CO2 setups

Would like to bring CO2 into my grow room not sure on setups, have about 10 plants going. Also have a 3 in 1 soil tester what dose the light reader read lumes?

First of all, additional CO2 should probably be the last thing you worry about, after all other elements (light, soil, temp, humidity, nutes) are optimal. Once you have that, additional CO2 can boost growth considerably.

Normal C02 levels are a little less than 400 PPM. Marijuana plants can make use of up to 1500 PPM, again if other elements are dialed in. A level of 2000 PPM can kill your plants. By the way, if you are wondering what levels are safe for humans/animals it may surprise you. A level of 1% (10,000 PPM) will make some people drowsy. Serious health effects occur at 7%-10% (70,000 - 100,000 PPM).

Adding CO2 needn't be an expensive proposition. There are DIY methods as well as expensive setups involving meters, monitors, timers, regulators, etc. There are ways to make CO2 using household items such as vinegar. There is a sticky for such methods.

At the risk of being flamed by some people, I will mention the method I use. I get flamed because some people think it is dangerous; I disagree. The method is simple: A one- or two-mantle propane lantern. People have claimed it is dangerous due to carbon monoxide, but I leave it on during light hours and have a CO detector nearby. It has never even chirped. Besides, gas lighting was the norm for lighting for decades, and still is in some places.

Does it really work? Well, when I decided that I was going to try various methods of "homemade" CO2 production I wanted to be certain of what is being produced. So I invested in a very good (expensive!) digital CO2 monitor. It shows CO2 PPM in real time. Yes, it works. I have two rooms, both 10x12x6. I have both a mini one-mantle lantern and also a full size two mantle Coleman. The mini will typically raise the room from about 380 to well over 800 PPM. The two-mantle will achieve 1500 easily. I even have to make use of the alarm builit in alarm on the CO2 monitor which beeps if it goes over the level I set. So, yes, it works and works very well. The two-mantle goes through a grill size tank of propane in about a month.

Do you notice a big different in your plants with CO2

Absolutely. I have turned it on halfway through a grow before and saw a growth spurt within a few days. I am certain that it could be even better if I got everything else perfect, which I am sure it's not. I'm getting better though

cold co2 is the way to go. you get 20# tanks and a co2 moniter and valve and its all automatic from there and very precise. I have a ppm3 moniter that alows you to set the ppm were you desire and it turns the tank on to dispense until the desired ppm is available in the air then it shuts the tank off until the level drops below your deired ppm by 50ppm and it turns on again. i go thru a tank every week during flower and 2 a month in veg. I set my ppm to 700 ppm in veg and 1350ppm in flower and get awesome results. happy farming and good luck.
p.s remember that it is easy to over dose the co2 and get shitty results as well and no co2 during lights off!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD ADVICE FROM BEFORE ON COVERING ALL ANGLES FIRST REMEMBER YOU NEED A SEALED ROOM WITCH i ACTUALLY THINK IS EASIERSORRY ABOUT CAPS

My rooms are fairly light tight but far from sealed. If I were using bottled CO2 then the expense of that might be of concern. My method maintains a significantly elevated level of CO2 at an acceptable cost. Even with a sealed room you are constantly extracting air aren't you? I have 170 cfm blowers extracting from my rooms. I suppose I could get the levels even higher if I sealed it up more, but it works ok the way it is. Even though air is constantly coming in and out, the CO2 gets to a certain level and stays there.

i use a gen1 burner. its hot but CO2 enrichment synthesizes best in higher temeratures anyway. Coco monitor measures between 1100 and 1500 PPM. no fans. CO2 is heavier than air and will sink to the floor where the canopy is. if you can keep it contained, tents are best, it is not an expensive way to increase your yield. IDK by how much as I've never not used it

I have a green house controller that shuts off the exaust when the room is full of co2 then comes on every 30 mins to exaust and re supply the room with frsh co2. you dont want exaust fans running while you are enriching or you are just wasting the co2. I am sure that i have yielded at least one third more and closer to double since adding the co2 equipment and utilizing a scrog method. i keep my temps at 81 degrees f. and it never peaks above 84 even in the hot summer and the ladies love it. I dont think i could control the heat with a burner in my room and dry ice is too hard to control and tooo exspensive. during flower which is most of the time i spend $80 a month on co2 tank refill's and for the extra yield it is well worth it. happy farming

Yeah like I said the more contained the room the better results all around including cost. It's that simple
@queenster...u mind if I have a look at that scrog? Need ideas

dannyboy602 said:

Yeah like I said the more contained the room the better results all around including cost. It's that simple
@queenster...u mind if I have a look at that scrog? Need ideas

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Dannyboy, you might want to consider something like I did, if you have the room. Check it out:

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/427087-my-new-room.html

I just posted some new pics of the progress.