Does anyone know the homebrew formula for Nutrafin CO2 system?

[Water Hound]

If you change the water/sugar/sodium bicarbonate liquid before the yeast is all dead, you can keep the mix going indefinitely. Just save a tablespoon or two of the old mix and add it to the new liquid. The yeast from the old mix will develop and multiply quickly giving you a neverending supply of yeast culture.

[mim37204]

it also dosent take much yeast to get it going either.

[momtwoboys]

I just want to thank all of you for this post!  I got two of these systems on Friday.  Set them up once Friday, didn't work.  Tore one down, tried again Saturday, didn't work.  Bought my own yeast set one up Sunday, within a hour or so, bubbles.  Ditto the second one.  Apparently the packet that came with the units is old.  That is the only thing I can think of.  I'll be speaking with the vendor and Hagen about that, but I'm not going to be holding my breath for any reimbursement.

My DH was teasing me about my "home brew" but I had all the faith in the world in you guys and I was right.  Thanks again!

[guppylover]

Here is a question for you. I have just started recently getting into real plants in my tanks. I got one of these systems and I am not sure if it is working or not. How do you know if it is working? Am I suppose to see bubbles running along the ladder plastic thing continually?I am getting about 1 bubble every 30 seconds and it just sits on the ladder. It has been set up for 3 days now and i used the product that came with the system, figured I will make my own when I run out. Thanks for any input you can give. the directions don't go into much.

[SerVo]

The bubble rate is what I judge mine on working or not working.  It depends on what tank size/ reactor size, but generally:
1bubble/1 sec: smooth operation rate
1bubble/3 sec: slowin down
1bubble/5 sec: probably close to replacing

it also depends on the type of injection method also.  If you have an eventual bell device, you can run at lower bubble counts without much loss in efficincy.  More of a judgement call than strict guidlines.

[guppylover]

I have one of those nutrafin co2. It is brand new, 3 days old. I should be getting allot more bubbles then one every 30 seconds, right? I wonder what is up with it. maybe the mixture. I am using the stuff that came with the co2 diffuser. What do you guys think? Oh yes, I have it in a 55 gallon. I know it probably isn't big enough, need to get another one.
thanks

[Eznet2u]

forget the ladder, Go buy at least two of these for 55gal,

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3718&N=2004+2033+113029

They are only $.79 each so buy a few. 
Then drill hole in one gallon juice bottle lid that is small enough to hold silicone airline tightly. 
Tighten the defusers so that they produce VERY FINE bubbles,
(just put it under water and blow, then re-adjust, should be kind of hard to blow.)
add a check valve to each airline,
mix up the DIY CO2 mix,
Put difusers as low in the tank as possible. 
Hook it up. 
When bubbles start to decrease, swirl mix, around two or three times
and it all starts over.  Lasts about two weeks.

This is the method I use and I have to prune every two weeks. Bubbles disapate before reaching
the top of the tank.  Works GREAT!

[dementedlullaby]

Sounds awesome EZ, and that's a great price!

[britinlincoln]

OK, I know the original post id now over 3 years old, but I too am having problems with this system! I have 2 of them in my 30 gallon tank, using the original packets that came with the system. According to Hagen, the serial numbers on the packets mean they have at least another 3 years of shelf life. 1 system is producing a bubble about every minute or so, gets stuck halfway up the "ladder" then eventually gets "pushed" all the way up when 1 or 2 other bubbles "bump" into the 1st bubble!

The second unit, the bubble can be clearly seen in the airline, STUCK at the top of the little plastic diffuser that fits onto the "ladder". I have removed the diffuser, cleaned it out and this STILL keeps happening. Also, does ANYBODY have the definitive amounts for a "home brew" of the system ? i.e. amount of sugar, amount of yeast and amount of baking soda (yes, all three ARE needed unless you want a dramatic alteration of the PH of your tank!!). I have seen several different answers to this question and all of them have different amounts! 

Thanks