CO2 equipment question

OK so i know this is a common question here on RIU and i have done some researching on it and my question is about equipment more than the overall basics of CO2

I will soon be upgrading my grow and i want to get a pro CO2 sytem going. im going to go with a tank and regualtor system.

my question is. i am looking for some decent priced PPM readers and distributers, something that will read the PPM of the CO2 in the room and then either shut off the supply or add CO2 untill it gets to my desired level. they say 1500 ppm is where you want to be. i want to run 800-1000ppm inboth rooms..... for now and see what the results are, i will toy with it as i go but going to start off low and see what kind of difference it makes.

heres my problem

i have a 32"x32" tent and a 6'x4' room that i need to supply CO2 to. i only want to deal with one system as i cant afford to buy seperate systems for each.

would i be better off getting something like this

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-System-cubic-Timer-COSYS20/dp/B0002HFNIA/ref=sr_1_12?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1359143111&sr=1-12&keywords=co2+generator

and just T off the main tank and use one of these in each room and set them different. this wont give me a PPM meter but i can buy something like this

and just test each space manually and adjust as needed till i get desired results.

both rooms will be sealed.

im trying to keep this Co2 system under 500 bucks. i think with the route i am looking at above it will work but im not sure if im looking at the right equipment. I know there is some more expensive stuff out there but to rig up 2 rooms its going to cost me over 1000 bucks for a fully automatic system, im trying to cut some costs by adding more work for me which will be manually testing PPM and adjusting regulators.

anyways someone with some experience in trying to rig us CO2 on a budget but still wanting to do it correct please chime in.

bumpiddy bump bump

altas 4 controller(it does two zones in ppm) hydrogen co2 generator. and a small tent to run it in. couple fans of course to duct to the individual rooms. pricey but you aren't gonna like hauling bottles.

then you'll have to worry about the water cooling of the generator but you'll be good to go . I ran a bottle for several years and have finally grown tired of it and bought a minigen(same maker as the hydrogen but output is more), you could probably get by with the minigen too, then it's just a matter of running to the 7-11 to get propane every other month or so from what I understand. I've just upgraded from bottle and non-ppm controller and not run things yet but I think I'm gonna like it.

of course you won't be doing that on 500 dollars but in the end you'll be better off. if you can set things manually the controller is actually the most expensive part. minigen is like $270. atlas 3 $340. atlas 3 does one zone in ppm.

yeah thats way too much money for me right now. im not overly woried about having to refill tanks. i need something in my budget. my question wasnt that i needed something better and more expensive it was wether what my plans for a setup will work. appreciate the input though. I know i can spend up to 4 grand on Co2 system but i dont have the money or need for anything more than a 4-500$ system and i know i can reach optimal results with that kind of budget.

the generator will pay for itself in no time. you're gonna go thru a bottle of co2 a week. depending on where you are that could be 60 dollars a month as opposed to 21 dollars for a bottle of butane. if you want to get right down to it there's a co2 generator in your house, water heater. there's a thread on it somewhere here. people freak out when they see it but its the same principal as a co2 generator. so good luck with that.

im not arguing with you that a generator is probabally a better system but i cant afford one. its not that i dont want to spend the money on it, i dont have it to spend. i can fork up 15 bucks a week for CO2 refill. right now its the initial investment thats going to kill my wallet. and that being said i have around 500 bucks to get CO2 rigged up.

like i said i wasnt asking for a "better system" i am asking if the system i can afford is going to do what i need it to do. and if i have covered all the equipment ill need or if im missing something. if you dont have a answer to my question your just spouting off a bunch of information that i already know and do not need.

thanks for your time.

Hello Mat. $500 hundred is low for a quality setup. CAP controllers are cheap and just that, but thought you could Google CAP if you didn’t already know about the brand.

Grozone is the maker of the controller that I have been playing with while monitoring my brew, this thing is very accurate.

Mat I already know where you stand and your feelings on propane but here is some info for thought. A pilot light from a furnace or stove which is comparable to the flame of a bic lighter would give you perfect CO2 readings in your grow room, it doesn’t take much.

This CO2 controller is what you want but I know it pricy, it’s the one I have been playing with. Being a Jack of all trades, a buddy of mine is setting up a grow and he asked for my help, now what I put together for him was this controller running a small furnace out of an old camper trailer from the junkyard. The furnace measures 12” wide16” high and 6” deep, very small. This setup works assume. Pilot light stays lit and the controller turns on the burner. You can set the delay on the controller to turn the ventilation fan on and off. The pilot alone keeps the ppms at 1500 in a 11’ Long x 6’ wide and 8’ ceiling room. If the pilot light goes out the gas shuts off, it’s very safe. It’s the same thing as a commercial CO2 generator. We added a CO and propane alarm to the grow area for $50 just to be safe, no worries and this setup saved him a grand on the gen.

Anyways I know this doesn’t help you out much but like posted above there is already CO2 makers in the house and you could utilise them with little to no modification. Maybe run an aquarium air pump at the appliance,then pipe an air hose to the grow room.

Here is a less expensive controller but it will do the job. Setup the controller and bottle in on room. Put a small vent and a computer fan in the bottom of your veg tent running to your flower tent. The CO2 will exit one room and be pushed across to the other doing both rooms off one inexpense setup.

Lots of ideas man just trying to get your thinker going for ya.

By the way, your plants look great.

i have (two) C.A.P. co2G1-E 4 burner LP generators and (one) C.A.P ppm3 co2 controller I am willing to sell. I am up grading my burner and monitor so i wont need these anymore ! PM me

BURNERS ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN AND THEY ARE SAFE. BUT TRY EXPLAINING THAT TO A 55 YEAR OLD MAN WHO IS SET IN HIS WAYS AND WHOM HAPPENS TO BE ALLOWING ME TO GROW IN HIS HOME. (sorry caps)

he doesnt want a burner. its his say not mine so i am forced to work with a tank setup.

i like the idea of just running it in one room and pushing air over to the smaller room.

think CO2 tanks guys as its really my only option.

oh and check these out. i know they prob are not cost effective but near and cheap propane burner.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mr.-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater/14710768

i actually have one of these heaters available but im not allowed to use it. his house his rules, not going to argue with him as im lucky he is letting me grow at his home.

that being said....all i want to know is if the system i am thinking about with a tank, hand held PPM meter and that regulator will work. or is there another piece of equipment that im missing.

dont get me wrong guys i do appreciate the comments and i understand that a burner is the better choice. but for some people its just not a option.

What is in the house right now for heat or hot water? These appliances “leek” CO2. My wood burning furnace had ppms of 1000 or higher, still looking into that problem. Anyways my point is, move some of that CO2 from the appliance area to your grow if there even is any CO2 producing devices.

Your idea will work for sure, why wouldn’t it, the only downfall is the CO2 will not be efficiently controlled, controlled but not perfect.It will work.

One could save up and get the ideal CO2 setup when it’s more convenient. Until then just move lots of air around your plants, the CO2 in the house is already higher than normal outdoors readings.

What is in the house for heat or hot water, just curious?

keorisine heat and electric hot water.

its also a rental so modifying the furnace is a bit out of the question.

and i do have lots of air movement but heres my issue.

this plant popped above ground on 12-10 2012 (the bigger one lol)



and i just feel that it should be bigger. its been like 6 weeks in veg and only 1 ft tall. i dont have a PPM meter to read CO2 levels but i really think its not getting the proper CO2 to grow at its peak potential. temps are great, soil is good, airflow good, im transplanting them at reasonable times......

just not sure what else it could be.

anyways. thanks for your advice its much appreciated.