pkeeler

Is this yeast that has been sitting around for years? If not, they are most likely fermenting unless you added them to hot water. 1/2 teaspoon of dry yeast is not a lot and it might take awhile to start. Remember, the yeast generated CO2 has to saturate the fermenter water before it starts displacing the air in the bottle and hose line. When you shake the bottle, it causes dissolved co2 to come out of solution in a burst, but it creates room for newly created co2 to be absorbed by the water.

Baking soda is not needed for fermentation.

I would install a check valve just to prevent all kinds of problems with siphoning.

TAB

I'd bet you still have a leak. Try disconnecting your reactor, put it in a bucket of water, and blow into it. look for bubbles.

kishnik

ei guys i already installed a check valve and it still siphoning...

TAB

if you installed it the correct direction and its still coming back down. you have either a leak or a bad check valve.


you can always put the container at or above the water level.

kishnik

okay ill try that one TAB

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi kishnik,

If you are having trouble with it siphoning from your tank back into the bottle, my guess is that you are attaching your airline shortly after making your mix and the solution is still warm. As the warm water cools it contracts creating a vacuum. The vacuum sucks the water from your tank into the airline and starts the siphoning action.

The simple way to prevent this is to allow the solution to reach room temperature prior to attaching the airline. My guess is your problem will go away if you do.

kishnik

ic.. ill try that one too Seattle_Aquarist... i hope i get this one right this time...

thanks for all the help guys

ghengis

As far as I am concerned there is absolutely no need for a check valve...all this does is create another point where a hose leak can occur. If there is a siphon created, it wll only back flow enough to fill your bottles and not a drop more...I really don't see the problem with that. Your tank will not, CANNOT, end up all over the floor...its a sealed system. Best idea (IMO) is to have as few joins or connections in your hose as possible. Less connections = less places where a leak can occur.

Now, until recently when I went pressurised, this was the method I used: 2L soft drink bottle (actually had 2 running in tandem, alternating the filling of each week to week), add 2 cups brown sugar, then two cups HOT water from tap, shake to dissolve some of the sugar, fill bottle to about 4" below the top with COLD tap water. Add 1/4 tsp of yeast. No further shaking required.

Now, since I had two bottles in tandem, I could rely on one of them keeping up the flow, while the fresh brew was getting going. In order to avoid pressure loss when removing the one bottle for refill, I used one of those little airline clamps on that bottles section of hose. This clamp stays on that hose even after reconnecting the fresh mix. I leave it there for about two hours, or until the bottle is hard with pressure. Release the clamp and Bob's your aunties live in lover...

This is not the definitive answer on DIY CO2, and I do not claim it to be, but I never once had any dramas with getting the system to run week after week... Just make sure your connections are as tight as possible and you'll be sweet.

HTH

kishnik

yey... its already working... i finally found the leak... it was just a small leak... but sure it was hard to find...

thanks everyone for the help..