Dried ice?

kvnbeach

Active Member
All right. How about dried ice in the soil? Or do you hang it. Plus how much of it do u use? How do u use it and does it work? Thanks
 

roidrage152

Active Member
The dry ice releases CO2 as it melts. Definitely it doesnt go in the soil :/. If you're gonna use it, hang it in a bucker or something above your plants because the CO2 is heavier than air and maybe use a small fan or something to disperse it.

Honestly as far as supplimenting CO2 is concerned I am personally not a fan of this type of method. There is no way to regulate how much is being generated, as you want to balance your temps with the amount of CO2 there is. I think in regards to cost effectiveness I would spend my money elsewhere. If you're getting free dry ice from somewhere then I guess why not, it probably wouldn't hurt.
 

kvnbeach

Active Member
Dried Ice is cheap and available where I live. I cant afford a co2 monitor thingy majigger as they are upwards of $500. What other ideas do you have or should I just not worry about it?
 

schtrudel

Active Member
I've thought of using a dry ice CO2 dispensing device for some time, although i don't have acces to any.
Basically you just make an insulated container for the dry ice, let's say made from expanded polystyrene http://i.clubafaceri.ro/clients/23/68703/0/polistiren-expandat-pentru-fatade-78780_big.jpg.
You buy a sheet 10cm or more of thickness and you make a cube out of it. The top part of the cube should be made so it can be removed easily to add more. Inside you put your dry ice which will sublimate(being so cold and the temperature difference so big it skips the melting phase and it goes directly to gas phase from solid) at a rate much much slower than in a bucket or a plastic cup. You poke as many holes in the top as you want it to evaporate. To calculate how much CO2 it gives off is simple:
First put dry ice in the container, measure it before you do, lol. And observe how much time it takes for it to completely sublimate.
You then calculate the volume of the room and multiply that by 0.001. This will give you how much CO2 in liters you need to add to the room to get 1500ppm(the room already has 500ppm, it's natural ppm). let's say you get 100liters of co2 for the room. 1 mole of CO2 (google molarity) is 44grams and it evaporates into 22.4liters of co2.
that means the 100 liters needed can be translated into 100/22.4 liters = 4.46 moles. The 4.46 moles can be translated into 4.46 x 44grams= how much co2 you need to add to the room.
I don't know how fast you need to replenish it though...(get more co2 in the room) because you can't just add co2, a ppm higher than 2000 will stunt growth and kill the plant.
 

spencer2121

Well-Known Member
I've used dry ice and noticed a difference lol ice I put the shit in my res cuz I thought it would help! I never seen a plant die so fast! Lol stay away from the dry ice bro. If u want to add co2 do the sugar and yeast thing it will help out and won't ever kill ur plants it'll constantly enrich ur grow but make sure ur room is nice and sealed because having any way for the co2 to get out is pretty pointless. Can make sure ur light is cool by using a air cooled hood. And just run each end of your vent through and through ur room or tent. Hope that helps
 

schtrudel

Active Member
I've used dry ice and noticed a difference lol ice I put the shit in my res cuz I thought it would help! I never seen a plant die so fast! Lol stay away from the dry ice bro. If u want to add co2 do the sugar and yeast thing it will help out and won't ever kill ur plants it'll constantly enrich ur grow but make sure ur room is nice and sealed because having any way for the co2 to get out is pretty pointless. Can make sure ur light is cool by using a air cooled hood. And just run each end of your vent through and through ur room or tent. Hope that helps
If it's a controlled process it should be fine.
 

kvnbeach

Active Member
Hey schtrudel that freakin awsome. I actualy understood most of that. Really good answer. Thanks. Now he said he has never been able to use it and Spencer said he didnt notice much of a diff. so maybe it's more hassle than it's worth. Anyone else what to chime in.
 

schtrudel

Active Member
Hey schtrudel that freakin awsome. I actualy understood most of that. Really good answer. Thanks. Now he said he has never been able to use it and Spencer said he didnt notice much of a diff. so maybe it's more hassle than it's worth. Anyone else what to chime in.


You have nothing to lose if you do it carefully.
Let's say you sleep in the room with the plants. I don't really think aditional CO2 is needed. A normal house has about 800ppm and a room where someone has slept in and is habitated(lived in?! i hate this word) has ppm of about 1200. Just keep the door closed and open the windows less. The fermentation thing is fine too. You can calculate how much co2 it gives off from this formula C[SUB]6[/SUB]H[SUB]12[/SUB]O[SUB]6[/SUB] + Zymase → 2C[SUB]2[/SUB]H[SUB]5[/SUB]OH + 2CO[SUB]2[/SUB]. For every mole of sugar (molar mass of 180g per mole) you get 2 moles of CO2.
I don't find this very efficient because the process is not 100% efficient. At some percentage of alcohol the yeast dies off(let's say at 50% alcohol the yeast dies, that means you only get 50% efficiency, compared to ~100% from dry ice)

Breathing in the same room:
Ideal situation. You breath in air with 0.039% co2 by volume. You breath out air with 5% co2 by volume. The average air exchange is about 500ml per breath, 15 breaths per minute. That is 7.5 liters or air exchanged in one minute with 5%co2 = 375 ml of co2 PER MINUTE. To get to those 22.4 liters of co2 (1 mole, right?) you only need an hour (59.something acording to my phone). This is the ideal situation.
In real life. A room is not perfectly sealed. CO2 is heavier than air so it sinks to the floor. The door is not a tight seal so CO2 leaks (it flows out like water from a punctured container) out underneath the door.
Conclusion. I'd say you don't need CO2 addition if you stay in the same room or if you grow them in your basement(co2 sinks, right?).

physics, they rule, man!
 
Hey, I've got a really simple solution for you! I've used these before, and they are effective, cheap, and you won't have to hassle with CO2 generators, monitors, or any of that. I'm not a rep for the company or anything, I've just used them for about 8 months now. I got a few for free at a grow convention last year and I've seen them popping up in hydro stores all over Colorado since. It's basically a fungus that continues to grow on a medium, inside a bag with a one way valve. It produces CO2 for over six months on its own. Perfect for a little tent or grow box! They're called Exhale CO2 bags.

http://co2bags.com/

Also, if you want a sick tip on what to do with dry ice instead of throwing it in your soil, check out the Youtube videos on how to make bubble hash with it!!!
 

kvnbeach

Active Member
Hey humbleservantoftheplant I have seen those and they are affordable I live in Wa. state and we have the same laws. Actualy our Governors(Washington and Colorado) just wrote Obama a letter to reclassify marijuana. Anyway, someone told me it releases a shit load of co2. I am going to go with strudel's advice and not worrying about it. I have to say strudel they way you explained it makes me think you may have been a teacher at one point. I am a carpenter that specializes in structural engineering so I get the math. My room is in the garage were my wife parks her car, so she removes it at least once a day. My Veg room is 3'x4'x8', so not much volume, the flower room is 2'7"x2'7"x6'. Thing is, like you said, nothing is sealed, especialy not my garage.

Still Strudel I really appreciate you taking the time and letting me know what my options are and I hope all your grows come with success. With that ability to understand physics it should be. I am enrolling at a VOTEC that has a Horticulture classes. Here in Washington state the University of Wa. grows pot. 20 years ago we used to be able to purchase it if you knew someone. We also used to be able to get vials of LSD for $50 too. I am too old for that.

Mr. Clean Feb.7, 2012 002.jpgView attachment 2045210View attachment 2045211These were takin today. 35days in. The bottom leaves are starting to yellow, but I was told bt one of my growing buddies this is normal, a little early. He says the colas will probaly start getting denser not taller. What do you think of "Mr. Clean". Been told it is Indica strong(60%) and I think I would agree.
 

schtrudel

Active Member
They are so beautiful. I say if you have the money to experiment, why not?
Also, thanks, i like helping when i can, but i'm no teacher, i've recently had the idea to add co2 to my grow too so i tried to remember highschool chemistry and then the math just flowed. If you have a journal thread, can you link it please? i like your plants :D.
Humbleservantoftheplant
..
http://co2bags.com/
I'll research this and if they seem good for my operation i'll try some myself. The idea of producing CO2 with a fungus is neat, what i don't understand is from what do they produce the CO2 for 6 months. First law of thermodynamic states that matter can only be transformed, not created. There certainly isn't enough Carbon in the air to be transformed into CO2. This must mean you feed the mycelia something or they come with a very big supply of food.
I'll have to read up on fungus :D.
 

CashCrops

Well-Known Member
Here's another inexpensive method: [video=youtube;ild3ZFylamM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ild3ZFylamM&feature=related[/video]
 

kvnbeach

Active Member
Ok. I am not that good at typing so bear with me. Ther is a mushroom bag that you can buy at most grow shops for about $30. I just spent an hour googleing it but can't find it. Dont get the one in the bucket, it's expensive and only last 3 months. The one I am talking about comes in a plastic bag. Thers no way to monitor how much co2 is coming out so buying a co2 monitor wouldn't be a bad idea. While I was searching I found a forum on what the co2 effect was on the plant. During veg supposely it help increase the speed of growth by 15-35% and some claim that it increases the potency.

Well after all this research and investigation, I have decided that my plant is fine. We'll wait till harvest and see what happens.
 
I'll research this and if they seem good for my operation i'll try some myself. The idea of producing CO2 with a fungus is neat, what i don't understand is from what do they produce the CO2 for 6 months. First law of thermodynamic states that matter can only be transformed, not created. There certainly isn't enough Carbon in the air to be transformed into CO2. This must mean you feed the mycelia something or they come with a very big supply of food.
I'll have to read up on fungus :D.
You are correct, sir! There is a medium on which the fungi feed for up to six months. I recently tossed out some bags, just because they were six months old and it said it was time, and they were still popping out at the side and clearly full of gas still... The CO2 is definitely "created" by the fungus going to work on the mycelia, though. :) Props for knowing that ahead of time!
 
Ok. I am not that good at typing so bear with me. Ther is a mushroom bag that you can buy at most grow shops for about $30. I just spent an hour googleing it but can't find it. Dont get the one in the bucket, it's expensive and only last 3 months. The one I am talking about comes in a plastic bag. Thers no way to monitor how much co2 is coming out so buying a co2 monitor wouldn't be a bad idea. While I was searching I found a forum on what the co2 effect was on the plant. During veg supposely it help increase the speed of growth by 15-35% and some claim that it increases the potency.

Well after all this research and investigation, I have decided that my plant is fine. We'll wait till harvest and see what happens.
These are the CO2 bags I posted the link to just above, kvnbeach. They're called Exhale CO2 bags. Great little product.
 

kvnbeach

Active Member
These are the CO2 bags I posted the link to just above, kvnbeach. They're called Exhale CO2 bags. Great little product.

Right on brother. I was searching all morning to try and find out the name. I have a grow store 5 blocks from my house and they sell it. The thing is someone told me they release to much co2. Also, the owner of the grow store has been using hers for over a year. I am not sure u should have that in a small grow room but a larger one. What size room did u have it in and what was ur assesment of it. I am sure it is better than spending $500-$1,000 on a co2 kit.
 

schtrudel

Active Member
When i clear through my little economic crysis i'll see if they ship to my country too. They seem pretty bad ass. A bag that produces CO2 and you don't even have to watch it, what will they think of next ?
 
Right on brother. I was searching all morning to try and find out the name. I have a grow store 5 blocks from my house and they sell it. The thing is someone told me they release to much co2. Also, the owner of the grow store has been using hers for over a year. I am not sure u should have that in a small grow room but a larger one. What size room did u have it in and what was ur assesment of it. I am sure it is better than spending $500-$1,000 on a co2 kit.
Hey, kvn, thanks for the questions! I'm glad I'm able to give you some info about these things!!

So, as far as I noticed, I did not see the bags releasing "too much" CO2 by any means. If you check out my current grow journal you can see a picture of my flowering room. I grow for personal use as a medical patient, so I concentrate on growing really potent pot on a small scale. As such, I only rock one 1000w light in a 4x4 Secret Jardin tent. I produce about 8 ounces a month, which is plenty for my needs. :) In that grow space I actually had 2 of the Exhale bags going for the last six months. I never saw any adverse effects from them at all. If anything, I would say that this current round I noticed less stretch in my plants without the bags, but since I tend to grow bushes rather than trees, I never minded a little stretch in the flower room!

My first harvest with the bags in the room was massive. Like, outrageously so. I got six ounces of a Buddha's Sister plant that was only three feet tall. After that, my harvests remained steady at about 3.5 ounces a plant for the next six months. I don't know if this had to do with the bags working really well at the beginning and then tacking off, or if that particular bush just happened to go nuts that one round. I've never grown out the Buddha's Sister since, and yield is one of those things that is influenced by so many factors that I can't say for sure if it was just those bags that made my room so successful for the last six months...

What I can say though, with certainty, is that the bags never hurt my plants. Even with 2 of them in a 4X4 space I didn't see outrageous stringy stretching, or burning leaf tips, or anything of that nature.
 
I would have to say for a cheap way go with the exhale bags they are cheap and seem to be working great trying for first time have a couple hanging over my ladies and they seem to be getting along great
 
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