The Do’s and Don’ts of Adding CO2 to Your Grow Room

February 18, 2022

Plants require carbon dioxide (CO₂) to grow, prosper, and propagate. However, when raised in a sealed grow room, plants may struggle to access the amount of CO2 they need to thrive. Using a CO₂ regulator and controller setup for plants in your grow room allows you to produce higher yields in less time.

The Best Way of Adding CO₂ to Tent Grows

It’s important to remember that while adding CO₂ to your tent grow operations has many benefits, growing with CO₂ is not a magical fix-all solution. For your CO₂ setup to be effective for plants, you must pair it with optimum conditions to promote growth, increasing your plants’ output and raising your overall profits.

DO Calculate the Best CO₂ Levels for Your Plants

While the exact approach for calculating the best CO₂ levels for plants can depend on your grow system and other variables, there are some consistent factors. Studies have shown that plants achieve optimal growth when CO₂ is kept between 1200-1500 PPM (parts per million). Steady levels are most important while the plants are flowering, but plants will benefit at every stage of growth.

DON’T Allow Your CO₂ Levels to Drop Too Low

When CO₂ levels fall too low in your grow room, plants will struggle to photosynthesize. They will convert all available CO₂ and suffocate. The plant's cell structure and overall health will suffer, creating off-color, weak grows.

DO Pair Your CO₂ Grow System with Effective Grow Lights

Install the best lighting for your grow system. CO₂ is particularly efficient when paired with:

• HPS grow lights
• LEC/CMH grow lights
• Strong LED lights

DON’T Ignore the Temperature in Your Grow Tent

Plants supplemented by a CO₂ grow system have a higher resistance to heat than those grown without, and they can stand up to the sometimes high temperatures generated by grow lights. CO₂ in tent grow operations is most valuable when the temperature is above 85°F.

 

 

How to Add CO₂ to Your Grow Room

Once you’ve decided to add CO₂ to your grow room, it’s time to decide on how. The best way of adding CO₂ to tent grows and keeping levels consistent is through installing a full CO₂ setup for plants.

Natural CO₂ Methods

Generate natural CO₂ by hanging bags that produce fungi or pads from a canopy over your grow room. While this is the cheapest option, it is also the hardest to control and not recommended. CO₂ levels are often inconsistent or reach dangerous levels due to the lack of CO₂ controllers and regulators.

CO₂ Controllers & CO₂ Tank Regulators

CO₂ controllers and CO₂ tank regulators maintain consistent CO₂ levels in grow tents. When levels get too high, the regulator switches off until levels get too low, and they power on again. However, for most CO₂ controllers to function as designed, someone must be available to switch depleted gas tanks, including on nights, weekends, and holidays.

Automatic Gas Cylinder Changeover Systems

When you want the hands-off experience of a natural CO₂ system paired with the safety features and capabilities of CO₂ controllers and regulators, an automatic gas cylinder changeover system is your best option. These non-electric auto-switching CO₂ setups, such as Assurance Valve’s Eliminator system, feature a variety of advantages, including:

• Straightforward installation
• Higher efficiency than electronic changeover systems
• Lowers waste by using all the CO₂ in a cylinder for no loss of product
• Intuitive operational capacities
• And many more!

Contact Assurance Valve Today!

For over thirty years, Assurance Valve has been an industry-leading choice for automatic gas cylinder changeover systems. From teaching you how to add CO₂ to grow rooms to improving your craft brewery operations, we’ve got the knowledge, resources, and products you need for your industry.

Want to learn more? Contact us or request a quote today! We can work with existing CO₂ setups for easy installation and stress-free operations.