[jasonh]

Originally Posted by tritan

ok,
first attempt at DIY CO is a flop. I used the reciept with 2 cups sugar, active yeast,1/3 Baking soda, and warm water to the neck of a 2 liter. Drill the hole in the top of the bottle pulled the tube into it with a plyers so it wss tight.
After 1/2 hour the inside neck started to fog up. I watched the fine air stone it was hooked to and the water level in the tube never came toward the stone. I watched it for a bit more and stilll no changes. What did I do wrong?

I'd make a bubble counter out of a small soda bottle that way you can really see what it's doing.

To check for leaks I like to put soap around the seals and blow into the open end of airline into the bottle to create some pressure...if you get bubbles you have leaks.

your yeast could be dead. I never had any luck with the little packets...I got the jar of instant yeast and keep it in the fridge. measure your yeast and bring it to room temp. Then get a small cup of warm (~100deg) water, put a pinch of sugar in, and dump the yeast in. don't even need to mix it. let it sit for 10-20min. if it gets foamy, it's good. Then make the mixture, then dump the yeasty liquid in on top. and for good measure I put maybe 1/16 tsp of dry yeast straight on top. Haven't had a bottle fail to start once I started this method....

p.s. I hate DIY CO2. I need to go pressurized in a bad way