Hello all.

I decided to try a DIY CO2 generator (soda bottle, yeast, sugar) in my
aquarium (about 63 gal). I used a valve preventing aquarium water siphoning
into the bottle. What about the other way round? How can I prevent yeast
mixture from getting into aquarium?

Couple of days ago the aquarium became very cloudy. I suspect the contents
of the generator somehow made its way to aquarium, although the level in the
bottle remained unchanged. How can I check if some yeast really got into
aquarium? What are other possible reasons of cloudiness?

TIA

"S.Holmes" wrote in message
...
Hello all.

I decided to try a DIY CO2 generator (soda bottle, yeast, sugar) in my
aquarium (about 63 gal). I used a valve preventing aquarium water
siphoning
into the bottle. What about the other way round? How can I prevent
yeast
mixture from getting into aquarium?

Couple of days ago the aquarium became very cloudy. I suspect the
contents
of the generator somehow made its way to aquarium, although the level
in the
bottle remained unchanged. How can I check if some yeast really got
into
aquarium? What are other possible reasons of cloudiness?

TIA



This question comes up with some regularity for probably a good reason.
My own opinion is that alcohol is also being added to the tank with the
CO2. I suspect the cloudiness may be bacteria feeding on the liquid
sugar.

If you can borrow a hang-on little UV unit, and it clears up real
fast...then I would suspect its bacteria.

Cloudiness could be a lot of other things as well. Some fertilizers in
reacting to the tank chemistry can cause Calcium Carbonate to
precipitate out of solution, which is a very fine white powder.....and
does not dissolve very easily back into solution. CO2 content of the
water is a major player with Calcium Carbonate solubility. Could be why
cloudiness is noticed when you started changing CO2 content in the
water. Some experimentation is needed to isolate the specific offending
issue.

Ok im definately no expert on this subject but i have a DIY co2 setup
too. I think, first off, that for a 63 gallon tank one soda bottle
will not be enough - i have heard that you need one 2L bottle per 20
gallons (is this true??) Anyhow, I have a valve to prevent water from
siphoning into the bottle, just like you, and all i do is set the
bottle underneath the aquarium with a 'drip loop' in the air tubing
(sort of like you do for your electrical cords) so that any moisture
will just collect in there and not be forced into the tank. I havent
seen any moisture or yeast in there at all before so maybe just try
repositioning your bottle.


Hope that helps out some.

Connor

Ok im definately no expert on this subject but i have a DIY co2 setup
too. I think, first off, that for a 63 gallon tank one soda bottle
will not be enough - i have heard that you need one 2L bottle per 20
gallons (is this true??) Anyhow, I have a valve to prevent water from
siphoning into the bottle, just like you, and all i do is set the
bottle underneath the aquarium with a 'drip loop' in the air tubing
(sort of like you do for your electrical cords) so that any moisture
will just collect in there and not be forced into the tank. I havent
seen any moisture or yeast in there at all before so maybe just try
repositioning your bottle.


Hope that helps out some.

Connor

"Connor Maltsberger" wrote in message
m...
Ok im definately no expert on this subject but i have a DIY co2 setup
too. I think, first off, that for a 63 gallon tank one soda bottle
will not be enough - i have heard that you need one 2L bottle per 20
gallons (is this true??) Anyhow, I have a valve to prevent water from
siphoning into the bottle, just like you, and all i do is set the
bottle underneath the aquarium with a 'drip loop' in the air tubing
(sort of like you do for your electrical cords) so that any moisture
will just collect in there and not be forced into the tank. I havent
seen any moisture or yeast in there at all before so maybe just try
repositioning your bottle.


Hope that helps out some.

Connor

I use to have this problem when I first started using DYO CO2. The problem
was solved for me by cutting down on the amount of yeast I was putting into
my reactor.

I also tried a "drip loop" in the air tubing from my CO2 canister but found
the pressure from the CO2 would force anything up into the tank.

Tony

my air hose is a larger 'guage' than the standard air tubing...is that
a viable option?

"S.Holmes" wrote in message ...
Hello all.

I decided to try a DIY CO2 generator (soda bottle, yeast, sugar) in my
aquarium (about 63 gal). I used a valve preventing aquarium water siphoning
into the bottle. What about the other way round? How can I prevent yeast
mixture from getting into aquarium?

Couple of days ago the aquarium became very cloudy. I suspect the contents
of the generator somehow made its way to aquarium, although the level in the
bottle remained unchanged. How can I check if some yeast really got into
aquarium? What are other possible reasons of cloudiness?

TIA

I solved this problem by putting a second bottle in between the CO2
generator and the tank. I used a small glass bottle (snapple bottle),
poked two holes in its lid, placed a piece of tubing into each hole
(one peice of tubing sticking into the bottle about 1" and the other
peice of tubing reaching all the way to the bottom of the snapple
bottle), then silicon sealed the lid onto the bottle. I then connect
my CO2 generator to the peice of tube that runs all the way to the
bottom of the snapple bottle and the tube to the aquarium hooks to the
tube that goes 1" into the snapple bottle. With this setup any "goop"
that comes out of the CO2 reactor will flow into the bottom of the
snapple bottle, while the CO2 will flow through the snapple bottle and
into the tank. Write me an email if you would like a picture of the
setup.

Kelly Johnson

"S.Holmes" wrote in message
...
Hello all.

I decided to try a DIY CO2 generator (soda bottle, yeast, sugar) in my
aquarium (about 63 gal). I used a valve preventing aquarium water
siphoning
into the bottle. What about the other way round? How can I prevent yeast
mixture from getting into aquarium?

Couple of days ago the aquarium became very cloudy. I suspect the contents
of the generator somehow made its way to aquarium, although the level in
the
bottle remained unchanged. How can I check if some yeast really got into
aquarium? What are other possible reasons of cloudiness?

TIA

what mixture are you using, perhaps you have too much yeast. BTW one soda
bottle is not going to do much of anything in a 63 g tank. Use 2 and hook
the lines together with a t. Mix up a batch and then about 5-7 days later
mix up the 2nd batch, that way you will always have co2 while changing out
one bottle.

Rick

Thanks to everybody who answered. The cloudiness disappeared as unexpectedly
as it appeared, so I think that after all the yeast was not a culprit,
probably some outburst of bacteria growth.

Thanks to Kelly Johnson for the advise with the second bottle. I recall
seeing a picture somewhere (at a www.thecrib.com most probably). Next
weekend I'll do this just to be on the safe side. As to on 2 l soda bottle
being not enough: maybe, but I see a very positive effect of it nonetheless.
I'll probably try to add the second bottle anyway.

Again, thanks to everybody who took time to answer.


"S.Holmes" wrote in message
...
Hello all.

I decided to try a DIY CO2 generator (soda bottle, yeast, sugar) in my
aquarium (about 63 gal). I used a valve preventing aquarium water
siphoning
into the bottle. What about the other way round? How can I prevent yeast
mixture from getting into aquarium?

Couple of days ago the aquarium became very cloudy. I suspect the contents
of the generator somehow made its way to aquarium, although the level in
the
bottle remained unchanged. How can I check if some yeast really got into
aquarium? What are other possible reasons of cloudiness?

TIA