Diy Co2 Stability Issue

[mikster]

OK im running the nutrafin ladder co2 system and the other day i decided to stop using the sachets i got and finally do my own mixture. I filled the sugar up to the same level it recommends and also the water( i know about the water temp), and i added a teaspoon of Allinson dried active yeast and then one of the bicarb sachets i have left from the ones i got with the natural plant system. This started working fairly swiftly and produced alot of bubbles, tested my ph the day after and got like 6.9 and with no co2 its normally 7.6, also my KH was 10.

I used a converted to work out my co2 at around 37ppm? Which i believe is too high and also was getting big noisy bubbles shooting straight out the pipe into the water so i pulled the plug and started again using only about 2/3s of a teapsoon of yeast and same bicarb and now im still getting alot of bubbles but also im getting big bubbles just shooting straight out of the pipe and to the surface still and its quite noisy. This seems to have just stabilised a bit as i am writing this.

ok questions....its this just a case of too much co2 being produced still? I have heard that the bicarb has a stabilising effect, what exactly does this mean? is it even relevant to me as i live in a hard water area? Last time i checked i think my KH and GH were over the levels that are stared as required for it.

Need to check my co2 levels again now to see if its lower than before, it may all settle still, will be back with response when i have.

Thanks for your time.

mike

 

[mikster]

ph is now 7 and KH 10, makes it 30ppm i think, i think it just seeded to settle for like several hours beacause the big bubbles seem to have gone. In future i will make sure i use no more yeast than i did this time maybe a touch less just to be safe. If anyone can point me too some info about the bicarb i would still be interested to understand about that a bit more.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Bicarb is a buffer against the acidity of alcohol produced during fermentation. If you have hard alkaline water you already have a buffer but i would still add a teaspoon bicarb. My mix is two cups sugar,0ne teaspoon bicarb and 1/2 teaspoon Allison yeast. I live down the road from you in Derby and my 2l bottles still give off sufficient CO2 after a month. I use two soda bottles and change every second week.

Alex

 

[Dubby]

ph is now 7 and KH 10, makes it 30ppm i think, i think it just seeded to settle for like several hours beacause the big bubbles seem to have gone. In future i will make sure i use no more yeast than i did this time maybe a touch less just to be safe. If anyone can point me too some info about the bicarb i would still be interested to understand about that a bit more.

Yeast works best at a PH of 5-5.5. Bicarb helps to reduce the acidity of the mixture. This article may shed more light on the actual process http/fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/mont...6/msg00187.html

 

[Waterloo Kid]

Yeast works in two ways. When there is oxygen present it breaths just like you and I. When there is no oxygen present is changes the way it metabolises and starts producing CO2 and alcohol. It's much better at growing with oxygen present.
What you are seeing is the yeast initially using any oxygen present in the solution and so producing relatively large quantities of gas. Once the oxygen runs out it reverts to the anearobic state and the rate of CO2 production drops. If you want to see this for yourself take the lid off the yeast reactor, cover it with your hand and shake the thing. then put the lid back on and wait. You'll see an increase in CO2 production once pressure has built, followed by a drop off as the oxygen is used up, until it steadies out again.

WK

 

[mikster]

Thanks for the info guys, the co2 production has stabilised as you described and also the bubbles are slightly slower, im still getting the sort of level of co2 i was looking for so im happy. I heard that it needed to stabilise but didnt know why but now i know its due to what has just been desrcibed above.

thanks all


mike