Effects of positive Ion generator in grow room?

[shortcut]

I have put a nagative ion generator (Ionic Air Purifier HF-100) in my grow tent (60x60x90cm) to neutralize smelly particles in the air that may skip the tent. I should say it is quite effective in combination with a Rhino filter. to the extent that I hardly can smell anything even when I open the tent's door.


So my worry is that the ionizer is TOO effective and somehow kills the plants tendency to generate frusty matter. The basis for this worry is that it is about a month into flowering and I see the buds are not frusty at all.
Could It be be the effect of the ion generator? Has anyone experiece with these devices please share.

 

[JohnDee]

Shortcut,
I know ozone generators can actually affect the final odor of your buds...but not bud development. Negative ions are different then ozone...but possibly it might do the same thing.

But no, the negative ions will not decrease frusty matter. lol
JD

 

[shortcut]

Shortcut,
But no, the negative ions will not decrease frusty matter. lol
JD

How are you so sure JD? After all the the ions attache themseles not only to aerosol in the air but to leaves too. What guaranees that they somehow don't affect the plants behavior?

 

[JohnDee]

My answer was frivolous. I don't even know what you are asking? What the hell is frusty?

JD

 

[shortcut]

Sorry English is not my native language. By frusty I mean 'white resine being created around the buds'.

 

[JohnDee]

shortcut,
Sorry, I thought maybe that was some foreign slang term. Frosty? Well, in my mind, much of frostiness is not due to resin or terpines, but rather to leaf and bud matter covered with dense trichomes.

But I googled the subject and found a little info. Ed Rosenthal feels that trichomes won't be effected...but terpines might be.

http://www.cannabis.info/UK/library/8382-negative-ions-and-potency/

Just from the odor issue alone, I would not put a neg ion generator inside my tent. Move it outside the tent to snag any stray odors that escape your other odor filter.
JD

 

[shortcut]

Thanks JohnDoee for the informative link. So I followed the chef's advice:

Because the generators attack terpenes I do not recommend using them in the flower room during the last few weeks. However, I would use them in adjoining spaces, where they will seek out and destroy stray odor molecules.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Even the best negative ion generator will create some ozone.

 

[shortcut]

Even the best negative ion generator will create some ozone.

How bad is ozone for health?

 

[dannyboy602]

Health Considerations
Unfortunately, the same chemical properties that allow ozone to alter organic material in household air also give it the ability to react with organic material inside the human body. Even low levels of ozone exposure can cause the following conditions:

• coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, and throat irritation;
• worsened chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma;
• increased risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia; and
• compromised ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.

People's susceptibility to ozone varies widely. An ozone generator should never be operated in occupied spaces, and the area should be adequately vented before people or animals are allowed to re-enter.
According to a report produced by the EPA, ozone generators are ineffective at reducing levels of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, despite claims by manufacturers. Also, from the toxins with which ozone does react, there is a potential for the creation of new, potentially more dangerous toxins. For example, ozone mixed with chemicals from new carpet can create aldehydes, which can irritate the lungs. Other reactions may create formic acid, another irritant. The potential for chemical reactions in the average house is difficult to predict.
EPA Branding

A number of brands of ozone generators place EPA establishment numbers on their products. This number helps the EPA identify the facility that produced the product. The number does not mean that the EPA has found the device to be safe, as the EPA does not certify any air-cleaning devices.

Other Potential Damage Caused by Ozone in Homes
Plants

Environmental ozone causes more damage to plants than all other air pollutants combined. Similarly, ozone generators can damage plants in indoor environments. High levels of ozone will inhibit the ability of plants to open the microscopic pores on their foliage and breathe. Specifically, ozone can cause the following conditions in plants:

• chlorosis, a condition in which the plant cannot produce sufficient chlorophyll to manufacture carbohydrates;
• necrosis, or the premature death of living cells, which may lead to the death of the plant as a whole;
• flecks or small light tan irregular spots;
• stipples, which are small, darkly pigmented areas; and
• reddening.

​

 

[kinddiesel]

I would not do that . ozone generator in the small tent . if you sat in the tent for hours you would get sick from it running . they plants like co2 not oz generator . some of them actually say keep away from pets people plants.

 

[shortcut]

Thanks dannyboy60 for comprehensive post on ozone. Do you know of any study that shows house air purifiers (aka ion generators) produce a significant amount of ozone hence they should be avoided? After all they are designed to be used in house.

 

[shortcut]

I would not do that . ozone generator in the small tent . if you sat in the tent for hours you would get sick from it running . they plants like co2 not oz generator . some of them actually say keep away from pets people plants.

Just to be clear, I used a house air purifier (negative ion generator), not an ozone generator.
Whether or not the former generates the later, and how much, is another open question that emerged during the thread.

 

[Bugeye]

Negative ions good for plants and if your ionizer does not glow blue in the dark it is not producing ozone in any significant amount.

 

[dannyboy602]

Thanks dannyboy60 for comprehensive post on ozone. Do you know of any study that shows house air purifiers (aka ion generators) produce a significant amount of ozone hence they should be avoided? After all they are designed to be used in house.

a quick google search yielded this. its an interesting read....http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

 

[Rickle.piiiiick]

Health Considerations
Unfortunately, the same chemical properties that allow ozone to alter organic material in household air also give it the ability to react with organic material inside the human body. Even low levels of ozone exposure can cause the following conditions:

• coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, and throat irritation;
• worsened chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma;
• increased risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia; and
• compromised ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.

People's susceptibility to ozone varies widely. An ozone generator should never be operated in occupied spaces, and the area should be adequately vented before people or animals are allowed to re-enter.
According to a report produced by the EPA, ozone generators are ineffective at reducing levels of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, despite claims by manufacturers. Also, from the toxins with which ozone does react, there is a potential for the creation of new, potentially more dangerous toxins. For example, ozone mixed with chemicals from new carpet can create aldehydes, which can irritate the lungs. Other reactions may create formic acid, another irritant. The potential for chemical reactions in the average house is difficult to predict.
EPA Branding

A number of brands of ozone generators place EPA establishment numbers on their products. This number helps the EPA identify the facility that produced the product. The number does not mean that the EPA has found the device to be safe, as the EPA does not certify any air-cleaning devices.

Other Potential Damage Caused by Ozone in Homes
Plants

Environmental ozone causes more damage to plants than all other air pollutants combined. Similarly, ozone generators can damage plants in indoor environments. High levels of ozone will inhibit the ability of plants to open the microscopic pores on their foliage and breathe. Specifically, ozone can cause the following conditions in plants:

• chlorosis, a condition in which the plant cannot produce sufficient chlorophyll to manufacture carbohydrates;
• necrosis, or the premature death of living cells, which may lead to the death of the plant as a whole;
• flecks or small light tan irregular spots;
• stipples, which are small, darkly pigmented areas; and
• reddening.

I know this is an old thread, but here's an example of what an ozone generator can do.

It was left running for approximately 4 hours in the room my tents were in, not even in the tents.

 

[dannyboy602]

Oh my. You found them in the nick of time.

 

[Rickle.piiiiick]

Oh my. You found them in the nick of time.

I wish I could say that were true, unfortunately not. The leaves apparently took more permanent damage than I thought. It's as if the whole garden was slowly strangled to death.

 

[Lordhooha]

I wish I could say that were true, unfortunately not. The leaves apparently took more permanent damage than I thought. It's as if the whole garden was slowly strangled to death.

O3 is bad for plants. Most places if they run them do so in drying rooms. More often then not ppl don’t understand how to use them properly. They’re dangerous for ppl, pets, plants. I’ve never seen the need for them. Proper environment trumps the use of ozone generators run one for sterilizing rooms and shit but stay out while its running.

 

[Rickle.piiiiick]

O3 is bad for plants. Most places if they run them do so in drying rooms. More often then not ppl don’t understand how to use them properly. They’re dangerous for ppl, pets, plants. I’ve never seen the need for them. Proper environment trumps the use of ozone generators run one for sterilizing rooms and shit but stay out while its running.

No doubt, and I generally only used mine to "scrub" the room after I left, only takes about 1 minute to "clean" the room. You see, It tends to get a bit smelly in the utility room when all the tent doors have been open.

Issue being, this time I set the ozone generator incorrectly and left it running in a sealed room for a very, very long time. A mistake I certainly won't be making again.

I simply hope this serves as a warning to others who may come across this in the future.