Nutrafin Co2 Kits

[Themuleous]

Hi all,

Anyone got any tips on how to get the Nutrafin CO2 kits works properly. I've changed mine twice in the last few weeks and it’s not produced any CO2 at all! I followed the instructions and it’s in my living room so it’s not excessively cold.

The only two things I can think of are:

1) Its in the tank stand, at ground level about 70ish cm below the tank water level (I cant get the holder to fit to the side of the tank, the lid is in the way!)

2) The last time it ran out the tube filled with water right down to the bottle and there are small water pockets (max 1cm long) in the tube.

Could either of these cause a problem?

Advice would be greatly welcome, my poor plants!

Sam

 

[KentBlokey]

I had/am having the same problem. I am sure it's down to room temperature. In my case at lease. Mine sits on the shelf under the tank, and I have cut the air line so it isn't too long. It produced no bubbles after two days, so I sat the container in warm water, bubbles appeared after only minutes.

I have read that people sit the containter, containing the mixtur in a bucket with water, and heater. And trying a home made mix might even work better. Some people I know aren't too impressed with the supplied stabiliser/activator.

 

[jimbooo]

bin the sachets and go to tesco's.

buy a tin of allinsons bakers yeast (orange tin about 3 inches tall) in the bakery section - (activator)

then buy some bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) - (stabaliser)

thats your ingredients sorted for 6 months and a hell of a lot cheaper plus far superior quality.



the mixture

- add 1/2 a teaspoon of yeast to a coffee mug
- pour in 1/2 cup of luke warm water (not hot) and dissolve.
- add sugar to the nutrafin canister to the bottom fins.
- add 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to the nutrafin cannister
- pour in dissolved yeast solution
- top up with luke warm water 2cm below the top fin (to prevent overflow)
- stir the mixture well

plug the tube back in the top and wait

within 1 hour you will definatly see bubbles (mine takes about 5 mins)

if it doesn't work you have a leak, most likley from the top. make sure it's screwed on really tightly.


follow that and it will work i promise, should last 7-10 days but best to change after 7

 

[RYO]

Also put a check valve on your line. This will stop the water back filling the tube.

 

[KentBlokey]

Jimboo. Thanks very much. I will try that!

 

[Themuleous]

Cheers people,

Will definitely give that a try Jim, thanks for the ingredients list. Bit of a shame really I got extra packets when I ordered the unit! doh!

Quick question, does the bicarb need to be a heaped teaspoon or level? Or doesn’t it really matter?

Also, is it the amount of yeast that determines production? I.e. more yeast = more CO2, or should I just not go there and stick to what’s above.

Thanks again.

Sam

 

[scott67892002]

i bought extra sachets too left mine on for three days and it finnally started been fine since! going to buy some normal yeast for next time!

 

[Rooster]

Cheers people,

Will definitely give that a try Jim, thanks for the ingredients list. Bit of a shame really I got extra packets when I ordered the unit! doh!

Quick question, does the bicarb need to be a heaped teaspoon or level? Or doesn’t it really matter?

Also, is it the amount of yeast that determines production? I.e. more yeast = more CO2, or should I just not go there and stick to what’s above.

Thanks again.

Sam

Although some would have you believe this is "black magic" all you are doing is brewing alcohol !!!!
Have a Google around, under sugar based wash, this will tell you the theory... I currently do the latter, and WASTE all my CO2 but her indoors wont let me have the 5 gallon fermenters in the living room ! lol

 

[Ptarmigan]

.

 

[Themuleous]

PtarmiganUK - it is indeed to late, ill get my gun...

 

[Themuleous]

PS anyone want to by 8months supply of sachets, all in good working order....

 

[bennett]

i didn't realise it but i bought the nutrafin one aswell. so i've added the mixture suggested and although i'm not produced bubbles yet i can see there's gas building up

 

[lljdma06]

PS anyone want to by 8months supply of sachets, all in good working order....

Nope, I have chucked all of mine (I had three months ), and now use a DIY mix. Actually, today I followed Jimbooo's recipe and I will say that I am quite pleased.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I have the Nutrafin CO2 kit and had the same problems wit the supplied 'activator' and 'stabiliser' ..... however I mainly bought it for the diffuser (bubble ladder).

I now have mine running very well with a DIY mix similar to Jimbooo's, but it only seems to last about 4 days before I have to replace the mix. Is this becuase I dont use the Bicarb ?
My local water has a high KH (>16dh), so good buffering and a usual PH of at least 7.8 (7.5 with CO2).
I'm getting a CO2 reading of 18-20 (up from 8-10), this is with just a single unit in a 130L tank.
Once I'm happy with the CO2 levels and water stability, I intend to add a second unit

One difference is that I initially fill the canister half way and then top up after a few hours (once fermentation has begun).

The reason for this is that the first time I did a DIY mix it 'expanded' right up the tube and I caught it just as it was about to pump a yeast mix into the tank !!! ( Disaster was prevented by a few seconds)

I've also inserted a non return valve in the CO2 tubing just to be safe as the canister sits below the tank. (Glad I did as this was a quick way to disconnect the tubing when the yeast mix escaped)

But overall ............ Its settled down now and is helping with the plants !!


Mr G

 

[Themuleous]

Hi Mr G,

Not tried the mix yet myself, but I would have thought the 4days production is due to not adding the bicarb. As the name suggests it 'stablises' the yeast fermentation process, which as far as I know means it stops the pH from dropping in the fermentation bottle. If you dont add the bicarb the pH will drop quickly and the yeast will get killed by it, you are brewing alcohol after all and we all know about the affects that substance can have

It may also help to slow the yeast down, i.e. prolong CO2 production but Im not 100% certain on that point. Anyone else got any thougths?

Hope this helps

Sam