does anyone know how to use co2 while exausting?

peanut81

Active Member
i am in my second week of flower my room is 6x6x8 6x4 tray 50gal res plants are in rockwool on clay pellets in 6 inch baskets 1000w hps i just got a 50lb co2 tank and regulater but i am exausting with a 440 cfm fan turned down using a regulater also Should i just leave it on the whole time if so at .2cfph, .5cfph , 1.0cfph, or should i do the first 2 1/2 hrs on at .3cfph then on off in 15 min intervals for the rest of the light period i need somebody with experience to help me because these are just things i am thinking

the measurement is cubic feet per hour i belive please help 1st grow
 

ThomJefferson

Well-Known Member
Typically, peeps go with "light tubes" so they can inject CO2 without exhausting it. There is no way to run exaust fan and CO2 at the same time without simply losing all the CO2 out the exhaust. You've got to change the way you pull the heat out using an AC or hooded lights.
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
You definitely need a solenoid setup in addition to the CO2, connect solenoid to a timer and a relay, when timer triggers on, the solenoid activates and the CO2 will be dispensed for as long as the timer is on. With the relay it will change states from Normally closed to Normally open when the timer kicks on. route your fan power in series through this relay. when solenoid activates co2 is released and at the same time power is cut off from the fans. soon as the timer comes back on fan turns on and co2 stops.

You want to get something to measure the CO2 levels and then adjust the regulator so that you get around 1500-1600 PPM of co2 in the grow area. Don't worry if it fluctuates some, as long as it isn't 0 or over 1800 you are ok.
 

peanut81

Active Member
between .7 and 1.0 is where im at 1500 ppm with the exuast on the whole time 50lb tank will last 44 days + mine is set at .9 just in case anyone has the same question
 

peanut81

Active Member
You definitely need a solenoid setup in addition to the CO2, connect solenoid to a timer and a relay, when timer triggers on, the solenoid activates and the CO2 will be dispensed for as long as the timer is on. With the relay it will change states from Normally closed to Normally open when the timer kicks on. route your fan power in series through this relay. when solenoid activates co2 is released and at the same time power is cut off from the fans. soon as the timer comes back on fan turns on and co2 stops.

You want to get something to measure the CO2 levels and then adjust the regulator so that you get around 1500-1600 PPM of co2 in the grow area. Don't worry if it fluctuates some, as long as it isn't 0 or over 1800 you are ok.
why not over 1800
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Because its just a waste of CO2 then, the plants can't use anymore and if you get it too high 2000+ you can kill the plants after a while.
 

peanut81

Active Member
i tested the c02 3 times using a 20 dollar test kit i got from my hydro shop 1st time 500 2nd time 1000 then 1500 have a regulater set at .9 cfh for 10 hrs keeping it at 1500ppm with the exaust fan on i dont know how accurate the test kit is
they say a 50 lb tank has 440 cubic feet in it and its only 25 to fill every 44+ days
i cant turn the fan off because the 1000 watt hps (air cooled) getting pulled through a carbon filter because im in an apt and i dont want the neihbors to smell so the fan has to stay on because of heat and smell so i figured it out
i asked about keeping it under 1800 because i am venting into my restroom concerned about levels being to high for my dogs or me
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
CO2 is heavier than air, so i wouldn't sleep on the floor in the restroom, but your dog might, just don't get it too high. CO2 CAN kill you by asphyxiation.
 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
CO2 is heavier than air, so i wouldn't sleep on the floor in the restroom, but your dog might, just don't get it too high. CO2 CAN kill you by asphyxiation.
Its not that much heavier, nothing like argon.

Its also a green house gas, so it can rise easily with gentle air currents.

(one of the reasons welding stopped using it as a shielding gas back in the 1920's, it was too light and would blow away.)
 
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