
@Dennis Wong has a Facebook post where he measures CO2 levels up to 50 ppm with plants and fish not showing ill effect. The recommended 30 ppm that you see constantly seems to be well within limits.
So how many of you would love to have that meter?
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@Dennis Wong and I had some interesting discussions while he was doing his measurements, and I checked the technology of this meter. First observation is that it is really expensive, but that could be acceptable for serious hobbyists and professionals if it would bring a lot of value. A digital display always shows a "measurement" value, but that may mislead the user in that this value may not represent reality. One issue is that it takes a long time for the probe to approach the proper reading (actually quite similar to drop checkers, like up to 1 hour and dependent on a.o. flow around the probe), and that in published material the manufacturers scientists indicate that low CO2 ppm may be difficult to measure accurately.So how many of you would love to have that meter?
Not surprised. That's what I had assumed the CO2 to be in my tanks in the past. However, this is only possible in highly/properly oxygenated tanks. At those levels the average tank keeper would have killed all his fish. In fact many people kill their fish even far below those levels due to poor oxygenation. Also, note that Dennis test was done in a shallow tank where it is far easier for O2 to be kept at higher levels hence why fish don't seem to be bothered by the CO2. I am still not sure though if mantaining fish under very high CO2 levels is healthy for them long term as in principal high CO2 levels usually lead to acidocis in fish.@Dennis Wong has a Facebook post where he measures CO2 levels up to 50 ppm with plants and fish not showing ill effect. The recommended 30 ppm that you see constantly seems to be well within limits.
Plants will not complain. I mean, we are merely giving them a fraction of what they would be exposed to in emersed conditions (~450 ppm). Heck even in greenhouses we pump those rooky numbers up to 1000 ppm or even 1500 ppm to increase productivity. However I suspect that under submersed conditions and higher levels of CO2, the problem will be the water, not the CO2 per say.I don't think the plants need it that high.
I have an air quality meter in my house that measures CO2, CO, particulate at 2.5, radon, VOCs, temp, and humidity.Heck even in greenhouses we pump those rooky numbers up to 1000 ppm or even 1500 ppm to increase productivity.
Indeed. I do have a CO2 meter as well at home. Breathing high levels of CO2 for a prolonged period is unhealthy and hinders brain function. I leave my bedroom door slightly open at night to allow CO2 to evacuate.I have an air quality meter in my house that measures CO2, CO, particulate at 2.5, radon, VOCs, temp, and humidity.
I was surprised how high CO2 levels can get in a house. While outdoor levels measure in the low 500 ppm range(Near a busy road) in living space with bedroom door left open to rest of house levels get close to 1500 ppm overnight with 1 adult respiring in house if the windows are closed and close to 3,000 ppm if bedroom door is closed.
The numbers are highest in the summertime with AC running and windows closed. In the winter with heating on, the numbers get better the colder it gets outside as air exchange increases with bigger temp differences..,
This is a structure built in 1936 and not as airtight as structures built today.
I was rather surprised how high CO2 levels will rise over night with a single person with the door closed..
Interestingly, and perhaps a tad concerning…. The US nuclear Submarine fleet works to keep ambient CO2 levels on submarines under 4,000 ppm.I do have a CO2 meter as well at home. Breathing high levels of CO2 for a prolonged period is unhealthy and hinders brain function. I leave my bedroom door slightly open at night to allow CO2 to evacuate.
I highly advice you aerate your house and bedroom. CO2 at high levels is really unhealthy if breathed for prolonged periods.Interesting and concerning discussion. I don't have a CO2 meter to check indoor levels. However, I live in a location where houses are heavily insulated to maintain air conditioning in the home. I can only imagine how high CO2 levels get...
I use the Airthings View.Gees! I'm going to have to buy a tester because now I'm curious/concerned. What tester do you guys use?
These CO2/pm 2.5 etc meters can get quite expensive but there is one option. Airgradient.Gees! I'm going to have to buy a tester because now I'm curious/concerned. What tester do you guys use?
Be aware that those are not real CO2 detectors. They are actually extremely inaccurate and use a simple and cheap TVOC sensor which by design and specification are not meant to detect CO2 or measure in any way CO2 since they only output one signal. CO2 concentration is then extrapolated, calculated and faked through a chip. Proper CO2 detectors use what we call an NDIR CO2 sensors (nondispersive infrared sensor) which by themself are pricy. The component alone will cost ~30/40USD sometimes more depending the manufacturer. So any CO2 monitor out there retailing for less than 100/150USD or less will just be a scam and you can be warrantied that what you see on the screen of your cheap Chinese made device is no where close to the real concentration of CO2 in the air at any given time of measurement.
The reason Airgradient is able to make it cheaper than anyone else is because you have to do part of the work (assembling the monitor) and uploading the code and configuring the meter. Code is open source as well so you can customized it at will if you know about code, else vanilla code will work fine.[...] el cheapo NDIR sensors like the one you just referred to are basically copies. Aliexperess is flooded by them. They are slow, inaccurate, unreliable. They usually have a detection range of 400-10000ppm or 0-5000ppm which technically is fine BUT with a very poor accuracy which can range from 100ppm to a 1000ppm. There are not many companies producing quality NDIR. I suggest looking for Sensirion, Winsen, Cubic, Senseair. All produce quality, reliable sensors. Some are very expensive some very reasonable [...]
Actually I looked back at the posts I made on UKPAS. I was slightly off. CO2 peaked at 2500PPM during the night when doors where closedWhen I used to have the meter in my bedroom with closed doors at night it would go up to ~1800/2000ppm. After I opened the door it would drop to ~900ppm.