Easy DIY CO2

thenoffya

Hey all, I made a homemade DIY system, and when I posted a few pics of it, I had a few people asking how I did it. If any of this looks familiar, I got the basic idea from some other sites, but mostly this one here.

DIY CO2 System for Planted Aquarium

I originally found it on another site, but recently found it using a google search. Lots of good info there, and I basically used his method, just with different items. Everything I bought I got from walmart, except for the bulkhead fittings shown in that link. I went ahead and got those to make it simpler. Without them, I am not sure of the best way to attach the tubing, but you could get the cost below $10 if you could figure out a way to not use them.

Basically, I drilled a hole in the cap of a 2-liter pop bottle (soda bottle) and inserted a bulkhead fitting. This was connected to the valve with a short length of tubing. Then I connected the rest of the eight foot piece of tubing (with holes poked in it every inch or so) to the outlet on the valve. I then attached the tubing to a couple wooden dowels, which I stuck into the soil my babies have been resting in.

To prepare the yeast solution, I followed the link above's instructions. For those too impatient to read, I have copied and pasted the important parts below.

"Thoroughly rinse out your two-liter bottle with hot water; use no soap or detergent. Keep an extra bottle cap handy. Boil the water you plan to use, and place this extra cap in the water to sterilize it. Pour the boiling water (use a funnel) into your two-liter bottle. While it is still ripping hot, add your sugar, and use the cap you boiled clean, and cap the bottle tightly. Shake well until most of the sugar dissolves. This sterilizes the bottle, water, and the sugar. This is what they call an aseptic preparation. Do not uncap this until you let the water cool to room temperature and are ready to add the yeast.

I take my measure of yeast, add a small quantity of tepid water, 100º-115ºF, (not hot), and stir it up in a little cup with a fork. Stir the mixture until the yeast in no longer in clumps, but instead a smooth creamy tan liquid. Now here's the part everyone forgets, add a few pinches of sugar and vigorously mix the yeast liquid up making lots of bubbles. You want to get oxygen in there to get the yeast going. Once this is done, let the mixture stand for about ten minutes. Then take your funnel in hand, open the aseptic bottle you prepared, and pour in your yeast culture.

For two-liter bottles:

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups Sucrose (cane sugar)
• ¼ teaspoon Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
• ¼ cup tepid (ideally 104ºF) water The yeast should rehydrated first in the tepid water. The aseptic method mentioned previously should be used.

This is the easiest formula, using the most widely available ingredients. This mixture can last up to approximately 16 days, if the aseptic method is used."

A few notes on my experience so far.
1. When I made mine, I thought it didn't work because for the longest time no bubbles were being formed. A few hours after I made it, it really started going, so don't freak if it doesn't go crazy right away.
2. Don't begin with the yeast rehydration until your bottle is almost room temp again. I put mine outside in 12F weather for half an hour, and it was still a little warmer than I wanted it when I finally mixed the yeast back in.
3. Yeast is sold in little quarter ounce packets, and four ounce jars, at least at the walmart supercenter I went to. In case you are wondering, a four ounce jar is enough to make 96!!! bottles of mixture. I would recommend sticking with the quarter ounce packets, because the yeast will not last longer than four months after being opened. If you think you might make that many bottles of DIY CO2 in the four months after you first open the jar, just pony up the money for a real CO2 system.

Enjoy!!!!!

Attached Images

	110 days after planting 001-small.jpg (43.4 KB, 57 views)
	107 days after planting 006-small.jpg (62.6 KB, 41 views)
	107 days after planting 007-small.jpg (48.6 KB, 41 views)
	107 days after planting 010-small.jpg (22.7 KB, 37 views)
	107 days after planting 013-small.jpg (72.5 KB, 51 views)

__________________
Jock Horror in Rubbermaid Grow Box - First Grow - Exactly what the title says.

Jock Horror in Rubbermaid Grow Box - Second Grow - This one isn't a lie either.

midgradeindasouth

Yup nice tutorial.

There is a reaction time for the yeast.

I am sure it fluctuates with different recipe ratios.

It took mine almost 8 hours before it really started producing co2.

I used about 1/3 gal of water and maybe 2 cups of sugar and 2 packs of the yeast.

I put it in a milk jug I had dented at side on top on purpose.

I put the lid on and shook vigourously for several minutes.

I let it sit with the cap on.
It poped the dent back out and the prefabed impresions as well.
Then the lid poped.
I then hooked it up to my outlet aparatus which titrated the pressure to a higher psi.

It then put out co2 pretty nicely for about a week and then I would shake it and it would be good for about another week.

Then I would refill and start over after 2 weeks.

__________________
New Grow Journal
http://www.greenpassion.org/grow-jou...door-grow.html

midgradeindasouth

I really like the valve Idea.

I would just cap mine back up.

__________________
New Grow Journal
http://www.greenpassion.org/grow-jou...door-grow.html

Growforfun00

So where do you find the bulkhead fitting at? I madde one the other day after reading your post on your grow jurnal. I basicly made a simple surype and added yeast with a little added water. I just drilled a hole in the top of a bottle and stuck the hose through. Then sealed with silicon. works pretty good.

ganjababy

I found the valve in thenoffya's post at the pet store it was in the aquarium supply section.