4 THOSE OF YOU THAT USE CO2

[jojajico]

hey guys this is for all of you that use CO2 in your grow.

when using a sealed room to maintain CO2 level how do you get rid of the heat generated by the lights besides air cooled hood. even though the hood is air cooled some heat is generated yes? do you use an airconditioning unit? and if so is there a problem with pressure differential (the pressure inside the room/cab being greater that the outside of the cab). basically does heat build up in the cab or room even though you have an aircooled hood because you have no air circulation?

 

[Guest]

I have a sealed room with co2 8 by 8 with 3 1K vertizontals and a 12,000BTU window AC,the lights are not aircooled.A minimum of 3000BTU per 1K light will get you to the desired temps which is higher than without co2,about 85 degrees.I may have to upgrade to a 15 or even 18K unit in the summer I'm not sure yet,but for now the 12000BTU is working fine.

 

[Fast Pine]

Get the socket extension cords....Try to set it up so the ballasts are outside the room..

I have lenses on my lights..I used aluminum tape to seal all the little gaps in the hoods..I pull in cold winter air from a window in the grow room, push it through my hoods, and out of the room into my house..The grow room remains relatively sealed..At 25$ a bottle, im not toooo worried about loosing my co2..Im going through a bottle in a little over a week at a time.. Its worth it for me, because in my experience the high heat has lead to some fluffy bud ..

I believe the ideal temp to shoot for is 87.6 degrees F..

Try not to go over 90degrees..Some people say that MJ stops growing at 90..

 

[jojajico]

hey guys thanks for the input ^^^ how big is your bottle that it takes $25 to fill. i was considering using an air conditioned unit but only if i had to. i read that CO2 comes out of the bottle cold so that may help.

here is my plan let me know what you think...

a 3'X2'X6' grow cab. a 600watt hps light putting me at about 100 watts per square foot. the grow will be SOG and i will grow depending on the strain 16 plants in this space. seems tight but ive seen it done succesfully. very succesfully.

since the sace is so tight i thought airflow would be important but it seems that as long as the air is cool and has plenty of CO2 ill be fine right?

if i do use a air conditioning unit and its blowing in air do i need to setup some way that additional air can escape?

 

[porgy tirebiter]

Even with CO2, you need to vent your room. Some folks use timers, humidistats, or even plain ole' thermostats to turn the exhaust van on periodically (which I'd never do), but they do exhaust. The question regarding pressure differential is a good one, and I am interested to see some answers. I have no idea if you can create such a differential as to have it be detrimental to the health of you or your plants. It'll be interesting to find out.

Remember tho, an air conditioner (with the back end outdoors) won't cool when the outside air temp gets below 50 degrees or so. That can turn into a problem on those nights when the OAT hovers just below the point where the condenser will operate.

porgy

 

[jojajico]

Even with CO2, you need to vent your room. Some folks use timers, humidistats, or even plain ole' thermostats to turn the exhaust van on periodically (which I'd never do), but they do exhaust. The question regarding pressure differential is a good one, and I am interested to see some answers. I have no idea if you can create such a differential as to have it be detrimental to the health of you or your plants. It'll be interesting to find out.

Remember tho, an air conditioner (with the back end outdoors) won't cool when the outside air temp gets below 50 degrees or so. That can turn into a problem on those nights when the OAT hovers just below the point where the condenser will operate.

porgy

y do u need to vent if the air is cool and filled with CO2?

 

[jojajico]

anyone?

 

[kigy]

Remember tho, an air conditioner (with the back end outdoors) won't cool when the outside air temp gets below 50 degrees or so. That can turn into a problem on those nights when the OAT hovers just below the point where the condenser will operate.

porgy

Open a window instead? 50F is plenty cold plus saves electricity..

 

[Guest]

You dont.I never vent my room.I keep a constant 1500-1800PPM and temps around 85 degrees,no need to ventilate whatsoever.You'll want to run a dehumidifier in a sealed room at least during the dark hours when there is no ventilation.

 

[kigy]

y do u need to vent if the air is cool and filled with CO2?

You want a constant flow of fresh air regardless if it's co2 enriched. Meaning, enrich for 30 mins then vent, rinse wash and repeat but the point is to not have the same air sitting around for long periods of time.

 

[jojajico]

You want a constant flow of fresh air regardless if it's co2 enriched. Meaning, enrich for 30 mins then vent, rinse wash and repeat but the point is to not have the same air sitting around for long periods of time.

but y? what does the fresh air have that the air in the cab doesnt have if the air in the cab is cool and full of CO2? im not debating that it should be done but what is the reason?

 

[Guest]

kigy do you actually use co2 enrichment?What you say is not necessary,it can be done with a whole lotta expensive equipment but its totally unnecessary.Why get rid of the co2 just to enrich again?The most important thing is keeping a high steady PPM without too muych fluctuation,if your constantly venting and replenishing,you are not accomplishing this.I set my controller for 1500PPM and it hovers betweem 1500 and 1750 normally,when it drops to 1450(50 below set point) the generator kicks in and replenishes.

 

[ft100]

I think that if you want to use a 600 you should have a little more floorspace. 100 w/ft^2 is a lot. dont get me wrong it is good to be over 50, but i think with more plants in there because of more floor space you will do better. Just a thought. I am trying to figure out this CO^2 thing as well. peace man.

 

[Guest]

Someone should do a tutorial about co2 enrichment,I just went through this 2 days ago over in equip forum,a whole lotta bullshit info going round.First folks didnt want to believe plants produce co2 when the lights go out,then there were all sorts of incorrect "facts" floating around like co2 is lighter than air lol.We really need a sticky done on this one lol.

 

[jojajico]

Someone should do a tutorial about co2 enrichment,I just went through this 2 days ago over in equip forum,a whole lotta bullshit info going round.First folks didnt want to believe plants produce co2 when the lights go out,then there were all sorts of incorrect "facts" floating around like co2 is lighter than air lol.We really need a sticky done on this one lol.

i second that.

 

[jojajico]

I think that if you want to use a 600 you should have a little more floorspace. 100 w/ft^2 is a lot. dont get me wrong it is good to be over 50, but i think with more plants in there because of more floor space you will do better. Just a thought. I am trying to figure out this CO^2 thing as well. peace man.

i want 100 w/ft^2 ive seen other grows with it that have done amazing and yeild amazingly. its also a space concern too. my goal will be a lb + per grow. ive seen 1000 watt grows at 100 watts/ft^2 produce just under 2 lbs. not the most amazing ive ever heard of but it will suit my needs perfectly. as long as you can get rid of the heat u really cant have too much light (as long as the grow area is kept cool) and the CO2 will only help the plants make better use of it. i will also be running what i consider a pretty good nutrient program but everything will be organic. luquid karma!!!!

 

[Frozenguy]

jojajico- i DO use co2. i have for the last 2 years. as i'm sure you know,
co2 needs to be held constant. weather at 900 or 1500, it takes the plant time to actually adjust to start taking in that co2. when people use it for 30 minutes then suck it all out as some have recomended, the plants dont even get a chance to use it, infact they were just about to be ready to use it the you took it away, now they need to revert back to normal co2 intake levels, its very confusing on a plant to keep adjusting its parameters throughout daylight.

with co2 peopel go as high as 87f, i wouldn't recomend anything above 83f unless ALL your parameters are in check.

use a dehum at night if needed.. air doesn't need to be changed. people do use airconditioners.. i have aircooled hoods too. i use a portable, but the best would be a window a/c unless as stated it gets under about 50f outside, it could cause a prob, but hen maybe just open a window if you can? some people cant..

co2 is great when used correctly, but it will not boost any crop. it only gives the OPPORTUNITY to improve.. i find it to be JUST like octane rating on gasoline. the higher the rating, the more space you give yourself to get more power out of the car, it doesn't directly relate to power output.. just as co2 wont just increase your yield, but make your yield range HIGHER for you to become more efficient and reach that goal. you see?

 

[jojajico]

jojajico- i DO use co2. i have for the last 2 years. as i'm sure you know,
co2 needs to be held constant. weather at 900 or 1500, it takes the plant time to actually adjust to start taking in that co2. when people use it for 30 minutes then suck it all out as some have recomended, the plants dont even get a chance to use it, infact they were just about to be ready to use it the you took it away, now they need to revert back to normal co2 intake levels, its very confusing on a plant to keep adjusting its parameters throughout daylight.

with co2 peopel go as high as 87f, i wouldn't recomend anything above 83f unless ALL your parameters are in check.

use a dehum at night if needed.. air doesn't need to be changed. people do use airconditioners.. i have aircooled hoods too. i use a portable, but the best would be a window a/c unless as stated it gets under about 50f outside, it could cause a prob, but hen maybe just open a window if you can? some people cant..

co2 is great when used correctly, but it will not boost any crop. it only gives the OPPORTUNITY to improve.. i find it to be JUST like octane rating on gasoline. the higher the rating, the more space you give yourself to get more power out of the car, it doesn't directly relate to power output.. just as co2 wont just increase your yield, but make your yield range HIGHER for you to become more efficient and reach that goal. you see?

thanks man very helpful. does CO2 cause an increase in humidity?

 

[hogwild]

well you know you could always do what my foaf does...... instead of using a blower to cool your lights and expel old air you can use a small cheap inline duct booster fan to cool the lights by sucking in cold air from outside and then immediately blowing it right back out. Since the intake for the light cooling system is outside and it immediately expels the air right back outside your interior grow room is not affected, yet the light cooling effect is achieved. Not everyone has an extra blower or an extra inline duct fan to use, the cheap inline booster fans are rather cheap, i got mine for under 35 bucks and it does the trick to cool the lights. Keep in mind you will have to use your other blower on a cycle timer or modified intermatic to expel stagnant air from your grow room as well. Good luck.

 

[coggerific]

y do u need to vent if the air is cool and filled with CO2?

you dont...that's called a 'perfect growroom'.