C02 Generator Issues (Propane) & C02 Deficiency

Hi guys. This question is aimed towards the experts. I have decent experience myself so don't assume I'm making any newbie mistakes lol. pH and RH are perfect, as well as all other aspects of the room.

So to cut to the chase.. my plants are starved of C02 and I believe it's killing them. I have an iPonic 614 grow room controller with a C02 sensor built in. And it is a 12x20 sealed grow room. I also have a Gotham 8 burner C02 generator I am running on with propane, but I don't use it often because every time I do, it seems to be killing my plants. I heard that the downfall of burning propane is that it creates too much carbon monoxide. I can feel it, it gives me a strange deep pain in my chest going in there after burning. And a few hours after doing this, my plants curl downwards very badly (server claw). I do not have pics to show right now sorry. But this doesn't make sense because I'm only burning for like 3-5 minutes at a time, and maybe only once or twice a day. I never go past 1500ppm. What does everyone else do?? Whenever I don't inject C02, my plants literally deplete all C02 in the room. It will go to 0ppm and give my sensor an error lol. I know it's accurate because as soon as I enter the room for a few minutes the ppms will go up from my breathing. So this is a classic damned if I do or damned if I don't scenario.. They are starving for C02, but the propane burner is killing them. I also have an intake and exhaust in the room I tried testing, to get C02 from the air outside.. but it literally doesn't work. I'm assuming because they are only 6 inch round openings that maybe that isn't big enough to suck in adequate amounts of C02? But I can have the intake fan running all day and the C02 will stay at 0ppm. This also doesn't make sense.

What would you guys do in my situation? I'm almost certain I won't be able to afford an actual C02 tank with a regulator. I'm afraid to even look at prices lol. I want to be able to use what I already invested in! This C02 generator was $300 when I first bought it.

my propane maintains a comfy 800-1000ppm for 12 hours daily. my plants love it. my dehumidifier and ac loves it too, and so does my electric company. but I dont see any negative issues for plants. your unit could be malfunctioning somehow, my o2 stays good here. you could reduce the amount of c02 you're augmenting maybe? a bummed out burner is my first guess, if not
buy an o2 meter if it concerns you, but dont kill yourself in there....during end flower anyways

Have you checked for propane leaks? Flame burning blue? The co2 should not be making the plants suffer, maybe it's from increased humidity? It doesn't sound right that your co2 monitor is showing 0ppm while exhausting the room.

Thanks for the replies. My CO2 meter is working correctly. What I meant about the 0 ppms is that if I do not use my propane burner, my plants use up all available C02 until it reads 0ppm in there and then my plants start showing deficiencies from it. And no growth. But if I DO use the propane burner, it seems like it is also hurting them. The CO2 meter works because I'll burn propane for a few minutes and it'll raise the room to 1500ppm. At that point, it's very hard to breathe in there. The air gets very heavy and stinks like propane. A few hours later my plants are curling downwards and look like crap. What I have been doing lately is just airing the room out and giving them fresh air from the door. But this isn't acceptable because I'm going to start getting bugs flying in or draw attention with the bright lights. Maybe it's possible I do have a propane leak through the supply line? Should burning the propane be completely odorless? It's not an overbearing smell but it's still quite strong when you first walk in.

all coco said:

Have you checked for propane leaks? Flame burning blue? The co2 should not be making the plants suffer, maybe it's from increased humidity? It doesn't sound right that your co2 monitor is showing 0ppm while exhausting the room.

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What does burning blue indicate? I think it is always a blue flame, I have even seen it turn green once. I don't believe the plants are hurting from the CO2, my beliefs are either there is too much carbon monoxide (which kills both humans & plants) or maybe I do have a leak, and the pure propane gas being released is hurting the plants. What are your thoughts?

you are poisoning yourself, now lets figure out how its happening.
put a carbon monoxide sensor in the room for pennies and eliminate that right?

if your propane tank is inside of your room this is never good. those supply lines smell like propane after first use, get a good stainless steel certified one, its worth it.

if you can put the tank and regulator outside of the sealed room. I ran the line through my wall and keep the tank outside of the room but in the barn.

jsisko01 said:

Thanks for the replies. My CO2 meter is working correctly. What I meant about the 0 ppms is that if I do not use my propane burner, my plants use up all available C02 until it reads 0ppm in there and then my plants start showing deficiencies from it. And no growth. But if I DO use the propane burner, it seems like it is also hurting them. The CO2 meter works because I'll burn propane for a few minutes and it'll raise the room to 1500ppm. At that point, it's very hard to breathe in there. The air gets very heavy and stinks like propane. A few hours later my plants are curling downwards and look like crap. What I have been doing lately is just airing the room out and giving them fresh air from the door. But this isn't acceptable because I'm going to start getting bugs flying in or draw attention with the bright lights. Maybe it's possible I do have a propane leak through the supply line? Should burning the propane be completely odorless? It's not an overbearing smell but it's still quite strong when you first walk in.


What does burning blue indicate? I think it is always a blue flame, I have even seen it turn green once. I don't believe the plants are hurting from the CO2, my beliefs are either there is too much carbon monoxide (which kills both humans & plants) or maybe I do have a leak, and the pure propane gas being released is hurting the plants. What are your thoughts?

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if u smell gas u got a leak,sounds to me u r making co not co2 gas tech here many yrs, u want the flame nice an blue, any thing else is poison

What are your Temps and RH during lights on?

Might as well rest the ppm shut off for 1250 to 1300.....You aren't helping the plant over that amount as you can't supply enough light intensity to make 1500 ppm work.

At the 1300 ppm level,......You must be running 1 K or Cob LEDS for that to work also.

Set your controller to exhaust (that's right, I said exhaust! More on this later) and turn on cooling at temp 88-90F and the RH should be 80% values. The controller should take care of not just ppm levels, but the environment also!

Every Book writer and college schooled grower will tell you that gassing in veg is not worth the cost. You must also stop gassing for the last 2 weeks - Co2 slows to stops the plants natural production of a gas that ripens the buds....

Anyone telling you that gassing in veg is productive...Is full of their own BS.

If you have several intakes and exhausts. You pull the air from the room, from the ceiling level (Co2 depleted air rises as Co2 is heavier then air and drops). 12x20 (you didn't say how tall) I'll call it an 8 ft height......so 1920 cubic ft of air must be moved....Use 2 fans that will do that as fast as possible. Remove 1.5 times or better the cubic ft of the room. This needs to be done at least once an hour if not running gas......When running gas. The controller will take care of this as it has been set like I said above - right?

The idea that "sealed" room is the way to gas.....Isn't really the best idea. Having that ability to turn that air over in the room....Gives you the ability to run with out gas.....One day you may find that you can do just fine without gassing....I did, years ago...

Dr. Who said:

What are your Temps and RH during lights on?

Might as well rest the ppm shut off for 1250 to 1300.....You aren't helping the plant over that amount as you can't supply enough light intensity to make 1500 ppm work.

At the 1300 ppm level,......You must be running 1 K or Cob LEDS for that to work also.

Set your controller to exhaust (that's right, I said exhaust! More on this later) and turn on cooling at temp 88-90F and the RH should be 80% values. The controller should take care of not just ppm levels, but the environment also!

Every Book writer and college schooled grower will tell you that gassing in veg is not worth the cost. You must also stop gassing for the last 2 weeks - Co2 slows to stops the plants natural production of a gas that ripens the buds....

Anyone telling you that gassing in veg is productive...Is full of their own BS.

If you have several intakes and exhausts. You pull the air from the room, from the ceiling level (Co2 depleted air rises as Co2 is heavier then air and drops). 12x20 (you didn't say how tall) I'll call it an 8 ft height......so 1920 cubic ft of air must be moved....Use 2 fans that will do that as fast as possible. Remove 1.5 times or better the cubic ft of the room. This needs to be done at least once an hour if not running gas......When running gas. The controller will take care of this as it has been set like I said above - right?

The idea that "sealed" room is the way to gas.....Isn't really the best idea. Having that ability to turn that air over in the room....Gives you the ability to run with out gas.....One day you may find that you can do just fine without gassing....I did, years ago...

Click to expand...

good advice!

but "I can feel it, it gives me a strange deep pain in my chest going in there after burning.... it's very hard to breathe in there..... The air gets very heavy and stinks like propane."

Fuck those plants, at least for now.
I figure op has stopped c02 follies, one way or another. Hopefully until these issues are understood.

chemphlegm said:

good advice!

but "I can feel it, it gives me a strange deep pain in my chest going in there after burning.... it's very hard to breathe in there..... The air gets very heavy and stinks like propane."

Fuck those plants, at least for now.
I figure op has stopped c02 follies, one way or another. Hopefully until these issues are understood.

Click to expand...

I hope so.....
The prop smell is from slow ignition - I hope. He should have used a yellow gas tape for sealing all line joints...

Actual death from gas (Co2) is at some really high ppm's.....The heavy air is from the RH....