Help Me Understand Ventilation And Power

im planning on my first grow sometime around march next year. im trying to do as much research as i can until then. i think based on the numerous threads ive read, iv'e picked out the following:


growlab gl80 grow tent(3x3x6)

lumitek 400w hps/mh digital ballast

hortilux super hps 400w hps bulb(for both veg and flowering)

sun systems super sun 2 reflector

fox farms ocean forest organic soil

fox farms trio pack nutes

2 small oscillating fans at each top corner for air circulation

ph testing kit

hygro-thermometer

carbon filter


been trying to look for videos and various grow tent threads to see how others are doing it, but i understand both fresh air and stale air needs to come in and go out of the tent. OK. as i understand in a typical setup, the intake fan would be mounted on the left side(top or bottom or tent) attached to ducting tube, which goes to the reflector, then more tube on the other side of the reflector which goes out into another side mounted fan, is this correct?


one more question, ill be growing in a rented condo so power and smell is of concern to me. do i need to make any power modifications at all? i read that anything ovr 250w requires some kind of power tweaking. i just need to be able to plug all this shit into a power strip and be done with it. would this be an issue at all? i wouldnt want the ballast or anything else to blow up.

i was just watching a grow video and the narrator states the intake should be mounted down low while the exhaust should be up high, is that right?

im running the same as you but i also have air pumps and water pumps all on a power strip no probs for me...also in a condo just get a glade plug in by the front door youll be cool

does anyone have any comment on the ventilation question?

del taco lover said:

does anyone have any comment on the ventilation question?

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Check out my journal (pretty recent, towards the end) for a link to some Youtube videos I made which document my setup for my two tents - should answer your questions.

Good luck.

Bob Smith said:

Check out my journal (pretty recent, towards the end) for a link to some Youtube videos I made which document my setup for my two tents - should answer your questions.

Good luck.

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this is going to look funny but i just wanted to know if this screenshot is correct, in how the tent would move air in and out of the tent?

Del Taco Lover: That's exactly how I have my tent setup. My reflector takes up the whole tent, so the fan and the carbon filter are directly above/outside the tent

bongmarley2009 said:

Del Taco Lover: That's exactly how I have my tent setup. My reflector takes up the whole tent, so the fan and the carbon filter are directly above/outside the tent

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yeah, im going to run duct in the hole above the tent and place the canfan and filter outside the tent on my kitchen counter. just wondering if thats ok. it kind of confuses me though because sometimes i see the filter and fan inside the tents which makes me thinkf about how the air is being exhaust?

because the tent is rather small my main goal is to have the least amount of shit inside the tent as possible.

Del Taco Lover: Yes, with such a little area, it's best to keep the fan and filter outside of the tent. This may be a defect in the Homebox's design, but my carbon filter didn't 100% neutralize the odor. For my next grow, I'm looking into purchasing an ozone generator or perhaps buying a 6" filter to replace the 4" one. Just try to keep the length of the ducting outside the tent as short as possible because the longer the air travels, the greater the chance of odors escaping. Plus the air travels through the carbon filter last, and I'm not sure if having the reflector pull the air through a carbon filter on the inside of the tent would make a bigger difference...

Del, have your goals changed? I have commented on the thread that you started in the grow room forum. This thread is not consistent with the one in the grow room.

ow.douglas said:

Del, have your goals changed? I have commented on the thread that you started in the grow room forum. This thread is not consistent with the one in the grow room.

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i was thinking of getting a smaller tent than this and did(a mistake). im going to get the same tent just use a 250w light instead of a 400w. want to see how well of cooling the fan does.