s3xtcy Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 hey everyone, ive started up my diy c02 again, im using a 2.25l sprite bottle, a check valve and a bubble stone to diffuse. Just wondering what the best combinations people have cme up with for a good amount of c02 and long(ish) lasting? i did the bottle at approx 1200 today, 6cups water, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1tsp of yeast, and its pretty much almost dead - most unimpressed. Any stories (successful or not) would be great to hear! thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 i did the bottle at approx 1200 today, 6cups water, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1tsp of yeast, and its pretty much almost dead - most unimpressed. Any stories (successful or not) would be great to hear! thanks!! I thought it took a day or two for the yeast to start breeding start producing well? Not less than 5 hours to be depleted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 yeah it was pretty wierd.. there was a few bubbles to begin with but then pressure droped off completely, anyway ive redone the lid (made it incredibly airtight) and redone the bottle. Method used is : 2cup sugar 1tsp yeast (mixed it in with lukewarm water alot) 1tsp baking soda 2/3rds full of warm water. Put it in a bucket of warm water, now getting beautiful little bubbles after a hour of it being connected. 2ish hours later and now its producing a good rate of bubbles, will see how long this lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I use 2cups of raw sugar, about 1/2 TBSP of yeast and up to the curve in a 3L juic bottle of very warm/hot water. Shake it up and wait for it to cool down before attaching to the diffuser. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Thanks SamH, ill see how long this lasts, so far it was going all night, and day today, quite a high output (although most of it is probably being wasted) Problem i now face is my pH fluctuations (cant spell haha) it was really high thismorning, and very low this afternoon, is there anything I can add to the water to help reduce the swings? dont think my fishies will be too tolerant if the swing keeps going... next question, do i leave it overnight again? ive read that turning off the co2 overnight can make it swing just as much? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I use a 4L bottle filled with: 2 cups sugar 1/4 tsp yeast 3L water Begins bubbling within a few hours and lasts around 3 weeks averaging 1.5 bubble/sec I reckon Not sure if thats a little or a lot but thats what I do and plants seem to be doing good (so does the green algea as well though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 If you were making wine you would use a wine yeast, yeast nutrient (a little marmite is cheaper) and a medium sweet wine (demi sec) would have about 2.5 lbs sugar/gallon water. Adding a heat pad or element will help as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 air into the tank over night is good. i never turned mine off but found the fish to be gasping in the mornign as the plants use O2 at night and CO2 during the day. an air supply is important to keep the fish happy. and lots of plants would lever out the pH swings wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 If you want to lessen the pH swing you need to buffer or harden the water, adding a little coral into the filter will help or if you want to do it quickly baking soda or a proper pH product from your LFS will do it. plants use O2 at night and CO2 during the day. Plants actually just produce less O2 at night and use less CO2, they don't actually switch between the two. But the result is the same, less O2 for the fish. The CO2 probably doesn't change that much because it has a saturation point where it wont go higher, the CO2 injection should have the level at saturation point all the time anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 hey everyone, ive started up my diy c02 again, im using a 2.25l sprite bottle, a check valve and a bubble stone to diffuse. Whatever you do, DO NOT use one of those air stones, or 'bubble stones' as you put it, for CO2. They get clogged, and then the pressure in the CO2 bottle builds up and the bottle bursts and then you have a huge, smelly mess everywhere! Use a proper glass and ceramic CO2 diffuser or a ladder reactor or shove the CO2 line in the filter outlet or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 yea joe is right it can get messy. look up diy diffusers on youtube some real easy and effective ones out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vervo Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hello! I got a co2 canister regulator off eBay for around $30 USD, the bought a Paintball Co2 canister from trademe for about $50. And a Co2 Mixer off eBay for about $30 USD including shipping. The tank lasts about 3 months at 1 bubble per second, and the tank is $7 to fill (i get it filled up at a bb gun store in Kingsland Auckland) Ill post pics tomorrow, was going to do it now, but its to dark for the iPhone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 I always wondered why nobody used paint ball co2 canisters. They seem the logical choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vervo Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Here is my Paintball Tank solution: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted June 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hey sorry everyone, i meant to update photos of my co2 rig since i went to Pressurised, here are some photos all up cost about $200nzd including sodastream bottle, which is pretty cheap considering the alternatives i thought! Anyway im very happy with how its running, turns off and on with the lights and works perfectly. Plants are getting better and better each day and my pH has stopped bouncing around so far bottle has lasted about two months and the needle hasnt moved more than 1/3rd of the total pressure from new, very happy with the outcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vervo Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hey sorry everyone, i meant to update photos of my co2 rig since i went to Pressurised, here are some photos all up cost about $200nzd including sodastream bottle, which is pretty cheap considering the alternatives i thought! Anyway im very happy with how its running, turns off and on with the lights and works perfectly. Plants are getting better and better each day and my pH has stopped bouncing around so far bottle has lasted about two months and the needle hasnt moved more than 1/3rd of the total pressure from new, very happy with the outcome! Does your regulator switch on and off with power? How much was it? Where from? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Wow, very cool I'm buying my regulator alone for nearly $200 lol :facepalm: But it's a really good one though :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 yep, on and off with the power, sorry for the long time before the reply, got it off Ubarns of Ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Did you have to buy any adaptors to fit to the Sodastream bottle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 yeah I did, and honestly this was the most frustrating part of the whole setup, I ordered the reg, glassware, tubing, etc all from ebay, then when it arrived my friend who was going to make a adaptor had a problem at work and couldnt make it for 4 weeks! sooo.. i bought one off a brewing company based in aus, off ebay again. "ultimatehomebrew" company i think they were called from memory, it works perfectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somethin fishy Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi all, am thinking about setting up a sodastream CO2 system. Those of you om here and use it, do you switch it on and off with your lights? How long do you think one of thoose bottles would last at about 2 bp/s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecap Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 sodastream set up is good for my 22L lasts about 3 months, switch on and off with lights Sodastream bottle from farmers $35.... refills $6 from gas shop Sodastream adaptor http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=924 $44 (about a week to get here) Glass diffuser $12, bubble counter $8, non return valve $8, Hosing $5 and Regulator with needle valve & solinoid $115 from Valray (trademe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Has anyone used a paintball cylinder for CO2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binu Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 i saw in trade me co2 regulator for 65 ..do u think it can be used for soda stream co2 unit ?? it says co2 heated regulator .. http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farmi ... 901965.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Just go with the regulators designed for aquariums, not welders. Fish-street.com has all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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