ProudlySellin'
Well-Known Member
fuck I love it when you dudes argue...I learn so much then
Do i really need CO2 for my flowering plants?
- Thread starter kikisolar
- Start date
Silence ProudlySellin! 
I can't really use CO2 because I need a high throughput of fresh air to keep my tent cool. But can offer some suggestions for those who want to try. First of all, check out used welding regulators, you can usually get them for much less. Secondly, MIG welders in particular contain a gas solenoid, which is just a valve turned on and off by the electronics in the welder when he pulls the trigger on the gun. No name brands of low amp MIG welders go for very little used and you can buy the solenoids separately for $30 - 40. Hook one up to a timer and regulator and you could probably put together a CO2 system for about $200, with some patience to search around and pick the bits up used + cheap. I would guess you can also use the gas solenoids from boilers, with CO2 being essentially inert it's not like putting oxygen through a used acetylene regulator. -like my reply? pls vote in my HID bulb poll (sig)-
I can't really use CO2 because I need a high throughput of fresh air to keep my tent cool. But can offer some suggestions for those who want to try. First of all, check out used welding regulators, you can usually get them for much less. Secondly, MIG welders in particular contain a gas solenoid, which is just a valve turned on and off by the electronics in the welder when he pulls the trigger on the gun. No name brands of low amp MIG welders go for very little used and you can buy the solenoids separately for $30 - 40. Hook one up to a timer and regulator and you could probably put together a CO2 system for about $200, with some patience to search around and pick the bits up used + cheap. I would guess you can also use the gas solenoids from boilers, with CO2 being essentially inert it's not like putting oxygen through a used acetylene regulator. -like my reply? pls vote in my HID bulb poll (sig)-SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
awesome, then we pretty much agree. sorry if i was rude or whatever earlier as i havent been feeling very well lately.
ProudlySellin'
Well-Known Member
what do you call the timer that connects to the regulator? if i had to go into a welding shop, i'd just feel a tinny bit more comfortable to know what specifically to ask the dude for?
SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
are you talking about the "solenoid" perhaps. its the device that opens and closes the tank when the timer turns it on/off. otherwise any digital timer or one broke into 15 min incriments will work. just make sure your not exhausting when gassing.
ProudlySellin'
Well-Known Member
awesome thanks man, and i saw some dude gassing ever fifteen minutes of every hour, is that sufficient.
SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
like i said earlier....without all the proper controllers its kinda guesswork and there is the potential to waste quite a bit of gas.
if your mind is set on getting gassed with minmal equipment, i would shoot gas for the first 15 min of every hour let it alone for 30 min, then exhaust for the last 15 min of the hour.
the tricky part is minding your temps when not exhausting. you might find that you cant wait 45 min to exhaust because your temps get too high. you also dont want to use too much gas or its a waste. this is why i feel good controllers are a must for co2 enrichment. a good controller will monitor all of these aspects as well as your exact co2 ppm and control them appropriatly.
all that said, i own a 20# tank, a flow regulator with solenoid. i used it for 2 harvests without a controller and decided to wait till i got a controller. i thought the benefit was vastly outweighed by the trouble and cost.
best of luck.
You probably won't be able to pick up the solenoid at the welding stores, it's not something welders have to deal with most of the time. Plus, if they have them, it'll be for the big name brands like Miller / ESAB and Lincoln, which will be more expensive. If anyone ever asks, just say you've been sent down to buy it and have no idea what it does. Check out eBay - I've seen them on there. Try "mig / welder / welding / gas + solenoid / valve" for the search. Try to get one that opens and closes on your mains voltage. Then wiring it up will be as easy as connecting it to a timer. Microcontrollers are an idea (they actually monitor the CO2 levels and adjust the gas release to keep the level constant). You'd want to make sure you had good air circulation still or you could end up with patches of CO2. Also think about whether or not your grow space is going to get too hot with less / no ventilation. You'll want to start your CO2 level off lower than you think they need. You can kill plants with excess CO2 - particularly if the concentration is high at night, when they want O2.
hobogrower
Well-Known Member
If you want to use yeast and sugar screw the 1 cup a sugar to 1 pack of yeast get a pound of sugar and 4 packs of yeast a 2 gallon container mix it poke some holes in the container attach some hoses if you want and keep they yeast active and c02 will blow outta every hole and tube you have bam
BeenBurned
Active Member
So co2 during flower can help, what about during veg?
SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
it helps with growth period.
Lil Czr
Well-Known Member
I'm not turning people away from C02 there Einstein, I merely saying that it's something to work up to. If you don't have an air tight room it ain't gonna do jack shit. It's not something that a beginner needs to grow good plants. That's the point I was making.
SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
jerryclub1
Well-Known Member
I agree. Your room must be sealed and your conditions, light, airflow must in control as well to really see the benefits. You can do more harm to your plants or waist your money on the setup if you don't have control or understand how to control the environment.
This setup, controller, tank, reg. and added timer to the controller cost around $400.00
The controller runs the air flow when the room temp goes up and shuts off the Co2 when the air flow turns on. The system also shuts down the Co2 at night when the plants won't use Co2. Total control.
I would have a grow or two under your belt before you add Co2. You'll have enough experience to notice the added benefit of the Co2 vs not having Co2. You will also work your way through some of the typical grow troubles problems that come with a grow w/out Co2.
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SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
*not knocking your setup, its still nice* and thats even a more basic rig with the potential to over-gas. they make controllers that also monitor you CO2 ppm in realtime keeping your levels and temps in perfect check.
jerryclub1
Well-Known Member
Regulator is set at 3ppm, run for 15minutes every hour. Until I can swing another $400 for the other controller to monitor the 1500ppm, this works great for me. It requires more math than just plugging a monitor in but I enjoy running the numbers. My whole setup is run by the numbers, lights, air, Co2 and soil. I read the faqs post, lol. Growing Big Bud, NYCD at 4 weeks veg.
SlikWiLL13
Well-Known Member
i just crossed NYC D with Northern Lights. growing it for the first time right now.
a simple but cheap system for a small space for $250 can be had but being able to monitor it is what drives the cost up. tank $100 ,active air/hydrofarm adjustable valve with the distrbution ring for $150 is not to much extra coin. it may not work as good as a bigger buck setup but it does the job on a budget. And for some with smaller grow space running H.I.Ds with limited ventalation co2 is a great aid for running higher than normal temps but for most part can be seen as a waste but I don't see it as a total waste. I agree with alot of the advice on here like having the ideal space,proper equipment,know how of what your dealing with, but if your going to use it for which ever reason you have to start some where right?
