Diy Co2 ???

[Doug]

Hi Guys Some 1 told me if u get a coke bottle fill it with bakers yeast put a hole in the lid air line into it and the other end in to ure tank with a air stone the yeast will expand pushing co2 into tank is there any truth 2 this?

[Woodsy]

It's a little more complicated than that mate, but yes, you can create a CO2 reactor using yeast and sugar. A few smart cookies even brew their own beer at the same time! There are lots of commercial preparations specifically for use with fish tanks, and they include your airlines and diffuser, check valves ect. You can pick a good one up retail for between $60-$80, probably a lot less on eBay. If you want to make one yourself, you'll have to get all that stuff anyways, so for the first go it actually works out as a pretty good investment. If anyone else is interested, I can do a step-by-step guide to making your own at some stage, just have to line up a camera :p

[joz]

Sounds good Woodsy,I'll be keen for a look.


I used to use the 2litre coke bottle with one litre of water 500g of sugar dissolved into it and a table spoon of dry yeast.
Then with an air line attached to the lid via some silicon to keep it from leaking.
But I added the outlet to a power head,which was then connected to the lighting and timer.
This way when the lights came on the power head would blow the bubbles deep into the tank to dissolve.When the lights were off the bubbles would just dissipate near the surface.You don't want CO2 in the tank at night.

But now I'm just too lazy, so no CO2 atm.

But it did work a treat on the plants.

[wombat1100]

Sounds like a good DIY thread your offering to do Woodsy, we could all learn from it. look forward to seeing it.
Dazz

[Woodsy]

Sounds pretty similar to what I was thinking Joz. Let me have a look in the cupboard and see if I have some bits and pieces left over from the last lot of home brew :p
I can't promise it will be this weekend chaps, but I'll get amongst it over the following week ;)

[wombat1100]

Hey Woodsy what happend to the step by step mate!!!!?????

[Woodsy]

Been crook for the last week, and I still don't have a camera. That, and I kind of got side-tracked building a Purigen Reactor :P

[billy3000]

Sounds good Woodsy,I'll be keen for a look.


I used to use the 2litre coke bottle with one litre of water 500g of sugar dissolved into it and a table spoon of dry yeast.
Then with an air line attached to the lid via some silicon to keep it from leaking.
But I added the outlet to a power head,which was then connected to the lighting and timer.
This way when the lights came on the power head would blow the bubbles deep into the tank to dissolve.When the lights were off the bubbles would just dissipate near the surface.You don't want CO2 in the tank at night.

But now I'm just too lazy, so no CO2 atm.

But it did work a treat on the plants.

hey guys - i just the exact same thing...works well, but why no C02 in the tank at night? please explain...:confused:

[wombat1100]

From what i understand billy is the plants don't absorb the Co2 at night so there is a build up in the water and the fish cant breath aswell, correct me if I'm wrong ppl, thats the simple version too !

[joz]

Like non aquatic plants at night they produce some CO2 aswell so adding extra may exasperate a problem.
During the day the absorb CO2 and use it as food.

Then if you tank is not well buffered against ph drops you may wake up to lots of dead fish due to and acid crash. Due to the overload of CO2 thats produced all the carbonic acid which drives the ph down.

CO2 is best used only during the day.But you may be feeling like tempting fate and try your luck anyhow??

[firedragon92]

definatly interested cant wait to see the diy instructions

[wombat1100]

yeah what joz said!!!!!!