CO2 - I'm confused

420tric

Member
I am considering adding CO2 to my grow.

First i was reading that all plants need CO2 while the light are on, and so i assumed i would get into CO2 ASAP.

Then i read some other threads that referenced using it only after 3 weeks of flowering... So i am now confused about when to be using CO2.

I was going to buy a propane burning CO2 generator.

Can anyone clarify for me?
 

drolove

Well-Known Member
you dont NEED it but you'll get better yields and more of the light can be used by the plants. only use during lights on and use the plants entire life not just flowering.
 

nick88

Well-Known Member
1st off, how much experience growing do you have? Using co2 is mainly for your advanced growerers who have there systems tweaked out and looking for a lil extra.
If you don't have everything dialed in, then co2 would just be a waste of time and money.
 

doniawon

Well-Known Member
You use it in veg and bloom.
Only during lights on
You need to have your lighting correct and your environment locked in
You need to run higher temps.
U need a co2 ppm controler
Use only when everything else is dialed in
 

jpill

Well-Known Member
I use Co2 from start until about two week before finish. I also have two ( C.A.P. Gen1-E propane co2 generators) (4 burner) I am selling. I am switching to NG burners. You live in Cali?
 

nick88

Well-Known Member
It does help also if you have a temp problem. It allows you to run a lil higher room temps.
 

BigHulk

Well-Known Member
what type of room u have ? is it sealed room? r ur lights r vented , i don't use burning generator but CO2 from the bottle and my r when lights r on and set at 1500ppm , and i have perpetual grow so my plant's r in all stages of flowering so i use CO2 from the day one when they enter flowering room , and when it's coming down to reading threads here or any other site , those threads r very informative but u still have to check out what works best for u , i heard that some ppl kick in CO2 on week 3 of flower to , my advice is try with full run CO2 for the whole flower time , and then try with 3 weeks in to flower kick in , and c what end result u would have , like i sed before u gonna find very good info on this site but the bottom line is what works for u best brother .

BH
 

BigHulk

Well-Known Member
and what peeps r saying here is true , ur room have to be dialed in, for u to get the most out of CO2 my system is set up with atmosphere controller , u can buy them preatty cheap now , for a decent one it's like 150$ , a wise investment.
 

TheKushguy420

Active Member
you dont NEED it but you'll get better yields and more of the light can be used by the plants. only use during lights on and use the plants entire life not just flowering.
True but it's really only economical to run during flower your really not going to see that much of a difference running it during veg.
 

420tric

Member
1st off, how much experience growing do you have? Using co2 is mainly for your advanced growerers who have there systems tweaked out and looking for a lil extra.
If you don't have everything dialed in, then co2 would just be a waste of time and money.
First grow in 20 years, last one was butchered by too many people and opinions, no actual knowledge and the internet was infant like at that time.
It was done under 600W MH only. Full hydro setup inside a wardrobe properly kitted for a grow.

I use Co2 from start until about two week before finish. I also have two ( C.A.P. Gen1-E propane co2 generators) (4 burner) I am selling. I am switching to NG burners. You live in Cali?
Not in Cali, but i have a shipping agent in LA. I will contact you if i want more info, thanks for the offer.

It does help also if you have a temp problem. It allows you to run a lil higher room temps.
The temps are 85f/30C - 24/7/365, if i turn the 12,000 BTU Split A/C unit off.
Are we saying i can grow in 85f with CO2? or no?

what type of room u have ? is it sealed room? r ur lights r vented , i don't use burning generator but CO2 from the bottle and my r when lights r on and set at 1500ppm ,
The room is 16.5 x 10 x 8'
It is in the center of the house, pretty much sealed
Lights are LED
I live in tropical conditions, permanent heat and humidity and poor insulation/concrete bunker and can't even really get a breeze in (or out!)
Dealing with heat and humid with 12,000 BTU Spit A/C and it's working fine for now.
No venting in or out at the moment.
Intending to smell control with Ona, if needed will use charcoal filter

I have some seeds i pulled out of what was meant to be (and smelled like) Northern Lights. No idea if it's crossed or not. So far 1 got 1 going in soil and it's just gotten it's roots down and starting to veg a bit now last couple of days.

I have some Blue Geez and some Chemdawg Sour Diesel seeds coming.

As roomy as my room is, i am only intending on growing 3-4 plants.

Some will be in soil in Smart Pots
Some will be in DWC buckets with clay pellets

While i am inexperienced, and not doing 8000W of HPS, nor am i trying to fill this ~1500 cuft room to the brim... I am trying to get everything dialed in just right,
 

BigHulk

Well-Known Member
Ok my brother CO2 helps ur plants when temps r up so 85 degrees that should be somewhat good to my knowladge u would even get away with 90 degrees temps using CO2 correctly but i would still use that aircondition to beat down ur temps , mine would be tops 75 t0 80 degrees.

Ok another thing , put in that room of urs dehumidifier asap to bring ur humidity down , unless u got that under control , now i personally would advice u in going with Bottled CO2 system because burners rise ur temp a bit and u have to keep ur temps in check but once again it's ur decision ,

Led's they don't produce as much heat as HID so no issue there , and try to find a way to vent ur room in case u need it to , with that AC and CO2 burner u should be able to pull this off ,
invest in dehumidifier , now how big ur CO2 burner is going to be ?

Now 16.5' x10'x8'= 1320 cubic feet ,
Now 1320x0.000015=0.0198
This means it would take 60 minutes to fill a room with CO2 at 1500 ppm if u set regulator to 1.9 Cubic Feet per Hour (CFH)

x2= 3.8 CFH will fill ur room in 30 minutes.
x2= 7.6 CFH will fill ur room in 15 minutes.
x2 = 15.2 CFH will fill ur room in 7.5 minutes.

What ur generator out put is going to be , r u gonna let it run non stop when light's r on or u gonna set that baby on some type of controller set ur ppm and let it kick in when it's need it?
U c my brother i am all for help , .and like a lot of ppl here , sometimes they come out hursh but they mean no harm by it :) .

BH


First grow in 20 years, last one was butchered by too many people and opinions, no actual knowledge and the internet was infant like at that time.
It was done under 600W MH only. Full hydro setup inside a wardrobe properly kitted for a grow.



Not in Cali, but i have a shipping agent in LA. I will contact you if i want more info, thanks for the offer.



The temps are 85f/30C - 24/7/365, if i turn the 12,000 BTU Split A/C unit off.
Are we saying i can grow in 85f with CO2? or no?



The room is 16.5 x 10 x 8'
It is in the center of the house, pretty much sealed
Lights are LED
I live in tropical conditions, permanent heat and humidity and poor insulation/concrete bunker and can't even really get a breeze in (or out!)
Dealing with heat and humid with 12,000 BTU Spit A/C and it's working fine for now.
No venting in or out at the moment.
Intending to smell control with Ona, if needed will use charcoal filter

I have some seeds i pulled out of what was meant to be (and smelled like) Northern Lights. No idea if it's crossed or not. So far 1 got 1 going in soil and it's just gotten it's roots down and starting to veg a bit now last couple of days.

I have some Blue Geez and some Chemdawg Sour Diesel seeds coming.

As roomy as my room is, i am only intending on growing 3-4 plants.

Some will be in soil in Smart Pots
Some will be in DWC buckets with clay pellets

While i am inexperienced, and not doing 8000W of HPS, nor am i trying to fill this ~1500 cuft room to the brim... I am trying to get everything dialed in just right,
 

420tric

Member
Now 16.5' x10'x8'= 1320 cubic feet ,
Now 1320x0.000015=0.0198
This means it would take 60 minutes to fill a room with CO2 at 1500 ppm if u set regulator to 1.9 Cubic Feet per Hour (CFH)


x2= 3.8 CFH will fill ur room in 30 minutes.
x2= 7.6 CFH will fill ur room in 15 minutes.
x2 = 15.2 CFH will fill ur room in 7.5 minutes.

Firstly thank you so much for the maths, such a huge help.


I should clarify


My temps without A/C are 85-90, with RH getting to probably 70-75% if i left the A/C off permanently.


I am running the A/C 24/7, it is keeping my temps very easily at 75-80, with RH at about 50%, i can drive the temps even lower without any trouble.
To get the RH any lower would involve getting a dehuey, but i understand that 50% is acceptable/good.


What ur generator out put is going to be , r u gonna let it run non stop when light's r on or u gonna set that baby on some type of controller set ur ppm and let it kick in when it's need it?

I was considering a CAP CAPPM4 for controller, but it gets such a terrible set of reviews on Amazon.com
I am now leaning towards buying an Atlas, but they make too many so i am not sure which is appropriate for me, also looking at Sentinel.
 

shaun2000

Well-Known Member
A little History should come into play. When These plants where first around The atmosphear had alot more Carbon then we have today , so genetically speaking its like humans and cows milk. While we can drink it , we have only been doing so for like 200 years or so(not sure on exact time) So our bodys havnt fully adabpted yet. Its the same for plants, They can survive without it but thrive in it. Since plants Eat co2 and produces o2.


Also As a beginer i wouldnt suggest getting an expensive unit(even if u can afford it) untill u get your growing system down pat. Also rember that co2 is harmful to humans in high dosages.

Personaly i Do home brewing and i use 2 3 litre bottles of fruit juice (no citrus, no preservites) then i had a few cups of sugar and a half teaspoon of brewers yeast and leave it in the for 3-5days(if im drinking) or a few months(with weekly sugar top ups)

Personaly i have noticed an almost double in yield sizes just by using this small amount of co2.

I also know for a fact i have leak issues but i know that my chambers co2 lvls arnt high enough to hurt me.


Also I have heard That they only absorb during photosynthesis stage(Daylight) But since i use pressure caps i carnt stop the co2 .
 

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
I use Co2 from start until about two week before finish. I also have two ( C.A.P. Gen1-E propane co2 generators) (4 burner) I am selling. I am switching to NG burners. You live in Cali?
they sell a kit to just switch those over to NG.
 

Trailingpickles

Well-Known Member
I run co2 after first week of flower. I have a 24oz paintball canister that does me two runs in my grow box.
I use it every other day, just a slow little spray in the air in-take fan works. I haven't really notice much difference other then healthier looking plants.
 
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