FishProfiles.com Message Forums

so i drilled the hole on the cap, fit the tube in there, applied silicone to it, and after 50 hours, its still WET! and i didnt put much at all. so i figured its spose be like that, so i used it, the hole isnt leaking, however, it leaks around where the cap connects with the ring thats originally connected with the cap when the soda bottle was new. so because of that, i think i am not getting a whole lotta bubbles at all.

so how long does it take for that sillicone to dry? how can i secure the cap so it doesnt leak?

anybody tried the cheap co2 thing they sell at petsmart for about 50 dollars? is that any good?

i don't use silicone because co2 makes it fall appart, try using that sealant they use for kitchens, it's a white stuff kind of white glue but with silicone texture to it, i put a little on the cap everytime i refill and then just cap the bottle, there is also a sealing tape plumbers use to seal taps and screwed joint, that works fine also.

it takes 24 hours for silicone to set completely. if you're having a problem getting it to tighten all the way down, then you can remove the ring with a pair of scissors. but make sure you don't poke a hole in the neck doing this. it also could depend on what your mix is made of. what mix are you using to make the co2? remember that it can take up to 6 hours before you will see any kind of bubbles come out the other end.

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

1 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 c sugar
luke warm water... ect....

the bottle is closed, and i can smell the mix, its kinda disgusting, i think its not going into the aquarium at all, its leaking in my room!!!! EWWWWWW


i started a new one, and so far, still no bubbles... 6 hours now...

smells..... HELP ME:%)

well, if the water is too warm it will kill the yeast. where do you have the output? is it an airstone, or just straight tube? try squeezing the bottle a little and see if air doesn't come out the other end.

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

i used warm water from the faucet, i didnt boil it or anything. i did squeeze the bottle, bubbles did come out, i started with air stones, but i thought that added resistance to the co2, so i took it off, and my second batch now still not doing anything, 24 hours now


when i squeeze the bottle, i can smell and hear the co2 because of the leak i guess

well, the best way to check for leaks is to make some soapy water and put it on all the places where there might be a problem. if the soap gets all bubbly, then you have found your leak.

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

i know where excatly my leak is, but i dont know how to fix it, i think the cap doesnt screw on tight enough.

plus, this is the secodn day, no bubbles coming out.... sigh.....

I know you said the problem was with the cap not screwing on tightly, in which case I would say a different bottle is in order. If though you ever have a problem with it leaking at the hole you put in the cap, try using plastic bulkhead fittings instead. Ever since I switched to using them I have not had a single leak. When it comes time to replace the bottle and cap it is much simpler to do. Here a link to a really good article on diy co2 where they show them.
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

Test for leaks by holding the bottle underwater and squeezing it while plugging the end of the tubing. I found it to be better for finding tiny leaks than the soap method.....a little less convenient though if you already have everything set up. I thought my co2 wasn't working at first too, but it turned out to be just a slow leak. With even a small leak, there isn't enough pressure to push the gas through the tubing, much less an through an airstone.


[span class="edited"][Edited by MO 2004-07-16 20:52][/span]

i was blowing through the tubes(clean ones)to see how much pressure it needs, and found that with air stone its a lot harder to do, thats why i took it off cuz i thought i didnt have enoguh pressure. so i been searching for a better connection, i found an article with brass niple thing, that was 10 times easier and i think its not leaking now, i guess i'll find out tomorrow. thank you guys

Where's the article with the brass nipple thing?

I just put silicone aquarium sealant around the inside of the cap on mine. Put the cap on the bottle and tighten it until it dries. You can take the cap off still (the first time you have to break the dried bonding seal). The sealant forms a gasket for your cap.

i thought about doing that, but i didnt think sillicon will come loose. anyways, so i went to homedepot just now and got a rubber gasket, and it works PERFECT now, after so many tries.... i am so happy now]]]]

Hey all,

I'm pretty much in the same boat, I've just set up my CO2 system, but I've used model aircraft fittings and epoxied a bass tube into the lid.

It's good enough for about 2 bar pressure, so no worries there, but one thing that is starting to make me wonder is what i need in terms of tubing and fittings.

I'm currently using silicon medical grade tubing. Is this CO2 proof? and also do I need to put a non return valve in the system to stop siphoning back into the bottle??

just use regular silicon tubes found at lfs. they will wear out, but not for a couple years. and yes, do get one of those check valves, its only about a dollar, and can safe you a lot of troubles.

i am not quite sure what you do there with modeling materials, but i went to homedepot, bought a brass nipple (1 dollar), a rubber gasket(26 cents), and some aquarium silicon (5 dolars around superglue section), cut a hole in the bottle cap, put the brass fitting in there, seal it, after it is cured, put the rubber gasket in(cut the hole bigger if you need to) then you are set

when you buy your brass nipple, you can bring your tube with you to see which fits better.

good luck

Okay, *alarm bells ring* problem!

HALP!!!!

I've had the co2 system hooked up to my tank for over 2 days now and it's still not bubbling.

Mind you it has been really really cold in the house, somewhere close to 2 or 3 degrees overnight.

could this be having an effect?

This is just wierd, should I notice any change in colour in the bottle?

It's just sort of beige coloured and looking very inert.