Diy Co2

[sjdriscoll]

Just a quick update on my attempts to use DIY CO2 in a 35 gallon tank.

Lots of you said to not even bother as it was not possible and I took that onboard, but tried anyway. Well I had to unhook my bottles at the weekend and run an airstone as my drop checker had turned yellow!

I will be getting a pressurised unit when I get the funds and I do understand that it is the best kit for the job..................... BUT you can use DIY on larger tanks with success.

I use Marmite in my mix and this prolongs the CO2 'peak' over several weeks rather than a few days. I also have 3 bottles hooked up now - all at different stages of the 'mix cycle'. The hardest bit about DIY is keeping the levels stable.

Steve

 

[aaronnorth]

I never said it want impossible (if i did i apologize) but what i do usually say is that you need numerous bottles to help keep the CO2 levels at 30ppm which invloves quite a bit of work and maintenance. Hence why most people say do not bother as it is sometimes easier to lower the lighting.

When you say marmite prolongs the peak, is this still producing CO2 at the highest levels possible, or does it just keep CO2 production going for longer?

 

[RadaR]

You may have got it to 30ppm but it's going to be hard keeping it at a stable level when working with DIY fermentation process because after a few days it will die down and then you have to wait for it to get to a good rate again.
I can imagine myself watching a newly prepared sugar/yeast/water solution in a bottle whilst saying "please hurry up, I don't want BBA"

 

[sjdriscoll]

Your both quite right, it won't be as easy as turning on a pressurised unit and it will be difficult to keep it stable (it always is with DIY). Like I said, when I can afford one I will buy it for sure! Much easier by the sounds of it.

I'm having to use 3 bottles in my hook-up but I find the Marmite keeps a peak CO2 output for about 10 days and tails off much more slowly than a non-Marmite bottle. With 3 bottles on the go I reckon I will have to change a bottle a week to keep the tank at 30ppm - hopefully!

When I do switch 'up' which pressurised unit would you recommend?

Cheers

Steve

 

[s007]

When I do switch 'up' which pressurised unit would you recommend?

Cheers

Steve

Steve cheapest ones ull find here mate: http/www.lunapet.de/anlagen-innenreaktor-c-23_26_38.html thats the one i use very reliable systems and will lat you for ages I got one for Euro 109.00 plus they charge 19.99 Euro for delivery.

Good luck with co2
Serg

 

[keenonfish]

I am also doing DIY CO2 in a 40 gallon aquarium for much the same reasons. I would be interested to know where you read about the marmite addition!

Incidently I am running on two bottles atm I mix 500g sugar 1/2 teaspoon yeast and a bit of baking or bicarb can't remember off top of my head and 2 alternate bottles are going strong.

Are you using a reactor or diffuser?

It is too early to see any success with my setup as I planted at the weekend with easy growers one of my rose Javas is giving off a constant train of bubbles almost looks mechanical in it's timing lol so not sure if this is good or bad yet!

 

[sjdriscoll]

I am also doing DIY CO2 in a 40 gallon aquarium for much the same reasons. I would be interested to know where you read about the marmite addition!

Incidently I am running on two bottles atm I mix 500g sugar 1/2 teaspoon yeast and a bit of baking or bicarb can't remember off top of my head and 2 alternate bottles are going strong.

Are you using a reactor or diffuser?

It is too early to see any success with my setup as I planted at the weekend with easy growers one of my rose Javas is giving off a constant train of bubbles almost looks mechanical in it's timing lol so not sure if this is good or bad yet!

I found the Marmite thread on here a few years ago - I add about 1/2 tsp to my mix (1 pint water, 1 pint sugar, 1/4 tsp bicarb) and it really does work wonders. It prolongs the peak CO2, lengthens the time between bottle swaps and cuts the cost of sugar!

I feed my CO2 line direct into my external filter uptake, so it goes through my filter and gets smashed up by the impeller. I get thousands of micro bubbles delivered back into my tank via my lily pipe.

It's all going well at the moment and I can hear a bubble per second hitting my impeller as i write this.

Good luck - be interesting to see how you do with a 40gall!

 

[keenonfish]

I am also doing DIY CO2 in a 40 gallon aquarium for much the same reasons. I would be interested to know where you read about the marmite addition!

Incidently I am running on two bottles atm I mix 500g sugar 1/2 teaspoon yeast and a bit of baking or bicarb can't remember off top of my head and 2 alternate bottles are going strong.

Are you using a reactor or diffuser?

It is too early to see any success with my setup as I planted at the weekend with easy growers one of my rose Javas is giving off a constant train of bubbles almost looks mechanical in it's timing lol so not sure if this is good or bad yet!

I found the Marmite thread on here a few years ago - I add about 1/2 tsp to my mix (1 pint water, 1 pint sugar, 1/4 tsp bicarb) and it really does work wonders. It prolongs the peak CO2, lengthens the time between bottle swaps and cuts the cost of sugar!

I feed my CO2 line direct into my external filter uptake, so it goes through my filter and gets smashed up by the impeller. I get thousands of micro bubbles delivered back into my tank via my lily pipe.

It's all going well at the moment and I can hear a bubble per second hitting my impeller as i write this.

Good luck - be interesting to see how you do with a 40gall!

You not turning off at night then? I was in two minds but ended up with the next best solution... I have added an air pump with non return to the CO2 supply. air pump comes on couple of hours before lights off and off couple before lights on. Idea is that the length of air hose and reactor mix air and co2 so hopefully 99% will not mix in the tank. Don't get so many tiny bubbles when it comes on just a little noisier than I would like!

BTW I like the look of your recipe once my current setup has settled a bit I might try that one! I assume the marmite contains the yeast and maybe something to stop the yeast eating itself in the marmite jar like a preservative...?

 

[sjdriscoll]

[/quote]
BTW I like the look of your recipe once my current setup has settled a bit I might try that one! I assume the marmite contains the yeast and maybe something to stop the yeast eating itself in the marmite jar like a preservative...?
[/quote]

The Marmite does not contain any yeast, just yeast extract. Apparently the extract acts like micro nutrients do for plants and allows the yeast (in your mix) to thrive rather than just survive (as they do in a sugar only mix).

I still add 1/2 tsp of yeast to my mix - which I 'prime' first by adding it to a small amount of sugar/warm water and frothing it up with a chopstick! After 1/2 hr I add this aerated primed yeast mix to my main bottle mix and get almost instant bubbles.

Good luck