Different Co2 systems and their pros & cons

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Hey all.

I am getting ready to invest in a Co2 generator of some type. I am familiar with most, I did the sugar and yeast method for some time. My buddy ran a similar set up but had a propane burner and pulled 4 times as much as I did with the same strain.

So my question to you all is what do you think is the best, most efficient, and most effective method of generating co2????

I would like to hear what everyone has to say about their personal experiences with any types of co2 generating. All info would be helpful, I am an expert budget grower and need to make the best decision the first time, feel me?!?!

Here is a link to some pics of my purple kush and blue dream that will be benefiting from the co2. Leave comment on this page if you would like also.

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/325134-first-pics-my-purple-kush.html

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Iamabongman]

4 times as much!? were the other things the same? like light and pot size, veg time etc?

 

[sh0paround]

I haven't seen a system < $500 with propane tanks and whatnot, but then I haven't really spent too much time looking. The benefits of CO2 enrichment are obvious....but 4x your yield with same strain? Sounds like a more experienced grower overall to get them kind of yields, probably with better conditions too.

But I really would like to see the difference in yields between a CO2 generator, and say the yeast and sugar method. It would need to be the same strain, and actually maybe even the same clones to get an accurate depiction.

P.S.

Bad ass looking plants you got there, really healthy looking...good luck either way you go with the CO2 issue

 

[stowandgrow]

I've been using a Gen-1 burner for several years now, and it works great. I run a regular 20lb propane tank with it, which lasts about 4-6 weeks on average keeping my room at around 1300-1500 ppm. I have it hooked up to a digital timer and it comes on for 15 minutes every hour.

This site allows you to calculate how long you would need to run the burner to achieve your desired ppm level.

https://www.greenair.com/browse/co2-generators.html

Good luck!

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

The grow space was the same size. The nutes were the same. He had twice as many plants. He vegged for about 2 weeks, I vegged for about 5 weeks. We both use areoponics with hydroton, clones started in the moist coco-ish plugs. He has a 60 site I use a 24 site, this is wahy our veg times are different. He prunned more too actually, I did get more waist than him. only about 4 days difference on the flower times.

4 times as much!? were the other things the same? like light and pot size, veg time etc?

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Thanks for the compliments and info. He is definitely more experienced, he helps me when I need it. It was the same strain and some from the same mother probably. I know I will do better because of the prune job on my PK's this time. I would like a side by side comparison as well. Same environment and what not, would be interesting.

I haven't seen a system < $500 with propane tanks and whatnot, but then I haven't really spent too much time looking. The benefits of CO2 enrichment are obvious....but 4x your yield with same strain? Sounds like a more experienced grower overall to get them kind of yields, probably with better conditions too.

But I really would like to see the difference in yields between a CO2 generator, and say the yeast and sugar method. It would need to be the same strain, and actually maybe even the same clones to get an accurate depiction.

P.S.

Bad ass looking plants you got there, really healthy looking...good luck either way you go with the CO2 issue

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Oh yeah, He did have a third 1000 on them. I thought it would be fine for a 6x10 room to have 2 1000's. I am probably going to add a third. I need to borrow his lumen meter...

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

What about pros and cons? I have heard you will add heat to the room with a burner, but the cost is much more with a Co2 tank and regulator.

 

[Silky Shagsalot]

you can't really compare a tanked co2 system to any kind of brewing, which (imo) is useless. no system includes tanks, you have to buy/rent those separately. usually you have to piece together the controller/meter/regulator. sentinel sells a unit that has the controller/meter together for a little over $500 on e-bay. my local store wanted over $700 for the same unit. the regulator is about $120 or so. you have to seal the room to do it right, and keep the temps. warmer than you usually would.

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Good to know about the temps and regulator. I will adjust my a/c after install. There is a guy in town on craigslist selling the tanks full for $125 or something.

But overall you think that tanked Co2 is the only way to go? Not a propane burner?

you can't really compare a tanked co2 system to any kind of brewing, which (imo) is useless. no system includes tanks, you have to buy/rent those separately. usually you have to piece together the controller/meter/regulator. sentinel sells a unit that has the controller/meter together for a little over $500 on e-bay. my local store wanted over $700 for the same unit. the regulator is about $120 or so. you have to seal the room to do it right, and keep the temps. warmer than you usually would.

 

[tea tree]

get a cap regulator if you go tank. the hydrofarm freezes up. I use a 20lb tank. Been doing it for a little while now. The results are awesome. Even in veg when I just blasted the plants once in a while with the tank and no regulator. Now i have the whole setup with everything right. Powder mildew and humidity was a bitch to get rid of and right. Just have to vent every two hours in day and all night. I just use a timer and pump in about 3000 ppm of co2 every two hours in a tent that is not that sealed. The plants love it. Anything less and no results really.

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Sounds good I will start by looking into this type of set up.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Silky Shagsalot]

burners are good too. (they have tanks, lol!) i meant brewing is a waste.

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

Ok, my buddy tells me go with the propane burner but I wanted a second opinion.

Any other advice or opinions are appreciated. Here is a link to my current grow, if you have time.

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/325134-first-pics-my-purple-kush.html

Thank you.

 

[That 5hit]

check this blog out

https://www.rollitup.org/blogs/blog151-burning-hydrocarbon-fuels-make-co2.html

 

[That 5hit]

DIY make real Co2 by way of combustion for all size grows
if your interested in co2 inrichment there are a few things you must know
1 keep in mind no mater what method of inrichment used it has to be done in a sealed Environment otherwise it will be wasted
2 co2 is Heavier then air so it should be pumped in at the top of the plants
3 fans are needed to keep the air moving inside of room
4 200ppm or lower, plants will cease to grow or produce
5 400ppm naturally occurs in the Earth's atmosphere
6 1000-1500ppm suggested for grow room during lights on (at lights off ppm should return to natural atmosphere levels, otherwise it
will be wasted)
7 plants will deplete the available CO2 supply by 100 PPM's per hour in a sealed room
8 when done correctly yeilds can be incressed by 35% and higher
9 STOP playing around with fermintation (sugar, yeast BS), spawning mushroom spores, carbonated water sprays, dry ice these methods just dont cut it, not even for 1 or 2 plant grows. they are not strong enuff to maintain the needed ppm's
10 there are only two real ways to inrich a grow with co2 and maintain the correct levels of ppms. those ways are compressed, tanked co2 and fuel combustion, which both have been used sence the beginning of indoor growing Heres a Co2 inrichment method that will capture the raw power of combustion without spending tons of cash. it will make 1500 ppms and or higher of Co2, that last for 12hrs, from burning 1.5oz of alcohol (methanol and or ethanol are the best to use).This is what you do: Place alcohol in a lamp or some kind of burner, diy alcohol stoves works great (they can be made as simple as cutting the bottom 1/4 off a beverage can). place lamp or burner on top of a upside down metal cooking pot. Pour in 1oz of alcohol and then set it on fire. Place a wind shield around flame, turn on oscillating fans, then leave grow room, or close door on grow box. It takes about 15min to burn out all the alcohol. methanol and or ethanol can be found in the form of automotive fuel line de-icer "Heet"(packaged in a yellow bottle it is pure methanol) and denatured alcohol (its a mix of methanol and ethanol) needless to say this could be dangerous Any of these fuels that burn with a blue, white or colorless flame will produce carbon dioxide (co2), which is beneficial and safe. If a red, orange or yellow flame is present, carbon monoxide(CO, the poison) is also being generated due to incomplete combustion. rest asure burning 1or 2oz'es of alcohol for 15min, in a sealed room will hardly produce enuff monoxide to hurt anything but still get a carbon monoxide(CO) detector and fire detector for your grow room or box.

 

[Silky Shagsalot]

on #3, fans are needed to keep air moving inside the room. this is true, but when the co2 cycle comes on, you don't want the fans on.

 

[That 5hit]

on #3, fans are needed to keep air moving inside the room. this is true, but when the co2 cycle comes on, you don't want the fans on.

i respectfully disagree
you dont want exhaust fans on sucking air out of room
but you do want the air thats trapped in the room too move
stail air is no good
once the leaves suck up the co2 around it then there would be none to replace it if the air is not move
but by keeping atleast 1 fan on moving fan
you pick up the co2 that has settled at the floor of the grow room
you have to keep the air moving around the leaves
dencer folige area will deplete the air faster around it
some grower even feed co2 right into a fan to dispurse it around the room
but you have to follow #1
co2 must be allowed to build up in the room
cracks, leaks, you peaking in to look at your plants
open windows, the spaces around your door all will waste you co2
make that room air tight
if your using air bubblers these should be placed out side of room

FEED THE BREEZE
the plants will take what they need from it



....you may +rep me later for the schooling..LOL

 

[Professor Puff.n.Tuff]

This is awesome info. I knew a portion of it maybe 30%. This is exactly why I started the thread. I love info.

DIY make real Co2 by way of combustion for all size grows
if your interested in co2 inrichment there are a few things you must know
1 keep in mind no mater what method of inrichment used it has to be done in a sealed Environment otherwise it will be wasted
2 co2 is Heavier then air so it should be pumped in at the top of the plants
3 fans are needed to keep the air moving inside of room
4 200ppm or lower, plants will cease to grow or produce
5 400ppm naturally occurs in the Earth's atmosphere
6 1000-1500ppm suggested for grow room during lights on (at lights off ppm should return to natural atmosphere levels, otherwise it
will be wasted)
7 plants will deplete the available CO2 supply by 100 PPM's per hour in a sealed room
8 when done correctly yeilds can be incressed by 35% and higher
9 STOP playing around with fermintation (sugar, yeast BS), spawning mushroom spores, carbonated water sprays, dry ice these methods just dont cut it, not even for 1 or 2 plant grows. they are not strong enuff to maintain the needed ppm's
10 there are only two real ways to inrich a grow with co2 and maintain the correct levels of ppms. those ways are compressed, tanked co2 and fuel combustion, which both have been used sence the beginning of indoor growing Heres a Co2 inrichment method that will capture the raw power of combustion without spending tons of cash. it will make 1500 ppms and or higher of Co2, that last for 12hrs, from burning 1.5oz of alcohol (methanol and or ethanol are the best to use).This is what you do: Place alcohol in a lamp or some kind of burner, diy alcohol stoves works great (they can be made as simple as cutting the bottom 1/4 off a beverage can). place lamp or burner on top of a upside down metal cooking pot. Pour in 1oz of alcohol and then set it on fire. Place a wind shield around flame, turn on oscillating fans, then leave grow room, or close door on grow box. It takes about 15min to burn out all the alcohol. methanol and or ethanol can be found in the form of automotive fuel line de-icer "Heet"(packaged in a yellow bottle it is pure methanol) and denatured alcohol (its a mix of methanol and ethanol) needless to say this could be dangerous Any of these fuels that burn with a blue, white or colorless flame will produce carbon dioxide (co2), which is beneficial and safe. If a red, orange or yellow flame is present, carbon monoxide(CO, the poison) is also being generated due to incomplete combustion. rest asure burning 1or 2oz'es of alcohol for 15min, in a sealed room will hardly produce enuff monoxide to hurt anything but still get a carbon monoxide(CO) detector and fire detector for your grow room or box.

Thank you for the post as well Shags, I currently have a circulating fan in each room without timers or anything.

on #3, fans are needed to keep air moving inside the room. this is true, but when the co2 cycle comes on, you don't want the fans on.

i respectfully disagree
you dont want exhaust fans on sucking air out of room
but you do want the air thats trapped in the room too move
stail air is no good
once the leaves suck up the co2 around it then there would be none to replace it if the air is not move
but by keeping atleast 1 fan on moving fan
you pick up the co2 that has settled at the floor of the grow room
you have to keep the air moving around the leaves
dencer folige area will deplete the air faster around it
some grower even feed co2 right into a fan to dispurse it around the room
but you have to follow #1
co2 must be allowed to build up in the room
cracks, leaks, you peaking in to look at your plants
open windows, the spaces around your door all will waste you co2
make that room air tight
if your using air bubblers these should be placed out side of room

FEED THE BREEZE
the plants will take what they need from it



....you may +rep me later for the schooling..LOL

You will be rep'ed now. lol..

Thanks...

The only issue I will have to overcome now is that I exhaust my room through my lights, so to turn off the room exhaust would kill the light exhaust too. Not really an option, I have two 1000's in one room and getting ready add a third in the other room. All vented though one 150 carbon with a 12" fan - I have a "T" inline and ducting to the lights. My a/c is always on outside the rooms, it also has a "T" and 1 inline 6" fan at each room to help the flow. Right now the a/c has been off, I'll be turning it on soon since the weather is getting ready to change though.

 

[That 5hit]

that will be a big problem for co2 inrichment

what you will have to do is reconstruct your room
because you can't not pull the heat off the lights

what i would do is some how disconnect the ducting from the carbon filter and connect it to a whole in the wall thats the same height as the lights. now the fan will be pulling air from outside the room threw the light right back out side the room
seperating the air the lights was pulling from, from the grow
now in the actural grow area you will have to hook up the carbon filter to a seperate fan to pull the weed smelly air out the room up to the attic or where ever your sending it. now you can make it that the fan is not scrubbing the air while you are inriching the air with co2 , but still allowing the air to be pulled threw the lights to keep them nice and cool, because they are sucking there air for outside of the grow room, into the light, then outside the other side of the lights, then outside the otherside of the growroom keeping the grow room completly sealed
it gonna smell so good when you open that door the sealed room also locks in smells