Co2 tank & controller question HELP!

[cdebari]

so my room is 11x11x12 and I have 20lb tanks which I am running co2 off. The room is sealed.

So here's my problem:
I bought a co2 (ppm-3) monitor/controller which turns off when it reads 1500 that is sold by all of my local hydro stores for $450 and right now with the light off and the co2 off its reading 350-400 (which is a bit low for a sealed room)

I actually have another electronic monitor (which I just had re-calibrated) up as well which is reading 600-800 when the co2 is off.
I have noticed with the $450 monitor that my co2 tanks only last 2 days and my regulator is putting off 7 CFH the co2 never really turns off it is constantly running.
With the older monitor it will fill the room then the co2 will turn off when it hits 1500. It is always off and on the tank lasts about 3.5 days.
It sucks that I have 2 monitors one is brand new and one was just re-calibrated and they are reading differently.

Any idea what is going on?
Would you say that the new $450 monitor is bad or the old one?
How long should a 20lb co2 tank last on a sealed room my size?
Please be experienced with co2 to answer my questions and thanks in advance.

 

[Ronjohn7779]

Buy a CO2 generator. You're going to have to replace your CO2 tank pretty often. I'd say a 20 lb bottle can last you anywhere from a few days (2-5 day) to a week depending on how often you're using it and how air tight your room is. Liquid propane should last you a week or two and can be easily bought at any drug store, hardware store, or gas station. It's much less suspicious then buying CO2 refills every couple of days.

A good CO2 generator costs 400 bucks. Here a calculator for your room https://www.greenair.com/browse/co2-generators.html. For a room of your size you'll need to run a generator with 4500 btu's for 16 mins. Generally you don't want to run a generator past 10 mins (ideal), but under 20 mins of run time is okay too. Realistically you'd need something in the 6000 to 10000 btu range (which is a weird range). CAPs makes one in that range but I've heard their generators are just junk. You could also a buy 14000 BTU model https://www.greenair.com/product/cd-24-e-lp.html this unit will run hotter but will only need to be on for 4 mins every 60-90 mins when lights are on. You'd use more gas but you'd have your flame on less making the room cooler when the burner is off (it will be off pretty often which is a plus, but it will get pretty toasty when it's on which is a negative). However when using CO2 plants can survive in the 82-85 range (some say into 90 degrees) so take that into consideration.

If you buy your generator from green air product directly they don't charge you shipping or tax and they're priced 1/2 of what hydro shops and websites charge. Basically it will cost the same or less to run a liquid propane generator over bottled Co2. You don't really need a CO2 monitor if your room is air tight. You just need to run the generator on a timer making costs a lot less.
https://www.greenair.com/product/cd-6-e-lp.html

P.S. from what I've read just about all CO2 monitors on the market are junk. They all get different reading and don't necessarily shut off your CO2 when it hits the desired levels (or turn it on when it's low). For these reasons I recommend you just buy a generator and run it off a timer (especially if your room is air tight). Bottom line is don't trust a CO2 monitor. Even the most expensive ones are most likely cheaply made chinese crap. The only reason why they cost so much is because it's a weed related product due to this fact they just want to stick it to you.

Also Green air's website has cheap generators, but their controlling units and timers are more than a hydro shop's prices. Like I said if you want to buy a generator thats the place to go.

 

[cdebari]

Thank you so much.
Ever since I started running Co2 tanks (I have 3 of them) I have ran into nothing but problems.
I actually have a gas line that is super close to my room so I will buy a generator for my next run (partially because I need more AC if I run a generator because I hear that they give off a descent amount of heat)
I am running purple so even with co2 the max I get my room is 75 although I know that they could survive well hotter especially when running co2 they are already turning purple and I still have 4 weeks so im just gonna run this temp.
Again thanks a bunch for the information on CO2.
Asking about CO2 at a local hydro store is a bad idea theres 8 hydro stores in the town next to me, there few people that know things and alot that know nothing which sucks.

 

[Ronjohn7779]

Thank you so much.
Ever since I started running Co2 tanks (I have 3 of them) I have ran into nothing but problems.
I actually have a gas line that is super close to my room so I will buy a generator for my next run (partially because I need more AC if I run a generator because I hear that they give off a descent amount of heat)
I am running purple so even with co2 the max I get my room is 75 although I know that they could survive well hotter especially when running co2 they are already turning purple and I still have 4 weeks so im just gonna run this temp.
Again thanks a bunch for the information on CO2.
Asking about CO2 at a local hydro store is a bad idea theres 8 hydro stores in the town next to me, there few people that know things and alot that know nothing which sucks.

If you have a gas line then you should by a natural gas burning CO2 generator. Shit you'd be making CO2 for pennies and never have to go buy any. In any case, most CO2 burners only raise a room's temp by 10 degrees or so. Like I said plants tend to like higher temps anyway when the CO2 is on. If your room is in the 70s with the lights on then it will be in the 80s with the burner and lights on. Thats totally in the normal range of growth. Your rooms size is kind of in a mid point between burner sizes which kind of sucks. That means you'll either have to buy 2 small burners (i.e. 4500 btu'sX2=9500 BTUs) or one medium sized burner 14000 BTUs (which is kind of too large for your room). It kind of sucks since 2 small burners cost way more then 1 medium sized one. In any case, I don't think you'll need an AC unit as long as your run time is less then 10 mins. Two 4500 btu burners would take 8 mins to fill your room and 1 14000 btu burn would take 4 mins...The rest of the 60-90 mins their off.

Also your plant should stay purple if your night temps (when co2 and lights are off) say at 65-70 degrees.