is co2 worth getting?

larrypizzimp93

larrypizzimp93

Well-Known Member
Summer is coming up and my temps are already starting to hit mid 80's. I'm running 4000w hps in a room that's about 11'x13' I believe. I have a 14k btu AC in there but it's still hard to keep the temps down. Would it be more beneficial to get a co2 setup instead of buying another AC?
 
a mongo frog

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
larrypizzimp93 said:
Summer is coming up and my temps are already starting to hit mid 80's. I'm running 4000w hps in a room that's about 11'x13' I believe. I have a 14k btu AC in there but it's still hard to keep the temps down. Would it be more beneficial to get a co2 setup instead of buying another AC?
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Yes it is worth getting. Its a phenomenal thing that happens with co2 enrichment. Trust when i say once you see this you will never grow without if you can help it. Mind blowing.
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
I run a Co2 tank in a small sealed grow space at about 1200ppm. It sounds easy to add but it actually changes a lot of variables because its sealed. I grow in hydro and something as simple as moving the air pump is outside my sealed grow space to prevent the formation of carbonic acid in my nutrient solution that would push my PH lower (By how much I have never sat down and calculated nor tested but I would guess somewhere between about 0.1-0.3 so its probably not necessary but want to prevent PH swings) Since it is sealed I have my 4 1/4 airlines running into my grow space into each RDWC bucket and one outside the room in my reservoir. Now because this would create a lot of positive pressure, right beside where i drilled the whole for my 1/4 airline to go into the buckets I drilled another for 3/4 tubing that runs back outside my grow space and acts as a vent. so air goes into the buckets and instead of blowing up through my hydrocorn building pressure in the grow space it vents back outside. I did this just to improve the efficiency of use of Co2 since i'm not using a burner. It also should have a way to vent at night. You also need some decent monitoring and preferably controlling equipment. And might need to step up your dehumidifier as you will likely see an increase in humidity.

My room is to small for a burner but I do know ethylene is a plant hormone that will speed up the ripening of fruit including buds so there might be something you have to do to address this or maybe not, never used one.

I'm not trying to discourage it by any means but when i decided to go with Co2 there were a few changes i had to make that cost me money i was not expecting to spend in order to make it work for my needs.

With all that negative shit said... I feel its worth it. But i'm not a cash crop guy or have a big grow room.

You have the lighting for it but which would probably be the easiest and cheapest... adding another AC.
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
larrypizzimp93 said:
This is my setup so far. from what the hydro guy said I guess the plants want around 85F with 1500ppm of co2 for best results?
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Yeah exactly what i use single stage regulator with flowmeter controlled by a solenoid and Co2 controller. Looks like a 10lb tank. Might want 2 of them so you can switch out since you probably wont get a full cycle out of it.
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
I set my flowmeter so it takes about 1 hr to reach max ppm and it comes on 1 hr earlier than my light so max ppm at lights on. Then goes off an hour before lights out. I have low flow on my flowmeter so that my readings stay accurate and when the controller shuts off the Co2 the ppm don't continue to rise due to lag. Co2 is heavy so good circulation of the lower portion of the room is important.

Good luck with it.
 
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nobighurry

Well-Known Member
Co2 costs me a little less than a dollar a day, the first time I ran co2 I was totally shocked at the growth once I found their happy spot, 1200ppm and 85 deg F, I run it during the winter so I don't have to heat the -20 deg air and deal with all the condensation from the super cold air hitting the warm grow rooms, it does create humidity issues of its own, plants burn through nutrients and water but IMO everyone should try it once especially if your a little bored...
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
To be honest it never was that great here but now everyone swears by it with massive yeilds and much faster growth.

So what are you getting extra in yeild - 20% more or something and the ability to run at much higher temps say plus30..... sure seems this way :-)
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
I don't think i would say quite 20% increase in yields but yes there is a noticeable increase (I see roughly about 15% increase but i'm not a huge number cruncher that calculates watts/gram etc.) . That's not to say its not possible and ppl do not see 20% or higher if everything is dialed in. I mean adding Co2 changes the demands for the plant it eats more, drinks more, grows much faster, i would say yes somewhere around 20% plus faster if i had to guess. I'm a hobbyist and grow for myself. For me it's about producing the best weed out of the space i have, not making money. If you have the lights for it the next limiting factor in growth would be Co2. You will absolutely see a difference in growth and yield but how much depends on how well you have everything else dialed in.
 
a mongo frog

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
Aqua Man said:
I don't think i would say quite 20% increase in yields but yes there is a noticeable increase (I see roughly about 15% increase but i'm not a huge number cruncher that calculates watts/gram etc.) . That's not to say its not possible and ppl do not see 20% or higher if everything is dialed in. I mean adding Co2 changes the demands for the plant it eats more, drinks more, grows much faster, i would say yes somewhere around 20% plus faster if i had to guess. I'm a hobbyist and grow for myself. For me it's about producing the best weed out of the space i have, not making money. If you have the lights for it the next limiting factor in growth would be Co2. You will absolutely see a difference in growth and yield but how much depends on how well you have everything else dialed in.
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Don't you see a difference on bud swelling? Like the buds are on steroids vs a fresh air intake room. Hasn't your smell went down via going sealed. Mine sure has.
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
a mongo frog said:
Don't you see a difference on bud swelling? Like the buds are on steroids vs a fresh air intake room. Hasn't your smell went down via going sealed. Mine sure has.
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Sheesh is anyone not running Co2, i can understand the long term growers but every new growers got some atm. To be honest i thought it was unprofitable unless you were pro and hard to see any increase unless you were pretty good at growing.

Can i literally add this and expect more yeild oris it not so easy luke whats always been said here?

Not something ive used because of the advice but now it seems a new craze or something cause its got very popular :-)
 
a mongo frog

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
Kingrow1 said:
Sheesh is anyone not running Co2, i can understand the long term growers but every new growers got some atm. To be honest i thought it was unprofitable unless you were pro and hard to see any increase unless you were pretty good at growing.

Can i literally add this and expect more yeild oris it not so easy luke whats always been said here?

Not something ive used because of the advice but now it seems a new craze or something cause its got very popular :-)
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Bro i was conceived with a leaky rubber. Co2 is a must have when one is conceived like me. If you were planned to be on this earth i guess fresh air rooms are just fine, not sure.
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
a mongo frog said:
Don't you see a difference on bud swelling? Like the buds are on steroids vs a fresh air intake room. Hasn't your smell went down via going sealed. Mine sure has.
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Yes absolutely can see a big difference. Just not sure i can give an accurate measurement and rather be a bit conservative in my estimations than give a false inflated picture of it. I'm not saying everyone is inflating it, im just trying to be conservative in my estimations.
Kingrow1 said:
Sheesh is anyone not running Co2, i can understand the long term growers but every new growers got some atm. To be honest i thought it was unprofitable unless you were pro and hard to see any increase unless you were pretty good at growing.

Can i literally add this and expect more yeild oris it not so easy luke whats always been said here?

Not something ive used because of the advice but now it seems a new craze or something cause its got very popular :-)
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Its not that simple. You need the light power to do it. I can almost assure you there will be some guy with cfl's claiming he is getting 30% bigger buds. You have the lights to see a benefit so the rest is up to you.
 
larrypizzimp93

larrypizzimp93

Well-Known Member
would I see a noticeable difference with about 2 weeks till harvest? and with the regulator how do I use it? Do I just turn the tank on a little and open the flowmeter till it gets full?
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
larrypizzimp93 said:
would I see a noticeable difference with about 2 weeks till harvest? and with the regulator how do I use it? Do I just turn the tank on a little and open the flowmeter till it gets full?
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I run mine until about 3 weeks from harvest (i only run 8 weeks strains) and always have so i cannot say definitively but I doubt you would see any difference. Even at 3 weeks before harvest i could probably stop sooner. Basically the extra Co2 provides better rate of photosynthesis and faster growth rate. Once the plant is late in flower it shifts away from from making and storing energy and focuses on growing buds with the stored energy it has made, so Co2 shouldn't make any difference. That's the idea behind it but like i say i have never used mine past 3 weeks from harvest. I think the biggest impact of Co2 on buds is the ability to increase the amount of energy the plant can make and intern store previous to late flowering stages. Others may have some experience running late flower but sorry i don't. I mean i would probably say 4 weeks if i was recommending but i am a creature of habit
 
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Aqua Man

Well-Known Member
Oh the regulator part of it. set the regulator to about 15 psi. it looks like yours is preset but there may be a set screw anywhere from 10-20psi is fine. A single stage can have end of tank dump so a dual stage is better but lets not get into that. Open your tank up all the way, the regulator will regulate the pressure down to 10-20psi then the flow meter will restrict the flow aka volume of Co2 flowing through the line. The controller will control the Co2 flow on/off cycle so when the desired ppm is reached it will shut the flow off until the ppm low set point is reach and it will open the solenoid to start the flow again until the upper Co2 setpoint is reached. I set my flow so that from startup it takes about 1hr to reach my upper set point. The faster the flow rate from the flowmeter the faster it will reach the upper setpoint and shut off. BUT faster is not always better because the lag time it takes to mix in the air and for the Co2 controller to react and shut off the solenoid. The problem this can create is that by the time the controller shuts of the Co2 you actually have more ppm than what your setpoint is so by slowing the flowmeter down it gives time for the controller to react and becomes more accurate. There is a happy medium to this and its room specific. most shoot for about 30 min to reach the upper setpoint from startup. I choose an hour just because I feel it provides more accuracy and control. Is it necessary.... Nope. Hope that explains it
 
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