Co2 managment

I am adding co2 to my system. Heres the thing.

I have a room which is 10x14x10 so 1400sqft In this room my growing space is a veg room at 3x4x6 so 72 sqft and my bud room is 4x4x6 = 96 sqft just to give you an idea of what im working with. Each room is partitioned with thick tarp and are 99% light proof and not air tight, but fairly tightly built.

So in my bud room I have 2 1000watt hps lights each with 6 inch duct and a 6 inch duct fan. I also have a piece of 6 inch duct and duct fan blowing air from the main room into the bud room, another separate duct and fan moving air from the bud room into the veg room, and another pushing air from the veg room back into the main room.

So there is a very good amount of airflow, not to mention to several oscillating fans that just blow on the plants. The main room has the AC at one end, and up high it has an exhaust fan that is temperature controlled that turns on to expel excess heat.

I just got a large co2 tank from a friend who no longer grows, not sure the exact size but its about the size of a scuba tank.

I want to hook this up with an electronic regulator in my bud room for the plants. But with all the air flow, I don't see how I can isolate it. The plane is to place it in the bud room ideally so it is more or less spraying on the plants.

did I paint a nice picture?

Well enough of that, here are my actual questions.

1.With the co2 being released directly on the plants, will the air be to quickly displaced for it to matter?

2.I am shooting for 12,000-15,000 ppm around the plants, or should I just try and make the main room at that level, assuming its the last stop for the co2?

3.Is a heavy concentration of co2, lets say 20km in an area people live in dangerous?

12k to 15k ppm are too high
im sure it was a typo?

no, that is what I heard was the ideal amount. I know 300 is average and a small room with someone breathing is about 600 ppm, so the 12k sounded right to me, though that's why I am here, asking.

1200 is more like it

you will start killing stuff if ur at 20k ppm

if you are a new grower the most important thing to keep in mind is that you are on a forum, anyone can publish their opinions on this site. there will always be a few "forum facts" that aren' t always plausible

You'll kill yourself at 10,000ppm. I think you heard wrong. Optimal Co2 levels are 1500-1800. If you have a regulator and monitor then just set for that range. Don't worry about the airflow and if some creeps over to your veg it will only help. You want to turn the Co2 off when the lights are off. Also, with Co2 to be more effective you actually want to raise your optimum room temp from 75-78 (no Co2) to 80-84 (with Co2).

Thanks Phil for answering all of my questions.

phillipchristian said:

You want to turn the Co2 off when the lights are off

Click to expand...

I have yet to buy the regulator, so, if I put it on the same timeclock as my lights that would be optimal, and I can set this thing to be at 1500 ppm? is this how they generally work, I assumed it was simply an off and on option.

Oh and I found this after doing further digging, so yeah, I guess the 15k thing would be a bit over doing it haha.

CO[SUB]2[/SUB] is toxic in higher concentrations: 1% (10,000 ppm) will make some people feel drowsy.

• If exposed at a level of 2% for several hours, minimal "acidosis" (the acid condition of the blood) may occur (cf. hyperventillation prevention).
• Breathing rate doubles at 3% CO[SUB]2[/SUB] and is four times the normal rate at 5% CO[SUB]2[/SUB].
• Toxic levels of carbon dioxide: at levels above 5%, concentration CO[SUB]2[/SUB] is directly toxic. [At lower levels we may be seeing effects of a reduction in the relative amount of oxygen rather than direct toxicity of CO[SUB]2[/SUB].]

• Symptoms of high or prolonged exposure to carbon dioxide include headache, increased heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, rapid breathing, visual and hearing dysfunctions.
• Exposure to higher levels may cause unconsciousness or death within minutes of exposure.
• Concentrations of 7% to 10% cause dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, and unconsciousness within a few minutes to an hour.

15k is 15,000. drop a zero and you got it.

I don't know what tank and regulator you are using but you might have to buy a Co2 sensor/regulator. They are a little pricey but they will regulate the flow of Co2 in your room as needed. You set the desired ppm on the sesor and when it reaches that level it will shut itself off. Then you put the sensor on the same timer as your lights. If you want to tweak it a little more put it on a seperate timer and have it come on an hour before the lights turn on and stay on an hour after the lights turn off.