Problem With Diy Co2 Output

[Kombat]

I have a 29 USG tank with a DIY CO2 setup. I have the nutrafin kit plus a 2 liter soda bottle. The nutrafin cannister and soda bottle are connected together with a T-connector which goes to the nutrafin ladder. Even with both containers I only get 1 bubble every 2 or 3 seconds. My pH reading at lights out is 7.4 and at lights on is 7.0, giving me CO2 levels of 5ppm and 12ppm, respectively. (My KH is 4)

I use 1 teaspoon of yeast in each canister/bottle, 2 cups sugar in the 2 liter bottle, and filled to the fins in the nutrafin canister.

Seems I should be getting more CO2 then I am. My yeast is only a couple of months old so it should be good. The expiration date is something like June 2008, and I keep it in the fridge.

Karl

 

[vic]

You are likely losing CO2 as a result of the equalization of the pressure between the 2 reactors. To the extent the force required to get the CO2 into the tank is greater than the force required to move the CO2 into one of the reactors, the CO2 will go to the reactor. Build a new 4L reactor and gas the 2 you have. Also, use a Brewer's yeast to a champagne yeast. These yeasts are much hardier than a cooking yeast and are therefore able to cope with the resultant environment from fermentation better than a cooking yeast. Check out the following link.

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

Vic

 

[Kombat]

Thanks. That does go along with the fact that I got more bubbles/min when I was using just one reactor. I've seen so many DIY articles that say you can hook two reactors together I thought nothing of it. I'll go back to one reactor.

I've also tried putting a check valve in and that seemed to be restricting flow. I removed it and the bubble rate seemed to increase a bit.

Karl

 

[vic]

Thanks. That does go along with the fact that I got more bubbles/min when I was using just one reactor. I've seen so many DIY articles that say you can hook two reactors together I thought nothing of it. I'll go back to one reactor.

I've also tried putting a check valve in and that seemed to be restricting flow. I removed it and the bubble rate seemed to increase a bit.

Karl

karl:
I am not being a wise guy. Did you put the check valve in back wards?. I would not consider using a DIY CO2 generator without a check valve. The potential mess is way more than I would care to try to explain to my spouse! For that matter, every potential siphon on my tank has a check valve except the cannisters which are designed to circumvent the siphon accident.
Vic