Idiot Guide To Co2 Please.

[rdstars]

Hope you all dont mind an idiot asking a few simple question on CO2 DIY. I have read loads of posts on this and still not quite 100%.

I have a large tank, about 350L + So I am thinking of using 4 x 2L pop bottles. I'm guessing this should be about right?

I was planning on connecting all 4 bottles to 1 x air line and using 1 x one way valve. Any reason why I shouldent connect 4 bottle to one line?

Also the one way valve, should it be near the bottles or near the tank?

I plan on using an air stone and placing it just under the intake inside the tank for my external filter to mix the CO2 and spread it around the tank. Does that sound right?

The mix, How much sugar in each 2L bottle, 1/2kg?

How much Yeast, 1/2 table spoon

Guessing I put the dry sugar in the bottle, sprinkle on top the Yeast and then just pour the warm water in. Nothing more, no mixing etc.

What temp should the warm water be roughly or how to judge it



Sorry for the basic questions but going to do it now today and just not 100%

Thanks

 

[rdstars]

Right worked out most of it now myself BUT am a little confused about mixing the CO2 in the water.

I'm guessing that if I ran an air stone into the water the bubbles will just raise to the top and do nothing, is that right?

I was thinking about running an air stone under the inlet for the filter but not sure if they will get sucked up. I guess if they do they get desolved into the water while rushing around the filter system?

Could I just use a glass cup turned upside down and let this fill up with CO2, will it naturally mix in with the water?


Just never done CO2 and want to setup tomorrow while I have the time.

 

[GrayScale]

Have a look around for a ceramic glass diffuser, not sure if it's good to use with yeast but I dont see why it wouldn't be. You'll also need a drop checker to measure the co2 being injected. What is the flow like in your tank? You could place the diffuser under the outflow of your filter so when it rises to the top, the flow pushes back into your tank. Without adequate flow however to push it around to every inch of your tank, you may and most likely will have algae issues. If you haven't got enough flow, look at purchasing a powerhead. I bought a koralia nano for my 20 long and it's fantastic.

Have a read through here.

 

[rdstars]

Cheers,

I've been busy today, got 4 bottles setup and a catch bottle with 1/2 a bag of sugar in each and around 1 table spoon of yeast. Done in warm water and shock it all about.

I found an up'lifter clear tube and it fitted well onto the end of my inlet so I could then slip the airstone into the tube. I should be able to see if its working this way.

Also found a spray bar and thought this will help spread the watet/CO2 around the tank better.

So far there is water in the tube and not sure how long it takes to build up preasure to start working.

Everyone likes photos so I tried to take a couple, not very good but you should be able to see it all plumbed in:

If this works I'll get a drop CO2 checker of ebay, seen them quite cheep there.

 

[rdstars]

About 2:45pm I had it all setup, its now 6:10pm and still no bubbles, still water in the pipe but going down very slowly. The check valve seems ok as I could only blow one way.

Not 100% that its working or going to work.

 

[Haveagojoe]

That seems an awful lot of yeast to me around a teaspoon I think would have been enough, but I'm sure soeone with more knowledge will let you know, have you got perfect gas seals on the bottles and using proper c02 tubing as well, also I find it easier and quicker to activate the yeast first, I only use one cannister but for your method here's what I would do, get 4 seperate glasses and put the yeast in each of them add a small amount of sugar to each glass and then half fill each with warm water (yuo will be surprised how warm you can go) put them somewhwere warm,say an airing cupboard for 20 minutes or untill they have a good frothy head on them,in the meantime make your water sugar solutions in the bottles quite warm and let them cool, when the glasses are ready add to the bottles and give them a shake up and seal and they should start pretty quick. Also remember to keep everything clean as yeast hates bacteria especially old dead yeast cells it will kill of the new yeast very quickly, hope this is of some help.

 

[rdstars]

Got it all working just before bed, I took out the check valve blew back into the bottles and also the pipe into the tank and connected quickly, got a nice stream of fine bubbles coming from the air stone and the filter sucks them all up a treat.


Next DIY Job is a Drop Counter, making one is easy but I am a little confused on the stuff used ie: the blue liquid.

 

[rdstars]

Few little hickups, my external filter did not like the air and caused an air lock........ So I had a dig through what I had and found a spare Power Head, just so happens the clear tube fitted on a treat.

The Air Stone gives nice fine bubbles and by the time it runs through the Power Head the bubbles are so fine there hard to see, also the Power Head pushes it enough to get 3/4 of the way across.

Went to the LFS, they had Drop Checkers there for £10. Why bother making one today if they had it all there, they could not tell me anything about them so took a chance. With this one it is a few drops of solution and top up with the tank water. Been checking my PH with my test kit aswell and giving the same reading as the Drop checker so all TickertyBoo........ I'm about 6.8-7 depending what light you look in.