How to get the most out of a CO2 reactor?

[Zoe]

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?

[garnpet]

How long is not very long?  And are you using pop bottles?

[Zoe]

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.

[garnpet]

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.

[sas]

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.

[Zoe]

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.