Having problems with my first DIY CO2

HI everyone.
Yesterday (On Sunday) I set up my first DIY CO2 for my 20 gallon tank. I'm using a 2,5 littre bottle, as that's all I had lying around, no bubble counter at the moment but I will add one later. Here's my problem:
I'm using a recipe I found on Dena's thread about setting up a CO2 system (2 cups sugar, 1/2 tsp yeast, a single fish pellet, crushed).
I set it up yesterday at around 7pm and went to visit my grandpa. Back home I saw no bubbles coming but I thought it was normal since I read that bubbles should come after 2-3 hours. (I shove a piece of cotton in the tube as a diffuser, about 1-1,5fm long).
Toray in the morning still no bubbles. I can see the gass level in the tube inside the tank, but still there's a certain amount of water in the tube. Is that normal? Is water supposed to be there?
I removed the cotton a while ago to see if any bubbles came out, and if you shake the bottle, and pull up the tube a little, there are some decent sized bubbles coming.
Am I even supposed to see any bubbles coming out of the tube when I have the cotton in, or do they come out small? I mean this I kinda strange, there's something that is not allowing the CO2 to get in the water?
Any help would be appreciated, I need to take care of this asap...
Thanks!
(Sorry for any possible mistakes it's 4AM).

 

Do you know if the yeast is good? Did you proof it by setting the yeast in a small bit of water with some sugar? It could be old and not generating much carbon dioxide gas

Check your system for leaks. I use a small spray bottle and add 1 drop of dish soap. Carefully spray this soap mix on all the connection points, making sure no soap gets into the tank. If there are any leaks, the soap will bubble up.

How warm is your room? The colder the environment, the slower gas is produced.

I have not noticed any water in the CO2 line so long as the yeast was producing gas.

Once producing gas, using a bit of cotton should give you very fine bubbles. Cotton can be packed too tightly if there are bubbles with no diffuser in the line.

Hope you figure it out soon!!

 

Do you know if the yeast is good? Did you proof it by setting the yeast in a small bit of water with some sugar? It could be old and not generating much carbon dioxide gas

Check your system for leaks. I use a small spray bottle and add 1 drop of dish soap. Carefully spray this soap mix on all the connection points, making sure no soap gets into the tank. If there are any leaks, the soap will bubble up.

How warm is your room? The colder the environment, the slower gas is produced.

I have not noticed any water in the CO2 line so long as the yeast was producing gas.

Once producing gas, using a bit of cotton should give you very fine bubbles. Cotton can be packed too tightly if there are bubbles with no diffuser in the line.

Hope you figure it out soon!!

HI Dena thanks for your reply.
I don't know if the yeast is good. 5 minutes ago I poured some water in a small bowl, added two tsp of sugar and some yeast and I got a white cloudy water. No bubbles so far, only if I stir it up there are some bubbles. It has started to get the smell of the CO2 in my bottle though. There's no foam on the surface either. Should I've had bubbles & foam by now?
If I squeeze the bottle of CO2 connected to my tank I do get CO2 bubbles.
The soap method, IF there are any leaks, won't the soap get into the CO2 bottle and then get in the tank?
Thanks again!

 

I'm wondering how much of an air space you have in the bottle? I fill mine to where the bottle starts to get narrow. I also think Dena may have figured your problem out. I'd go get a fresh packet of yeast. I'd also add the bubble counter bottle asap, it's a good, easy defense against getting the yeast mix in your tank.

 

I have experimented with CO2 and find baking soda helps. I add 1 tsp per liter of water.

 

I was using a bigger bottle than instructed, a 2,5 littre one. I dumped it now an removed it at the moment because a bit of yeast mix got in the tank. There are no fish in it whatsoever, so I'm safe. Could the extra space be the problem? I had 1,5 littre of water in the 2,5 lt bottle.
I'll get another package of some other brand, hopefully it'll work.

 

I was using a bigger bottle than instructed, a 2,5 littre one. I dumped it now an removed it at the moment because a bit of yeast mix got in the tank. There are no fish in it whatsoever, so I'm safe. Could the extra space be the problem? I had 1,5 littre of water in the 2,5 lt bottle.
I'll get another package of some other brand, hopefully it'll work.

I use a 3 liter and 1 gallon bottle. I adjust the recipe and fill to where the neck starts. Using a check valve keeps the mix out of the tank.

 

But how would I adjust the recipe for the 2,5 littre?
Sorry guys I'm totally new to this...

 

I would try adding a little more yeast. Make sure your generator bottle is at least 75% full of water.

 

For each 2L you add 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp yeast, and 1 tsp baking soda. For each additional liter add 1 more tsp of baking soda and yeast. For the 5L double the receipe to 4 cups sugar, 2 tsp yeast, 2tsp baking soda.