Chapter 8
Producing CO2
    
     There are many methods of producing CO2 for the growth room. Some are quite simple and inexpensive, and some require more complex equipment.
     People who have worked with the different methods of CO2 enhancement say that an automated, fan integrated, cycling injection system is the only way to go. Given proper light and the other factors that are necessary for healthy growth without CO2. there is no more rewarding investment than installing a good injection system.

Determining the Amount of CO2 to Release into the Growroom

     The first step is to determine the capacity or size of the room in cubic feet. Measure the length X width X height of the room. A room that is 10 X 10 with an 8 foot ceiling is 800 cubic feet.
     Determining the amount of CO2 that must be released to bring the growroom to 1500 ppm is done by multiplying the number of cubic feet in the room by .0015.

800 x .0015 = 1.2

     1.2 cubic feet of CO2 gas is required to enrich the air in the room to the desired 1500 ppm of CO2.
 
Maxi-CO2
 
     The 1500 ppm figure is the one given most often in the literature as being ideal. It is by no means absolute, however. One expert puts the ideal at 2000 ppm, and a pair of researchers who obtained excellent results on a Danish ebb-and-flow table used a mere 1300 ppm.
     The author of this book feels that 1500 ppm is a good general figure. Perhaps more could be beneficially supplied to some fast-growing species. 2000 or even 2500 ppm may not be too much for some species.
     Remember that the plant needs more water and nutrients as the CO2 levels climb and plant growth spurts. A plant that transpires 1 quart of water daily uses about 2 quarts or more with optimum CO2 enrichment.

 

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