Making A Diy Co2 System?

[jacko9901]

hi

i recently got a 35-40 litre tank and am going to use a DIY co2 system but i dont know how to set it up.

i know it will need to have a sugar and yeast solution in warm water but thats all i know.

could someone give me instructions on how to set it up and what i will need to get to use it?

 

[SuperColey1]

1 x 2 Ltr Coke/Pop bottle

Drill a 3mm hole in the top

Squeeze 4mm airline through the hole (or CO2 line if possible)

You could also just get a straight through airline connector and push this through then silicone both sides.

Then 1½ cups of sugar
1½ teaspoons of bread yeast
Fill with lukewarm water to where the straight side of the bottle starts to curve into the top
attach to diffusion method (preferably with a non return valve/check valve in the line somewhere)
Bubble counter is optional but lets you see how many bubbles are passing through and also eliminates the 'snot' gathering on the diffuser.

Wait 12-24 hours and wahey

AC

 

[aaronnorth]

http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/10/build-...-generator.html
http/www.fishforever.co.uk/carbondioxide.html

2 guides there, both slightly different

 

[killudead]

I have some tips and tricks for you.
I have attempted to brass bulkhead fittings and silicone them to the bottle caps. Could never get a air tight seal. I ended up getting the drill with a 3mm bit and went that route.
However the hose I have is just normal fish tank hose and it will turn white and get brittle. (this would be the section located inside the bottle pulled through the hole)

For the bubble counter, I went to a local pharmacy and bought and syringe, and siliconed a check valve in it. make sure you put the arrow the right way. Let it cure for 24 - 48 hours. aquarium silicone has ammonia in it, so you will be able to sniff and see if you still smell that nasty smell.

You may want to get a T valve and rotate 2 bottles out to maintain a consistent co2 level.

 

[SuperColey1]

I have attempted to brass bulkhead fittings and silicone them to the bottle caps. Could never get a air tight seal. I ended up getting the drill with a 3mm bit and went that route.

Back when I did mine I pushed a straight through airline connector (blue plastic type cheap thing) through a 4mm washer and then through the hole in the bottle lid and then on the inside I positioned another 4mm washer and I used a pair of narrow pliers to self thread a 4mm nut over the inner side of the connector. This held everything in place and tight at which point I siliconed heavily over both the inner and outer areas just incase the washer/hose connector combo didn't have the seal.

Its so good having pressurised these days nowhere near as much work

AC

 

[killudead]

I have attempted to brass bulkhead fittings and silicone them to the bottle caps. Could never get a air tight seal. I ended up getting the drill with a 3mm bit and went that route.

Back when I did mine I pushed a straight through airline connector (blue plastic type cheap thing) through a 4mm washer and then through the hole in the bottle lid and then on the inside I positioned another 4mm washer and I used a pair of narrow pliers to self thread a 4mm nut over the inner side of the connector. This held everything in place and tight at which point I siliconed heavily over both the inner and outer areas just incase the washer/hose connector combo didn't have the seal.

Its so good having pressurised these days nowhere near as much work

AC

why u gotta brag SC?

 

[SuperColey1]

convert sir not brag

AC

 

[jacko9901]

thanks for all the replies.

so all the eqiupment i will need is.

- 2 litre bottle

- sillicon or co2 resistant airline

- something to make sure the bottle cap doesnt leak co2

do i use a ceramic diffuser to get the co2 into the water?

check valve? can someone show me where i could get one and what they look like.


finally how is it all put together? is it in this order.

1-co2 bottle
2-airline tubing
3-check valve
4-airline tubing
5-diffuser

 

[nosoup4you]

Sorry to hijack your thread but I keep reading about folks using 2 bottles and alternating them...what does this mean? Do you mix your sugar and yeast, hook both bottles to a gang valve and alternate every couple of days allowing pressure to build up in the one bottle before switching? I'm so confused...my head is swirling with planted tank info.

check valve? can someone show me where i could get one and what they look like.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204235/product.web

You should be able to find these at pretty much any aquarium store.

 

[SuperColey1]

It means exactly what it says. not alternating the bottles. alternating their time spans. Each one will still run for a week but their journey to peak and then off will be alternate therefore hopefully while one is just starting the other is at max, then when the starter starts to build the other starts to go off etc. It means you are more likely to have a consistent level if one is at 0% and the other is 100% and then by the time one hits 20% the other is down to 80% etc.

Yes we hook them up to gang valves because then you can close the valve and hold the pressure in the other one. It will however take the course of least resistance which for a few hours at least will be towards the other bottle rather than to the diffuser until the other builds up some pressure so change them when lights go off to alow for it.

Check Valves are dirt cheap:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Valve-Aquarium-Java-...1742.m153.l1262

A Glass diffuser is OK or a ladder or an internal reactor etc. whatever you choose really. I always used a rhinox glass/ceramic with mine which I still use with the pressurised today.

AC

 

[nosoup4you]

So initially, you start the first bottle and then start the second bottle on day 4 or 5 and then run them both continuously?

 

[jacko9901]

thanks for all the replies

so all i will need for an alternative system is

2x 2litre bottle

co2 resistant/ silicon tubing

2x check valve

2x glass/ceramic difuser

 

[killudead]

This is what i have right now.

airline tubeing from LFS
1 x t valve
2x 2L bottles

I have a diffuser, but right now, i just have the tube poked in to the bottom of my powerhead inlet line.

you should do 2 check valves,


what you would do is,
make 1 2L bottle of mix and use that to start.
after 5 days, make your second mix and use the T valve.

Drill the 3mm hole in the cap, cut your line at an angle, and pull it threw, you only need like 1" or less. Just enough to make sure that its sealed.
for test. put the cap on, put finger over the outlet air tube and squeeze the bottle, you should not be able to hear anything. If you do, your hole might be too big, my air tube fits just above snug in the hole.

Use a check valve before the t valve, this will help keep the pressure up when rotating the bottles.
then the t and then i go to my bubble counter.
I got a big fat needle from my local pharmacy, I cant remember the size, but i had to ask for it - read this DIY needle bubble counter

then i run it into the tank to the bottom of the inlet for my powerhead. The powerhead will mash the bubbles up and hopefully increase the ppm.
http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...ead.php?t=14453

 

[jacko9901]

This is what i have right now.

airline tubeing from LFS
1 x t valve
2x 2L bottles

I have a diffuser, but right now, i just have the tube poked in to the bottom of my powerhead inlet line.

you should do 2 check valves,


what you would do is,
make 1 2L bottle of mix and use that to start.
after 5 days, make your second mix and use the T valve.

Drill the 3mm hole in the cap, cut your line at an angle, and pull it threw, you only need like 1" or less. Just enough to make sure that its sealed.
for test. put the cap on, put finger over the outlet air tube and squeeze the bottle, you should not be able to hear anything. If you do, your hole might be too big, my air tube fits just above snug in the hole.

Use a check valve before the t valve, this will help keep the pressure up when rotating the bottles.
then the t and then i go to my bubble counter.
I got a big fat needle from my local pharmacy, I cant remember the size, but i had to ask for it - read this DIY needle bubble counter

then i run it into the tank to the bottom of the inlet for my powerhead. The powerhead will mash the bubbles up and hopefully increase the ppm.
[URL="http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...es-recipes.html"]http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...es-recipes.html[/URL]

thanks

 

[mic8310]

anyone have any pictures?!