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I got the hagen co2 system and mixed it exactly like the instructions said but havn't got any bubbles after 36 hours. i tried remixing it today by puting the packets in warmer water and mixing them before adding it to the cannester. the instructions arn't very clear. if you use this system do you just put everything in like the instructions or do you mix them differently and how long should it take before i see bubbles.
thanks for the help

I don't know if your system is the same as mine (Nutrafin), but when I bought my unit the yeast was out of date and must of been dead and didn't work. Hence no bubbles! Try and buy some fresh yeast or packed yeast that is within the due date, and give it a go Beware of putting too much water in as my system overflowed into my tank

My unit gives out 1 bubble per 4-5 seconds. Its worth having c02
Mr gudgeon

oops, I forgot to mention mine started bubbling after 1-2 hours of setting it up.
Mr gudgeon

Cory Di has been having exactly the same problem, and hers turned out to be old yeast. I agree with going to get some new yeast and using about one eighth to one quarter of a teaspoon in the hagen (nutrafin) canister. Don't use to much or you'll end up with Di's other problem - the CO2 maker run wild! ]

i've got the nutrafin one and it took about 4 days before i started seeing bubbles. god knows why i waited that long but thats how long it took to start working. now it's great 1 bubble every 4/5 seconds

Here is the Hagen/Nutrafin recipe:

1/8 Tsp yeast (Activator)
1 Tsp Baking Soda (Stabilizer)
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 3/4 Cups Luke Warm Water (68 – 86 Degrees F)

This way you don't have to buy the prepackaged and overpriced Hagen/Nutrafin refill kits.

This way you don't have to buy the prepackaged and overpriced Hagen/Nutrafin refill kits

I totally agree, Tom. To add insult to injury, they're prepackaged, overpriced and out of date! I don't know why anyone would bother! :%)

thanks for the help, i havn't been on for a while but i read some older posts and found a recipe. i think the yeast is old but i'm not sure what the date means. i used the normal amount of sugar, and put 1/4 teaspoon yeats and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and it stared within a couple hors and now it is running good, i havn't counted the time between the bubbles yet but i have 2-4 on the counter at a time.

i have a question about how co2 effects water chemestry. I know it drops the pH but does it effect the Kh. i have to buy a kh kit but i have constant readings from when i used to measure.


Last edited by sonic2041 at 03-Mar-2005 19:06

the date on the packets are DEL 01 2003. I dont think the del means anything so if thats january 2003 they are expired by 8 months which would solve my problem.

I dont think i am going to buy packets beacause making your own mix is easier and cheaper.

Definitely do your own. The fish store I got mine from puts dates on the price tag for when they put something out. My yeast was dated 2002 ]:| - It took four days to start and maxed out at 1 bubble every 30-45 seconds .

So, the actual mixture is only 1/4 tsp yeast . I put in 1/2 tsp. I got 1 bubble every 3 seconds with that for the first week and now i've been going on for 1 every 4-5 seconds. That is holding me at a 7.2 pH down from 7.8.

The kH is carbonate hardness. It is suppose to be the one thing that kind of stands still, but still needs to be checked as plants can use the carbon. Definitely test it. It's a good idea to know where you are because then you can use charts like this one.

Use the calculator to plug in my numbers as an example. I have a kH of 4.48 degrees or 80ppm, and a pH of 72. The calculator will show you that I have just over 8ppm of co2 in my tank. Before I started, only had about 2ppm and this can be seen by modifying the calculator pH number to 7.8, with a kH of 80ppm. It shows how it drops. Some fish stores will test your kH for you if you bag some water and take it in. I'm just learning myself about all of this and I like the examples given in this link, along with the calculator.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

Last edited by Cory_Di at 03-Mar-2005 22:44