Testing the Bio2 CO2 producing bucket

[CoCoSativas]

Your never gonna keep that co2 in that tent, gonna cost yourself a fortune tryin to keep levels up, I have a full blown regulator and controller an id go thru a 50lbs tank in 2 or 3 weeks, in a truley sealed room it lasts almost 2 months.
What was retail on that bucket? An its started to slow down after only 1 week?
I could probably blow out 100lbs of co2 for the same price or less that would last almost 2 months even in your tents( I used to run tents)
Why buy a bucket full of crap when you can just buy pure co2 for cheaper?
And your bucket is pumpimg out precious co2 all night long when the plants dont use it just wasteing its production.

Well I didn't pay for the bucket or yiest so thats not my concern. I'm only paying for sugar. Big deal. 10 bucks for 2 weeks. Yay.

This is a test for the hydro shop. I run a test and post here for people to scope out. They gave me 8 weeks of yiest.

Bucket isint expensive. It's a bucket. It comes with yeast, lid and indicator.

I don't know how an inexpensive bucket and yiest and sugar will cost more than a co2 controller and bottle. That stuff is not that cheap dude. Plus I cant haul co2 bottles into my place and have people wondering if I huff some crazy shit by the tank...

Bottom line, you can brew co2 cheaper. It's not the most effective but it works.

 

[CoCoSativas]

Oh yeah bow the bucket needs to be changed weekly. It's supposed to be that way. The yeast they sell at the store is 10 bucks a weeks worth

 

[Mikell]

Peeked a bit of my curiousity. Have you noticed a difference between day/night CO2 levels, re:marketing literature? Is any information given to adjust CO2 production for differing room volume/plant density?

15$ a week is significant, easily eclipsing nutrient and lighting cost. No idea myself on what a 600w in a small tent would draw from a CO2 tank (though I'm sure someone here has an idea), but with controlled release it isn't hard to imagine coming in cheaper, temporarily ignoring start up costs.

 

[CoCoSativas]

with controlled release it isn't hard to imagine coming in cheaper, temporarily ignoring start up costs.

If I'm trying to figure out which is cheaper, why would I ignore start up cost. Also what do you do after temporarily ignoring costs? Snap back to reality?

Not trying to be a dink, just pointing out what I see as a flaw in that point of view. The bucket start up is cheap, and if I wanted to I could get cheaper yiest and sugar, I'm just not that broken up about a couple extra bucks.

My point of view right now is the bucket is working and cheap. I am satisfied with it thus far. It's about the only way I can do co2.

 

[DoomsDay]

Why are people so set on immediately jumping on the bandwagon of what is popular at the moment? CO2 genies and controllers are expensive, and in some instances and regions completely impossible to obtain. This gentleman is attempting to help people with minimal specialized materials and is proving it works... how about you take your keyboard tough guy hating attitudes and smoke a fucking pole.

Thank you to the op for testing out this setup and reporting back...

 

[CoCoSativas]

Why are people so set on immediately jumping on the bandwagon of what is popular at the moment? CO2 genies and controllers are expensive, and in some instances and regions completely impossible to obtain. This gentleman is attempting to help people with minimal specialized materials and is proving it works... how about you take your keyboard tough guy hating attitudes and smoke a fucking pole.

Thank you to the op for testing out this setup and reporting back...

Thank you. This is a test of viability of a cheaper method than genies and bottles. Oh yeah, in case peeps forgot, genies burn gas, so that costs too.

There's lots of issues with bottles and genies. Genies produce flame... Yay fire hazard. So many problems I could go on all day.

The bucket isint perfect, but I'm testing it for those who care anyway

 

[Sideways]

Nice test- I tried this a while ago with yeast, sugar and water left in open bucket LOL. Got funky pretty quick. Does the bucket smell? Is there anything in their mix that inhibits " the funk" ? How often do you swap, add ingredients or clean it out?

Thanks

 

[Mikell]

I posted out of interest, not some desire to troll. Asking questions is out of line?

Temporarily ignoring start up cost. What would be the point of calculating cost reclaimation time if yeast/sugar work out cheaper? If you're trying to make a comparison, I would expect some sort of information for the cost of bottled/combustion in a similar situation.

 

[CoCoSativas]

So if the lid is not sealed it will reek. I have found with the lid sealed and the bucket operating as intended, the stink is diminished greatly. Running the co2 through water seems to remove alot of smell. Maybe I got used to it tho, who knows. It was pretty nasty at first, but after I sealed the lid it got better so I'm guessing it pays to filter the off gas. I'm pretty sure it stinks less because it's not a open bucket.

I wonder if running the co2 through a filter like hepa would help...

So I'm waiting on my first change. The instructions say change weekly, but if ppm is still high I won't change until it needs it.

I will rinse the bucket each time. I'm sure that's enough.

 

[CoCoSativas]

I posted out of interest, not some desire to troll. Asking questions is out of line?

Temporarily ignoring start up cost. What would be the point of calculating cost reclaimation time if yeast/sugar work out cheaper? If you're trying to make a comparison, I would expect some sort of information for the cost of bottled/combustion in a similar situation.

Well here is my cost breakdown of the two methods.

In my area, a small co2 can is 500 bucks to buy, 20 to fill, and 325 for a simply grozone controller (which is a cheap piece). That's almost 850 for startup and 2-3 months co2 (according to a members estimate here). No where here rents bottles.

The bucket kit costs 50 bucks, comes with three weeks yiest brew. 50 bucks for more 5 weeks. 5 bucks in sugar a week, 40 bucks for that. That's 140 for two months.

So the bucket is cheaper for the tent, is stealth to bring in, cheap to maintain, doesn't produce heat, risk of fire, doesn't risk skyrocketing ppms to a dangerous level for people. It's without risk.

Not calling anyone a troll, but it doesn't make sense to me to come onto a test thread and tell me bottles or generators are cheaper. The fact is, they are not. Just a controller is more than my system.

Sorry to come across as snarkey but to do a legit cost comparison you can't leave anything out. Startup is part of the deal, I can't ignore that. If i include the startup and run cost of the bucket I have to do the same for the fancy co2 setups.

Bottle setup 845
Bio2 bucket kit 140 bucks.

Yeah I'll take the bucket in a tent guys. It's pretty obvious what's cheaper it doesn't take a mathematical genius to figure that out...

Even with the bucket costing more per cycle, it would take many cycles to pay back the startup cost of the system. Cost asid, we sometimes chose things not based on cost. I can't haul a co2 can into my joint, and can't afford the heat from a burner burner, so that's why I'm brewing.

 

[CoCoSativas]

OK so for the nay sayers who say the co2 setup is cheaper...

Bio2 kit and year supply of bio2 brand stuff and sugar (I budgeted using the price of 2 kg bags, bought bulk it's much cheaper, I'm buying a 20 kg bag next week) works out to 860 total.

Co2 setup available in my area, total for a year, 965.

Bottles and genies are to problematic and not intended for tent use.

This bucket is working well and is nice and simple. Thus far, I'm considering myself lucky to get to put on this test, for myself and the store. It all came about from me asking the guy at the store about co2, he told me it's great, and I could test it out to see for myself. We struck up a deal I test and post online.

I'll always use co2 in tents from now on, it's pretty cool. My plants look amazing.

 

[CoCoSativas]

So I left the window open in the room with the tent and it got cool it the room The bucket slows production when it gets cool and speeds up when it's warm.

Obviously it dose not waste in the night as it slows when it cools. This bucket is super cool.

It's blowing alot of bubbles now, I guess it's warming up again.

So it looks like it's going to work for the advertised week. So far that looks good to me.

Ppm was 1600 ish when I opened the tent this morning

 

[onavelzy]

Using the cost breakdowns you provided, for a years worth of each, it's pretty much even money wise. $2 more a week for the bottled. That's a cup of coffee at Starbux.

pluses for bottled:
1) no odor or issues of biological contamination of the brewer or the grow
2) easier to control output of the CO2 to maintain specific levels in the grow area and avoid usage when plants aren't using the CO2
3) better dispersal of the CO2 in the grow area by means of the emitter spraying the CO2

minuses for the bottled:
1) not readily available in all areas
2) would need some sort of device to control output and avoid waste, otherwise costs would spiral and plants may be negatively affected by high CO2 levels

pluses for the brewer
1) simple to set up and run
2) potentially a better option for smaller grow areas

minuses for brewer:
1) more difficult to keep CO2 at a desired or specified level, even in a sealed room, as the system is always outputting
2) system dependent on biological production which has risks of contamination and environmental corruption/disruption
3) potentially less uniform production of CO2 over the week as the substrate gets used up and as the yeast die off
4) potential for undesired odor (probably not an issue outside of the room if filters are laready in place to manage other grow odors)

in either approach, the question would be how much of a difference the CO2 makes. If you take a hypothetical grow space that produces three harvests a year, for the CO2 to make financial sense, it would need to improve the value of each harvest by $300. you can figure out how many grams or ounces that would be for you.

OP, did you try measuring the CO2 levels at different heights in the room at a given time? I'm really curious to know how evenly the CO2 disperses in the brew approach.

 

[stoned-trout]

and not a drop to drink after ,what a waste...using brewers yeast and some goodies would do same thing but provide drinkable alcoholic beverage..yeehaw... I wouldn't count on it being cheaper either...properly used co2 is a proven winner and worth it....I have both bottled and propane co2 generator and used both in my tent..propane winter,bottled summer..

 

[CoCoSativas]

Using the cost breakdowns you provided, for a years worth of each, it's pretty much even money wise. $2 more a week for the bottled. That's a cup of coffee at Starbux.

pluses for bottled:
1) no odor or issues of biological contamination of the brewer or the grow
2) easier to control output of the CO2 to maintain specific levels in the grow area and avoid usage when plants aren't using the CO2
3) better dispersal of the CO2 in the grow area by means of the emitter spraying the CO2

minuses for the bottled:
1) not readily available in all areas
2) would need some sort of device to control output and avoid waste, otherwise costs would spiral and plants may be negatively affected by high CO2 levels

pluses for the brewer
1) simple to set up and run
2) potentially a better option for smaller grow areas

minuses for brewer:
1) more difficult to keep CO2 at a desired or specified level, even in a sealed room, as the system is always outputting
2) system dependent on biological production which has risks of contamination and environmental corruption/disruption
3) potentially less uniform production of CO2 over the week as the substrate gets used up and as the yeast die off
4) potential for undesired odor (probably not an issue outside of the room if filters are laready in place to manage other grow odors)

in either approach, the question would be how much of a difference the CO2 makes. If you take a hypothetical grow space that produces three harvests a year, for the CO2 to make financial sense, it would need to improve the value of each harvest by $300. you can figure out how many grams or ounces that would be for you.

OP, did you try measuring the CO2 levels at different heights in the room at a given time? I'm really curious to know how evenly the CO2 disperses in the brew approach.

Also issues with bottles are they are heavy and bulky, a potential explosive hazard, and let's face it, begs people to ask what you are doing with that stuff. Who wants the Fbi , atf, RCMP or anyone else smashing though the door at 4am thinking terrorism is afoot.

The bucket is stealth.

A AZ for smell and contamination, well smells not that bad, open a window in your tents room, or don't worry if you use a filter, which most do. Contamination.. People have brewed forever in growrooms, since at least the 70s. I'm not worried

As far as uniform co2 throughout the week, it only tapers off the last day. If i wanted too I could change a day early to avoid this.

I haven't checked the rest of the tent as the plants are small. I will be keeping the monitor at the same level as the plants are, I'll raise it as they grow.

Everyone is concerned about it blowing at night... Who cares, that just how it works. It's not like it's burning propane.

Even if I got a extra ounce or two its worth it to me.

Lol trout... I don't need any booze. When I do I buy quality stuff not hack job home made swish. I'm sure with a few tries under my belt I could make some ok brew, but I'm not even interested anyway really. I'm sure any booze I would make would be one hell of a nasty swish

 

[CoCoSativas]

I opened the tent door this morning, the bucket is still brewing, so I've got 7 full days out of this batch.

So far I am pleased with the product, and so are my plants.

I'm glad I did a cost comparison between the bucket and the cans.

You would have to grow for at least a year with either method to make their cost even, otherwise if you are looking for co2 for less than a year, the bucket is ideal.

Also if you are looking to avoid issues with the bottles, take the bucket. My mind is at ease with the bucket. Cans and genies... Not for me.

 

[CoCoSativas]

Also the kit comes with a pvc hose to extend where the co2 is pumped so you can put it in front of a fan and blow it all around.

Once they start to stretch, im setting up fans and ventilation. Probably setting up on Wednesday or soon after. Ill ad the extension tube then.

 

[onavelzy]

I agree, for most tents, I think the brewer approach is simpler and easier. For bigger spaces, bottled. For non-home setting, maybe burner. I'm interested in how the different brewer type products compare to each other, either in measured levels or more importantly, amount/quality pf yield. If it hasn't been done, it would be a nice side-by-side thing to look at but would require two different tents or rooms

 

[Asslover]

I understand this is just a "test" but co2 is useless and a waste of $$$ in anything less then a dialed in environment with healthy plant...just saying

 

[CoCoSativas]

I agree, for most tents, I think the brewer approach is simpler and easier. For bigger spaces, bottled. For non-home setting, maybe burner. I'm interested in how the different brewer type products compare to each other, either in measured levels or more importantly, amount/quality pf yield. If it hasn't been done, it would be a nice side-by-side thing to look at but would require two different tents or rooms

I will get to a side by side test next thread but I dont have space now. Next time though...

Basically this test is to see if I can get an above average yield in a tent that is a square meter. I am growing alot of sativa dominant stuff, so I have to be mindful of the height. I am also growing without an air cooled bulb, I am cooling my tent with a ac, which I still need to get.

There will be some challenges, but its time to put my skill as a grower to use and put on a good grow. Ill have something more interesting than veg shots soon I promise