DIY co2

[redza]

sticky if you can
i got this while i was browsing through ebay to look for some glass co2 diffusers so i looked at this one, and when i scrolled down i saw some instructions on how to make some DIY co2 yeast bottles. i think this information would be usefull for others. so... here u go, my diy co2 project hasnt started yet, by the way in malaysia it is hard to find 64 oz/ 2litre coke bottles, ( in my house no one drinks juice !!! ) so i will be using a 1.5 litre bottle.. here are the instructions,

items needed :
64oz bottle/2litre bottle.
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of active dry yeast
lukewarm water to fill it to the rectangular part ( look at the picture )

the tubing trough the cap : the ebay guy punched a small hole with a nail and used a pair or pliers to pull the tube through the little hole, this makes a perfect seal without using glue or stuff...

procedures :
pour 2 cups of sugar into the bottle
fill it with luke warm water ( again, look at the picture )
add 1 teaspoon of yeast
replace lid and tighten as good as possible
place the diffuser inside the tank
and wait,

wait 3-4 hours,
picture 1: things needed
picture 2: the set up before bubbles appear
picture 3: the set up after bubbles appear
picture 4: the diffuser

try at your own risk. if there are any blockage in the airline, the bottle may burst, the ending result is, sweet smelling messs.

if i were you i would use a checkvalve to prevent back siphoning
comments are welcomed





if you dont have a check valve,
you can make your own.
using smaller bottles

as the water goes backward into your co2 bottles, it enters the smaller bottle instead of messing up the co2 stuff. and most of the times, the mixture will bubble up and get into the tank. but this mechanisme has stopped stuff from getting into my tank. its best if you tape them together.
another safety system is

a pressure safety valve. this diy pressure realese valve is a simple mechanism. they used a T connector... and a rubber cap. the bottom of the t connector was sand papered, not too much not too little. if it is too much the rubber cap will pop out easily under pressure. but if its is sandpapered too little, the rubber cap will not come off. so to make this thing right, the sandpapering has to be precise...

hope this help.
ps: ive been trough many of my own diy co2 bottles.
they work better than those that require a refil pack
like hagen and red sea

[GhostShrimpBoo]

Originally Posted by redza

the tubing trough the cap : the ebay guy punched a small hole with a nail and used a pair or pliers to pull the tube through the little hole, this makes a perfect seal without using glue or stuff...

IF you're lucky, it will create a perfect seal.

I use a recipe similar to that too and have found that it works pretty well for 2-3 weeks. The only thing I add to that recipe is an equal part (to yeast) of baking soda. It works a little better IME.

Good luck. You'll be pricing out pressurized units before you know it. I've only been using DIY CO2 for a few months and I already want to upgrade. This hobby is way too interesting.

[redza]

Originally Posted by GhostShrimpBoo

This hobby is way too interesting.

yeah, youve got that right. ive had a perfect seal.

[redza]

hello?

[airborne_r6]

Originally Posted by redza

hello?

If you are wondering why there are no replies to this thread and why it hasnt been stickied it it is because this is one of about 10^23 threads covering the same thing. Sorry.

[redza]

oh.. right. nah its okay. but i think this is the best way to make co2 at home.
cause ive been trough a millions bottles. and it last for a month

[max23]

i made one that lasted 2 months alot of algae

[Darkblade48]

I doubt that a yeast mixture lasted 2 months, unless you had a very large batch of sugar water and used the tiniest bit of yeast to start off the colony. Mixtures that last more than 3 weeks already sound too good to be true (especially if people claim they had strong/consistent CO2 during the entire time).

In the end, you will realize that pressurized CO2 is much cheaper in the long run, and saves you the hassle of mixing up new sugar batches on a regular basis. In addition, pressurized is really the only way to go for larger tanks.

[redza]

what happenes when it finishes?

[Darkblade48]

As the yeast colony starts to die off, the CO2 production will diminish, and eventually stop. You should be replacing the DIY mixture before CO2 production has a chance to diminish significantly.

[redza]

sorry, but im talking about pressurized co2, what happens when it finishes?

[Darkblade48]

I don't understand your question. When a CO2 tank finishes, then you take it to a store (i.e. where you bought it from, or failing that, a welding or fire extinguisher store), and they will refill it for you.

Are you referring to "end of tank dump?" If so, a quality needle valve will prevent this from occurring.

[Aquarist_Fist]

This is really old news, but the description is good. The only thing I would have to add is that soda bottles are a tad safer because they are designed to resist CO2 pressure.

Another thing: It seems like these pictures are not yours, so you should give credit to the websites that host them.

[GhostShrimpBoo]

Originally Posted by redza

sticky if you can
iif you dont have a check valve,
you can make your own.
using smaller bottles

as the water goes backward into your co2 bottles, it enters the smaller bottle instead of messing up the co2 stuff. and most of the times, the mixture will bubble up and get into the tank. but this mechanisme has stopped stuff from getting into my tank. its best if you tape them together.

I don't know if you wrote that or not but I don't think that is entirely true. I think it is used more as a gas separator and/or poor man's bubble counter. Most people use it so the yeast mixture doesn't flow into the tank. I don't think it's a substitute for a check valve. Every CO2 setup, DIY or pressurized, should have a check valve(s).

[Aquarist_Fist]

Yep, the small bottle is used to ensure that no yeast gunk gets into the tank (for some reason this doesn't always work). Some people also fill it with water so as to use it as a bubble counter. I'm not quite sure why you'd need one on a DIY setup though.