Ozone Generators For Indoor Cannabis
- 1. What’s ozone?
- 2. Ozone generators in cannabis
- 3. Pros and cons of using ozone generators
- 4. Top safety tips when using ozone generators
- 4. a. Choosing an ozone generator
- 4. b. Using an ozone generator
- 5. Alternatives to ozone generators
- 6. In conclusion
Depending on the number of plants in your grow room, cleaning with a bleach mixture might be too laborious and a filter carbon may not eliminate the cannabis smell completely. In these cases, home growers use ozone generators to get the work done. Ozone generators are machines that can inhibit mold growth, prevent pathogens, sterilize your grow room, and help you eliminate the cannabis smell effectively. Read along to learn how to better use ozone generators when growing cannabis seeds!
1. What’s Ozone?
Ozone is naturally found in the stratosphere and its purpose is to block harmful UV rays from the sun. Similar to oxygen which has 2 oxygen atoms, ozone contains 3 and this extra oxygen atom is what gives it its properties. Thanks to this extra atom, ozone can completely eliminate several types of biological molecules such as bacteria, mold, spores and fungi among others. This happens because the extra atom basically gets separated from the other 2 oxygen atoms and binds to the harmful threat.
2. Ozone Generators In Cannabis
Ozone generators can produce ozone and get rid of pathogens and bugs easily, in cannabis grows, they’re not only used to keep the grow space clean and disease-free but also to help eliminate cannabis smell because, as mentioned, ozone eliminates all types of biological molecules in the air. An ozone generator may seem like a relatively cheap and effective way to keep your grow room sterilized and smell-proof, but why aren’t ozone generators very common?
Well, in the first place, some growers claim ozone generators aren’t as effective as carbon filters and are a bit more expensive so it’s not worth it. Secondly, ozone generators are illegal in some countries because exposure to ozone for a prolonged time can irritate, damage the lungs, and can cause lung disease, so most growers tend to stay away from them. But, if used correctly, ozone generators can be of great help and it’s up to you to decide whether it’s useful or not.
3. Pros and Cons Of Using Ozone Generators
Just like anything else, ozone generators have their pros and cons, so here's a list to help you decide whether you should use one or not.
Pros Of Using Ozone Generators
As mentioned, ozone can hurt your lungs, which is a huge con, but if used properly you can effectively keep your grow space pathogen-free and eliminate the smell when you open the grow tent to water your plants, for example. So here are the main advantages of using an ozone generator when growing cannabis.
- Effective disinfectant: Ozone is 250% more effective at killing fungi and pathogens than any product available. This means that just by pressing a button you can sterilize your grow space without having to clean all the equipment manually.
- Eliminates smell: Ozone generators can effectively eliminate the cannabis smell produced by terpene molecules, and are especially helpful if you live in a place where cannabis is illegal. But due to being harmful, growers are migrating towards ozone generators that are designed to fit inside the exhaust tubes, thus reducing your exposure to ozone and making it safer.
- Cleans your hydro setup: As mentioned, ozone is harmful to your lungs but it’s a great way to keep your hydro setup clean without having to do much. So you can pump ozone into your water reservoir with an air stone, this way the ozone can kill algae or pathogens, saving you time and effort.
Cons Of Using Ozone Generators
There’s just one disadvantage to using ozone generators, but it’s a huge one. As you’ve read, ozone is harmful, this means it can harm you, your pet, or even your plants, so here are the main cons of using ozone generators.
- Ozone can harm your lungs: The biggest disadvantage is that ozone is harmful, causing coughing, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain in more serious cases. Ozone can also aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma so you have to stay away from your grow room when the one generator is working.
- It can harm cannabis plants: Too much ozone can end up suffocating your plants and inhibit chlorophyll production, which results in a lower photosynthesis rate. If exposed to high ozone concentrations, your plants can end up dying so it’s vital you control ozone levels in order to stay within the safe levels.
- It’s hard to control ozone levels: The recommended ozone concentrations range between 0.1 ppm and 0.5 ppm but the ppm needed to effectively kill harmful bacteria is 25 ppm and these concentrations should be maintained for at least 20 minutes in order to remove bacteria effectively. So, when using ozone generators, you need special equipment to measure ozone concentration and ensure it’s between 0.1 - 0.5 ppm when you have to enter your grow space to work on your plants and 25 ppm for 20 minutes when you need to sterilize and eliminate the smell, which can be hard to do.
5. Top Safety Tips When Using Ozone Generators
In case you're ready to get an ozone generator to get rid of that sweet cannabis smell coming out your grow room, make sure to read these safety tips before!
Choosing an Ozone Generator
Choosing the proper size ozone generator is extremely important because a small output will not be effective and a large one can be dangerous. For an average-sized grow area you should get a generator with an output of around 200 - 400 miligrams of ozone per hour. Big commercial grow operations usually need up to 1 gram per hour while 100 miligrams per hour will be enough for small home grow operations. But these are only guidelines so make sure to get informed before investing in an ozone generator.
Using an Ozone Generator
In order to use an ozone generator safely, you have to be alert at all times. As a general rule, you should not be able to smell the ozone while the ozone generator is turned ON. If you can smell it, it means that the output is larger than what you need to switch the ozone generator OFF and let the room ventilate for at least 1 hour, then adjust the timer, output or don’t let the ozone generator run for so long. Remember that ozone is safe for humans if it’s not breathed in so make sure to hold your breath if you need to enter the grow room when the ozone generator is turned ON.
If you have to work on your garden with the ozone generator running, it’s a good idea to think about investing in an Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) which will help you monitor ozone levels. And always make sure that everyone in the household knows you’re using an ozone generator to prevent your relatives from entering the grow space while the ozone generator is ON. So if you decide to use an ozone generator, here are the main tips you should follow to avoid health problems.
1. Use a generator suited for your grow space, if you choose a big ozone generator you won’t be able to control the levels, which will probably be too high. In case you don’t know which one to use, here’s a table to help you find the right one:
| Ozone Generator Size by Grow Space Area | |
|---|---|
| Ozone milligrams per hour | Surrounding area |
| 200 mg/H | 15 m2 |
| 500 mg/H | 40 m2 |
| 700 mg/H | 55 m2 |
2. Never breathe ozone. If you opt to use an ozone generator, leave the room immediately after turning the ozone generator on, and make sure you let the room ventilate for a couple of hours before entering your grow space.
3. In order to avoid problems, let everyone in your household know that you’re using an ozone generator and that ozone can be harmful.
6. Alternatives To Ozone Generators
If you don’t feel safe using an ozone generator around your family or pets, here are a couple of alternatives to ozone generators. Just remember that unlike a carbon filter (or ozone generator) these options will not eliminate the smell completely, they’re just a way to mask the smell.
Carbon Filter
Carbon filters use activated carbon to chemically absorb smells from the air and are probably the best option for most growers because they neutralize odors that pass through and are not harmful in any way or form.
How do carbon filters work?
Carbon filters are ingenious little pieces of kit, and are 100% invaluable and needed for all indoor grow rooms. Even if you have decided to go down the ozone generator route, we still always suggest grabbing a carbon filter to work hand in hand. They work by a process called adsorption. That's right, there's no typo here. Adsorption - not absorption.
What's the difference? It is pretty simple actually. Absorption refers to the process of a liquid or gas being absorbed (taken into) into something else, whereas adsorption refers to the process of something sticking onto a surface of an adsorbing material. In the case of cannabis grow rooms, the carbon filter is connected to the air intake and exhaust system. The air from inside the growing area is forced through the carbon filter as it exits, which effectively adsorbs all the delicious fragrances that can and will emanate from the crop (especially in the last month or so before harvest).
The reason why activated carbon is so effective at this job is due to the ridiculous surface area that it possesses. It essentially has thousands of pores that can trap the various different smells and odors, allowing only clean air to make its way out. Just one single gram of activated charcoal has a surface area in excess of 3,000 meters squared. Crazy. But it's not just the smell-trapping capabilities that make these filters so great. Activated carbon also has the added bonus of removing any harmful chemicals or toxins from the air, making it a great way to keep your environment healthier and safer for both you, the plants, and any other living things in the area. Plus, carbon filters are also relatively low-cost (when compared to ozone generators), making them an attractive option for budget-conscious growers.
That's not to say you should skimp on your filter, not at all. There are a bunch of really cheap options available online, but we definitely recommend against these - they simply do not work well enough to get the job done. If you're on the hunt for a good quality carbon filter, stick to the big-name brands such as Phresh, VIVOSUN, TerraBloom, or other options with a bunch of good reviews. This piece of advice can be used across the board with grow room equipment. While the push for the legalization of weed has brought the prices down for grow room kit in general, you still want to stay away from the cheap and nasty stuff. Always read the reviews and not just the top ones. As we all know, Amazon and related sites are well known for 'paid reviews' so dig deep and do your research before you purchase anything grow room related.
Air Purifier
Air purifiers are another way to deal with cannabis smell but they do not eliminate the smell. Now, a purifier can help you reduce the smell but they’re not strong enough to eliminate all the smell in your grow room, so they’re not only recommended unless you can’t find or can’t afford a carbon filter. But, if you are noticing some of the aromas in the surrounding area outside of your grow room, it might be a good idea to throw a few air purifiers inside.
Odor Neutralizer
Unlike a carbon filter, odor neutralizers don’t eliminate smell, odor neutralizers are designed to help mask the cannabis smell, this is why they usually have a very strong aroma. Obviously, it’s better to use odor neutralizers than to not use anything at all but these products can end up altering your plant's smell, so they’re not recommended unless it’s the only option you have left.
Again, if you are noticing that, in the last few weeks of flower growth (when the stank is at its strongest) that there is a slight skunky smell outside of your grow room, you should probably grab some air fresheners or 'odor neutralizers' to help mask the smell. The last thing you want is nosey neighbors, or even worse - the dreaded authorities - turning up on your doorstep wanting to know why your house or apartment stinks to high heaven. And trust us when we say, without the use of a carbon filter (and possibly an ozone generator, depending on the size of the crop), the gorgeous flavors and fragrances that can and will escape will become overwhelming. Give yourself the best chance at not only a successful harvest, but also not getting caught in the process, and mask the smell as best as you can.
7. In Conclusion
Despite being harmful, you can take advantage of the benefits ozone generators provide by using them correctly. For most home growers, using a carbon filter is more than enough to get rid of the cannabis smell but if you need to use an ozone generator, make sure you use the appropriate ozone generator, this way you minimize risks.
If you are currently using an ozone generator, feel free to share your tips and tricks with fellow growers by leaving a comment in the comment section below!
