Diy Co2 System

[iain.betson]

Hi, i just made the 2 litre soda bottle version, can some one tell how much gas i should be expecting?
Cheers

 

[MoreCoffee]

Hi, i just made the 2 litre soda bottle version, can some one tell how much gas i should be expecting?
Cheers

Not sure if you mean how many bubbles per second or how high your CO2 reading will go.
The amount given of largely depends on the mixture you use and the amount of CO2 dissolved in
the water will depend on the size of tank it is supplying.

For example, 1 nutrafin CO2 canister is good for 70Ltrs.

I have 3 tanks running with DIY CO2 at the moment:
130Ltr
2 x nutrafin canisters into a single bubble ladder using sugar/bicarb of soda/bakers yeast (forget the supplied 'activator' and 'stabiliser' - they're rubbish). This gives me about 28 - 30 ppm max, as long as I change the canisters regularly.

70Ltr
1 x 2Ltr soda bottle, using sugar/bicarb of soda/bakers yeast. No readings yet. Tank only setup yesterday.
No fish yet.

40Ltr
1 x 1Ltr soda bottle, using a slower release gelatine/bakers yeast mixture. Currently giving about 25ppm.
A 2Ltr bottle gave a really high reading, but no fish in yet as still cycling, so it wasnt much of a problem.
Not too worried about the levels in this tank yet as I'm replacing the diffuser next week, I'll verify the readings (and adjust if required) then.


I suppose for you CO2 level you'll need to take some water readings (PH & KH) and work out your dissolved CO2 level from those readings. I assume you are adding CO2 for better plant growth. Remember you'll also need to take your lighting into account and what fertiliser method you are using (to avoid algae blooms).

The method you use to dissolve the CO2 into the water will also play a part, as will the type of tubing you use ... normal airline will loose some of the CO2 before it even reaches the tank. Not sure how much exactly, but I believe its about 5 or 6%.

Without knowing more about your tank setup its a bit difficult to answer your question in any more detail ...... but hope that helps a little !


Mr G

 

[iain.betson]

My tank is 180L, and I gather from what you said that you can see the bubbles. I think I may have a small problem in that case as I cant see any.
Cant see where I went wrong I followed the design and the mixtures from here;

http/www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

 

[MoreCoffee]

My tank is 180L, and I gather from what you said that you can see the bubbles. I think I may have a small problem in that case as I cant see any.
Cant see where I went wrong I followed the design and the mixtures from here;

http/www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

If your mixture is making bubbles then you'll see them exiting the tubing in the tank.

The mixture I use is for a 2Ltr bottle is.

Sugar - filled to about 1.5 inches from bottom of the bottle.
Bicarbonate of Soda (1.5 teaspoons)
Dried Active Bakers Yeast (1 teaspoon) (If yr in the UK try Allinsons, available from most supermarkets)
Warm water

Add the sugar and Bicarb of soda to the bottle (dry)
Dissolve the yeast in a cup with a little luke warm water - add this to the bottle.
Top the bottle up to about 2/3 full with luke warm water (not too hot)
Screw on the top. I always see bubbles in less than 1hr (usually in about 15mins)

I can send you some more precise measurements if you need them.


Note: You'll need to check that the seal on the cap where the tubing goes in is gas tight.
The only time I got no bubbles at all was when there was with a leaking cap.

One way to check is to set it all up and gently squeeze the bottle ..... this should push air out of the tube,
if you hear any hissing around the cap .... you'll need to reseal it.


Mr G

 

[iain.betson]

Thanks, I am in the uk and and I have the Allinsons yeast. I put some glue arond the seal and i have not yet seen any bubbles, maybe i will adjust my mixture and have a play and see what happens.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Ok,

Well if you are using a 2Ltr bottle, most seem to have 'dimples' around the bottom edge of the bottle.
I usually fill the sugar to about 1cm above those dimples. I add 1/5 teaspoons of bicarb of soda.

dissolve 1 teaspoon of Allinsons yeast in some luke warm water, add it to the bottle and top up with
more warm water to about 2/3 full ......... you'll know if it's producing CO2 by looking at the surface
of the liquid in the bottle, after about an hour (often less) you should see a foam ..... thats the yeast
doing it's stuff.

As long as you've got a decent seal it should get to the tank.


I use aquarium silicone around the tube inside and outside the cap. Another very good way of getting a
decent seal is to use a lump of blue-tac inside the bottle cap, just wrap it around and tighten the bottle top.
(works really well!)


Good luck !

 

[iain.betson]

Ok problem solved, I was using a small Lucazade bottle and when I had drilled the lid, the sealing thingy had fallen out! praise the lord for blue-tac

 

[MoreCoffee]

Ok problem solved, I was using a small Lucazade bottle and when I had drilled the lid, the sealing thingy had fallen out! praise the lord for blue-tac

Glad you got it sorted ....... Blue-tac - works everytime !