Hi all, im looking to add co2 to my set up and trying to figure out the best option for my set up. Im using a sealed room with an 8" exhaust line. I would like to use a co2 tank instead of a burner to start for fear of to much heat, right now i maintain at 80 degrees and 40-45 rh. I have a 20# tank, regulator, timer,hose and fittings, my question is how to do this properly. Do i shut down the exhaust fan when i add the co2, and for how long etc. How long should i set the timers for, like co2 on for 15min every hour? Been growing successfully for many years, but never used co2 before. Any help would be appreciated. I will post pics of the set up as soon as i figure out how to add them...
help with co2 enrichment
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BrixKlinger
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There may be other details to consider, but this will address your main basic concern:
Plants won't use co2 in the dark.
Usually CO2 regulators have a light sensor so that they do not run in the dark.
Also humidity in a sealed room tends to spike at night.
Therefore:
Exhaust in the dark (anywhere from all night to at least half of the evening[on/off through the night], depending on cabin size, you want to completely exchange fresh air), keep the room sealed during lighttime/co2 enrichment.
If you got all the gear for co2 emissions, you should have a controller that will regulate the bottle by maintaining a co2 ppm (you shouldn't need a timer with your co2 setup). Atmospheric co2 ppms are around 400 on the planet, typically more like 7-900 in your garden, and we want to enrich that to between 1200 and 1600 ppms. I suppose its possible to run without one of these but then you are guessing and either wasting gas or not using enough and then still wasting it.
Plants won't use co2 in the dark.
Usually CO2 regulators have a light sensor so that they do not run in the dark.
Also humidity in a sealed room tends to spike at night.
Therefore:
Exhaust in the dark (anywhere from all night to at least half of the evening[on/off through the night], depending on cabin size, you want to completely exchange fresh air), keep the room sealed during lighttime/co2 enrichment.
If you got all the gear for co2 emissions, you should have a controller that will regulate the bottle by maintaining a co2 ppm (you shouldn't need a timer with your co2 setup). Atmospheric co2 ppms are around 400 on the planet, typically more like 7-900 in your garden, and we want to enrich that to between 1200 and 1600 ppms. I suppose its possible to run without one of these but then you are guessing and either wasting gas or not using enough and then still wasting it.
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BrixKlinger
New Member
if you are gonna be putting extra co2 into the room it doesn't make much sense to allow it to escape.
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I dont have a controller yet, i have a 120v regulator that can run on a timer. So until i can obtain a controller im wondering if setting the regulator to turn on for 15 min every hour would be better than just leaving it on for the full 12 hrs. Or is it just trial and error till i get the levels right? What is the max temp i can have with proper enrichment levels? I will shut down the exhaust tonight and see where the temp climbs to. Im under powered on my ac by about 4000 btu, thats why i wont run a burner until i can get a mini split..
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BrixKlinger
New Member
CO2 uptake is actually better at higher temperatures as long as you don't have a strain that is overly sensitive to the heat. 85-90f is not uncommon for enriched rooms.
Not sure about how to do the CO2 correctly if you are just guessing.
Not sure about how to do the CO2 correctly if you are just guessing.
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