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DroJoe
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Registered: 06/23/10
Posts: 9
Last seen: 11 years, 8 months
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Re: Generating CO2 at home [Re: Javadog]
#670637 - 05/13/13 09:13 PM (11 years, 9 months ago) |
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Here is a customer review on amazon that I'm going to copy and paste. I suggest not letting this review make or break your decision on purchasing them. As they quite possibly may work under the right circumstances.
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I purchased this product in hopes of increasing plant production while saving some cash on the more expensive CO2 controller and tank/regulator set-up. The results are very disappointing and I can't understand why anyone would say anything good about this product unless they are using it in a small terrarium type enclosure. Most of the reviews indicate they aren't sure if the exhale bag has any benefit.. yet they give it a good rating?? I think they're all in denial, hoping it works for the money they just wasted. In fact, this product is a total waste of money. Only one reviewer indicates what their actual CO2 levels were because non of the reviewers evidentally have the equipment to prove this product is indeed a gimmick. They just assume the exhale bag produces usable CO2. There's a big difference between usable and beneficial.
We know that in order to get increased plant productivity/growth, we need CO2 levels of around 1500 ppm during the photo period of growth for most plants... anything over this level is ineffective and wasted money. It is well known that plant growth rates can increase by up to 30% with optimum CO2 levels of 1500 ppm. We also know plant growth almost ceases when the CO2 levels drop to 200 ppm or below. Normal outdoor air has levels of around 390 ppm. Indoors the levels widely vary depending on number of occupants, fossil fuel burned and ventilation. I can guarantee CO2 levels are greater indoors.
Now for the reality. The sad and unfortunate fact is that the exhale bag will not produce anywhere near the desired 1500 ppm in an enclosure larger than 1 cu ft space. I've done the test to prove it. Unless one uses the exhale bag in a very very small terrarium type enclosure, I'm afraid you're simply wasting your money on this product. My experience indicates the exhale bag could not raise the CO2 levels above 500 ppm in a 3 X 3 X 5.5 foot grow tent. And when I removed the bag, the levels remained the same because of the ambient CO2 in the immediate area. What do you think will occur after lighting, heat and humidity are added to the mix. Ironically, the exhaust system will fire up and draw in more usable CO2 from the ambient atmosphere than the exhale bag could ever produce.
I then placed the exhale bag in one of those 5 gallon orange Homer buckets I had from Home Depot, sealed it up with my remote controller sensor along side the exhale bag and low and behold I could get the CO2 level to increase to 1000 PPM after nearly an hour. By the way, my exhale bag expires the end of November or at least it indicates to replace it by 11/30/12.
More reality. The most cost effective means of achieving the desired 1500 ppm CO2 levels in a grow system is to invest in a good CO2 controller along with a tank and regulator or burner system. After the initial expense, one could refill a 20 pound CO2 tank nearly two times for each exhale bag they wasted money on. You'll also know exactly what your CO2 levels are while precisely contolling it and reaping the 30% growth increase we're all looking for.
What really disturbs me is the manufacturer is purporting this product is effective for a 4 X 4 or 16 sq ft grow area. (They fail to mention cubic feet which is much more important than square feet!) Their claims are completely false from my own tests and observations. I can produce more usable CO2 with one single breath than the exhale bag can produce all day long.
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