opinions needed on my setup

[hendu 420]

View attachment 3337168 View attachment 3337167 Ambient temps are 72-73f, exhaust is a 4" 170cfm, even with the fan all the way up, and a 250w cmh, canopy is still at 82-84f. Want opinions on my setup, ideas that could help.thanks

 

[Beezcheeze]

How big is your grow space? Is it a sealed off area or is it just in an open room. I'm new to growing and ran into not having enough ventallation and had to upgrade my fans. I would suggest connecting the carbon filter directly to the fan with no turns or twists.

 

[lawlrus]

You've got way more ducting than you need. As mentioned, put the scrubber inline with the fan (if at all possible) and use as little ducting as you can. You could also hang that fan at a 90 degree angle exhausting directly up and then have a single, short 90 degree bend from the fan to the scrubber (basically, hang the scrubber where the fan currently is). As it stands right now, that fan is probably only pushing half the CFMs it is rated for with all of those twists and what appears to be a very sharp bend with the ducting between the fan and scrubber.

If that doesn't help, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger fan on a fan speed controller. Ten degrees over ambient at the canopy is pretty normal for a non-sealed room that is presumably recycling indoor air and not pulling fresh air from and/or exhausting outside of the room. If you can't get the temps down with less ducting and/or a larger fan then that tactic might be something you want to consider. If possible, try exhausting into another room/an attic/etc. and avoid any intake or exhaust air from outdoors. It helps to have the most consistent environment possible, and drawing outdoor air in can throw some variables in that can make temps and RH vary quite a bit. That said, if temps rise much farther, the pro's would probably outweigh the cons for that. However, I'm willing to bet that just doing what I mentioned above in terms of removing the excess ducting and 90 degree turns will fix you right up.

For the record, 80-82 at the canopy is a little warm, but still in range with ideal canopy temps for a non-sealed room -- so you're not too far off. If you can keep things consistently around 80F you should be fine. Getting too far above that number might result in a bit of heat stress. I have been told by trusted, experienced growers that silica supplements can help with higher canopy temps during flowering, but I cannot speak to that from personal experience. FYI, sealed co2-supplemented rooms are typically run between 80 and 90 degrees F, but that is a different scenario than your particular grow so don't take that to heart in this case.

 

[Beezcheeze]

You could probably get the temps down if you create a sealed chamber to enclose this grow area, exausting the air out of the room. The 2" thick foam board at lowes would work good. And is silver on one side. Cheap and might help keep your environment a little more controlled

 

[warble]

Eliminate the ducting from the scrubber to the fan. Stack that fan on top of your scrubber. Place the system vertically on the right, and run a shorter duct up and out. That would eliminate those bends in the ducting. Are you going soil or hydro? you might think of a scrog screen or yo-yo pulleys to support your plants when they are bigger. line your grow w/ panda paper instead of that circus mirror reflective material. If you're going soil, I would suggest five gallon fabric grow bags for more oxygen to your roots, go three gallons if its for veg. If you're going hydro in there, I would suggest four buckets and they should be at least five gallons. You can grow them in those small buckets, but you'll be adding nutes every day. How is your humidity? Are you adding co2?

 

[hendu 420]

Eliminate the ducting from the scrubber to the fan. Stack that fan on top of your scrubber. Place the system vertically on the right, and run a shorter duct up and out. That would eliminate those bends in the ducting. Are you going soil or hydro? you might think of a scrog screen or yo-yo pulleys to support your plants when they are bigger. line your grow w/ panda paper instead of that circus mirror reflective material. If you're going soil, I would suggest five gallon fabric grow bags for more oxygen to your roots, go three gallons if its for veg. If you're going hydro in there, I would suggest four buckets and they should be at least five gallons. You can grow them in those small buckets, but you'll be adding nutes every day. How is your humidity? Are you adding co2?

Soil. I thaught mylar was good. Ive got the filter oriented in a way that it catches the hot air that is blown away from the bulb by the 6 inch circulating fan. Teps at top of cab is 75f, but in the 80s under the light

 

[warble]

Soil. I thaught mylar was good. Ive got the filter oriented in a way that it catches the hot air that is blown away from the bulb by the 6 inch circulating fan. Teps at top of cab is 75f, but in the 80s under the light

Yeah, mylar is not the best, it causes hotspots like aluminum foil. Semi-gloss white paint is better, as well as reflective white plastic sheets. Grow tents have diffused reflective material, that is pretty good too. I've seen grows with that mylar bubble wrap, that seems to work well. I haven't tried that.
Your canopy can get into the low eighties, and not be a problem, as long as everything else is nice. You didn't mention a fan controller, so I figure your grow is about fifty cubic feet and you have a 170cfm fan. That is plenty of exhaust to get the heat, above your light, out of your grow space. You can put it anywhere above your light and it will do the job, but the less turns the air goes through your system, the more efficient your fans will be working.

 

[hendu 420]

Yeah, mylar is not the best, it causes hotspots like aluminum foil. Semi-gloss white paint is better, as well as reflective white plastic sheets. Grow tents have diffused reflective material, that is pretty good too. I've seen grows with that mylar bubble wrap, that seems to work well. I haven't tried that.
Your canopy can get into the low eighties, and not be a problem, as long as everything else is nice. You didn't mention a fan controller, so I figure your grow is about fifty cubic feet and you have a 170cfm fan. That is plenty of exhaust to get the heat, above your light, out of your grow space. You can put it anywhere above your light and it will do the job, but the less turns the air goes through your system, the more efficient your fans will be working.

Cab is 18"d 36"w 5ft tall. It runs that hot even with a super sun 2 air cooled. Temps are the same regardless of reflector type. Idk. I think my intake could be too small. Temps up high are great. Temps at canopy suck. But if mid 80s wont kill my plants im gonna go with it.

 

[hendu 420]

Maybe my circulation fan is pointing wrong. It sits just above my intake, and blows above canopy and just below bulb. Ive attached the scrubber directly to fan, no change, idk. Very discouraging. 71f ambient, plenty of exhaust fan, i shouldnt be running a canopy temp of 83-84, aspecially with a 250w cmh 12" above canopy

 

[Beezcheeze]

I think you should enclose the area with the foam boards. You will be forcing the air from your room which will be cooler due to all of the radiant heat being trapped inside the enclosure and being pulled out. The fan pulling from an open room must need more than 175 fan. But a small enclosure will be better. I went through the same thing sort of.

 

[hendu 420]

I think you should enclose the area with the foam boards. You will be forcing the air from your room which will be cooler due to all of the radiant heat being trapped inside the enclosure and being pulled out. The fan pulling from an open room must need more than 175 fan. But a small enclosure will be better. I went through the same thing sort of.

Im not sure i understand. The cabinet is in a big ass room, and altering the outside of the cab is not an option

 

[Beezcheeze]

Im not sure i understand. The cabinet is in a big ass room, and altering the outside of the cab is not an option

Oh I couodnt tell. Just looked like a small grow in an open room

 

[hendu 420]

 

[hendu 420]

 

[hendu 420]

Setup seems right to me, even with my exhaust dimmed down there enough pressure to draw a whole sheet of paper through my intake. What gives with these temps? Should i hook my air cooled super sun 2 back up?

 

[Beezcheeze]

Setup seems right to me, even with my exhaust dimmed down there enough pressure to draw a whole sheet of paper through my intake. What gives with these temps? Should i hook my air cooled super sun 2 back up?

I think that's a good idea. I use led so don't deal with the heat. But getting that heat away from the bulb in that fixture will definitly help with your heat issue. But then you'd need another fan exchanging the air in the tent. Got anymore pics from further away? Id like to give some tips.

 

[hendu 420]

Not really any further back. I really wanted to use the wing it puts out much better light than the air cooled hood. You see my intake slot right under the clip fan, and the scrubber on the opposite side, should i change the location of were the clip fan is blowing?

 

[hendu 420]

I think that's a good idea. I use led so don't deal with the heat. But getting that heat away from the bulb in that fixture will definitly help with your heat issue. But then you'd need another fan exchanging the air in the tent. Got anymore pics from further away? Id like to give some tips.

I had 2 pro grow 180s, sold them because plants kept growing dumb and contorted under them. Thaught about a 200 diamond series.

 

[Beezcheeze]

I would put the 6"fan going vertical with filter attached directly below where it exausts now. With virtually. No duct. And put the Intake on the bottom of the opposite side. If you have height worries can just hang 6" fan horizontal right below Exaust hole with one quick elbow bend out the hole. The clips fan looks ok. Want it blowing across the top of the canopy during all stages of growth. I have mine hanging on a light hanger I can adjust up and down. Could mount your fan (or a better one really if you have several plants)to a piece of wood and have it on an adjustable string.ill get pics of what I set up one sec

 

[Beezcheeze]

I had 2 pro grow 180s, sold them because plants kept growing dumb and contorted under them. Thaught about a 200 diamond series.

I did a ton of research and bought lights and returned them. I ended up with Area 51 rw150s 4 of them for 4x4 tent and she is doing sweet!