoxy glue to seal it into the hole I drilled in the bottle top. Then I used silicone tubing (it's more resistant to the CO2).
I also made a bubble counter so I know how much it's actually producing. I used a mason Jar and used two pieces of the hard tubing. One, the in line is long and will go close to the bottom of the jar. The second will be short and will go just an inch or so bellow the jar lid and will not go bellow the water line). Fill the jar half way with water and put the lid on. (use the epoxy glue for the hard tubing, just as you did for the bottle top). Place the flex tube from the Juice bottle, on the long tube on the jar. Place another piece of flex tube on the short hard tube and that one goes to the tank. Now, you'll see the bubbles before they reach the tank.
I actually drilled a hole in my return pump intake screen (it's in my wet/dry sump). I put an air stone on the end of the line and it sits right at my pumps intake. The pump chops the bubbles so fine, they become micro bubbles. This gives the CO2 plenty of saturation time, as it's chopped up and through the return tube and then in the tank as it takes the micro bubbles a while to get to the top.
This set up has worked great for me. I've been doing it for several years now (off & on). One bottle will work for aprox 2 weeks. Sometimes longer.
The room temp has a lot to do with it as the yeast work harder the warmer it is. You can also play with the amount of yeast, or sugar you use and tailor it to your needs.
I hope this helps.
Oh,,,, It sounds like you problem is either the sugar is not mixing well (you're not boiling it). Or you have a leak in your system (where it's going into the bottle)
Good luck
Joel
I pour the remaining water that's in the jug into a pot and bring to a boil. Add 2 cups of sugar to dissolve / melt. Then add the 1 1/2 - 2 cups of gel water. Stir until dissolved. Let cool for 15 - 20 min, then using a funnel carefully add to the bottle. Place in fridge to set overnight.
The next morning take the gel out of the fridge and allow to warm up to room temp.
Warm up one cup of water (warm, not hot) and add 1/8 tsp. of active dry yeast. (has to be fresh) and a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 15 - 30 min then add to the gel jug. This should put you back to the 3" bellow the top.
With that all said,,, How do you have the tubing installed to the bottle?
I used a 1" piece of hard plastic tubing (the kind used in the Luft tube in an under gravel filter, you can get them in most pet stores, in a long section. Just cut off the piece you need.) I used epoxy glue to seal it into the hole I drilled in the bottle top. Then I used silicone tubing (it's more resistant to the CO2).
I also made a bubble counter so I know how much it's actually producing. I used a mason Jar and used two pieces of the hard tubing. One, the in line is long and will go close to the bottom of the jar. The second will be short and will go just an inch or so bellow the jar lid and will not go bellow the water line). Fill the jar half way with water and put the lid on. (use the epoxy glue for the hard tubing, just as you did for the bottle top). Place the flex tube from the Juice bottle, on the long tube on the jar. Place another piece of flex tube on the short hard tube and that one goes to the tank. Now, you'll see the bubbles before they reach the tank.
I actually drilled a hole in my return pump intake screen (it's in my wet/dry sump). I put an air stone on the end of the line and it sits right at my pumps intake. The pump chops the bubbles so fine, they become micro bubbles. This gives the CO2 plenty of saturation time, as it's chopped up and through the return tube and then in the tank as it takes the micro bubbles a while to get to the top.
This set up has worked great for me. I've been doing it for several years now (off & on). One bottle will work for aprox 2 weeks. Sometimes longer.
The room temp has a lot to do with it as the yeast work harder the warmer it is. You can also play with the amount of yeast, or sugar you use and tailor it to your needs.
I hope this helps.
Oh,,,, It sounds like you problem is either the sugar is not mixing well (you're not boiling it). Or you have a leak in your system (where it's going into the bottle)
Good luck
Joel
The bottle must be a sealed enviroment 100%. Or the gas (co2) will take the easy way out instead of gonig thru the tubing and under water to release. i always crimp the tubing and turn the bottle upside down after mixing to make sure the lid is sealed. If any water drips out then the gas will surely escape.
Righto, here's my method. 1 2L soft drink/soda bottle (I tried larger, 3L, juice bottles, but found them inconsistent), 2 cups sugar, half teaspoon of yeast.
With a funnel, pour sugar into bottle. Add two cups cold water, one cup hot water, one cup cold water. Give the bottle a quick shake or shwish to stir up the sugar a little. Let settle. Add yeast, DO NOT STIR! Screw lid-with-hose on top...I try to avoid letting the yeast mix whilst doing this, but it matters not if a little sinks. Leave for an hour or two. Watch bubbles.
Now, what do you diffuse with? I get the idea from your post that you have an open hose, straight into your tank... This won't work. Popular methods include plumbing your hose just below the impeller in a powerhead/filter (like THIS ), placing the hose below a filter intake (don't use HOBs, they gas the CO2 off before it can be used), or you can spend a dollar or two on a glass diffusor (go eBay) or Hagen ladder, etc. When you drill the lid of your bottle for the hose, use a drill a half-mil or so smaller than the hose, cut hose at an angle and use pliers to pull it through. It will be air tight and no need for gluing or anything.
If anything, all these responses should teach you one thing; there's a bazillion ways to do DIY CO2, it's just a matter of trial and error. I, like everyone else, swear by my particular method, even though I know it's not the be all and end all...
With a funnel, pour sugar into bottle. Add two cups cold water, one cup hot water, one cup cold water. Give the bottle a quick shake or shwish to stir up the sugar a little. Let settle. Add yeast, DO NOT STIR! Screw lid-with-hose on top...I try to avoid letting the yeast mix whilst doing this, but it matters not if a little sinks. Leave for an hour or two. Watch bubbles.
Now, what do you diffuse with? I get the idea from your post that you have an open hose, straight into your tank... This won't work. Popular methods include plumbing your hose just below the impeller in a powerhead/filter (like THIS ), placing the hose below a filter intake (don't use HOBs, they gas the CO2 off before it can be used), or you can spend a dollar or two on a glass diffusor (go eBay) or Hagen ladder, etc. When you drill the lid of your bottle for the hose, use a drill a half-mil or so smaller than the hose, cut hose at an angle and use pliers to pull it through. It will be air tight and no need for gluing or anything.
If anything, all these responses should teach you one thing; there's a bazillion ways to do DIY CO2, it's just a matter of trial and error. I, like everyone else, swear by my particular method, even though I know it's not the be all and end all...
for the hole drilled on top its pretty air tight cause i do need to use force to pull the tube through the whole
water may be too hot, theres a pretty fine line between thriveing temps and deadly temps. i always use luke warm water, barely above room temp. try cooler water and see if it works.
use more water less sugar. 1/4 litre and 2 cups sugar is more or less equal parts right? maybe theres not enough water to dilute the alcohol the yeast creates and they die. most yeast can't live past 11% or so. i don't know how much alcohol is actually created compared to co2 but its an idea.
i actually agree with zennzo to, probably old yeast.
i actually agree with zennzo to, probably old yeast.
I can't remember the exact formula when I was doing mine but I did add a collector bottle to prevent backing up. The hose came out of a 2 liter into a 20 ounce. That cap had a second hose coming out to the tank. If the yeast went off or any liquid came through it dropped to the bottom of the collector bottle. The gas would rise and out the second hose to the tank.