I neeed some help with the nutrafin co2 unit. I have two of them. Hopefully it will be enough for 64 gal fishtank. But they won't work. One is releasing one big bubble every 3-5 min. The other one desn't work at all. I open theat second one today. There was nothing going on inside. Looked like brown water and that's it. what is going on. I'm using the packets of stabilizer and activator provided with the kit. What is the deal?
Nutrafin Co2 No Bubbles
- Thread starter joannausa
- Start date
The August FOTM Contest Poll is open!
🏆 Click to vote! 🏆
s007
Fish Crazy
Throw those packets away they are rabish, I just recently installed same thing bought it from ebay, What i suggest for longer stable use is... add sugar to the correct level, then add water to the correct level, add one tea spoon of dry yeast and forget about baking soda no need for that. mix it together gently close the lid tight and connect it all to the ladder. For faster results if u can place the canister on top of ur light hood as it worm and will speed it up abit.. then wait for couple of hours it should do some bubble like every 5-10 min first and then in couple of hours u should get it in full working order of getting like i do now 4 bubble every 10 seconds. Some ppl say that dissolving tea spoon of yeast in worm like water will make unit work for about 40-50 days instead of about 27 days approx. Here what the guy said in other comment:
------------------
David.
I purchased this two months ago to use in my 29g as a cheaper method of injecting co2 without having to make my own fermentation canister with a 2-liter Soda Bottle.
While the refill packets are obviously overpriced and are just Yeast(Activator) and Baking Soda(Stabilizer), the actually equipment is solid and very neat. So far I have filled it twice. The first time lasted 24 days, which may have been due to myself not using the proper water temperature at first.
The second time I filled it, I made sure to activate the yeast separately outside of the canister. I found that if they are able to perform their aerobic cycle for 15-20 minutes before being put into the canister(Which they then go into an anaerobic cycle), the process can last much longer, as more yeast will survive a longer period of time, effectively extending the usage of the system. When I filled it the second time, I activated the yeast in lukewarm water for 20 minutes before putting it inside of the canister, then added the baking soda(It slows down the reaction, so that the co2 is released slower, but more steadily). This batch has lasted over 5 weeks, and has finally started slowing down at day 37(But still not stopping, only slowing). The canister is very compact and very air tight when sealed properly, but there is not much space within. Be sure not to tip it over or shake it too much or overfill it, or else the liquid itself will be siphoned up the tube. Also, be sure not to open it while it is lower than the tank's water level and hooked up, or else you will siphon water back through the hose, removing tank water from the tank, while also spraying it out the canister end(This is only if you open it below the water surface).
As stated, the equipment that does come with this is fantastic. The canister is durable and small, and the variable clip that comes with it is easily adjusted to fit tiny 10 gallon tanks, or even monster 125 gallon tanks and beyond. The tubing doesn't exchange gas, which is good, and the plastic co2 maze to go inside of the tank is small, compact and does its job. Just be sure to move it a little each month to clean behind it, as the tank wall behind it will develop algae sometimes(As well as some of the ramps on it). I moved it when I saw one of my Otocinclus Catfish somehow sneaked behind it and was 'stuck' (But eating the brown algae very happily), but I am sure it only went there because the brown algae was abundant there, and not in the rest of the tank. Small fish can get stuck inside of the ramps if they are curious enough, so be sure to look and see if any are stuck if you have fish smaller than 1" or fry in the tank. I've also had to clean algae growths around the outflow of the co2 tube since it interfered with the co2 pathing.
The only negative problem is that if you medicate the tank, the tube WILL stain. I medicated my tank with an anti-ich medicine that contained Malachite Green a month back, and the tube was stained blue-green because of it. This won't effect the product and how it works, but it is a problem if you care about visuals. Other than that, the price for the equipment is fair, the equipment functions very well, and one system can easily produce enough co2 for a tank up to 30 gallons, and even be fair with tanks up to 50 gallons.
---------------------------
Hope it will help
------------------
David.
I purchased this two months ago to use in my 29g as a cheaper method of injecting co2 without having to make my own fermentation canister with a 2-liter Soda Bottle.
While the refill packets are obviously overpriced and are just Yeast(Activator) and Baking Soda(Stabilizer), the actually equipment is solid and very neat. So far I have filled it twice. The first time lasted 24 days, which may have been due to myself not using the proper water temperature at first.
The second time I filled it, I made sure to activate the yeast separately outside of the canister. I found that if they are able to perform their aerobic cycle for 15-20 minutes before being put into the canister(Which they then go into an anaerobic cycle), the process can last much longer, as more yeast will survive a longer period of time, effectively extending the usage of the system. When I filled it the second time, I activated the yeast in lukewarm water for 20 minutes before putting it inside of the canister, then added the baking soda(It slows down the reaction, so that the co2 is released slower, but more steadily). This batch has lasted over 5 weeks, and has finally started slowing down at day 37(But still not stopping, only slowing). The canister is very compact and very air tight when sealed properly, but there is not much space within. Be sure not to tip it over or shake it too much or overfill it, or else the liquid itself will be siphoned up the tube. Also, be sure not to open it while it is lower than the tank's water level and hooked up, or else you will siphon water back through the hose, removing tank water from the tank, while also spraying it out the canister end(This is only if you open it below the water surface).
As stated, the equipment that does come with this is fantastic. The canister is durable and small, and the variable clip that comes with it is easily adjusted to fit tiny 10 gallon tanks, or even monster 125 gallon tanks and beyond. The tubing doesn't exchange gas, which is good, and the plastic co2 maze to go inside of the tank is small, compact and does its job. Just be sure to move it a little each month to clean behind it, as the tank wall behind it will develop algae sometimes(As well as some of the ramps on it). I moved it when I saw one of my Otocinclus Catfish somehow sneaked behind it and was 'stuck' (But eating the brown algae very happily), but I am sure it only went there because the brown algae was abundant there, and not in the rest of the tank. Small fish can get stuck inside of the ramps if they are curious enough, so be sure to look and see if any are stuck if you have fish smaller than 1" or fry in the tank. I've also had to clean algae growths around the outflow of the co2 tube since it interfered with the co2 pathing.
The only negative problem is that if you medicate the tank, the tube WILL stain. I medicated my tank with an anti-ich medicine that contained Malachite Green a month back, and the tube was stained blue-green because of it. This won't effect the product and how it works, but it is a problem if you care about visuals. Other than that, the price for the equipment is fair, the equipment functions very well, and one system can easily produce enough co2 for a tank up to 30 gallons, and even be fair with tanks up to 50 gallons.
---------------------------
Hope it will help
aaronnorth
www.ukaps.org
Chuck the packets supplied, and follow the pinned treadat top of the page,
fill with sugar to first line
fill with water 2nd line
add 1/2 tspoon of yeast, more yeast = more co2
baking soda is used if you have a hk lower than 4deg because co2 is acidic and it will cause a ph swing.
1 cannister is suitable for 15g so you will need 4 which is getting expensive so get a pressurized system, a pressurized system should be used on a 150l+ anyway i think.
fill with sugar to first line
fill with water 2nd line
add 1/2 tspoon of yeast, more yeast = more co2
baking soda is used if you have a hk lower than 4deg because co2 is acidic and it will cause a ph swing.
1 cannister is suitable for 15g so you will need 4 which is getting expensive so get a pressurized system, a pressurized system should be used on a 150l+ anyway i think.
Thanks, Ok, I will get some fresh yeast asap. and also i wrapped one of the units in heating pad hoping that it will help. I will keep you posted.
By the way . what means activate yeast outside the unit. Should I mix the yeast, water and sugar and let it sit for a while or just soak yeast in water and let it sit?
Is adding CO2 helping with lowering pH? I have Kh at 4 and pH at about 7.6-8. I use RO water only.
By the way . what means activate yeast outside the unit. Should I mix the yeast, water and sugar and let it sit for a while or just soak yeast in water and let it sit?
Is adding CO2 helping with lowering pH? I have Kh at 4 and pH at about 7.6-8. I use RO water only.
s007
Fish Crazy
I dont think mixing all together wish sugar and water this yeast and leaving open for a while is a good idea as u really need to get that pressure in canister builded up.
You need dry active yeast sold in any supermarket. The way ive done and it worked well, is put dechlorinated water (not from the tank !!!!!) in the container to the water level minus that sugar level and put that amount of water in different container and add tea spoon of yeast mix it well (that way more yeast survives for longer CO2 work time) while yeast and water does its work add the sugar to your co2 container to the first line and if u need add baking soda wait for about 5-10 min then add yeast mix from that other container to your actual container where u put ur sugar mix it well and tighten the canister then connect to ur ladder.. wait for couple of hours and buala main thing is be patient !
You need dry active yeast sold in any supermarket. The way ive done and it worked well, is put dechlorinated water (not from the tank !!!!!) in the container to the water level minus that sugar level and put that amount of water in different container and add tea spoon of yeast mix it well (that way more yeast survives for longer CO2 work time) while yeast and water does its work add the sugar to your co2 container to the first line and if u need add baking soda wait for about 5-10 min then add yeast mix from that other container to your actual container where u put ur sugar mix it well and tighten the canister then connect to ur ladder.. wait for couple of hours and buala
main thing is be patient !OMG this is awesome. I got active dry yeast and warm water with sugar and it works perfectly!!! I saw first bubbles after like 10 min. Thank you so much for help!!! Yes everybody toss the nutrafin packets. I think it is not enough yeat in them . And also check the xpiration date!!! By the way you don't need the stabilizer at all!!!
aaronnorth
www.ukaps.org
In the first post it says 64gal, did you mean 64litre? if so then you dont need any more units.
They use yeast that is able to last longer period of time, i can't remember the exact explanation,
Aaron
s007
Fish Crazy
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
375 -
238 -
197 -
179 -
152 -
142 -
130 -
115 -
108 -
73 -
69 -
67 -
60 -
56 -
52