DIY: Home Made CO2 Guide

repvip said:

http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/science/n/neder/co2_nr5.htm#top

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So according to this article you can use a bucket of organic matter (banana skins, apple skins, coffee, tea... blah blah) but I have to question on this real quick. How much CO2 does this method emit for say a 5gal bucket of organic food matter being decomposed? I may just do some research myself after I get a ppm meter but if someone has already tested this and would like to save a little time and agony maybe you could post up as to what kind of ppm increase this would give?

EDIT: I would also like to know if a decomposing 35gallon tote of bat guano would put out a decent amount of CO2 or just OD my plants with N?

I have an unlimited supply of bat guano so I would like to know if this would work at all...

Joker209 said:

So according to this article you can use a bucket of organic matter (banana skins, apple skins, coffee, tea... blah blah) but I have to question on this real quick. How much CO2 does this method emit for say a 5gal bucket of organic food matter being decomposed? I may just do some research myself after I get a ppm meter but if someone has already tested this and would like to save a little time and agony maybe you could post up as to what kind of ppm increase this would give?

EDIT: I would also like to know if a decomposing 35gallon tote of bat guano would put out a decent amount of CO2 or just OD my plants with N?

I have an unlimited supply of bat guano so I would like to know if this would work at all...

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The problem is, once you get enough $$ for a ppm meter, you now have enough for tanks anyway, so it's like... why do the research at that point


Anyway,I don't have time to do a proper experiment, but a quick one was easy enough. Same concentration was made up in a gallon jug and tested in a sealed bathroom, very small size, like 4'x4'.

Background ppm levels are ~950ppm (don't ask, i've recalibrated the meter numerous times; it's from the furnace).
After releasing pressure from initial mixture buildup, ppm rose 200 to ~1100 where it stayed for 4 hours. After 4 hours I went back, took another picture, and gave it a nice big shake. Lots of bubbles were released, and the ppm jumped bigtime up to 3500! Unfortunately, once it dispersed throughout the room, the level readily fell back down to 1100 after about 15 minutes.

I think it takes time to build-up pressure, especially with your one-way valve or whatever, but it seems like one of these badboys optimally fermenting would put out enough CO2 for a small closet grow, easy. What I'm trying to say is, that 2000ppm that flew out when I gave it a shake, would have slowly came out over time otherwise, increasing the time it would be useful.

repvip said:

The problem is, once you get enough $$ for a ppm meter, you now have enough for tanks anyway, so it's like... why do the research at that point


Anyway,I don't have time to do a proper experiment, but a quick one was easy enough. Same concentration was made up in a gallon jug and tested in a sealed bathroom, very small size, like 4'x4'.

Background ppm levels are ~950ppm (don't ask, i've recalibrated the meter numerous times; it's from the furnace).
After releasing pressure from initial mixture buildup, ppm rose 200 to ~1100 where it stayed for 4 hours. After 4 hours I went back, took another picture, and gave it a nice big shake. Lots of bubbles were released, and the ppm jumped bigtime up to 3500! Unfortunately, once it dispersed throughout the room, the level readily fell back down to 1100 after about 15 minutes.

I think it takes time to build-up pressure, especially with your one-way valve or whatever, but it seems like one of these badboys optimally fermenting would put out enough CO2 for a small closet grow, easy. What I'm trying to say is, that 2000ppm that flew out when I gave it a shake, would have slowly came out over time otherwise, increasing the time it would be useful.

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Many thanks for your test. I have been waiting for some1 with a PPM meter to test this for all us poorer people.
Your test proves that one of these raises the ppm up to an extra 300ppm in a small closet, and settles oce and for all that this method is useful for plants and closet-growers.
+Rep for your effort - Thanks Again.

XxNinjaxX said:

Many thanks for your test. I have been waiting for some1 with a PPM meter to test this for all us poorer people.
Your test proves that one of these raises the ppm up to an extra 300ppm in a small closet, and settles oce and for all that this method is useful for plants and closet-growers.
+Rep for your effort - Thanks Again.

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Nice! You got the perfect take-home message--I couldn't have said it better myself.

ps - I didn't take pics of this part, but I moved the detector to the ceiling, and down to the floor, while keeping the gallon jug in place. In general, there was no practical difference (<50ppm difference at steady state (post 4hours--before shaking)) in the reading. After shaking the jug, we got that huge co2 jump, which was more concentrated at the source, but did diffuse around the room within 15 minutes, eventually going back down to that steady state of +200-300ppm. You have to consider it was a "sealed" bathroom, but surely there were still leaks (i.e. the fan).

edit: oops forgot another take-home--obviously the closer your generator is to your plants the better. While, in a sealed environment, air diffusion will occur to some extent no matter what (brownian motion) and levels will be increased throughout the sealed room, but it will always be more concentrated from the source. It's true CO2 is heavier than air, but it's not going to settle out unless there is shit tons, like a block of dry ice in a bathtub with no air movement.. even a minimal amount of air flow will prevent this...

Good luck everyone!

Thanks Ninja.

This is just a couple pictures of 1 of my bottles just wanted to show my version off.

http://imgur.com/idxdn.jpg
http://imgur.com/GQfWd.jpg

It is unhooked as you can see (needs to be changed out) but normally I have the hose fed into the back of the fan pointed at the plants so I can boost the CO2 around the leaves mostly. Anyway that is my set up

cant wait to try this out, gonna go get the supplys right now! Make it even a happier new year!!!

alright i got everything mixed up and everything put together put in growbox now, it never started to bubble is that ok?! how can i tell if CO2 is actually being created?? id read thru the post but theres 27 pages! I did exactly what you said 1 cup sugar 1 tbsp baking yeast in a 2l pepsi bottle filled half with warm water used exact same gronment as you and release valve....so what up am i good?!?!?!??!

livinthadream said:

alright i got everything mixed up and everything put together put in growbox now, it never started to bubble is that ok?! how can i tell if CO2 is actually being created?? id read thru the post but theres 27 pages! I did exactly what you said 1 cup sugar 1 tbsp baking yeast in a 2l pepsi bottle filled half with warm water used exact same gronment as you and release valve....so what up am i good?!?!?!??!

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Sounds like u did it all right. It should take between 12 - 24 hrs to start bubbling.
The warm water will activate the yeast, causing the fermentation process which gives off the CO2, but u must wait for that to begin.

alrighty...thanks man ill let ya know how it goes

I just refilled mine and placed it back in there and I love it. It IS making a difference with just 1 bottle. I plan on adding at least 2-5 more to my room soon. When I replace mine or create a new mixture it takes about 2 hours or so until it actually starts bubbling. To test mine I just stick the tube I have in the lid into a glass of water and give it a little shake to make sure its still emitting properly.

Joker209 said:

I plan on adding at least 2-5 more to my room soon.

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Wouldn't it just be easier to add a 5 gal bucket?
Or ru limited on room on the floor? I love how u can put the bottles nicely between the pots

hey quick question i have been sexing two plants for 15 days now is it bad to switch them back to a 18/6 light schedule.... there just some regular bag seeds thanks all happy growing..

remixed the formula and it started to bubble right away think its working now!!!!

JerryBerries said:

hey quick question i have been sexing two plants for 15 days now is it bad to switch them back to a 18/6 light schedule.... there just some regular bag seeds thanks all happy growing..

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It's not a Bad thing as such, it will cause the plants some stress, but main thing is that it will take a few weeks to re-vert back 2 Veg.
This is y it's a good idea to cut a clone, flower it and keep ur plant in Veg.
Peace

XxNinjaxX said:

It's not a Bad thing as such, it will cause the plants some stress, but main thing is that it will take a few weeks to re-vert back 2 Veg.
This is y it's a good idea to cut a clone, flower it and keep ur plant in Veg.
Peace

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so when you cut your clones you put them on 12/12 cycle right away?!

mmmmmhmmmmmmm

hey whats up this question is 4 xxninjaxx..how do u know if its working right? when i shake my container the pressure blows the cO2 out..does it keep leaking out after it does that or am i just blowing it all out when i do that?

livinthadream said:

so when you cut your clones you put them on 12/12 cycle right away?!

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Let them establish roots into ur medium, and then flip them into 12/12.

HomeGrown420baby said:

hey whats up this question is 4 xxninjaxx..how do u know if its working right? when i shake my container the pressure blows the cO2 out..does it keep leaking out after it does that or am i just blowing it all out when i do that?

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I noticed u dont have the release valve on the top. It is the best way to notice the CO2 escaping. As it bubbles it is a sign that the CO2 is releasing.

it doesnt bubble like a air pump but i see bubbles in there..and its a ghetto release valve i thought it would work but im not sure if it is