Setting up my grow room and am considering what I need to have CO2 in my space, which btw is 7x7x7. I'm planning on having a carbon filter to deal with the stink - My question is, what do I need to deliver adequate CO2 to that amt of space. What size tank should I look into buying. What kind of regulator --- (where should I buy it...) Look forward to hearing your insights h
Try to find a tank used on craigslist. A 20# is the type used for carbonated beverages, and works well for our needs.You will end up trading it in for a filled one each time you need to refill, so dropping 150 bucks on a new tank is a waste IMO. I was able to get 2 beat up aluminum tanks on craigslist for 150 bucks, and I've traded in for brand new tanks, and have also gotten some pretty beat up tanks. You'll need a regulator with a solenoid that turns the tank off and on. You'll also want a flow meter on it that will allow you to adjust the scfh (standard cubic feet/hour). Some flow meters can go as high as 15 scfh. My space is about 575 cu/ft, and when set at 2 scfh, it takes about 20 minutes to bring the co2 up to 1500ppm. This brings us to the most important component to use co2 efficiently.......a co2 controller. These are units that can sense the saturation level of the amount of co2 in your space, and turn on and shut off the co2 to maintain the proper level. You need to maintain 1500ppm co2 to be most effective. If you can't maintain this level constantly, you'll be wasting your time and money IMHO. The best deals on co2 equipment I have found are on Ebay. You should be able to find a regulator for around 100 bucks with free shipping, and controllers start at around 300 with free shipping. Look for a controller that has "Fuzzy Logic" if you will be venting your room. This feature shuts off the co2 if your ventilation is running so you don't waste co2. Otherwise, you may want to consider a closed loop scrubber for the smell. Any kind of room ventilation can deplete the co2 rapidly. If your ventilation is also cooling your light, you might have to consider an A/C unit for room cooling. There is a lot to consider when setting up a grow room with co2. To do it right, it's not unlikely that you could spend 1000-1200 dollars to optimize ventilation, cooling, and the co2 system. You'll want to make sure the room is airtight also to make sure that the co2 does not "seep" out of the room. Hope this post answers some of your questions.......... chunk