how long to see bubbles in DIY CO2 Diffuser?

[chrisfraser05]

As in title really lol

I have used the PDF referenced on here and made a CO2 diffuser with a 2lt coke bottle and sugar and yeast.

How long does the reaction take to start showing pressure and bubbles?


cheers, chris

[Trillianne]

I set up a bottle a bit ago and I know I saw some bubbles within the first 24 hours but my memory isn't good enough to give you a more exact time frame.

I used an airstone as a diffuser and I will say that CO2 bubbles are very very small compared to O2 bubbles so you might not SEE them when you aren't looking super closely. But I can safely say from when I swapped airstones on the line that there was definitely air pressure so it was certainly functioning.

[chrisfraser05]

cool. I wasn't sure if it would be an instant thing or not!

I'll guage it by wether the water has moved back up the tube or not!

[SunSchein89]

It'll normally take a good few hours to get things going. If you don't see any within 24 hours, make sure nothing is clogged in the tubing and that everything is sealed properly. As said before, make sure you take a close look at whatever your diffuser is too, because the bubbles do come out a lot smaller. Also, adding a muck catcher/bubble counter is a good idea for these DIY co2 setups. The last thing you need is any of that mix getting into the tank and then you can gauge roughly how much co2 is getting into the tank along with how much life is left in your bottle. Just don't forget to give your bottle a good shake periodically.

[chrisfraser05]

Cool :)

Some good points there, this is just a small trial but I'm going to make a more perminant fixture of it if the plants grow better!

[Lady Hobbs]

I honestly have set mine up and see it bubbling within 15 minutes. My solution is always just luke warm and it starts pronto. If the water is too warm, it will kill the yeast. Cold it will take several hours.

[korith]

I honestly have set mine up and see it bubbling within 15 minutes. My solution is always just luke warm and it starts pronto. If the water is too warm, it will kill the yeast. Cold it will take several hours.

Yep yep, first time I tried this I must have killed the yeast. These days I just use luke warm water and add some yeast to it. I usually see bubbles in well under an hour. Takes a while to see a steady rate of bubbles. If you can get your hands on brewer's yeast, it works longer and harder.

[Kazenouta]

When I set my first DIY Co2 up about 2 weeks ago it took approximately 2 hours for things to get going.

[chrisfraser05]

I got bubbles within 2 hours :)

I don't think I've ever had a hobby where you an experiment so much, this is ace!

[born2blove]

Hello all
I am new member in this forum.
I just build up my first 29gal fish tank wih Eclipse3 hoop system.
I use the water from my house it has water softenner, I add some Naturafin cycle and Stress coat let it run fo 1 week. I just take the water to petsco for test, they said my water very good ready to add fish.
I would like to make my co2 like you guy did, but I am not sure how to make the right co2 lavel for 30galon tank.
I read some one has problem with too much co2 they will kill the fish.
How can I control Co2.
for example if co2 too much how do I adjust it?
Do I need to buy water test kits to test co2.

Sorry I am new with fish tank, I don't know not thing about take care fist tank.
Lucky I found this forum.

thank you

[chrisfraser05]

I've been down to check and so far so good. No dead fish and the plants are looking a little greener (might be just in my head).




I would like to make my co2 like you guy did, but I am not sure how to make the right co2 lavel for 30galon tank.
I read some one has problem with too much co2 they will kill the fish.
How can I control Co2.
for example if co2 too much how do I adjust it?
Do I need to buy water test kits to test co2.


Firstly welcome to the hobby and the forum.

For the DIY solution it is pretty much regulated by how much yeast you put in the bottle, more yeast means quicker reaction and more CO2.

You can buy a CO2 test kit if you really want to start going down that road, I found myself testing and recording every little thing in the tanks at first but after a while I decided not to.

I test now and then for Ammonia and NO3 but thats it, I do water changes regularly enough that I never see any readings of either now :)

To ensure the my levels of CO2 are ok I have got my airpump set at 6 am (on for an hour before lights on) an hour at mid day and an hour before lights out and a few times through the night.

Means the water gets circulated, oxygenated, lowers the CO2 at night and is nice to watch the bubbles at lunch time lol

[Lady Hobbs]

I read some one has problem with too much co2 they will kill the fish.
How can I control Co2.
Thank you

It is rather difficult for DIY CO2 to overdose. It is just not as effective as pressured CO2 but it does work. In my case, I put my bubbler too near the filter outlet and the filter sucked up too much CO2 during the night time hours. I did kill several fish but it was due to my placement of the bubbler that did it, not the system itself. You know you will be safe if you go the extra step and just drop in an airstone at night......especially in smaller tanks.

[chrisfraser05]

Done a few mods today :)

Got a one way check valve fitted, this seems to slow the flow a little too which is quite good.

Replaced the porus tube delivering the CO2 with a small air stone so the bubbles are smaller and played with my timings on the timer plug a bit more.

Got it coming off and on for short bursts through the night but not coming on for the last 2 hours before lights on to allow a little CO2 to build up.

Shame we can't harness some of the CO2 from our cars to use in our tanks?!?

[DCroft37]

Try this:

Add a pinch of sugar to the dry yeast in a small bowl, then add about a half tsp
of a bit more than lukewarm water(this takes practice)... WHip this with a fork
making sure to incorporate all the yeast untill its in a uniform beige thickish
mixture. You want a tiny froth initially. Let it set for about 7 to 10 mins.

I usually get my brown sugar water solution mixed and dissolved in the generator
while I wait. THe yeast will become insanely frothy, by the time you get ur
sugar water mix ready.... Add yeast to the sugar water, and hook it up!

The trick is the initial pinch of sugar when activating the yeast, and the correct
temp of water. IF you do it right, you'll see bubble in 10 to 20 minutes.
Assuming you have no leaks.

[chrisfraser05]

Wow!!!!!

Old thread flash back!!!!!

I perfected it in the end, last june I think it was.

Thanks for taking the time to reply though thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

Old Thread Alert!

Now closed!!!!!!!