Homemade Co2

[blackers92]

Well I have read on a few websites that it is quite simple to create a CO2 diffuser out of a 2 litre coke bottle, I am abit sceptical.

Has anyone built one?

Could you please link me a good guide or forum?

thanks

adam

 

[Dan-CR4]

have a look on youtube, they got loads of videos on there showing you how to make one. I was going to make one but I read that, as I got an 180 Litre tank, it would be no good for me. Whether thats true or not im not sure. but youtube has loads of guides on there.

 

[waterdrop]

I have not made one but have read lots of TFF members accounts of making and using them. Its a project but I don't think its terribly difficult (making a hole in the 2L cap perhaps and gluing airlines to it etc.)

The big picture overall of course is that getting CO2 is perhaps a bit of a choice between 3 hard places (liquid carbon, DIY, pressurized) all with their significant downsides. The reports of the downside of DIY are that people tire if the maintenance involved over time and its also I guess sometimes a problem not having problems where the mix goes through the tube and manages to get in the tank (maybe there are good ways to avoid that?)) But DIY avoids the steep initial expense of pressurized and the long-term high expense of liquid C.

I think some of the people who have more success are the ones who make up two of these 2L bottles so that they have the second one prepped and ready to swap in when the mix in the first one needs replacing. Also, I can imagine that Dan is right that there's an upper limit to CO2 production in a DIY setup that's not as high as pressurized can go but I've not seen an article that outlines that.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[blackers92]

well so far i have found (from youtube so its not the most credential source) that to avoid the contents leaking into your tank, you simply have to have the bottle bellow your tank.

But the whole pressurised bottle is a bit scary, I read that someone used a glass bottle and it shattered.

Still i think the pros outweigh the cons. Im going to build one, and because it does look so simple i could always try two bottle like you suggested waterdrop.

 

[OldMan47]

I have used a DIY CO2 system in the past and found it quite easy to build. I used a 2 litre bottle to hold the mix and air line to take the CO2 from the reaction bottle to the tank. In the tank I used a simple limewood air stone as my diffuser. It makes a decent diffuser because it produces such small bubbles. Connecting the reaction bottle to the air line is also as easy as can be. I drilled a hole in the bottle cap that was too small to put the tubing through and cut the end of the tube on an angle. By passing the pointed cut end of the tubing through the hole, I was able to grab it with a pair of pliers and pull the tubing through. Once the tubing had been pulled through a hole that was too small, the tight fit was enough, without any glue, to give a nice seal. I just used a different bottle cap when making my mix. That way I could cap the mix bottle and shake it to mix everything well before installing the new bottle near the tank. By keeping my mix to no more than about half full in the bottle, I didn't need to worry much about having any mix carried over through the air line and into the tank. Many sites will advise you to fill the bottle quite full and then try to take various precautions to prevent carryover. I find it better to go back to the source and limit the amount that I fill the bottle. My mix doesn't last quite as long but I also don't get to deal with a sugar and alcohol mix going into my tank water.

 

[Ryefish]

i've seen the videos mentioned on youtube, but none say how long a DIY Co2 system will last for. how often do you have to replace the mixture? im looking for an idea of say, how much 1ltr of mixture would last.

Also, i read that the Co2 should only be used at certain times, how does this work with a DIY one? do you just remove the airstone from the water when you want it off?

 

[blackers92]

would a diffuser like this

http/cgi.ebay.com.au/Live-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Aquatic-Plant-CO2-Diffuser-AT19_W0QQitemZ220590500780QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pet_Supplies?hash=item335c37ebac

or

http/cgi.ebay.com.au/CO2-Diffuser-Aquarium-4ft-5ft-Live-Fish-Tank-Plant-NEW_W0QQitemZ260589420378QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pet_Supplies?hash=item3cac56ff5a

be suitable?

Do I need a pump or would the pressure of the DIY Reactor be enough?

adam



would a "ladder" be more efficent?

http/cgi.ebay.com/CO2-Flipper-DIY-Yeast-Bottle-Aquarium-Diffuser-Ladder-/250619163803?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5a10f49b

or should i just put the hose of CO2 at the intake of my filter?

 

[OldMan47]

A bottle of yeast and sugar mix is fairly productive for a week and will not stop completely for about 2 weeks. The porous glass or ceramic diffusers are made for more pressure than a typical DIY bottle can develop. The ladder is a decent DIY type diffuser. The porous glass is more suitable for pressurized systems. As far as overnight use, the DIY system seldom produces so much CO2 that it must be shut off overnight.

 

[Deek]

Ive used them in the past they are easy to work with and i was getting a good few weeks out of a mixture but always prepped a second bottle a few days before it was due a change, Important things are if you have a deep tank an airstone does well as a diffuser but i used the ladder type anyway basically it gives better diffusion as bubbles are almost always completely dissolved, also bit obvious but when you put CO2 hose through cap a good seal is important as is only putting it in about a half inch so no nasty mixture goes through into tank a non return valve is also a good idea as it stops water coming through just like with airpumps.

Think the mixture was:
one sachet of yeast mix
2 Cups Sugar the less refined stuff i found better Raw Cane i think it was
Top up with lukewarm water i went for just above the label

Deek

 

[blackers92]

Well thats re-assuring deek, i just ordered a ladder from ebay and was a bit unsure that I had made the right decision.

I will definantly put a check valve in though, i dont want to risk any mixture siphoning back in

thanks for all of the advice

 

[OldMan47]

When you think it through, you will realize that yeast is a living organism that is using the sugar to grow and increase its numbers. That means that your mix contains a good source of starter material for the next CO2 bottle. You can seed the second batch by simply using some of the first batch as a starter. Every few batches, you might want to use fresh yeast but you can produce several bottles from a single dose of yeast.

 

[BackToTheFishes]

Would this work as a defuser on a homemade setup when the tabs that came with the kit run out?


I know not totally DIY,but it's what I already have

 

[OldMan47]

That will work as well for a DIY as it does for the tablet form.

 

[BackToTheFishes]

That will work as well for a DIY as it does for the tablet form.

Thanks,I wasnt sure if there are too many bubbles produced and they would just overflow,this is my first tank with ANY co2,not just diy

 

[cheesy feet]

You could make it easier and buy a nutrafin system off me