DIY CO2 failing - Aquarium Advice

flushingfish · 12-11-2006, 09:21 AM

I set up my DIY CO2 2 nights ago. I have 2- 2 liter bottles rigged together going into a T connection from the T I ahve a check valve to prevent any backflow. The airline is run into the intake of my HOB filter.
My recipe for the CO2 is
2 cup of sugar
1 TBS molasses
1/4 teaspoon yeast

per bottle. I checked temperatures and proofed the yeast before putting it into the bottles. Sugar was dissolved in the water and molasses and added to the bottles at 80F. Last night I had some foaming but it never built enough pressure to start expelling CO2.
This morning I see no foaming.
I also have installed before the T valve a 2way adjustable valve that is typically used on air pumps to adjust flow. I put this in because I thought it would help regulate pressure in the bottles and keep a positive flow.

So I guess my question, given all the above info, is why isn't it working? Did I miss something? I know how to treat yeast and how to proof it and make sure it's alive so I don't get it?

squawkbert · 12-11-2006, 09:34 AM

If there are no bubbles but the bottles are under pressure (squeeze test), you have a check valve in backwards (something's gonna blow!).

If there is no pressure on the system whatsoever, you have probably developed a leak.

flushingfish · 12-11-2006, 09:40 AM

I did the squeeze test. The check valve is in correctly. I'm thinking at this point it might be the 2 way valves. They are adjustable and may be the source of the leak. I will probably have to replace them with check valves instead. Or I will have to redrill new caps and reseal again.
Anyone else think it couldbe the 2 way valves?

zenkatydid · 12-12-2006, 12:31 AM

how have you sealed the caps? we used a load of hot glue to seal on the inside and outside and they seal great.

flushingfish · 12-12-2006, 09:31 AM

The caps were sealed with silicone. I changed the 2 way valves for standard check valves last night when I got home and lo and behold 2 bubbles per second right away. Apparently I was right for once and those adjustable valves were leaking the CO2 out of the system.
Now everything is right as rain.

Just in time too...2 days without CO2 and I noticed a small amount of algae starting to grow. Hopefully it stops now.

My thanks to those who answered my post.

12-11-2006, 09:21 AM	#1
flushingfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: flushing, ny Posts: 241 Images: 12	DIY CO2 failing I set up my DIY CO2 2 nights ago. I have 2- 2 liter bottles rigged together going into a T connection from the T I ahve a check valve to prevent any backflow. The airline is run into the intake of my HOB filter. My recipe for the CO2 is 2 cup of sugar 1 TBS molasses 1/4 teaspoon yeast per bottle. I checked temperatures and proofed the yeast before putting it into the bottles. Sugar was dissolved in the water and molasses and added to the bottles at 80F. Last night I had some foaming but it never built enough pressure to start expelling CO2. This morning I see no foaming. I also have installed before the T valve a 2way adjustable valve that is typically used on air pumps to adjust flow. I put this in because I thought it would help regulate pressure in the bottles and keep a positive flow. So I guess my question, given all the above info, is why isn't it working? Did I miss something? I know how to treat yeast and how to proof it and make sure it's alive so I don't get it? __________________ It swims therefore it is 20 Gallon planted community 4 neon tetras 3 head and tail light tetras 4 white cloud minnows 2 marble hatchets 4 poleatus cories 1 freshwater flounder 1 japonica shrimp 4 Otos

12-11-2006, 09:34 AM	#2
squawkbert Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 256	If there are no bubbles but the bottles are under pressure (squeeze test), you have a check valve in backwards (something's gonna blow!). If there is no pressure on the system whatsoever, you have probably developed a leak. __________________ Thanks, Squawkbert WWIIOL Veteran Tanks:1MiniBow 5g, Coralife 10W Colormax, 3 Harlequin Rasboras, Amano shrimp, pond snails, Jungle Val, Bacopa, C. wendtii 46 bowfront: 3 Cardinals, 5 Black Neons, 4 Black Phantoms, 2 Serpae/Minor, 2 C. aeneus, C. trilineatus, 2 black Mollies, 4 Otos, 6 Pristellas, P. Scalare Cryptocoryne wendtii, Java Fern, Val, Bacopa caroliniana, Anubias, Bolbitis, A. reineckii rosefolia, 5g RCS tank 5g RCS/java moss, Najas guadalupensis... tank

12-11-2006, 09:40 AM	#3
flushingfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: flushing, ny Posts: 241 Images: 12	I did the squeeze test. The check valve is in correctly. I'm thinking at this point it might be the 2 way valves. They are adjustable and may be the source of the leak. I will probably have to replace them with check valves instead. Or I will have to redrill new caps and reseal again. Anyone else think it couldbe the 2 way valves? __________________ It swims therefore it is 20 Gallon planted community 4 neon tetras 3 head and tail light tetras 4 white cloud minnows 2 marble hatchets 4 poleatus cories 1 freshwater flounder 1 japonica shrimp 4 Otos

12-12-2006, 12:31 AM	#4
zenkatydid Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 765 Images: 3	how have you sealed the caps? we used a load of hot glue to seal on the inside and outside and they seal great. __________________ 50gal planted - yoyo loaches, BNs, SAE, odessa barbs 28gal planted - sparkling gouramis, dwarf cories (hastatus, habrosus, pygmaeus) 5gal planted - betta, otos 5gal planted - glass shrimp, CRS

12-12-2006, 09:31 AM	#5
flushingfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: flushing, ny Posts: 241 Images: 12	The caps were sealed with silicone. I changed the 2 way valves for standard check valves last night when I got home and lo and behold 2 bubbles per second right away. Apparently I was right for once and those adjustable valves were leaking the CO2 out of the system. Now everything is right as rain. Just in time too...2 days without CO2 and I noticed a small amount of algae starting to grow. Hopefully it stops now. My thanks to those who answered my post. __________________ It swims therefore it is 20 Gallon planted community 4 neon tetras 3 head and tail light tetras 4 white cloud minnows 2 marble hatchets 4 poleatus cories 1 freshwater flounder 1 japonica shrimp 4 Otos

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