DIY Co2 with Glass Diffuser

Lee04 · 03-17-2012, 12:08 AM

Hello,

Here is the DIY Co2 diffusion setup on my 10 gallon tank.
The mixture is two cups brown sugar, 1 tsp yeast, and 1 tsp baking soda.
It's been set up for an hour, the only difference being some bubbling in the soda bottle yeast container.
I know that time varies, but how long would you say one should wait before suspecting problems?
Thanks!

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**ngrubich** · 03-17-2012, 01:38 AM

Well, since you noted that you've got bubbling in your bottle, that's a sign that you didn't use too hot of water and killed the yeast haha. What you can do is squeeze on the bottle a little and see if bubbles start coming out of the diffuser. This is when you can check for air leaks as well (you'd hear a whistling sound). Mine usually starts going noticeable after about 3-4 hours.

galabar · 03-17-2012, 03:15 AM

Also, you might try a more efficient diffusion technique. You may be able to get much more out of the CO2 that you are producing.

That filter behind the diffuser -- would it be possible to bubble the CO2 into the intake? This may give you 100% diffusion, depending on the type of filter and the flow of water through it.

shrimp pliskin · 03-17-2012, 03:39 AM

You should be able to see the co2 moving towards the diffuser in the hose. You might want to move that diffuser a bit lower so the tiny bubbles start coming out they have more surface area to come in contact with on the way up.

Lee04 · 03-17-2012, 04:40 AM

Quote:

This is when you can check for air leaks as well (you'd hear a whistling sound).

I originally pulled the airline through the cap, thinking it was airtight.
It wasn't, since I heard the whistle.
I re-did it with the addition of hot glue and duct tape. It seems pretty secure now!

Quote:

That filter behind the diffuser -- would it be possible to bubble the CO2 into the intake?

I don't really know, I've never done this before. It's a whisper 10x filter.

Quote:

You might want to move that diffuser a bit lower so the tiny bubbles start coming out they have more surface area to come in contact with on the way up.

Will do, good suggestion!

h0meless · 03-17-2012, 07:19 AM

As far as the hot glue goes, I've been tinkering with my first diy co2 for the past couple of days tryig to use hot glue to seal up any leaks to no avail. It doesn't seem to want to adhere too tightly to the airline tubing. Any bit of movement on the tubing has caused the dried glue to pull away from the tubing. It's been very frustrating. I had to resort to superglue, but I don't know if that has worked yet, as it was still drying when I left for work. Hopefully, my experience is just a fluke though.

Lee04 · 03-17-2012, 09:01 AM

I had the same problem, which was why I added the duct tape. It seems to seal pretty well.
If it doesn't hold, I may try a silicone sealant instead or a super glue if that works for you, h0meless!

The mixture sat for over 4 hours and became stagnant, so I decided to re-do it.
Instead of 2 cups of brown sugar, I did 1 cup brown and 1 cup white. I also skipped the baking soda.
I'll see how that works and will update later with the result.

picotank · 03-17-2012, 12:38 PM

If you already hot glued it then just add some 5 min epoxy around that... If you start over....just use 5 min. epoxy (two part stuff)
This has been the ticket for sealing DIY C02 for me. It has to seal tight or it won't work for you.. Mine also uses a nano diffuser and it works great.

denboka · 03-17-2012, 01:37 PM

Just make the holes in the caps smaller than the hose and it will be air tight. I am running 2 2L on my 10g and have no glue at all.
It can take as long as 12 hr for co2 to be at full production. It depends a lot on temp of room and water in mix..

Lee04 · 03-17-2012, 11:20 PM

Hmm...It's been a day and still nothing. The mixture became dormant like before.

Is there a successful mixture that someone can recommend? I've been using Fleishmann's ActiveDry yeast, not instant rise.

Naekuh · 03-18-2012, 03:59 AM

im waiting for someone to tell him that u can not use a ceramic diffuser on a yeast DIY setup without running into problems..

:\

OP.... since no one told you... i'll say it again..

YOU CAN NOT USE A CERAMIC DIFFUSER WITH A DIY YEAST SETUP WITHOUT SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A BIG ACCIDENT.

Lee04 · 03-18-2012, 04:15 AM

The person who sold me the diffuser said that it is compatible for both pressurized Co2 tanks & DIY yeast bottles.
Assuming that this is true, I think the only problem left is the mixture.
I may try the plain white sugar next, or try a different recipe altogether.

james0816 · 03-20-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naekuh

im waiting for someone to tell him that u can not use a ceramic diffuser on a yeast DIY setup without running into problems..

:\

OP.... since no one told you... i'll say it again..

YOU CAN NOT USE A CERAMIC DIFFUSER WITH A DIY YEAST SETUP WITHOUT SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A BIG ACCIDENT.

Really??

Guess noone told me this as I run glass nano diffusers on all my bottles.

picotank · 03-20-2012, 12:57 PM

My DIY set up works great with a nano diffuser set up.... You just have to make sure you have no leaks.

Mike Hawk · 03-20-2012, 02:40 PM

I use one of those filters you have in there as a diffuser, its very easy to do. if you turn that filter upside down you will see the bottom cap, remove it and you will see the intake for the propeller thing. make a hole in the bottom cap, put the hose through it then into the intake. close the bottom up again and leave it alone. you will get 100% diffusion. if you don't understand this i can post pictures if you would like.

03-17-2012, 12:08 AM	#1
Lee04 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 215	DIY Co2 with Glass Diffuser Hello, Here is the DIY Co2 diffusion setup on my 10 gallon tank. The mixture is two cups brown sugar, 1 tsp yeast, and 1 tsp baking soda. It's been set up for an hour, the only difference being some bubbling in the soda bottle yeast container. I know that time varies, but how long would you say one should wait before suspecting problems? Thanks!

03-17-2012, 03:15 AM	#3
galabar Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 856	Also, you might try a more efficient diffusion technique. You may be able to get much more out of the CO2 that you are producing. That filter behind the diffuser -- would it be possible to bubble the CO2 into the intake? This may give you 100% diffusion, depending on the type of filter and the flow of water through it. __________________ My 40 gallon breeder (and 20 gallon long): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ta07C0y0nk My 10 gallon with PAR30 LED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rbms5asKmA

03-17-2012, 12:38 PM	#8
picotank Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ga. Posts: 244	If you already hot glued it then just add some 5 min epoxy around that... If you start over....just use 5 min. epoxy (two part stuff) This has been the ticket for sealing DIY C02 for me. It has to seal tight or it won't work for you.. Mine also uses a nano diffuser and it works great. __________________ The Fraternity of Dirt #70

03-20-2012, 12:57 PM	#14
picotank Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ga. Posts: 244	My DIY set up works great with a nano diffuser set up.... You just have to make sure you have no leaks. __________________ The Fraternity of Dirt #70

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03-17-2012, 01:38 AM	#2
ngrubich Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 464	Well, since you noted that you've got bubbling in your bottle, that's a sign that you didn't use too hot of water and killed the yeast haha. What you can do is squeeze on the bottle a little and see if bubbles start coming out of the diffuser. This is when you can check for air leaks as well (you'd hear a whistling sound). Mine usually starts going noticeable after about 3-4 hours.

03-17-2012, 03:39 AM	#4
shrimp pliskin Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 96	You should be able to see the co2 moving towards the diffuser in the hose. You might want to move that diffuser a bit lower so the tiny bubbles start coming out they have more surface area to come in contact with on the way up.

03-17-2012, 07:19 AM	#6
h0meless Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 35	As far as the hot glue goes, I've been tinkering with my first diy co2 for the past couple of days tryig to use hot glue to seal up any leaks to no avail. It doesn't seem to want to adhere too tightly to the airline tubing. Any bit of movement on the tubing has caused the dried glue to pull away from the tubing. It's been very frustrating. I had to resort to superglue, but I don't know if that has worked yet, as it was still drying when I left for work. Hopefully, my experience is just a fluke though.

03-17-2012, 09:01 AM	#7
Lee04 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 215	I had the same problem, which was why I added the duct tape. It seems to seal pretty well. If it doesn't hold, I may try a silicone sealant instead or a super glue if that works for you, h0meless! The mixture sat for over 4 hours and became stagnant, so I decided to re-do it. Instead of 2 cups of brown sugar, I did 1 cup brown and 1 cup white. I also skipped the baking soda. I'll see how that works and will update later with the result.

03-17-2012, 01:37 PM	#9
denboka Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 180	Just make the holes in the caps smaller than the hose and it will be air tight. I am running 2 2L on my 10g and have no glue at all. It can take as long as 12 hr for co2 to be at full production. It depends a lot on temp of room and water in mix..

03-17-2012, 11:20 PM	#10
Lee04 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 215	Hmm...It's been a day and still nothing. The mixture became dormant like before. Is there a successful mixture that someone can recommend? I've been using Fleishmann's ActiveDry yeast, not instant rise.

03-18-2012, 03:59 AM	#11
Naekuh Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 884	im waiting for someone to tell him that u can not use a ceramic diffuser on a yeast DIY setup without running into problems.. :\ OP.... since no one told you... i'll say it again.. YOU CAN NOT USE A CERAMIC DIFFUSER WITH A DIY YEAST SETUP WITHOUT SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A BIG ACCIDENT.

03-18-2012, 04:15 AM	#12
Lee04 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 215	The person who sold me the diffuser said that it is compatible for both pressurized Co2 tanks & DIY yeast bottles. Assuming that this is true, I think the only problem left is the mixture. I may try the plain white sugar next, or try a different recipe altogether.

03-20-2012, 02:40 PM	#15
Mike Hawk Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 413	I use one of those filters you have in there as a diffuser, its very easy to do. if you turn that filter upside down you will see the bottom cap, remove it and you will see the intake for the propeller thing. make a hole in the bottom cap, put the hose through it then into the intake. close the bottom up again and leave it alone. you will get 100% diffusion. if you don't understand this i can post pictures if you would like.