How much carbon dioxide should be released?

Hi everyone...

Gonna start posting a lot, and figured I'd start off with this question. I have decided to go with getting a tank of CO2 and just ghetto-releasing into my room until I can afford to get the proper regulator and measuring instruments. Was wondering if anyone had any experience...

The sealed of area of my room measures 15x10x5 feet.

I found a formula on anothet GrowFAQ that apparently allows you to guesstimate how much C02 you would need to bring the room up to about 1500 ppm. Since the natural atmosphere has about 300 ppm of CO2, we need to increase it by another 1200 ppm (or .0012). The forumula indicated that LxWxHx(.0012) = # of Cubic Feet of CO2 needed to increase atmospheric concentration to 1500 ppm.

For my room, it comes to .9 which I feel comfortable rounding up to 1 whole cubic feet.

I am planning on using a 20-lb tank and read somewhere that 1 pound of liquid CO2 produces approx. 7 cubic feet of gaseous CO2. That would give me 140 total cubic feet of CO2 to use...

Question is, without a proper regulator, what is the best way to release 1 cubic foot of CO2?

Secondly, what is the best way to ensure I am maintaining 1000+ ppm CO2 levels?

Thanks!

When I first started using Co2 I USED to release it by hand and went through a bottle a week now I bought a Co2 regulator and use a bottle bout every 2 months.I would just wait If I were you just my two cents

jcdws602 said:

When I first started using Co2 I USED to release it by hand and went through a bottle a week now I bought a Co2 regulator and use a bottle bout every 2 months.I would just wait If I were you just my two cents

Click to expand...

What sort of regulator are you using and how much did it run you?

I suppose I'm looking at $150 for the initial filled tank + $35/refill + another $100-150 for the regulator.

Any recommendations on an inexpensive but quality regulator?

I get refills for 25$ a bottle. I got the regulator on Craigslist for $100 new and I got a Co2 bottle on craigslist for 80 bucks used.I buy lots of equipment off craigslist I just get on every day like 10xs a day at least, until I find what I'm looking for.I got a 1000 watt hps/mh ballast with an air-cooled hood with a new 1000 watt hortilux super hps bulb for $150 and the dude threw in a 6 inch can fan for an extra $20.Just got lucky I guess but if you are persistent in your search you'll find some kick ass deals on craigslist.