Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much CO2 does my Blu Ox™ produce?
A.  The units CO2 production is measured in terms of application performance, not an arbitrary indicator such as BTU, which is a measure of heat, not CO2 production.  A precise, efficient CO2 generator will produce more CO2 than a less efficient model that produces the same amount of heat.  Please refer to the chart below for information on your specific Blu Ox™ model.

Q.  How much heat does my Blu Ox™ produce?
A.  Please refer to the chart below for BTU ratings for each Blu Ox™ model.  A “flow through” exhaust system to reduce the heat that stays in the greenhouse environment is recommended.  Attach an outside air duct to one Ventilation Port and an exhaust fan and duct to the other.  The aluminum baffle keeps the CO2 from escaping while reducing retained heat by as much as 50%.

Q.  How long should I run my Blu Ox™?
A.  Calculate the size of the greenhouse in cubic feet (length x width x height), divide by 1000, and multiply by the Time Factor of the Blu Ox™ model.  For example, a 10-foot by 25-foot room with a 10 foot ceiling: 10 x 25 x 10 = 2500 cu. ft. divided by 1000 = 2.5.  Using a Blu Ox™ 15000, it will take 2.5 x 3.4 = 8.5 minutes to attain 1500 ppm (optimum growing concentration).  It is recommended that the Blu Ox™ run for no more than 15 minutes per cycle.  If the greenhouse dimensions are too large to achieve 1500 ppm in 15 minutes or less, consider using a larger model, or using more than one.  Specific requirements will vary based on the volume of fresh air circulated and the dimensions of the growing area, i.e. a very long greenhouse may require CO2 generators to be placed at both ends.

Q.  What about exhaust and circulation?
A.  The unit should not be running while the room is being vented/exhausted.  Circulating fans are required to distribute CO2 within the environment.

Important

For the first few days, it is important to closely monitor the level of CO2 in the growing environment, and monitor periodically thereafter on a regular basis. There are a number of commercially available CO2 analyzers on the market.

Model # of Burners Max. BTU/hr Time Factor*
15000 / 15000N
22000 / 22000N
29000 / 29000N
16B Prop / 16B NG
 4
6
8
16		 12000
18000
24000
48000 		3.4
2.2
1.7
0.85

*Number of minutes to attain 1500ppm per 1000 cu. ft. Use this simple formula to estimate run time (note that room temperature and ventilation will have an impact on the amount of CO2 generated): Run Time = Room Size (cu. ft.) / 1000 x Time Factor.