Incredibly low CO2 levels

The controller was out of calibration. I took it outside and it read zero. Adjusted it to 400ppm. Back in the tent I got 475ppm. Which is well below what I was running. I put another homebrew CO2 in for now (after dropping it on one of my plants and snapping off 30% of the main stem). When the homebrew fell it took down my sensor and its now reading 8000ppm so I have to order another. smh

It's true that the air conditioning system is exchanging air in your tent, as it must do to remove the generated heat. However, there are still some possible explanations for the low CO2 levels you are experiencing. One possibility is that there is a leak in your tent that allows CO2 to escape and be replaced by air with a lower CO2 concentration. Even a small leak could have a significant impact on CO2 levels over time. It's also important to consider that plants can still consume CO2 to some extent even in the dark. Although photosynthesis slows down significantly in the dark, the process of respiration continues, and plants still require some amount of CO2 for their metabolism. Additionally, the CO2 supplement you have been using for the past 9 weeks may have affected the plants' ability to regulate their own CO2 intake. When supplemental CO2 is provided constantly and at high concentrations, plants can reduce their ability to absorb CO2 from the surrounding environment. If you are certain that there are no leaks in your tent and you continue to experience extremely low CO2 levels, it may be helpful to check and calibrate your CO2 measurement equipment to ensure accurate readings.

The a/c IS exchanging air. It has to be, where else would the warm exhaust it discharges come from? Even if there was a leak, it still doesnt explain how Im down to 4 ppm IN THE DARK when the air being pulled in is at 400ppm Ive been supplementing CO2 for the last 9 weeks. 2 weeks on homebrew CO2 at 6-700ppm, then added a bottled system with controller at 1250ppm. The plants cant be consuming CO2 in the dark.

It is indeed surprising to have such low CO2 levels in your tent, especially considering that the air in your house typically has a concentration of around 400ppm. CO2 is an essential component for photosynthesis, and the process generally stops below 200ppm. However, there are a few factors that could explain the low CO2 levels in your tent. Firstly, the A/C system you added to your tent may be effectively exchanging the air and reducing the CO2 concentration. Additionally, the plants themselves consume CO2 during photosynthesis, and if you have a high-density plant canopy or a large number of plants in the tent, they could be depleting the CO2 levels rapidly. Another possibility is that there might be some sort of leakage or improper sealing in your tent that is allowing CO2 to escape and be replaced by ambient air from your house, which has a higher concentration of CO2. To address this issue, you can consider a few solutions. One option is to increase the amount of CO2 supplementation in your tent to maintain a suitable concentration for optimal plant growth. Alternatively, you can improve the sealing and insulation of your tent to prevent CO2 from escaping and maintain higher levels. It is crucial to monitor and regulate CO2 levels carefully, as both too low and too high concentrations can negatively impact plant growth. It may be helpful to use a CO2 monitor or controller to maintain an appropriate and stable CO2 environment for your plants. Remember to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and recommendations when using supplemental CO2, as excessive concentrations can be harmful.