CO2 people! Please Help

dsam

dsam

Well-Known Member
Alright so I am growing in a 4x4x6 tent, I have a 5lb CO2 tank and regulator.. my question is when do I run it and at what level, and where do I want my lines releasing co2 in my tent? thanks!
 
greennewfie

greennewfie

Active Member
i am just guessing but would think in the day when lights are on fans are off over top of the plants because co2 is heavier then air and they like heat when feeding on co2 from what i read!!

Ps. i have never used co2 so hopefully someone with experience can help you out!!

Bump and good luck!!
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
From my understanding it's mostly during veg when lights are on, but I'm still not 100% about co2 and it's benefits.
 
Banditt

Banditt

Well-Known Member
You would use it during both veg and flower. Only during lights on. Levels are dependant on what stage of growth you are in. Most people try to keep their c02 PPM inline with their feed PPM. IE if your reservoir has 1300ppm feed run 1300PPM c02. As for how to introduce it to your environment in the correct levels without a c02 monitor, I am unsure. There are calculators out there that tell you how long you need to let it run to get your desired area to x amount of ppm. However, this method is going to be extremely ineffecient. If you're going to do c02 bite the bullet and get an environmental controller w/ a c02 monitor like the sentinel chhc-4 (which is what I use) or something similar.
 
ChronicClouds

ChronicClouds

Active Member
Okay so only feed co2 during the DAY. They dont need it at night. Also I wouldn't run it during the veg (unless its free). For me I run co2 during flowering only. It's cheaper plus I believe its unnecessary for vegging plants. Now the main stream theory is 1500 ppm max. I abide by this theory. I have a friend who runs it at like 3000 ppm or something. Plants love co2 but too much will kill them. Leaves need co2 and roots need o2. I use an atmosphere controller so my room stays at 1500 ppm until I run out. If you dont have/ cant afford an atmoshere controller then there are a couple of other solutions. First (never tried it only word of mouth) you can manually fill the room. Meaning physically turn on the co2 tank (with regulator) and walk away close the door. Come back in 20 mins or so (for a room not a tent) and turn it off. close door and leave again. come back in 30 min and turn on intakes and exhausts (or in his case open the door lol). You can also achieve this using a timer. Make sure you turn off your intake and exhaust fans for the room first. the light fans can stay on provided you are running a closed loop. again never done it that way before but the bud I've seen grown was good. There is also a thread some place on here where you can make co2 with sugar and yeast I believe. My buddy tried it for a min and sustained ppm levels of 700-1100 running 24/7 in a 4x4 tent. I run a sentinal atmosphere controller. It automatically kills the exhaust fan while the co2 is running. Then if temp or humidity get too high it automatically turns the exhaust fan back on and the co2 off. My room is COMPLETELY SEALED. (It will cut down extremely on how much co2 gets wasted). Lastly I set my co2 tank for 1500 ppm. so when my sniffer reads co2 in the air at 1500 ppm it shuts off the co2 tanks.

Also I run my co2 lines (1/4" tubing with laser holes drilled in it) near the top of my lights and another line at canopy level. co2 is heavier than air so it falls to the ground. I have can fan with filter, on the floor that sucks all this co2 rich air at floor level and blows it back out helping circulate the co2 rich oxygen. I run all my fans too with co2 (just not intake or eaxhaust)
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Only feed C02 at lights on. I have a Co2 controller hooked up to my regulator that stops releasing co2 once i hit 1500 PPM
 
dsam

dsam

Well-Known Member
Thank you so much for the detailed response... looks like I am going to get a CO2 controller before I get any further in this adventure! thanks!
ChronicClouds said:
Okay so only feed co2 during the DAY. They dont need it at night. Also I wouldn't run it during the veg (unless its free). For me I run co2 during flowering only. It's cheaper plus I believe its unnecessary for vegging plants. Now the main stream theory is 1500 ppm max. I abide by this theory. I have a friend who runs it at like 3000 ppm or something. Plants love co2 but too much will kill them. Leaves need co2 and roots need o2. I use an atmosphere controller so my room stays at 1500 ppm until I run out. If you dont have/ cant afford an atmoshere controller then there are a couple of other solutions. First (never tried it only word of mouth) you can manually fill the room. Meaning physically turn on the co2 tank (with regulator) and walk away close the door. Come back in 20 mins or so (for a room not a tent) and turn it off. close door and leave again. come back in 30 min and turn on intakes and exhausts (or in his case open the door lol). You can also achieve this using a timer. Make sure you turn off your intake and exhaust fans for the room first. the light fans can stay on provided you are running a closed loop. again never done it that way before but the bud I've seen grown was good. There is also a thread some place on here where you can make co2 with sugar and yeast I believe. My buddy tried it for a min and sustained ppm levels of 700-1100 running 24/7 in a 4x4 tent. I run a sentinal atmosphere controller. It automatically kills the exhaust fan while the co2 is running. Then if temp or humidity get too high it automatically turns the exhaust fan back on and the co2 off. My room is COMPLETELY SEALED. (It will cut down extremely on how much co2 gets wasted). Lastly I set my co2 tank for 1500 ppm. so when my sniffer reads co2 in the air at 1500 ppm it shuts off the co2 tanks.

Also I run my co2 lines (1/4" tubing with laser holes drilled in it) near the top of my lights and another line at canopy level. co2 is heavier than air so it falls to the ground. I have can fan with filter, on the floor that sucks all this co2 rich air at floor level and blows it back out helping circulate the co2 rich oxygen. I run all my fans too with co2 (just not intake or eaxhaust)
Click to expand...
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
dsam said:
Thank you so much for the detailed response... looks like I am going to get a CO2 controller before I get any further in this adventure! thanks!
Click to expand...
Eventually you will master your system and you wont even need one I know growers who know how long to time their C02 on/off to reach 1300 ppm - 1500 ppm.
 
Banditt

Banditt

Well-Known Member
BeaverHuntr said:
Eventually you will master your system and you wont even need one I know growers who know how long to time their C02 on/off to reach 1300 ppm - 1500 ppm.
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Oh ya, since c02 is invisible and odorless, how do they know their levels?

This is complete and udder bullshit and please don't take it seriously.

You can estimate how long you need to run your regulator to attain a certain PPM in a given space. This is fact. However, you never know how much is escaping etc, you would never be able to keep a proper level going without a monitor. You'd be surprised how many times my c02 generator kicks on within a given hour to get the levels back to normal. No fucking way could you do this without a monitor.

I should rephrase. You could never keep the accurate levels with just a timer. Impossible.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Banditt said:
Oh ya, since c02 is invisible and odorless, how do they know their levels?

This is complete and udder bullshit and please don't take it seriously.

You can estimate how long you need to run your regulator to attain a certain PPM in a given space. This is fact. However, you never know how much is escaping etc, you would never be able to keep a proper level going without a monitor. You'd be surprised how many times my c02 generator kicks on within a given hour to get the levels back to normal. No fucking way could you do this without a monitor.

I should rephrase. You could never keep the accurate levels with just a timer. Impossible.
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Thats what I meant asshole. You can time your regulator if you can do some simple math. Thanks for rephrasing though.
 
benny blanco

benny blanco

Active Member
All the math in the world isn't going to be 100% accurate. Do yourself a favor and invest in a $300 co2 controller. If you don't your going to have to keep turning it on and off.
 
Banditt

Banditt

Well-Known Member
BeaverHuntr said:
Thats what I meant asshole. You can time your regulator if you can do some simple math. Thanks for rephrasing though.
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Right, did you read the whole post though....Once you fill it, now what? How much c02 remains when the timer kicks on the next time? That is gonna make a difference on how long it needs to run. There are too many variables to take into consideration for just a timer to be adequate. For instance, in the summer, your AC will be on much more, which in turn means you will be venting more c02. Therefore, in the summer your regulator would need to be on longer during a given hour than in the winter. This is just one case. Many things can effect the amount of c02 being leaked from the room.

I guarantee if you go to your buddy's room, throw a monitor in there at some point during his lights on, c02 will be wildy off from what it should be. A timer is just not sufficient. If your gonna spend money for c02 do it right so you can enjoy the true benefits of having c02 enrichment. Not just to be like "Yo I gots my c02z running dAwg!"
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Banditt said:
Right, did you read the whole post though....Once you fill it, now what? How much c02 remains when the timer kicks on the next time? That is gonna make a difference on how long it needs to run. There are too many variables to take into consideration for just a timer to be adequate. For instance, in the summer, your AC will be on much more, which in turn means you will be venting more c02. Therefore, in the summer your regulator would need to be on longer during a given hour than in the winter. This is just one case. Many things can effect the amount of c02 being leaked from the room.

I guarantee if you go to your buddy's room, throw a monitor in there at some point during his lights on, c02 will be wildy off from what it should be. A timer is just not sufficient. If your gonna spend money for c02 do it right so you can enjoy the true benefits of having c02 enrichment. Not just to be like "Yo I gots my c02z running dAwg!"
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I hear you and yes a monitor is 100% accurate. I dont use a portable AC , I tell anyone who runs Co2 go mini split or central AC . If you are using a portable AC in Co2 sealed room then you are just wasting the Co2. You shouldnt get much Co2 leakage if you are in a sealed environment.
 
Banditt

Banditt

Well-Known Member
BeaverHuntr said:
I hear you and yes a monitor is 100% accurate. I dont use a portable AC , I tell anyone who runs Co2 go mini split or central AC . If you are using a portable AC in Co2 sealed room then you are just wasting the Co2.
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Yeah I wish I could do a mini split. Would look a little suspect sitting next to the central air though. lol

I run a dual hose portable, so it doesn't quite exhaust as much c02 as a normal portable but still does exhaust a small amount.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Banditt said:
Yeah I wish I could do a mini split. Would look a little suspect sitting next to the central air though. lol

I run a dual hose portable, so it doesn't quite exhaust as much c02 as a normal portable but still does exhaust a small amount.
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At least you use a dual hose. I use a spare empty bedroom so the central AC is my friend.
 
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