I’ve been growing for about 7 years mostly in tents. I’ve decided to try Co2 for the first time, started with mushroom bags and a Co2 meter but couldn’t get a reading above 500ppm unless the meter was right on top of the vent hole, tried a mushroom bucket with same results and figured the meter was defective but when I breathe on it it went all the way to 2000ppm so I gave up on the mushrooms and purchased a Co2 generator, regulator, additional meter and built a small sealed grow room. Ran the propane for several hours but never got a reading over 550ppm even with the meter right under the generator. The flame is blue, the room is 4x4x9, the generator is a 2 burner unit. WTF am I doing wrong?
Co2 dilemma
- Thread starter Mrlexxxus
- Start date
degausspress
Active Member
Do you have an exhaust fan going? Need to cycle that off for CO2 to build up, which of course makes heat management tricker. So you typically need to use a high tech controller to coordinate it all. Sorry if that was an obvious suggestion but you didn't mention that.
I preferred the prefilled tanks when I ran CO2. Was looking for advice and stumbled on the question. CO2 pays off but always for me a pain in the ***
I preferred the prefilled tanks when I ran CO2. Was looking for advice and stumbled on the question. CO2 pays off but always for me a pain in the ***
No exhaust fans are on, one is installed and controlled by the Co2 controller but never gets to 800ppm which is the default level for the fan to kick in . The light has duct intake and exhaust from outside room. I have the controller sensor plus two other Co2 monitors which shows no increase except when I’m in the room exhaling. The exhaust duct also has a backdraft damper installed. If there is any air escaping, I would expect the levels to rise then fall, depending on how much leakage there is but absolutely nothing happens
degausspress
Active Member
Gotcha, a sealed light exhaust. I would double check it's not pulling air around the light of the glass, maybe use some nashua tape there. Maybe run an experiment where you turn off the light and the associated fans and see if levels rise. Also I believe CO2 is heavier than air- is it being released up high? If not, it could be pooling towards the floor.
Other than that I have no more ideas. The CO2 generator should be cranking out plenty!?
Other than that I have no more ideas. The CO2 generator should be cranking out plenty!?
xtsho
Well-Known Member
Looks like you've proven those CO2 bags and buckets are worthless. I've never heard of anyone claiming they work actually using a CO2 meter to see what they were putting out. You have and it appears they don't put out much of anything and it can't be your meter because as you said it reads CO2 when you breathe on it.
degausspress
Active Member
They definitely are a weaker solution, but shouldn't the co2 generator be putting out a lot? That also tests low. Points to some kind of leak or something IMO. In the mean time, sounds like it can't hurt to go give your plants a nice deep exhale here and there.
xtsho
Well-Known Member
I wasn't addressing the CO2 generator. I was referencing the CO2 levels of the bags.
I don't know why the CO2 generator is not putting out more CO2. The OP did not provide enough information. Also, in my previous post I stated that it was proven that the bags don't put out CO2. Nothing has been proven from any of this.
degausspress
Active Member
Exactly, nothing has been proven yet. My point was that the test is not necessarily reflecting how much co2 is coming out- of any source, if a known source of co2 is also giving a low test. So if that proved co2 bags were worthless, then it would also have proved that co2 generators are worthless, which we know to be untrue. Seems like there is something else going on here. I doubt it is that the generator is not putting out, as OP mentioned the blue flame.