Co2 Gear

[coldcanna]

Hey guys, I'm framing out my new space right now and will be running a sealed room with around 2k of lights and 6 dwc trees. I haven't used co2 before and was hoping somebody could chime in and give me some advice on getting a basic setup put together. My local dro shop sells the tanks filled for 100 something, I'm looking for recommendations on what gear I need to run this setup. I imagine its something like tank, regulator, control? Any advice would be much appreciated, money isn't a huge deal but I'd like to get out of it for around 500 total. Thanks !

 

[mliokv48]

I know some shops will match prices I have seen the autopilit fuzzy logic for as low as 350 and also I beleive hydrofarm regulator and solenoid for 75 =425+bottle= 525

 

[ydijadoit]

Your on track for $500 for the co2 gear. I finally set up a small 4x4x8' high cabinet, with a 1000whps, and co2.
I went with the Atlas 2 controller. It works fine, but I would have spent a little more $ if I had it, to get something with more user selectable options. The preset controller is ok, but I am reading more and more that 1500ppm may be a little high. Possibly 1200ppm is a better setting for our favorite plants.
For what it's worth, setting up my entire cab, with 5200btu AC, co2 controller, bottle (From my local welding supply store), dehumidifier, fans, etc, etc. was $1500.
If I had a bigger setup, an environmental controller would be at the top of my list. It's fine to have co2, but it would be REALLY nice, not to have to watch everything like a hawk, and adjust a/c, fans, etc. every day.
Biggest part of the learning curve for me, is keeping up with feeding and watering. I'm starting to get it after two runs, but the first run was not good. Things are just different with sealed and co2'd.
Hope this helps a little.
Regards.

 

[coldcanna]

Thanks for the advice fellas, went back to the store today it was 150 for a filled tank and 150 for regulator, then you need to buy the control/solenoid whatever its called. I dunno if I can drop the extra 3-400 bucks for a total room control so I might just calculate the lbs per hour on the regulator and make a rough calculation for the cubic feet.... Also since its in a cold basement using a propane burner might kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[mliokv48]

Buddy has one and told me that with a CO2 generator allow 2.5 BTU's of extra cooling power per cf of grow room space. Also suggested not using fuzzy logic with them. He didnt elaborate.

 

[Heeb]

Go with a water cooled burner. The tanks are a total hassle. I used to use a 50 lb tank in 6-8 days in a sealed room. I got a hydro-gen co2 water cooled burner and use a 5 gal propane bottle in 2 weeks. You can put your hand on it when running, it's that cool. I went from around $600 a grow to about $125 by changing to a burner. I don't have to unload 200 lb bottles either. I will never go back.

 

[Treetroit City]

Go with a water cooled burner. The tanks are a total hassle. I used to use a 50 lb tank in 6-8 days in a sealed room. I got a hydro-gen co2 water cooled burner and use a 5 gal propane bottle in 2 weeks. You can put your hand on it when running, it's that cool. I went from around $600 a grow to about $125 by changing to a burner. I don't have to unload 200 lb bottles either. I will never go back.

Lol, no offense but either your room was not sealed or you were growing in a huge warehouse and I'm pretty sure the OP will not be running his 2K in a huge warehouse.

I have a 12x13x8 room that is sealed and I go through a 20 pound tank every 8 weeks!

I take it to the welding shop and exchange it for another tank for 15 bucks, no waiting for it to be filled or anything like that. Drop the empty, grab a filled one and I'm off.

Definitely go with fuzzy logic if you go gased.

Autopilot, Sentenel and Titan all have the same exact one out of the same factory just different choice of pretty colors.

For a 2K or even 6K room I'd suggest going with the tanks as long as you have easy enough access to refills or exchanges. Just need to make sure it's actually sealed, in other words every wall covered and taped or at least every seam caulked.

Oh yeah, check craigslist for used tanks

 

[coldcanna]

Yea my flower is 10x10x7 and veg is 8x8x7 and I move the air between the 2 to keep temps even. HTG has a tank/regulator combo for $240, I dunno if I can drop the 400+ on a good environmental controller at this point, is anybody on here just doing the numbers on scfh x size of the room and going off that with no controls?

 

[Treetroit City]

I did that for years and it worked okay. Of course there were more fluctuations than I have now using my Autopilot but it works.

Here's a good calculator if you don't already have one.
http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/co2_calculator.asp
Notice it says co2 to add not co2 target. Already got like 400 ppm in the air so add 500-800

And yeah, don't go 1500 stay between 900-1200

 

[coldcanna]

Very cool Third Coast that calculator was exactly what I was looking for. Did you flood the room every 3 hours like their page says?

 

[Treetroit City]

Yeah two or three. I had pretty cool reg with a built-in cycle timer. It was pretty nice.

You can get co2 monitors with built-in data loggers for under 200. They can help dial in co2 levels.

 

[coldcanna]

Thanks for the help man I'll have to keep my eye out for one of those

 

[Treetroit City]

Autopilot makes one.

I have a green eye co2 logger.
http://www.global-sensors.com/GreenEye.htm

 

[coldcanna]

Coast you are a life saver, thats such a sick deal.... A few days of dialing and I should be able to keep my room pretty stable with the correct cycles. I'm gonna order this for sure

 

[Treetroit City]

No problemo.

Here to help.