400W Sun Hut XL Heat Problems/Suggestions

[harvest]

Hello eveyone

This is my first post but I have been reading around for a little while now.

I recently bought Sun Huts XL 4x4x7 Grow Tent. Im using a non air cooled 400w HPS enclosed ballast system. I as of today have a Vortex 6" 425cfm exhaust fan and a EcoPLUS Classic 4" 160cfm intake fan.

THe 4" intake fan gets cold air from my home air conditioner. I built a box around the vent with 4" ducting running into the grow tent to the fan. I was wondering if that is a good or bad idea?

Since my Shield is not air cooled or has a glass bottom cover it gets pretty hot inside the tent. I taped the exhaust fan right by the bottom of the light hoping it will pull most of the heat out. The air comes out of the tent and then out my window which is sealed and has a black cover on the front side. It never gets higher than 84 degrees, and I have only seen it get down to 78 degrees.

My other grows I have just used CFL's (in the first picture) and I did not use a grow hut. So heat hasn't been this big of an issue.

I am just wondering what I need to do to keep it cooler in there?

Should I just get a new light setup? And if so would the vortex fan work well with a 600W air cooled system with bottom cover?

Thanks in advance!! I am hoping to be moving to Colorado soon so im just trying to get these started for a friend as a sorry im leaving gift.

Working on 4 T.N.R and 7 Durban Poison
Peace

 

[Rexob715]

Hello eveyone

This is my first post but I have been reading around for a little while now.

I recently bought Sun Huts XL 4x4x7 Grow Tent. Im using a non air cooled 400w HPS enclosed ballast system. I as of today have a Vortex 6" 425cfm exhaust fan and a EcoPLUS Classic 4" 160cfm intake fan.

THe 4" intake fan gets cold air from my home air conditioner. I built a box around the vent with 4" ducting running into the grow tent to the fan. I was wondering if that is a good or bad idea?

Since my Shield is not air cooled or has a glass bottom cover it gets pretty hot inside the tent. I taped the exhaust fan right by the bottom of the light hoping it will pull most of the heat out. The air comes out of the tent and then out my window which is sealed and has a black cover on the front side. It never gets higher than 84 degrees, and I have only seen it get down to 78 degrees.

My other grows I have just used CFL's (in the first picture) and I did not use a grow hut. So heat hasn't been this big of an issue.

I am just wondering what I need to do to keep it cooler in there?

Should I just get a new light setup? And if so would the vortex fan work well with a 600W air cooled system with bottom cover?

Thanks in advance!! I am hoping to be moving to Colorado soon so im just trying to get these started for a friend as a sorry im leaving gift.

Working on 4 T.N.R and 7 Durban Poison
Peace

A shorter distance in your cooling may help. Run that ducting from your A/C to the bottom left 4" hole. This should cut down on some distance for air to travel and not get heated in the process like that light is doing.

Also, you really need to have some way to directly exhaust that light. It would really help. Also, you could increase internal circulation to allow the plants to handle slightly higher temps.

Ideally, you want 80 during the day and 70 at night. But I have heard ranges of 85-65. I just don't recommend over 90 or under 60......anytime!

Upgrading to a 600W will be better since it will increase your wattage per square foot, but it will also increase your heat. So, if you do upgrade, get a hood that you can directly vent with a suncourt 4 or 6 in fan.

Good luck!

 

[harvest]

Thanks for the response!

I think I am going to buy a 600w Air cooled system next week at my local hydro store. He gives me 10% off for shopping there and I think the Sun System Magnum XXXL setup would work well in the tent.

Or would anyone suggest a better setup for my tent?

I have my intake running into the closest 6" opening that it can. Sadly it is in the front of the tent and my home air vent is at the back. I could move the fan inside closer to the 6" opening though and see if that helps.

 

[Rexob715]

Thanks for the response!

I think I am going to buy a 600w Air cooled system next week at my local hydro store. He gives me 10% off for shopping there and I think the Sun System Magnum XXXL setup would work well in the tent.

Or would anyone suggest a better setup for my tent?

I have my intake running into the closest 6" opening that it can. Sadly it is in the front of the tent and my home air vent is at the back. I could move the fan inside closer to the 6" opening though and see if that helps.

Since you've already got a 400W, you could just opt to get another 400W......for a total of 800W. Or were you thinking 600 + 400?

Just vent the light, you will be much better off. Right now, on a 400W light, all I have is a suncourt 4in duct fan pullin air thru a supernova. Will have to upgrade I do believe to another fan pushing thru top too!!

I have my tent right up against my floor vent, then ducted into lower left 4in opening. Still having heat issues, but I jsut got my tent too. Days ago!!!

 

[harvest]

I was thinking about just getting rid of the light I have now, but if I can have a 2 light setup that works I may go that route.

There looks to be holes where I can easily screw on a 4" air cooled vent. Hopefully the Hydro store has a glass bottom that will also fit.

How would I go about having 2 lights and a carbon filter with only one exhaust fan seeing how one light will only have one air cooled port?

 

[harvest]

I went back to the hydro store today and bought a glass bottom and 4" air cool fitting. He gave me the glass for $11 and the fitting for $5 so im pretty happy with that.

So I have the 6" vortex exhaust hooked up straight to the air cool fitting now using a 4" to 6" adapter.

Current temperatures inside the tent are at 76 degrees which is the lowest I have seen it so far.

Im hoping this will keep it much cooler but if not I will just sell the 400W I have now and just invest in a 600W with the sun system xxxl air cooled hood.

 

[Rexob715]

I went back to the hydro store today and bought a glass bottom and 4" air cool fitting. He gave me the glass for $11 and the fitting for $5 so im pretty happy with that.

So I have the 6" vortex exhaust hooked up straight to the air cool fitting now using a 4" to 6" adapter.

Current temperatures inside the tent are at 76 degrees which is the lowest I have seen it so far.

Im hoping this will keep it much cooler but if not I will just sell the 400W I have now and just invest in a 600W with the sun system xxxl air cooled hood.

The fan you have should be plenty strong enough, but you need to push the air thru the tube/glass and out of the tent...............somehow.
I wish my camera was working. But basically, out of the other end of the light, you should have some more ducting running to outside your tent. This way, hot air coming off the light never settles in your tent.