OVAS

Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Plants => Topic started by: Zoe on November 23, 2009, 09:15:51 PM

Title: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: Zoe on November 23, 2009, 09:15:51 PM
I find my CO2 reactor (sugar/yeast) doesn't last very long.

What do you guys use to get the longest lasting CO2 output? Any particular type of yeast or sugar? Do you add baking soda? What ratios?

Or maybe it's best to use two bottles and alternate changing them weekly?
Title: Re: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: garnpet on November 23, 2009, 10:26:19 PM
How long is not very long?  And are you using pop bottles?
Title: Re: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: Zoe on November 23, 2009, 10:35:15 PM
Yup, pop bottle. 2L. I'm only on my second refill so I don't have much of an idea yet - but I left for Nova Scotia and refilled it just before I left, and when I got back about 9 days later, there was almost no CO2 being generates. 2 bubbles per minute sort of thing.
Title: Re: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: garnpet on November 23, 2009, 10:37:34 PM
I would usually get about 3+ weeks out of mine.  But the last week was pretty feeble.

1 tsp yeast
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1.5L water

Make sure your yeast is fresh - not expired.
Title: Re: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: sas on November 24, 2009, 06:41:54 AM
Maybe try using the Champagne yeast.
When I first started using the sugar yeast mix i just used the regular
baking yeast then someone suggested the champagne yeast and I
find I get a much better and longer run on a 2L pop bottle.
I went to 2 bottles also and switched only one out at a time.
Title: Re: How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?
Post by: Zoe on December 27, 2009, 04:51:43 PM
For those using champagne yeast, what do you find your output is?  I have both of my 2L bottles running with champagne yeast now and I'm getting 1 bubble every 2-3 seconds, sometimes more, sometimes less. My solutions are 1 and 5 days old.

I'm using 1/8 tsp yeast (in the second bottle, I used closed to 1/4 tsp), 2 cups sugar, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1500 ml water.