DIY CO2 Reactor Formula - Aquarium Advice

azn_fishy55 · 08-23-2005, 08:00 PM

I made a [acronym:9b8709f2f5="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:9b8709f2f5] [acronym:9b8709f2f5="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:9b8709f2f5] Reactor from a soda bottle that hole about 20 oz. of water.How much sugar,yeast,and water should I add?

Hoovercat · 08-23-2005, 08:45 PM

You can do 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/8tsp baker's yeast and 1/4tsp baking soda in 16oz. water. I usually use Kroger's drinking water and heat a cup to boiling to dissolve the sugar in then add another cup of cold water before the yeast and soda. This is basicly Hagen's recipe. Don't use tap water as the clorine kills the yeast. Other people have much more complex recipes but this runs for 2-3 weeks and is pretty simple.

Tiffi · 08-26-2005, 07:18 PM

And what about those more complex recepies? Do they last loger?

shawmutt · 08-27-2005, 10:40 AM

I'm working on it

. I was going to experiment a bit with it over the summer, but decided to wait for a while. I need to control the temperature of the water in the reactor. The easiest way for me to do that is a warm water bath, and it's easier to control the water temp when the room is colder.

Some things I'm going to try:

1. Amount of yeast vs. production
2. Amount of sugar vs. production
3. Amount of baking soda vs. production
4. Whether glucose or sucrose is better for production

I just went to a 3 day workshop at the University of Maryland in College Park for work. They make cultures, including yeast cultures, for a lot of Maryland's biotech companies. I was able to talk a bit about yeast with some of the students and directors there. It was pretty interesting, and lead to my questions on glucose and sucrose.

Of course, by the time I do my experiments, I may be well on my way to using compressed [acronym:f494c5045c="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f494c5045c]. As much as I love the price of [acronym:f494c5045c="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:f494c5045c] [acronym:f494c5045c="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f494c5045c], it's proving to be more bother than it's worth. I will be running the experiments as soon as the weather cools down, although for time conerns I may wait until my winter break from school.

Tiffi · 08-27-2005, 09:16 PM

I had a natural Co2 system from Dennerle before, while I was still living in Germany.
They had a grey styrofoam box, that could be glued to the aquarium (adhesive strips). It was open towards the aquarium glass and had a little styrofoam top as well. That way it stayed on temperature of the aquarium. And in that grey color it wasn't actually that ugly.
I've been looking around here some, but couldn't find Dennerle.

krap101 · 08-27-2005, 09:42 PM

ive heard sourdough works as a "power thingy" for the yeast

Zezmo · 08-29-2005, 03:25 PM

I use a [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] set up on my 55gl Planted tank. I replace my [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] after 4 weeks, but even when I replace it it isn't totally dead.

my standard disclaimer, is that I can only speak to my own experience, and I got all my info from other folks internet pages. That said...

My [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] set up is 4, 2-liter bottles. I change 2 of them every 2 weeks. To prepare the Yeast i take one pack of yeast and put it with 2 tablespoons of sugar in a 1 cup measuring cup filled with Tepid water (tepid should feel neither warm nor cold). I mix this completely, and set it aside for an hour. The yeast should be at room temperature before you start.

I then take 2, 2-liter bottles. In each bottle, I put 2 cups of sugar, 1 scoop chocolate muscle blast (Safeway brand protein drink), 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dark molasses (Grandmas brand). I then fill the bottle with water to about 3-4 inches from the top, which is just below where the bottle begins to curve at the top. I mix this very well.

Then, I mix my cup of yeast again, and add half to each bottle. I let this sit; uncapped (open) overnight.

A bit more complex than just tossing in some sugar and yeast, but I have been using this formula for a few months with much success.

I would recomend at least 2 bottles, on an alternating schedule to keep [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] production more even.

08-23-2005, 08:00 PM	#1
azn_fishy55 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale,California Posts: 687 Images: 6	DIY CO2 Reactor Formula I made a [acronym:9b8709f2f5="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:9b8709f2f5] [acronym:9b8709f2f5="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:9b8709f2f5] Reactor from a soda bottle that hole about 20 oz. of water.How much sugar,yeast,and water should I add? __________________ =] ~:Andrew:~ [=

08-27-2005, 10:40 AM	#4
shawmutt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 2,050 Images: 6	I'm working on it . I was going to experiment a bit with it over the summer, but decided to wait for a while. I need to control the temperature of the water in the reactor. The easiest way for me to do that is a warm water bath, and it's easier to control the water temp when the room is colder. Some things I'm going to try: 1. Amount of yeast vs. production 2. Amount of sugar vs. production 3. Amount of baking soda vs. production 4. Whether glucose or sucrose is better for production I just went to a 3 day workshop at the University of Maryland in College Park for work. They make cultures, including yeast cultures, for a lot of Maryland's biotech companies. I was able to talk a bit about yeast with some of the students and directors there. It was pretty interesting, and lead to my questions on glucose and sucrose. Of course, by the time I do my experiments, I may be well on my way to using compressed [acronym:f494c5045c="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f494c5045c]. As much as I love the price of [acronym:f494c5045c="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:f494c5045c] [acronym:f494c5045c="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f494c5045c], it's proving to be more bother than it's worth. I will be running the experiments as soon as the weather cools down, although for time conerns I may wait until my winter break from school. __________________ ~Mike Shaw Shawmutt.com. Blogs and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.

08-27-2005, 09:42 PM	#6
krap101 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Roscoe, IL Posts: 3,825 Images: 12	ive heard sourdough works as a "power thingy" for the yeast __________________ Wizards first rule-People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true. Wizards second rule-The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Wizards third rule-Passion rules reason. Wizards fourth rule-There is magic in forgiveness the magic to heal! In the forgiveness you grant, and more so in the forgiveness you receive. Wizards fifth rule-Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie. Wizards sixth rule-The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason. Wizards seventh rule-Life is the future, not the past Wizards eighth rule-Deserve victory. Wizards ninth rule-Contradictions don't exist, in whole or in part.

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08-23-2005, 08:45 PM	#2
Hoovercat Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Memphis,Tn US Posts: 438	You can do 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/8tsp baker's yeast and 1/4tsp baking soda in 16oz. water. I usually use Kroger's drinking water and heat a cup to boiling to dissolve the sugar in then add another cup of cold water before the yeast and soda. This is basicly Hagen's recipe. Don't use tap water as the clorine kills the yeast. Other people have much more complex recipes but this runs for 2-3 weeks and is pretty simple.

08-26-2005, 07:18 PM	#3
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	And what about those more complex recepies? Do they last loger?

08-27-2005, 09:16 PM	#5
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	I had a natural Co2 system from Dennerle before, while I was still living in Germany. They had a grey styrofoam box, that could be glued to the aquarium (adhesive strips). It was open towards the aquarium glass and had a little styrofoam top as well. That way it stayed on temperature of the aquarium. And in that grey color it wasn't actually that ugly. I've been looking around here some, but couldn't find Dennerle.

08-29-2005, 03:25 PM	#7
Zezmo Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,112 Images: 14	I use a [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] set up on my 55gl Planted tank. I replace my [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] after 4 weeks, but even when I replace it it isn't totally dead. my standard disclaimer, is that I can only speak to my own experience, and I got all my info from other folks internet pages. That said... My [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] set up is 4, 2-liter bottles. I change 2 of them every 2 weeks. To prepare the Yeast i take one pack of yeast and put it with 2 tablespoons of sugar in a 1 cup measuring cup filled with Tepid water (tepid should feel neither warm nor cold). I mix this completely, and set it aside for an hour. The yeast should be at room temperature before you start. I then take 2, 2-liter bottles. In each bottle, I put 2 cups of sugar, 1 scoop chocolate muscle blast (Safeway brand protein drink), 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dark molasses (Grandmas brand). I then fill the bottle with water to about 3-4 inches from the top, which is just below where the bottle begins to curve at the top. I mix this very well. Then, I mix my cup of yeast again, and add half to each bottle. I let this sit; uncapped (open) overnight. A bit more complex than just tossing in some sugar and yeast, but I have been using this formula for a few months with much success. I would recomend at least 2 bottles, on an alternating schedule to keep [acronym:3fb5e473eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3fb5e473eb] production more even.