DIY CO2 - Why 2 liter bottles?

Twimbo · 11-03-2009, 06:04 AM

Getting ready to rig up a DIY CO2 set-up. I don't have a 2 liter pop bottle on hand, so I started looking at an empty 1 gallon plastic milk jug. But, in all I've read about DIY CO2, 2 liter bottles are the norm - so I started wondering why?

Is 2 liters, just the right amount for an optimal CO2 set-up? Or is it something else.

After reading more, I have the feeling, that it has something to do with the construction of 2 liter plastic pop bottles. That they are stronger than something like a plastic milk jug.

So, my question:

Why 2 liter bottles?
Can I use a one gallon plastic milk jug?
If so, do I double the recipe?

Thanks....

Rowerzysta · 11-03-2009, 07:14 AM

Soda bottles are designed to handle some pressure. Milk jugs might be air tight, but have you ever seen a jug of milk pressurized? Its just not what it was designed to do.

Now, having said that, any plastic or maybe even glass container will work for making co2...but the point is to go about it the safest way possible. If for example you would get a clog somewhere, and pressure would start to build up in your container, it is believed that a soda bottle would handle the pressure build up the best. The question is how much do you want to risk your sugar and yeast mixture splattered all over your cabinet.

Another point i can think of is that soda bottles are meant to hold some liquids and CO2, exactly what you will be making. So you can have some confidence that the CO2 will not react with the plastic of the soda bottle or the cap in any way.

Lastly...about the recipe, if you double the size of the bottle, double the rest of the ingredients as well. Just remember that a bigger bottle will give you more co2 but it will not make it last longer.

airborne_r6 · 11-03-2009, 07:55 AM

You will pop the top off of milk jugs. Soda bottles are designed to withstand the pressure as previously mentioned. Gatorade bottles have also been used and I used a 1 gallon apple juice bottle.

james0816 · 11-03-2009, 01:40 PM

x2 on the Gatorade bottles. I swapped out all my 2L bottles in favor of the OceanSpray bottles and using small Gatorade bottles as my seperator. They seal a lot tighter and are less prone to leak through the threads.

Twimbo · 11-03-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james0816

using small Gatorade bottles as my seperator.

What is a seperator?

jreich · 11-03-2009, 04:41 PM

i also use 2 1gal ocean spray bottles because the strong and have handles.

Twimbo · 11-03-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twimbo

What is a seperator?

I will answer my own question. I found a great thread in this forum that explains what a separator is, in a DIY CO2 system. Basically, its a chamber with air (or CO2), between the CO2 reactor and the tank, designed to catch any yeast that might get into the tubing, before it reaches the tank. These separators, can also be used as bubble counters.

See this thread for more info.

james0816 · 11-03-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twimbo

I will answer my own question. I found a great thread in this forum that explains what a separator is, in a DIY CO2 system. Basically, its a chamber with air (or CO2), between the CO2 reactor and the tank, designed to catch any yeast that might get into the tubing, before it reaches the tank. These separators, can also be used as bubble counters.

See this thread for more info.

Yeppers...not required...but HIGHLY recommended.

Mowze · 11-08-2009, 09:51 PM

I use a 5L mineral water bottle

Hurriken · 11-10-2009, 11:44 PM

I use two 2L bottles with a splitter and two of those thingies that keep the water from backing up (I forgot the name)

I heard once of tops blowing off of Gatorade bottles and water bottles. Actually one of my bottles is a Hagen Plant gro. I wish I could find a used one cheap somewhere.

Anyway, I use two bottles an alternate replenishing them every other week to keep the flow more stable.

What tubing connectors do you people use in the soda bottles?

cole99v · 11-10-2009, 11:57 PM

2 liter bottles I think are just easy to find, I use a 3L for my 39gal. I tried to use containers like milk jugs and orange juice bottles but I noticed any jug with one of those soft plastic short caps will leak easily and/or blow the top off.

As for connecting i just popped a hole in the top and siliconed the tubing into it then into the separator and use a plastic flow valve after that just incase.

sollie7 · 11-11-2009, 01:34 AM

i use a water bottle

halfsour · 11-19-2009, 01:45 PM

anyone got pics?

bcdudley · 11-20-2009, 05:39 PM

I have been using a 3l soda bottle that is 3 months old and not even half way empty yet. Still going strong at a good 1 bubble every 3-5 seconds.

I mix 4 boxes of Jello with 4 cups of sugar (cooked as per the directions on the box of jello). Pour them in and let it congeal overnight in the fridge. I then mix 1 teaspoon of yeast with 1 cup of warm water and a pinch of baking soda (I think it is baking soda) and pour that on top of the jello mix. I then seal it up tight with silicone or rtv. It produces good pressure after about 2 hours and will last at least 4-6 months.

Twimbo · 11-20-2009, 05:53 PM

I just found this thread, which goes into more detail on the Jello method.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...html#post85288

11-03-2009, 06:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Twimbo Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: St. Paul, MN - USA Posts: 103	DIY CO2 - Why 2 liter bottles? Getting ready to rig up a DIY CO2 set-up. I don't have a 2 liter pop bottle on hand, so I started looking at an empty 1 gallon plastic milk jug. But, in all I've read about DIY CO2, 2 liter bottles are the norm - so I started wondering why? Is 2 liters, just the right amount for an optimal CO2 set-up? Or is it something else. After reading more, I have the feeling, that it has something to do with the construction of 2 liter plastic pop bottles. That they are stronger than something like a plastic milk jug. So, my question: Why 2 liter bottles? Can I use a one gallon plastic milk jug? If so, do I double the recipe? Thanks.... __________________ 38 Gallon Tank * 10g Shrimp Tank

11-03-2009, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
airborne_r6 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Springville, UT Posts: 483	You will pop the top off of milk jugs. Soda bottles are designed to withstand the pressure as previously mentioned. Gatorade bottles have also been used and I used a 1 gallon apple juice bottle. __________________ [/off-rant]

11-10-2009, 11:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
cole99v Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 44	2 liter bottles I think are just easy to find, I use a 3L for my 39gal. I tried to use containers like milk jugs and orange juice bottles but I noticed any jug with one of those soft plastic short caps will leak easily and/or blow the top off. As for connecting i just popped a hole in the top and siliconed the tubing into it then into the separator and use a plastic flow valve after that just incase. __________________ Incidentally, why was it that none of all the pious ever discovered psycho-analysis? Why did it have to wait for a completely godless Jew? -Sigmund Freud

11-20-2009, 05:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
Twimbo Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: St. Paul, MN - USA Posts: 103	Jello I just found this thread, which goes into more detail on the Jello method. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...html#post85288 __________________ 38 Gallon Tank * 10g Shrimp Tank

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11-03-2009, 07:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rowerzysta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 31	Soda bottles are designed to handle some pressure. Milk jugs might be air tight, but have you ever seen a jug of milk pressurized? Its just not what it was designed to do. Now, having said that, any plastic or maybe even glass container will work for making co2...but the point is to go about it the safest way possible. If for example you would get a clog somewhere, and pressure would start to build up in your container, it is believed that a soda bottle would handle the pressure build up the best. The question is how much do you want to risk your sugar and yeast mixture splattered all over your cabinet. Another point i can think of is that soda bottles are meant to hold some liquids and CO2, exactly what you will be making. So you can have some confidence that the CO2 will not react with the plastic of the soda bottle or the cap in any way. Lastly...about the recipe, if you double the size of the bottle, double the rest of the ingredients as well. Just remember that a bigger bottle will give you more co2 but it will not make it last longer.

11-03-2009, 01:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
james0816 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: VA Posts: 147	x2 on the Gatorade bottles. I swapped out all my 2L bottles in favor of the OceanSpray bottles and using small Gatorade bottles as my seperator. They seal a lot tighter and are less prone to leak through the threads.

11-03-2009, 04:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
jreich Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: philadelphia Posts: 274	i also use 2 1gal ocean spray bottles because the strong and have handles.

11-08-2009, 09:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mowze Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Uk Posts: 8	I use a 5L mineral water bottle

11-10-2009, 11:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hurriken Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 14	I use two 2L bottles with a splitter and two of those thingies that keep the water from backing up (I forgot the name) I heard once of tops blowing off of Gatorade bottles and water bottles. Actually one of my bottles is a Hagen Plant gro. I wish I could find a used one cheap somewhere. Anyway, I use two bottles an alternate replenishing them every other week to keep the flow more stable. What tubing connectors do you people use in the soda bottles?

11-11-2009, 01:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
sollie7 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 45	i use a water bottle

11-19-2009, 01:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
halfsour Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 10	anyone got pics?

11-20-2009, 05:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
bcdudley Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11	I have been using a 3l soda bottle that is 3 months old and not even half way empty yet. Still going strong at a good 1 bubble every 3-5 seconds. I mix 4 boxes of Jello with 4 cups of sugar (cooked as per the directions on the box of jello). Pour them in and let it congeal overnight in the fridge. I then mix 1 teaspoon of yeast with 1 cup of warm water and a pinch of baking soda (I think it is baking soda) and pour that on top of the jello mix. I then seal it up tight with silicone or rtv. It produces good pressure after about 2 hours and will last at least 4-6 months.

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