hey everybody, I know Pa Kilter posted back on Feb. 13th about this setup. I had made a comment about experimenting with this setup to make it better. The problem I had with it was that when the solutions would mix together it would lose it’s reaction over time, long before all the solution had mix together. During my experiment I found that the ratios of baking soda to citric acid only played into how long the reaction would take place, meaning no matter the ratio, once the citric acid started to react with the baking soda mixture it would get to a point where the reaction was done, even if you added more citric acid to the baking soda. Now you could shake the mixed bottle and get more reaction. If it wasn’t for having to shake the bottle and that the reaction stopped this setup could easily support a 2×4 grow tent for a solid week. I’m trying to create a walk away for a week setup. Fairley challenging to accomplish but I’m getting there. I suck at explaining things so I made a video. With a cheap air pump this setup can easily be used with a Co2 controller or a timer if you have a data logger and not a controller. The controller would be much easier I think than figuring out an on and off duration for maintaining co2 levels. I mention you can scale this up, for example with two 5 gallon buckets and one 10 gallon, which would last for a very long time vented into a small tent.
diy co2 generator mod
by Mr. Split | Mar 22, 2020 | Grow Hacks | 3 comments
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hey buddy the citric acid generators work like this …. #2 one liter bottles coke or dr pepper are good ones bargain basement bottles may explode,,,, NOW take 200 grams citric acid food grade,, one cup IS 200 GRAMS , & 400 ml water,, in one 2 liter bottle,,,& then 200gms of baking soda , one cup two 200 ml of water, in the other, then there is some squeezing,,, of bottles and you build 2 two 4 pounds of back pressure,, then the pressure will bleed the acid from one bottle and add it two the other creating co2,,,, i have been using these for 2 years,, now… They work great… you need a hole kit witch looks like what you have.. i have the ones amazon sell,, you need a bubble counter,, the better one is from china with the bubble counter,, the blue one you will need a bubble counter,,and you set them for 1 bubble ever other second two every second,, and the co 2 will last for 2 weeks two 1 1/2 months depending on the bubbles… its going two raise the co 2 level in a tent or small space and they work great… not for a space bigger than 3×3 ,,good luck my friend..
SORRY I MESSED UP 600 ML WATER AND 200 CITRIC ACID IN ONE BOTTLE & 200ML WATER 200 GRAMS OF BAKING SODA IN THE OTHER SORRY.. CITRIC ACID IS THE FIRST BOTTLE..
Thanks for commenting on my hack. I’ve been bored sitting at home and waiting for a good conversation. I am well aware of the recommended ratios for mixing these together. The explosion was the 1/4 inch tubing not the bottle, and was not the 1/4 inch tubing that was supplied with the device, so that’s on me. However, 200 grams of baking soda mixed with 200 ml of water will take you quick some time to shake up and mix together to get the baking soda to fully dissolve, most times end up with water and can visually see the baking soda sitting on bottle of bottle. Furthermore a coke/pepsi bottle can withstand 95 psi before exploding that is roughly 6.4 bar. The hack here is for several reasons. 1st: this method can easily be connected to a Co2 controller, using an air pump. 2nd: Bigger batches of solution can be made. For instance if you were to have 5 gallon buckets for solution and a 10 gallon bucket for reaction chamber, this could last for a very long time. Lastly, the ratios are will only change the reaction time. This reaction will take place no matter how much citric acid you have or how much baking soda you have, as long as both are introduced to a low viscous liquid. I’ve done this experiment myself, you don’t need any of the contraption to do this same experiment at home. Simply mix your 2 solutions, exactly how you explained. Next take an eye dropper or just pour some of the citric acid solution into the baking soda mixed solution, do not use all the citric acid solution. Let it do its thing, no need to sit around a watch just walk away from it. Come back the next day and add a little bit more citric acid solution. If you video record these events you will see the difference in a side by side comparison. The reaction will not be as intense the second day. Repeat this process several times, just as the bottle device does. What you will discover is that you will get to a point when you add citric acid solution , there will be very little to no reaction unless you shake the mixed solution. The reason for this is because the chemical reaction will continue to take place until the solution becomes neutral. My wife owns a little side crafting company and makes those bath bombs, why I’m using this method for co2, because I can just steal my wifes ingredients….winning…..I was doing research for “her”…..totally for me. When I found this video, this video will help demonstrate what I’m trying to explain. https://youtu.be/ELrCG1-HYe0 Hey Jason I didn’t know you had a “tablet mold” lol watch video for reference. 1:24 mins in