Discuss CO2 from CH3COOH + (NaHCO3 + H2O)

So was doing a little looking at cheap CO2 augmentation. Looks like Baking soda and vinegar (well...acetic acid anyway) might just be the ticket. I've already worked out a dripper setup and I have a bucket setup to contain the reaction figured out.

Now I just need to work out the drip rate to get the PPM up far enough that it's worth the money to be invested in bicarb and acetic acid (might as well go with more pure acid than vinegar). I'm wondering about using a tank to store my nute water and have the CO2 vent from the reaction bucket into the nute water to be absorbed there until it's poured over the plants or if I should just let it vent into the grow room.

Using 17.4 molar Acetic acid (40 bucks a litre) and bulk bicarb (40 bucks for 30lbs) which should last a while. I'm not looking for 1800ppm, but more than the 300-600 that's probably already in the grow room.

40+ views and not a comment? Am I missing something that I should have read already which says this is a bad plan?

In any case, I have an aluminum tank that's rated for 120psi and has a 12lbs pressure relief cap (it's a custom coolant overflow bottle from one of my hotrods). I think I can set up an automated way to periodically release the CO2. Using a 10lbs spring, a couple washers and pair of check balls connected by a shaft inside the end of a drip tube, plumb that into the top of the tank. Feed from a hose to the acid bottle. From the vent hole under the pressure cap on the main tank run a hose to the underside of each bin to deliver the CO2 through the dirt/medium so it vents slowly to be absorbed by the plant. As the tank approaches 10psi the bottom ball will move upward releasing a fixed quantity of acid and then plugging the upper acid charging orifice until the pressure drops below 10psi. As the pressure drops the check ball setup charges itself with the next charge.

As soon as the acid hits the bicarb pressure will start to build rapidly. At 12psi the vent cap will open and release the co2 charge, which will drop pressure suddenly (probably below 10psi, there will be some tinkering here) causing the next measure of acid to renew the process. It's sort of like an automatic transmission valve body gone simple and then used as a timer.

Thoughts?

You don't want to disperse the CO2 into the root zone, it's the leaves that breathe CO2, not the roots. Roots breathe oxygen.

noted. thanks. Right now I'm just letting it vent into the room but I'm setting up a spare nitrous kit that I have to work with co2 and a light timer so it's more precise. Right now I'm having fun finding a place that has really really small nitrous jets on-hand. In the meantime, dry ice seems like another nice option. Just drop it into a well sealed foam chest, add a vent hole and let that bad boy evap.