Heat control? Possible Swamp Cooler?

Ares2389

Ares2389

Active Member
Hi all,

I have a small 2x2.5x5 ft tent in a closet (it barely fits in that closet width wise)
I have the Viparspectra PAR 600 LED light. The timer is currently set to be off during the hottest part of the day
I have a small 6 inch fan blowing air and a 4 inch 100 CFM exhaust fan as well.

I can currently only run my LED with the blue spectrum lighting during veg. When I run the white spectrum the temperature shoots up to 84-88. My humidity stays around 37-38 with both spectrum's running and my exhaust fan cranked.

I have no way of venting for fresh air or running a small a/c unit.

I did run across a DIY Swamp Cooler and was thinking of taking a crack at it. I understand they are mainly to be used in very dry areas, however, since my humidity is not crazy high as it is, I think it may be beneficial to try. Does anyone have any experience using a swamp cooler in their grow?

Are there any other tips or tricks I can try to manage my heat in my grow tent? I would like to be able to run more than just the red spectrum lighting when I switch to flower.

Or should I abandon my quest to lower the temp and try the CO2 route? I am a beginner and don't have any of the CO2 equipment. Not really looking to invest into a large setup. If I did have to go the CO2 route I would likely do the DIY CO2 with yeast.

TLDR: My small tent gets hot as shit when I run more than 1 spectrum of lighting. Can't vent outside or run a small a/c. Should I try a small swamp cooler? Should I try CO2 instead?
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
The temps you mention are not out of line for an LED grow. Slowing down your airflow might help raise the RH, because the plants themselves are the best humidifiers in your grow. I realize this sounds counterintuitive, but I've seen it often enough to know it is worth a try. Humid air carries more heat.

If you can't vent outside then I'll bet you aren't getting fresh air in, either. If that's the case then your CO2 is very likely depleted and is therefore slowing growth. CO2 supplementation would be recommended in that situation, irrespective of other factors.
 
Ares2389

Ares2389

Active Member
Thanks for the quick reply. I will give slowing my air flow down a shot. It does sound counterintuitive! Haha.

I have not been getting fresh air in. I will have to put on my big boy pants and get a nice CO2 meter and venture down that path.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Ares2389 said:
Thanks for the quick reply. I will give slowing my air flow down a shot. It does sound counterintuitive! Haha.

I have not been getting fresh air in. I will have to put on my big boy pants and get a nice CO2 meter and venture down that path.
Click to expand...
The swamp cooler effect of your plants is directly related to their size. Small ones won't do very much.
 
Buba Blend

Buba Blend

Well-Known Member
Ares2389 said:
Hi all,

I have a small 2x2.5x5 ft tent in a closet (it barely fits in that closet width wise)
I have the Viparspectra PAR 600 LED light. The timer is currently set to be off during the hottest part of the day
I have a small 6 inch fan blowing air and a 4 inch 100 CFM exhaust fan as well.

I can currently only run my LED with the blue spectrum lighting during veg. When I run the white spectrum the temperature shoots up to 84-88. My humidity stays around 37-38 with both spectrum's running and my exhaust fan cranked.

I have no way of venting for fresh air or running a small a/c unit.

I did run across a DIY Swamp Cooler and was thinking of taking a crack at it. I understand they are mainly to be used in very dry areas, however, since my humidity is not crazy high as it is, I think it may be beneficial to try. Does anyone have any experience using a swamp cooler in their grow?

Are there any other tips or tricks I can try to manage my heat in my grow tent? I would like to be able to run more than just the red spectrum lighting when I switch to flower.

Or should I abandon my quest to lower the temp and try the CO2 route? I am a beginner and don't have any of the CO2 equipment. Not really looking to invest into a large setup. If I did have to go the CO2 route I would likely do the DIY CO2 with yeast.

TLDR: My small tent gets hot as shit when I run more than 1 spectrum of lighting. Can't vent outside or run a small a/c. Should I try a small swamp cooler? Should I try CO2 instead?
Click to expand...
I have a Home depot evaporative cooler.
I'm in a very dry hot climate.
Indoors it will increase humidity about 10%-15% and lowers temps 1-2 degrees.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SPT-476-CFM-3-Speed-Portable-Evaporative-Cooler-with-3D-Cooling-Pad-SF-612R/300875156?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D26P-AirCirculation|&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3tPOo77o1QIVEJ1-Ch1J0A2REAQYAyABEgJaufD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKO79qa-6NUCFcR1YgodoIMOdA
 
Moldy

Moldy

Well-Known Member
Buba Blend said:
I have a Home depot evaporative cooler.
I'm in a very dry hot climate.
Indoors it will increase humidity about 10%-15% and lowers temps 1-2 degrees.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SPT-476-CFM-3-Speed-Portable-Evaporative-Cooler-with-3D-Cooling-Pad-SF-612R/300875156?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D26P-AirCirculation|&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3tPOo77o1QIVEJ1-Ch1J0A2REAQYAyABEgJaufD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKO79qa-6NUCFcR1YgodoIMOdA
Click to expand...
Is that for a small room like 5' x 5' or is it a normal sized room? I live in a dry/hot climate trying to increase my RH over my 20% maximum RH. Using a Home Depot AC unit now that works good but dryer than a popcorn fart.
 
buzzardbreath

buzzardbreath

Well-Known Member
Ares2389 said:
Hi all,

I have a small 2x2.5x5 ft tent in a closet (it barely fits in that closet width wise)
I have the Viparspectra PAR 600 LED light. The timer is currently set to be off during the hottest part of the day
I have a small 6 inch fan blowing air and a 4 inch 100 CFM exhaust fan as well.

I can currently only run my LED with the blue spectrum lighting during veg. When I run the white spectrum the temperature shoots up to 84-88. My humidity stays around 37-38 with both spectrum's running and my exhaust fan cranked.

I have no way of venting for fresh air or running a small a/c unit.

I did run across a DIY Swamp Cooler and was thinking of taking a crack at it. I understand they are mainly to be used in very dry areas, however, since my humidity is not crazy high as it is, I think it may be beneficial to try. Does anyone have any experience using a swamp cooler in their grow?

Are there any other tips or tricks I can try to manage my heat in my grow tent? I would like to be able to run more than just the red spectrum lighting when I switch to flower.

Or should I abandon my quest to lower the temp and try the CO2 route? I am a beginner and don't have any of the CO2 equipment. Not really looking to invest into a large setup. If I did have to go the CO2 route I would likely do the DIY CO2 with yeast.

TLDR: My small tent gets hot as shit when I run more than 1 spectrum of lighting. Can't vent outside or run a small a/c. Should I try a small swamp cooler? Should I try CO2 instead?
Click to expand...
I've grown plants in super toasty weather, 95°+ As long as the roots weren't getting fried they seemed ok. But that was outside...and I'm sure it slowed growth a bit, but not enough to notice unless you really know the strain. Good luck.
 
Buba Blend

Buba Blend

Well-Known Member
Moldy said:
Is that for a small room like 5' x 5' or is it a normal sized room? I live in a dry/hot climate trying to increase my RH over my 20% maximum RH. Using a Home Depot AC unit now that works good but dryer than a popcorn fart.
Click to expand...
It is in a 10x10 room. I'll run it when needed from lights on till it runs out of water. 3 gallons of ro water lasts about 8 hours.
 
J

JDMase

Well-Known Member
I'mBatman said:
That's the only meter that I don't have yet. My understanding is that it more than triple's the Co2.
Click to expand...
Would like to see some actual evidence.. I heard even those co2 bags you can get aren't that great, but then some people maintain home brewing beer raises the co2 considerably but I don't know many that do it
 
Ares2389

Ares2389

Active Member
JDMase said:
Would like to see some actual evidence.. I heard even those co2 bags you can get aren't that great, but then some people maintain home brewing beer raises the co2 considerably but I don't know many that do it
Click to expand...
This is a great thread about DIY CO2. The guy that wrote it did all the testing. Page 7 has the breakdown of everything which is what I linked, however the entire thread is a great read.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/myth-busters-the-real-truth-on-co2-in-indoor-grows.343918/page-7
 
Ares2389

Ares2389

Active Member
buzzardbreath said:
I've grown plants in super toasty weather, 95°+ As long as the roots weren't getting fried they seemed ok. But that was outside...and I'm sure it slowed growth a bit, but not enough to notice unless you really know the strain. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you! That gives me hope. I tossed together a yeast mixture last night. Hopefully it will hold me over for now.
 
Ares2389

Ares2389

Active Member
Buba Blend said:
It is in a 10x10 room. I'll run it when needed from lights on till it runs out of water. 3 gallons of ro water lasts about 8 hours.
Click to expand...
This is great info. I have been trying to figure out how much water the swamp coolers go through. As well as their impact on RH and temps (in your previous post)

If I made a homemade one I was going to do a small 1 gallon ice cream bucket version. I was trying to figure out how to have a like a 5 gallon bucket water reservoir outside the tent to keep it rolling as long as I can.
 
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