Home CO2 mixture receipe

[Don H.]

I'm considering setting up a small CO2 system using 2 liter bottles. I've seen several examples of the schematic to use, but can't seem to find the proper amount of yeast, sugar, water and other ingredients, if any. Can anyone who has done this successfully, tell me the formula you use?
Don.

[celticfish]

Welcome to AQ Don H.!

I have moved your posts to the Beginner' Corner so you may get more replies to your questions.
Personally I have tried used three bottle changing one a week in sequence.
This keeps the CO2 as consistent as DIY can be.

My mixture is as follows for a 1.5L bottle (you can probably increase by 50% for 2L).
One cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, one teaspoon protein powder (like weight gainers) and yeast.
Remember to use aged water as the chlorine from freash tapwater will kill the yeast.
Fill the bottle to about 75%.
The amount of yeast need not be much.
Too much and the mixture gets used up really quick.
I reckon 1/8 teaspoon is good but I usually eyeball when the yeast spreads around the surface of the water I stop adding.

[jackwolf]

For my 1.5L, I use 1/2 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon soda, 1.5 cup sugar, and fill water up to 2inch below cap.. it works since 1st May till now(20days).. This morning i can still see bubble rolling thru the flipper but I think its dying in a day or two.. It all depend on whether you want more production or longer lasting.. more suger less yeast=longer lasting CO2 but slower production.. in my experience this is my best combination for longest lasting.. but i heard some that can last a month one using the 2L...

[Don H.]

Thank you! This site has already been extremely helpful, especially since I've avoid forums in the past because of juvenile, vulgar and just downright stupid postings. Thank you again . . . and oh . . . keep up the good you have created!
Don Hartmann

[beetlejuice403]

Hi Don,

I'd also recently just started my very first DIY CO2 implementation in my 1-foot cube tank. My recipe is as below:

1.5l Coke bottle, 1 check valve, airline tubes
2 cups of warm water
2 cups of sugar
1/4 tsp of yeast
1/4 tsp of baking soda

Mixture started bubbling about an hour plus after mixing, but only managed to send tiny CO2 bubbles through my Dymax CO2 Diffuser the next morning (think probably building up the pressure in the bottle...). Was so happy when I saw it as had a nightmare of the yucky mixture exploding from my bottle & flooding my house...

Mixture still producing fine bubbles through my diffuser until now... yet to see when it'll last though... [Will 'trial & error' more on the different quantities to see which will give the more consistent CO2 production.

PS: By "Aged water" does it mean just filling a pail with tap water & then letting it stand overnight like this? Or must I add in Anti-chlorine stuffs (e.g Seachem Prime) the moment I'd filled up the pail & then let it stand overnight? Thanks!

[celticfish]

Don,
We try our best to make AQ a hospitable and international friendly place (no sms lingo).
Enjoy your stay here and contribute to the knowledge base.
That's all that's required.

Experiment with the mix.
I personally came to the three bottles that work for my outdoor tank.
You may find that your setup needs some tweaking.
But thats part of the fun in the hobby.
Just need a little pointer to get your setup in the right direction!

[torque6]

I'm considering setting up a small CO2 system using 2 liter bottles. I've seen several examples of the schematic to use, but can't seem to find the proper amount of yeast, sugar, water and other ingredients, if any. Can anyone who has done this successfully, tell me the formula you use?
Don.

You can experiment with some given suggestions here. I used a 2 litre coke bottle bought from NTUC. You can check up on my thread under fertilization and algae "Time to use erythromycin on BGA".