griffin

well, the thing is, with or without the water, the solids go to the bottom, so as long as you don't shake up your catch bottle, you'll be fine. :P

using it as a bubble counter is also a good idea, but the water tends to get a bit nasty. but you can change it easily when you change out your mixtures. i personally don't care for the water in the bottle because i figure, i can see how the co2 is doing by looking in the tank, and the water will take up some co2 as opposed to letting it in the tank.

Gargoyle

I agree with what you have said thus far..

But I must mention that the water helped me find my air leak in my C02 system and where in the system it was. Without the water in the catch bottle I doubt I would have ever found out exactly where it was. I guess either way there are benefits...

Now as far as the water taking up the C02... Wouldn't the water eventually get saturated with C02 and lack the ability to hold anymore ?? I am still kinda new to this C02 thing so I am looking to learn a bit as well.. Sounds like you have been at it longer..

Semantic Drift

At least in theory, the water seems like a good idea to me - it would catch any water-soluble contaminants. And there is definitely a saturation limit to water (e.g. the reason soda fizzes when opened - the water is oversaturated with CO2) - I doubt it would even make a measurable impact on the amount of CO2 that reaches your tank. It seems like the worst issue you could have would be if you ended up somehow with lower pressure in your yeast factory, and drew up water into your CO2 generators. But you've got some other problems to deal with if this happens.

Also, it looks more scientific to have bubbles going through water like that.

In short - if I were to build a CO2 generator, I'd put water in my catch bottle.

griffin

yes - the water would have an saturation limit that it will reach. but, if you replace the water and waste with each solution change, you'll have to get up to concentration again. however, with DIY, you're kinda already dealing with a pretty low co2 concentration. i'd want as much as possible to get in the tank as opposed to going to waste.

whereas i'm not saying it's bad or wrong to use water in the catch bottle, i personally would not because i would want as much co2 as possible to reach the tank.

timg

Another advantage with using water in the catch bottle is that there is less air to pressurize before the co2 starts to go to the tank. It is better to bubble through though, as it ensures that any mixture that does get this far is dispersed and doesn't froth up in the catch bottle, something I had happen to me when I first tried this method.

griffin

i've actually had the opposite happen, with the water in the catch bottle, it actually caused more froth than without.

looks like this is a try and see type thing now

Gargoyle

Yeah I have had good luck with the water... Over about 7 days or more the surface tension in the catch bottle gets pretty strong though.. After about 14 to 20 days the water should be changed... Gets kinda gooky...

I am trying something different this time with the catch bottle and so far it has worked out very well.. Been running for 10 days now and water is still crystal clear!

griffin

yay!