Burning a candle for C02

Ok I open up the Skunk magazine and they have a suggestion from the REV about burning some candles in a grow space to increase the levels of C02 in the air.

I said to myself, doesn't combustion produce C0 which is dangerous? Actually parafin wax when burned produces C02.

The balanced equation. two o2's+ CH4 (the parafin wax) = co2+ two h20's+heat

The simplest Parafin molecule is the CH4 (methane)

So I went to Wally world (walmart) and bought plain white religious candles for $1.50 and I'm burning three of them in the grow space.

The plain white (unscented candles burn clean) and I'm not noticing any smells of combustion in the space.

I don't have a C02 meter. I'm wondering if the C02 produced is worth it.

The number one source of home fires is a lit candle. I took precautions to minimize the risk. I put the candles in a big metal ammo can. Don't burn your shit down!!!

dragonbud said:

Ok I open up the Skunk magazine and they have a suggestion from the REV about burning some candles in a grow space to increase the levels of C02 in the air.

I said to myself, doesn't combustion produce C0 which is dangerous? Actually parafin wax when burned produces C02.

The balanced equation. two o2's+ CH4 (the parafin wax) = co2+ two h20's+heat

The simplest Parafin molecule is the CH4 (methane)

So I went to Wally world (walmart) and bought plain white religious candles for $1.50 and I'm burning three of them in the grow space.

The plain white (unscented candles burn clean) and I'm not noticing any smells of combustion in the space.

I don't have a C02 meter. I'm wondering if the C02 produced is worth it.

The number one source of home fires is a lit candle. I took precautions to minimize the risk. I put the candles in a big metal ammo can. Don't burn your shit down!!!

Click to expand...

very interesting, I wish I could help with this but I am not sure, I am interested to hear what someone else might have to say so bumping this

Have you thought about using an inexpensive propane camping lantern instead (for safety purposes)?

It sounds really interesting. Only problem i can think of is, (other than the safety issue) the increased heat produced. Heat has always been an issue with me and i think the benefit of the increased co2 will be drawn away with the stress of increase of heat!

Bagseeds said:

It sounds really interesting. Only problem i can think of is, (other than the safety issue) the increased heat produced. Heat has always been an issue with me and i think the benefit of the increased co2 will be drawn away with the stress of increase of heat!

Click to expand...

Adding CO2 allows for higher temps, not a problem

I would guess the amount of CO2 you'll get from candles would be about the same as a water heater pilot light

SableZen said:

Have you thought about using an inexpensive propane camping lantern instead (for safety purposes)?

Click to expand...

Actually propane lamps would produce CO (carbon monoxide). I'm thinking it's the way the propane is ignited in a lantern that causes excessive CO. Where your Carbon Dioxide makers that use propane burn it correctly to only produce C02 and heat and H20.

I'll quote out of the Sensi Sermons Best of Skunk Volume 2 "I like to give the grow area a slight CO2 boost by burning candles. As minor as this sounds , my plants always respond positively to it. This is one of those techniques that won't make a tremendous difference in your grow , but-combined with other minor adjustments -will improve your plants, increasing potency and yields", end quote.

I'm also using a drip line filled with white vinegar dropping into a 5 gallon bucket of baking soda. My wife got a big ass bag of baking soda at Costco for 5 bucks. I rigged up the vinegar in a syrup container with a rubber cork and a eye dropper in the middle of the cork. You adjust drop rate to 40 gtt a minute, that's IV talk. Make sure when the drops go into the bucket that it fizzes or you need to add Baking soda.

I'm saving for my Co2 system but just looking for a cheap method to get me there. Any ideas anyone??

http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/earth-hour-candles-and-carbon/

Candle can produce about 10.69g C02/hr according to this, which based on my calculations is a LOT more than any baking soda drip is going to give you... Only question is, does that CO2 rise with the heat and disappear, or does it dissipate to actually be useful.

I'm thinking in my 4x4 (with a good exhaust running), I'd need maybe 4 candles burning to raise the co2 PPM to maybe 450-500... of course, if I turned down the exhaust, it could get higher.


sorry for the revive, but this thread has great serps on google so I figured why not.

mduchonie said:

http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/earth-hour-candles-and-carbon/

Candle can produce about 10.69g C02/hr according to this, which based on my calculations is a LOT more than any baking soda drip is going to give you... Only question is, does that CO2 rise with the heat and disappear, or does it dissipate to actually be useful.

I'm thinking in my 4x4 (with a good exhaust running), I'd need maybe 4 candles burning to raise the co2 PPM to maybe 450-500... of course, if I turned down the exhaust, it could get higher.


sorry for the revive, but this thread has great serps on google so I figured why not.

Click to expand...

Burning candles do produce co2 and water vapor

http://www.math.harvard.edu/~knill/pedagogy/waterexperiment/index.html

burning propane and/ or natural gas produces co2 not carbon monoxide. if it produced carbon monoxide people would be dying left and right from water heaters, gas heaters, bbq's , etc...Even co2 generators from the hydro shop burn propane....... Anyone that says burning propane produces carbon monoxide is as sharp as a marble...

You could possible die from the propane or rather the carbon monoxide, which is in no way worth it for few extra grams. As for the candles don't see why not as long as heat isn't an issue for you. If you don't think burning propane produces carbon monoxide your a retard, if you don't believe me just google carbon monoxide propane and first result is deaths and yes there have been many from it. It may be so some CO2 generators burn them but they probably also have safety device so it CM doesn't get too high. Most propane heaters also say do not use indoors.

just do the sugar and yeast method ive done it and still doing it with great results

I googled it. You are right and wrong. It only produces carbon monoxide if the limit of flamability is off. The ratio of.propane to air. If there is less than 4 parts of propane then carbon monoxide is produced. If your burner is functioning properly that won't happen and it will not produce carbon monoxide.

I hav lived in several place where the were gas heaters sticking out of the wall and had a constant flame. Almost every house or apartment has the gas furnace and watr heater in a closet if there is not a garage.

Water Heaters, furnaces and gas dryers are all vented in some way to flo out of living spaces.