How To Set Up A Co2 System In Grow Room

Grow room and indoor greenhouse growers online agree that for optimum plant growth, you should enrich the air around the plants with carbon dioxide (CO2) during the daylight growth wheel. Photosynthesis (constitute growth) requires low-cal, nutrients, water and CO2.

If you give your plants the perfect amount of light, water, and nutrients, the limiting factor in their growth will be the amount of CO2 in the air.

While normal outdoor CO2 levels (nearly 400ppm) will attain normal institute growth, doubling or tripling the CO2 levels tin increase the growth charge per unit. However, in a higher place 2,000ppm CO2 becomes toxic to plants, and above 5,000ppm CO2 becomes potentially harmful to people. Most experts agree that i,500 ppm is the maximum CO2 level for maximum found growth, although any CO2 level between one,000ppm and 1,500ppm will produce greatly improved results.

CO2 Controller Setup

indoor growner greenhouse controller

CO2 enrichment tin can easily be accomplished with CO2 controllers and digital tank regulators. In this instance, we will use the Day/Night CO2 Monitor and Controller for Greenhouses combined with our CO2 Tank Regulator.

The Day/Night CO2 Monitor and Controller is set by default to 1,000ppm CO2. You lot can change this in the setup. CO2 controllers volition automatically stop powering the tank regulator during the dark flow. Mount the controller ii-iii feet above the floor of the grow room, or just higher up the canopy of plant tops as they grow taller.

Tank Regulator Setup

co2 solenoid regulator

Connect one end of the CO2 tank regulator to a 20lb. or 50lb. CO2 tank, and the other end to several feet of ane/8" flexible tubing with holes drilled in the length of it that is suspended above the plants. Yous can purchase pre-drilled tubing at many abound-room suppliers online. Alternatively, you can put the finish of the tubing behind a fan loftier above the plants. CO2 is heavier than air, so it will menstruation downwards to the plants.

Turn on the gas at the tank. Plug the regulator into the Day/Night CO2 Monitor and Controller, and plug the controller into a grounded 120VAC wall outlet. Because the CO2 level in your grow room will be less than 1,000ppm, the regulator will turn on instantly.

Set the CO2 flow control to approximately 5 SCFH (Standard Cubic Feet per 60 minutes), which is 0.08 cubic feet per infinitesimal (5/60).

CO2 Computer

To calculate the amount of CO2 you need, you'll need to calculate the size of the grow room. For instance, if you have a 8x8x7 foot grow room, you would need to embrace 448 cubic feet (8x8x7=448). To compute the amount of CO2 required to heighten the level to 1,000ppm use this equation:

Width 10 length ten pinnacle 10 desired CO2 level in parts per million.

So in our example, we have 8x8x7x0.001 = 0.448 cubic feet of CO2 needed to raise the level within the abound room to 1,000ppm CO2.

We tin roughly summate how long the regulator will be turned on with this formula:

CO2 needed in cu.ft. / flow charge per unit per minute

Since we need 0.448 cu.ft and the regulator is prepare at 0.08 cu.ft. per minute, the CO2 Controller will activate the solenoid on the regulator for approximately 5.six minutes to heighten the CO2 level to one,000ppm (0.448/0.08).

How long volition a CO2 Tank Last?

A pound of liquid CO2 in a tank contains viii.741 cubic feet of gas, then a 20lb. cylinder would hold 175 cubic feet CO2, and a 5lb. cylinder would hold approximately 44 cubic feet CO2.

A 100% air exchange every two hours (air leakage through cracks and doors) is normal in most grow rooms and tight greenhouses, so you will apply .448 cu.ft. of CO2 every ii hours, or about .224 cu.ft per hour (.448/2). Using .224 cubic feet per hr and 18 hours of daylight, you lot would expect to use almost four cubic feet per day (.224x18). This means the 20lb. tank should theoretically last 44 days (175/4), while the 5lb. tank will last about 11 days (44/4). These estimates do not accept into account plant uptake of CO2, opening doors or curtains, or other opportunities for CO2 to escape and require replenishment.

CO2 Calculation Tips

1. Experts disagree almost the optimum level of CO2 for institute growth. You can observe arguments for 800ppm, i,000ppm, 1,200ppm and 1,500ppm. We recommend starting at 1,000ppm, then adjusting your CO2 levels over time with experience.CO2 levels below 400ppm and above 1,500ppm will reduce institute growth.

2. Experts practise concur that raising CO2 alone will non guarantee plant growth. Proper soil, nutrients, watering, light and cleanliness must exist accomplished in combination with enhanced CO2 levels for optimum results.

3. A fan inside the grow area pointed at the terminate of a length of tubing from the regulator will circulate the CO2 in the air for maximum do good. Otherwise, you can connect the regulator to a length of tubing with pin-holes strung effectually the peak of the grow room so that the CO2 will "drop" on the plants (CO2 is heavier than air).

4. If you lot are growing indoors, purchase an inexpensive timer to control your day/nighttime low-cal period. Never run CO2 during the dark menses.

5. Note the temperature on the Solar day/Night CO2 Monitor and Controller. Temperatures above 27°C (80°F) over fourth dimension tin can upshot in elongated stems and lower yields of mature plants.