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Does the CO2 fermentation process (sugar & yeast) give off other gases harmful to aquarium fish and plants?

Having used bottled CO2 with aquarium plants for a while I am experimenting with home made CO2 fermentation units. However, I have been told that using raw sugar and bakers yeast gives off other gases in the fermentation process like methane, and that these other gases are harmful to fish and plants over the long term - is there any truth to this? Also are raw sugar and bakers yeast the best ingredients to use for this process?

Public Comments

1. You must know the equation in Biochemistry well to work out. In fermentation, given enough oxygen for a 100% aerobic respiration of the yeast, the gases extracted out in the fermentation are 100% CO2. Try using glucose (simple sugars) instead of raw sugars.
2. Yeast undergoes anaerobic respiration (without oxygen). Starting with glucose (6 carbon compound sugar), it then is converted into pyruvate, a 3 carbon compound (pyruvic acid) due to a loss of hydrogen. This is called oxidation. 4 ADP (adenosine diphosphate) is converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to fuel this reaction. Later, ethanol is produced (alcohol) and CO2 (carbon dioxide). No other gases are produced. The alcohol produced may be harmful to the fish and plants.