400w hps in a 24inch x 24 inch grow tent? Heat manageable?

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
I've been trying to figure out how to have a second growspace that can be used for 24 hr veg while the main one is on 12/12. But they have to be in the same general area, and the only solution I see is a grow tent, and it would have to be small, like 2 ft sq, 5 ft tall.

I could start vegging with T5s which don't make much heat, but would like to go to a 250w MH in an air cooled reflector and a fan cycling air through. I wonder if even that would be heat manageable, but then I think what if I want to start plants flowering in there while other are being harvested - and that means a 400w hps. I can keep ambient air cool, low 70s. It is inside the tent I worry about.

What do you think?
 

rocknratm

Well-Known Member
you could run a 250 or 400 if its ir cooled with a high cfm fan, inline NOT BOOSTER. or consider the 65w used (200 output) cfl's that I use, daylight spectrum like 20 a pop and the dome reflectors are 10 or so a peice. Still need alot of air flow to get heat out, but they work great for me, slow to veg but cfl's put light out sideways nd it makes for bushier plants imo
 

phillipchristian

New Member
I think you could pull it off. Assuming your grow area is already cooled then the air around the tent would be the perfect temperature and therefore your intake for the tent should be able to keep the temps in check. As long as your are not maxing out the load on your cooling in the big room you should be fine. If you are maxing it out (a/c running non stop during the light cycle) then you may want to vent the air from the hood out of that room.

Also, a veg tent in a flower room means you can only really get into it during the light cycle of your flower room. Plus you need to worry about light leaks from the tent into the flower room. Good luck.
 

CanadianEh

Active Member
Cool tube, you need this or i highly recommend strong intake fans or booster fans.

I'd cool tube it with a booster fan, then have minor muffin fans for the rest.
 

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
The reflector is a 6 inch air cooled. I was planning to bring air into the reflector from one side and out the other with a fan, but no other venting of the tent. The grow tent will be inside a closet so light leaks from it should not be a problem. And, the tent would only need to be closed during veg when the flower area is dark. For a couple weeks when both are in 12/12, the tent isn't needed at all and can be unzipped.
 

PhaseOne

Member
I couldn't cool a 400 watt 3x3 with a 200 cfm fan at intake and exhaust (2 fans) in an air-conditioned room! A 250 in a 2x2 gives you roughly 62 watts per SF...is more wattage better or really necessary?
 

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
I intend to have 4 plants in it up to 5 weeks of age. I could put a 24 in 4 bulb T% in instead, but that is only 100 watts and seems inadequate. Again I don't think I will have to cool 400 with the tent closed. I happen to have the ballast and the 250 mh.

Phase one - do you mean those fans were circulating air thought the whole tent? I'm talking about just pushing air through the enclosed air cooled hood.
 

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
Get high powered 6" rvk extractor fan be fine. I just got tent that size and 400w hps in it. I struggle with 5" shit fan to keep it around 80. Get decent fan have no prob.
 

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
Get high powered 6" rvk extractor fan be fine. I just got tent that size and 400w hps in it. I struggle with 5" shit fan to keep it around 80. Get decent fan have no prob.
Are you talking about moving air through the hood or through the whole tent? That's still what I'm unclear on. Do I need two seperate extration systems, one for the hood and one for the tent?
 

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
It is advised but I have an open wing reflector and just vent the whole tent with passive intake. Get big arse extractor maybe 8" with down to 6" reducer so fits on tent and that will be loads to vent whole tent without having to vent hood. Just have clip on fan blowing between hood and plants. That's if was me :)
 
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