Best mounting position for co2 generator

Today I got something that I have been wanting for a couple of years now. A co2 generator and the various other stuff you need with it. Yippie! All Green Air brand, all from a hydro store. (I know, I'm crazy.) My wife isn't thrilled, but now I get to see if the claims of 20 to 40 percent increase in yeild are true, along with the claims of earlier bloom time. I'm not looking forward to the work involved in tearing apart my grow room and rebuilding it, but I am looking forward to finally getting this done.

I can't seem to find any information on the best place to mount the generator. According to the directions it doesn't really matter. It comes with a chain and hardware to mount from the ceiling, on the wall, or free standing. The Green Air web site doesn't address this, except to repeat the directions. I know that co2 is heavier than air, so I guess this means that I want to mount it above the plants, and not free standing on the surface under them. Do ya'll concure? And how high above the plants? Close to them, or way up by the ceiling. Calculations indicate leaving the generator on for 3 minutes will deliver 2000 ppm.

I don't know if this matters much, but the co2 is going in my flower section, which is about 3x3x9 feet, with the surface of the growing medium about 2 feet from the floor.

Any input would be great. I searched here and other places.

Next step: automatic dosers, then I'm pretty much done, I hope. Or does anyone ever really get done building their set up?

Well I know you are not going to like my input here but I think you have some more stuff to buy. Namely a CO2 analizer of some sort. You NEED this if you are going to augment CO2 effectively. Ambient CO2 levels in some areas are nearly 1500ppm and there seems to be virtually no need for a CO2 generation system.

You can go cheap and get the CO2 analizer tubes kit for $20. I reccomend a telair or similar digital CO2 meter. If you tamper with the environment like this you need to know what you are doing and what the result is. A guess of a baseline and a guess of addition rate along with a guess of the final result is not a precise way to control a very fragile band of CO2 that is necessary for optimal plant production.

Adding CO2 without analisis would be like adding nutes without a PPM/EC meter.. and in my opinion just as harmful as it can be beneficial..

Thank you for your input, but I am not guessing. And I am not sure how you know that I need to buy more stuff, when I said that I bought a generator and the stuff you need to go with it.

There are two ways to input C02, and have it shut off at the right ppm. (1) have your controller hooked up to a ppm meter, that sends a signal to the controler at the proper ppm. (2) have your controler hooked up to a timer, that sends a signal to the controler at the proper time. You just need to figure out what that time is.

At this point, it costs roughly $500 extra to use method one, so I went with the timer. I talked with the guy at the hydro store about this, and he says that he hardly ever sales a ppm controler. Almost everyone who buys from that store uses a timer to shut off the co2 at the proper point. I don't think the vast majority are doing it wrong. There are many ways to figure this out using time instead of ppm for shut off points. Green Air has a calculator that tells you how long to leave the co2 on for your particular enclosed space. If Green Air recommends controling the co2 with a timer as one method, can it really be that bad?

How many of you guys use a timer?
How many use a ppm controller instead?
Where do I find the cheapest ppm controler, and how much is it, and do I want to buy the cheapest one?

Now would anyone like to take a stab at answering my original question?

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Originally Posted by Aaron385

Adding CO2 without analisis would be like adding nutes without a PPM/EC meter.. and in my opinion just as harmful as it can be beneficial..

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Great! I did this for a couple of years with wonderful results. I just followed the directions and everything turned out great.

In my set up is it possible to add too much co2 in 3 minutes? I mean what if I accidently went to 3000 or 4000 ppm. That wouldn't hurt the plants would it? I think I remember reading that plants can easily tolerate 20,000 ppm, but it won't help any extra above 2000, but I'm not sure. Maybe it was a dream. Now aaron has me a little worried. Maybe I'll start with 1 minute and work my way up to 3.

And I guess since no one is suggesting otherwise I'll go ahead and mount the generator on the ceiling. Makes sense, since co2 is heavier than air.

Get a PPM controller it will make things much easier. And as far as your space goes the 3x3x9 you could have just got a tank and a regulator and saved some money are you growing in a closet. Generators are for somewhat bigger spaces like say a 10x10x10 room. Is your's natural gas or propane. Most people hang them from the studs in the ceiling to get them above the plants then put a circulating fan under them on like a medium setting to help spread the Co2 good luck and don't burn your house down these things are dangerous if not used correctly..........:thumbsup:

Hey Opie, you might also want to consider one of them CO2 alarm thingies like a smoke detector. Damn bro, dont want ya gassin the family messin around with your new toy. I dont know what the toxic levels are for humans, but I know CO2 can make ya go to sleep and not wake up. Just a heads up. I'm sure they are 40-50 bucks and its worth that for your protection.


b0nger

Like bong said they are dangerous thats why a PPM controller will help maintain the correct and safe levels. And you want to make sure the area is sealed or is exhausted every so often..............:rasta:

I think those two are thinking about CO not CO2 but if your burner is messed up it will put off CO so its not entirely a bad idea.

As far as doing hydro without an EC or PPM meter.. the best I can say is one day your luck will run out..

Where do I find the cheapest ppm controler, and how much is it, and do I want to buy the cheapest one?

eb-ay $35 telair ventostat.. maybe another $5 for the cable so you can change the setpoint from factory 1100ppm to your desired ppm level

High amounts of Co2 can kill you..............

Hey everyone, thanks so much for your advice and input.

This sounds to good to be true if I understand you correctly. Aaron, is this a controler? One that would be used instead of a timer. Will it shut off the co2 at the desired level? Or is it solely a meter. I thought the controlers were about $600. That's a lot different than the $40 you mention. If this can shut off the co2 at a certain ppm I will take back my $140 cyclestat timer. It mentions programing it using PC based software. Is this hard to do? Have you done it? Can I just say "shut off my generator at 1500 ppm"? This would be wonderful, and much cheaper than the timer. I only found one ebay add about this and it doesn't mention a cable to change the set point. And what cable do I need to attach it to my generator?

From ebay:
New in Box Telaire Vaporstat 8001-N CO2 Ventilation Controller.
All Ventostat Controls are provided with dual analog outputs (0-10 V and 4-20 mA), mounting/wiring sub-base. All 8000 series have a DPST relay (normally open or closed) and can be custom programmed to a specific measurement and output range using the UIP PC based software.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Telaire-Vent...QQcmdZViewItem

And does anyone know where I can buy a co2 monitor/alarm? There are many co alarms to choose frorm, but none for co2
that I could find.

bonger: Do you know where I could get one of those co2 alarms you speak of?

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Originally Posted by Aaron385

As far as doing hydro without an EC or PPM meter.. the best I can say is one day your luck will run out..

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I said I did this for a couple years with great results. I don't anymore, since meters are so cheap now. It's not hard to get away with. You just start with 1/4 strength of what the directions call for, then gradually increase until you see small signs of over-nuting, then back off a little, and the proper ppm level for your particular situation is established.

Or buy a meter for $25.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Co2+detectors

There is the google link, Op's. Take your pic bro, and I anxiously await a LOG showing this new CO2 enhanced grow.

By the way, BGHydro has a controller/sensor thing that once it reaches 1500 ppm or whatever you choose, it shuts off the generator or tank until it drops to whatever value you set for it to turn back on. Even can get em with photo-eye sensor so it wont kick on during dark period.

From all the reading I have done it seems as if you want to bring up the level in a sealed room, leave it alone/maintain for 4 hours, then have your intake and exhaust fans kick on a do a complete exchange of air and then jack your CO2 back up again.

I also read in one of Zandors posts that your plants suck a buncha water when you gas em. So be prepared for that as well.

If I can offer any other help, just ask. Since I am retired now and my grass is dormant, garden is about done, and ole lady finally got a job, I got nothing but time to research if needed.......LMAO

Best of luck,
b0nger

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Originally Posted by bongerstonerd00d

I got nothing but time...

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Man I envy you. This is a dream of mine.

Closet is all tore apart now, getting ready to start putting it back together. Too bad I work 11 hours and am too damn tired when I get home to do anything.

Hey opie... The plants can only asorbe the extra CO² during the light cycle is that what you are asking?

I just put up a CO² basic in the FAQ incase you are intrested.

Props on the generator. :thumbsup: