CO2 SYSTEM

[ddavila06]

ok so everyone talks about it, should make plants grow nicely and is easy to set up, now i chicken out just doing it so i want to know if you don't mind explaining an easy-to set-up co2 system. i have a ten gallon holding tank i can use as my trial tank i guess...2 litter bottle, tubing and check valvs, sugar and yeast, what else!!! and would like to know how much and how to keep it up, cons and pros too. thanks!!

[ingg]

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

Long term, DIY is more expensive than pressurized. But, like 3 years sort of long term.

DIY will also not work on large tanks, you just can't get the steady and higher output required, but it'll work to play around with on a 10g.

[fredyk]

fill soda container with water, leave some air, add sugar (1-2 cups) and a spoon of yeast.

drill hole in cap and insert airline. Takes a day to get started.

be careful because it can siphon water back into the container.

good starter plan
Sometimes the hole in cap leaks.

[ddavila06]

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

Long term, DIY is more expensive than pressurized. But, like 3 years sort of long term.

DIY will also not work on large tanks, you just can't get the steady and higher output required, but it'll work to play around with on a 10g.

so when you say pressurized you mean one of those really expensive ones that are sold online and stuff... ? good point to keep in mind though, thanks

[Ltrepeter2000]

Get a backflow preventer(check valve in the link on the description Dave posted) to prevent the water from siphoning back...the CO2 will still pass through it the other way.
Here is another slightly simpler model.
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-Yeast-CO2/7/

[ddavila06]

Get a backflow preventer(check valve in the link on the description Dave posted) to prevent the water from siphoning back...the CO2 will still pass through it the other way.
Here is another slightly simpler model.
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-Yeast-CO2/7/

yeah, im working on reading that, the article is amazing! is like teaching a 5 years old (me) to mix cereal, (i hope thats easy , sounds easy) thanks again

[eleontie]

You don't need to mind that much about siphoning - just don't leave too much air in the bottle, 1/4 will be enough ( with more water the yeast will produce longer also). And don't read too much , just try something out. It is not rocket science.
Just make sure you have a bottle that will not tilt. ( talk from experience )

Eugen

[ingg]

Errr, I'd suggest you put a check valve in and worry significantly about siphoning.

Fill the bottle with tank water, have it activate, release yeast sugar and alchohol back into the tank - that is what the siphon can do.

[sherrymitchell]

I used a two bottle system when I was messing around with DIY. One bottle had the sugar/yeast, and it was connected to another bottle, partially filled with water, which had a tube going into an air stone in the tank. It worked really well with no backflow. I held the two bottles together with a big rubber band. The check valve is a great idea too.

[RTRJR]

Most check valves are very short-lived with CO2, an extra bottle in the line as a catch bottle is a much better safety net. Compare the earlier cited ref to:

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

i like the physical set-up in the second much better.