Added veg tent in flower room, now higher temps

Lion-O

Active Member
I recently made a purchase of a bunch of stuff to move clones to the flower room. I really must have everything in one room as the wife was causing a stink about the stink! This is my first grow.

My room is in the basement, it's a finished room, with carpeting and drywall, walls are insulated. It's about 8x12, with 6.5' ceilings (drop ceilings). I have both windows blocked off and insulated for light. They are the awning type. One window is setup to exhaust the air cooled lights through the screen. I just setup the small veg tent in the room, which has two small clones in 5 gallon pots (soil) about 18" high or so. The main area of the room already has a 600 watt air cooled light and 4 white widows in flower (fifth week). I'm attempting a perpetual grow...

Description of ducting/room (6" ducting):

3' ducting brought up to ceiling --> 600watt HPS ---> 2' ducting ---> tent ---> T w/damper ---> 600 watt MH (@ 75%) ---> ducting ---> 440 CFM Fan (now @ 100%) ---> ducting ----> window. Ducting is the thin aluminum accordion type. Window ducting portion is wrapped in similar stuff to emergency blanket for light blocking from outside.

The temps were averaging 67/73, but when I set everything up today it was 77 in the new 3x3x6 grow tent, and 77 in the room as well. The tent has 600 watt MH running at 75%, just set to 18/6. The flower light is also 600 watt (HPS), but running 100%. The tent light has a 6" T with a damper set to allow about 20 - 30% airflow, so as to allow most of the airflow to pull from above the flowering light, and through both lights. Prior to the added equipment I ran the fan at 75% or so.

Now, it was rather hot today, about 87, and I had to turn off the grow lights a few times to run the duct work to include the tent, so some hot air did come in through the duct from the window while the exhaust fan was off, but I think it should have cooled it back down in short order, as the fan is 440 CFM, plus I boosted it to 100%.

I'm trying to do everything with the one fan. Also plan on adding a homemade air filter, which will slow the air down some, but the way it is to be built, should not slow it much.

Without extra purchases, what can be done to keep the temp down in the room? This MAY be a non-issue when I check the room during lights on tomorrow, but hopefully there's a simple solution to the heat issue.

It's lights off right now (flower area is main room, veg is the small tent), so I can include pics if needed.
 

blackforest

Well-Known Member
I recently made a purchase of a bunch of stuff to move clones to the flower room. I really must have everything in one room as the wife was causing a stink about the stink! This is my first grow.

My room is in the basement, it's a finished room, with carpeting and drywall, walls are insulated. It's about 8x12, with 6.5' ceilings (drop ceilings). I have both windows blocked off and insulated for light. They are the awning type. One window is setup to exhaust the air cooled lights through the screen. I just setup the small veg tent in the room, which has two small clones in 5 gallon pots (soil) about 18" high or so. The main area of the room already has a 600 watt air cooled light and 4 white widows in flower (fifth week). I'm attempting a perpetual grow...

Description of ducting/room (6" ducting):

3' ducting brought up to ceiling --> 600watt HPS ---> 2' ducting ---> tent ---> T w/damper ---> 600 watt MH (@ 75%) ---> ducting ---> 440 CFM Fan (now @ 100%) ---> ducting ----> window. Ducting is the thin aluminum accordion type. Window ducting portion is wrapped in similar stuff to emergency blanket for light blocking from outside.

The temps were averaging 67/73, but when I set everything up today it was 77 in the new 3x3x6 grow tent, and 77 in the room as well. The tent has 600 watt MH running at 75%, just set to 18/6. The flower light is also 600 watt (HPS), but running 100%. The tent light has a 6" T with a damper set to allow about 20 - 30% airflow, so as to allow most of the airflow to pull from above the flowering light, and through both lights. Prior to the added equipment I ran the fan at 75% or so.

Now, it was rather hot today, about 87, and I had to turn off the grow lights a few times to run the duct work to include the tent, so some hot air did come in through the duct from the window while the exhaust fan was off, but I think it should have cooled it back down in short order, as the fan is 440 CFM, plus I boosted it to 100%.

I'm trying to do everything with the one fan. Also plan on adding a homemade air filter, which will slow the air down some, but the way it is to be built, should not slow it much.

Without extra purchases, what can be done to keep the temp down in the room? This MAY be a non-issue when I check the room during lights on tomorrow, but hopefully there's a simple solution to the heat issue.

It's lights off right now (flower area is main room, veg is the small tent), so I can include pics if needed.
I see what you are saying, and some pics would help, but best way to keep temps down is to only run your lights at night during the summer. My 18/6 runs from 3pm to 9am and my 12/12 runs 9pm to 9am. You might want to think about a carbon filter as well because it's going to stink up the house quite a bit without one.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
I see what you are saying, and some pics would help, but best way to keep temps down is to only run your lights at night during the summer. My 18/6 runs from 3pm to 9am and my 12/12 runs 9pm to 9am. You might want to think about a carbon filter as well because it's going to stink up the house quite a bit without one.
Yes, in hind sight that would have been best, my first time and I seem to be doing a few stupid things :-?
I don't know if I can mess with the flower light cycle now that I'm into it though. I'm also trying to keep it stealthy from outside the room. I have an overhead vent in an adjacent room that vents to the grow room via a duct that is run behind a floor fan. The adjacent room has temps at almost a constant 70 degrees. I guess the current setup may not be pulling enough cooler air in to compensate for the increased temps.

I can get picks later today.
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
The most important thing to keep it stealth is control smell, especially if you are venting out of a window. An oversized filter will help. I know you don't want additional purchases.
One question I have for you. Do you have a chimney breast I your basement? That is how I vent out, I vent in through an open window with box built over to stop light. Don't want choppers seeing a flume of hot air coming out of my windows. A chimney they cant argue with.

You do not need a 600w mh to veg, turn it down as much as possible. You should also have as large a ducting as possible. 2" and 3" sound a little on the weak side.
I know, you said no extra purchases. The only thing I can think is ice packs, the plastic refreezable type, slid into whatever your intake duct is.
I am struggling to comprehend your description of your exact set up. Regardless of temps a good air exchange is vital to keep Co2 levels high enough(unless supplementing Co2)
Sounds like you have a good space so I hope you solve your issues. 87degrees on hot days in your flower tent is not going to ruin your grow.

Thunder Cats hoooo!!
 

Lion-O

Active Member
The most important thing to keep it stealth is control smell, especially if you are venting out of a window. An oversized filter will help. I know you don't want additional purchases.
One question I have for you. Do you have a chimney breast I your basement? That is how I vent out, I vent in through an open window with box built over to stop light. Don't want choppers seeing a flume of hot air coming out of my windows. A chimney they cant argue with.

You do not need a 600w mh to veg, turn it down as much as possible. You should also have as large a ducting as possible. 2" and 3" sound a little on the weak side.
I know, you said no extra purchases. The only thing I can think is ice packs, the plastic refreezable type, slid into whatever your intake duct is.
I am struggling to comprehend your description of your exact set up. Regardless of temps a good air exchange is vital to keep Co2 levels high enough(unless supplementing Co2)
Sounds like you have a good space so I hope you solve your issues. 87degrees on hot days in your flower tent is not going to ruin your grow.

Thunder Cats hoooo!!
Lol, first person to get the liono thing! All ducts are 6". I could dim it down in tent to 50%. It was 77 in tent, 87 was outside temp. I live in a house that has no neighbors nearby, and the room is in the back of the house. Have most components to diy a filter, just need to order some carbon on ebay.

Will be home soon so I'll have those pics.
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Lol, first person to get the liono thing! All ducts are 6". .

Will be home soon so I'll have those pics.
We must both be in that age range. I had a crush on Cheetara when I was a young. lol

I apologise I misinterpreted your post. I read feet for inches too, I understand it better now I have re read it.
Sounds like a great set up and a good place to grow. I always envy those with basements!
Don't worry about lowering that MH below 75% if you don't have to. It wont hurt to go lower if needed but you will get some fast growth with that sort of power in veg.
Good luck measuring those temps durin light on, I hope they stay in a good range.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
We must both be in that age range. I had a crush on Cheetara when I was a young. lol

I apologise I misinterpreted your post. I read feet for inches too, I understand it better now I have re read it.
Sounds like a great set up and a good place to grow. I always envy those with basements!
Don't worry about lowering that MH below 75% if you don't have to. It wont hurt to go lower if needed but you will get some fast growth with that sort of power in veg.
Good luck measuring those temps durin light on, I hope they stay in a good range.
Thanks. It does help to keep the temps down. Yeah, Cheetara was hot :fire:
I found Larry Kenny (the voice actor) online years ago and he sent me an autographed print of the Lion-o character. Don't have it anymore though.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
Here's the pics of the room. Went in there about an hour ago, room temp is 75. Tent temp is 77. Low today in room was 72. OUTSIDE temp was 89 today. Intake air from adjacent room was 70-72.
0619161517.jpg 0619161518.jpg 0619161519.jpg 0619161519a.jpg 0619161520.jpg 0619161521.jpg
 

blackforest

Well-Known Member
Here's the pics of the room. Went in there about an hour ago, room temp is 75. Tent temp is 77. Low today in room was 72. OUTSIDE temp was 89 today. Intake air from adjacent room was 70-72.
View attachment 3712037 View attachment 3712038 View attachment 3712039 View attachment 3712040 View attachment 3712041 View attachment 3712042
Looks pretty good! I don't think you really need the ducting coming off the hps going to the ceiling and anything you can do to reduce the bends in the ducting. More bends = less efficient. Also your mh tent, I think you can pretty much put that light at the top and keep it there, might even be able to remove the T fitting and run it straight through the light. I think you are going to have a smell issue without a carbon filter though. Also, might want a couple fans in that room and maybe a small fan in the veg tent too. I tried the open flower room with the veg tent, but switched back to all tents in a single room. I like your setup, and your girls look great!

Edit, Just saw the small fans in the veg tent.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
Think about where 9/11 happened. (paranoia is good). I was just concerned about the temps as they were usually lower.

I was thinking of removing the ducting above the flower area as well. It does have a large floor fan which is where it's giving help in sucking in new air. Currently looking at carbon on ebay for the diy filter.
 

Bubblin

Well-Known Member
That T damper is screwing you. Sharp angles in the T are bad and I'm betting the T not all that well sealed, aka it's leaking air like a pig.

@duct
Less bends and reduce the ducting to a minimal amount.

@fans
I've fried fans using them @ pull.
Even though pulling the air is more efficient, not all fans can handle getting cooked. Having a fan die really sucks too.

I can't really tell from the photos but something else to consider is make sure the air is pushing from behind the bulb/bulb socket, through the hood.
Like blowing from behind the bulb socket forward over the bulb, and out the other side.
The socket and wiring will thank you in the long run. Baking wires is never a good thing lol.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
That T damper is screwing you. Sharp angles in the T are bad and I'm betting the T not all that well sealed, aka it's leaking air like a pig.

@duct
Less bends and reduce the ducting to a minimal amount.

@fans
I've fried fans using them @ pull.
Even though pulling the air is more efficient, not all fans can handle getting cooked. Having a fan die really sucks too.

I can't really tell from the photos but something else to consider is make sure the air is pushing from behind the bulb/bulb socket, through the hood.
Like blowing from behind the bulb socket forward over the bulb, and out the other side.
The socket and wiring will thank you in the long run. Baking wires is never a good thing lol.
There were no WYE's available, and the T was set to balance air, so the room gets more exhaust than the tent directly. I can remove the bend above the flower light, and the bend where the same light moves, possibly, bends are required to block light from the tent though as it's veg, and turns on before the flower light.
 

Bubblin

Well-Known Member
There were no WYE's available, and the T was set to balance air, so the room gets more exhaust than the tent directly. I can remove the bend above the flower light, and the bend where the same light moves, possibly, bends are required to block light from the tent though as it's veg, and turns on before the flower light.
I don't think that T is doing what you think it's doing.
If you've only got one fan at the end of the line sucking out, then that T is seriously reducing the suction of heat from the HPS. So you're hps is cooking and making the room hotter.

That T would be the first thing I would remove. I wouldn't even worry about the bends in the hose till that thing's outta the loop.

Do you vape? Vape next to it and see if it sucks in the smoke lol. Chuck some clouds braaaa. :p
 

Lion-O

Active Member
I don't think that T is doing what you think it's doing.
If you've only got one fan at the end of the line sucking out, then that T is seriously reducing the suction of heat from the HPS. So you're hps is cooking and making the room hotter.

That T would be the first thing I would remove. I wouldn't even worry about the bends in the hose till that thing's outta the loop.

Do you vape? Vape next to it and see if it sucks in the smoke lol. Chuck some clouds braaaa. :p
Planned on using a vaporizer when it's all done. If didn't have the T, the tent would have no exhaust for heat though. How would it eliminate heat as an alternative? Damper is set low so as to allow more exhaust for the room. I'll use a thermometer on the lamp to see what the temperature is though.
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
It has reached 106 I believe, a couple years ago. Hottest usually upper 90s though.
Sounds like you should be all good then other than a mega heatwave occurring. Likely some top end temps at times but you can always tweak that MH.
Hooo
 

Bubblin

Well-Known Member
Planned on using a vaporizer when it's all done. If didn't have the T, the tent would have no exhaust for heat though. How would it eliminate heat as an alternative? Damper is set low so as to allow more exhaust for the room. I'll use a thermometer on the lamp to see what the temperature is though.
The loop is.
HPS -> T fitting -> MH -> Fan -> Out the window right?

If that's the case then you're loosing suction from the HPS when the T is opened. And probably when it's closed.
Unless it's sucking in from the window and blowing out into the room, which would be odd.
 

Lion-O

Active Member
The loop is.
HPS -> T fitting -> MH -> Fan -> Out the window right?

If that's the case then you're loosing suction from the HPS when the T is opened. And probably when it's closed.
Unless it's sucking in from the window and blowing out into the room, which would be odd.
Pretty much, yes. I know it loses suction, as that's the only way to balance it with a single fan. Otherwise I'd need another fan for the tent. Temps going down tomorrow outside, will see what I get then for temps. Others said my temps though higher than I had prior, are still good. I did remove the small section above the HPS though, to eliminate a bend and have some more suction.
 
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