Hey RIU, I need some help keeping my 4x2x5 flowering tent cool please

T5-to-HPS

New Member
This is my first grow, although I've been researching for awhile, so the 4x2x5 is just a tester that, if successful enough, will turn into a dedicated room(s) for a scaled up perpetual operation.
When I have that room setup in the near future, I'll be using a mini split. But for now, I need the optimal solution for cooling this small 4x2x5 space for flowering. Ideally I want full control over temps & humidity (being able to drop temp at night) but I'm not sure whether to try a small portable vented AC, a dehu, co2 to help with higher temps...
I tried putting 10lbs of dry ice in the tent just as a curiosity, but it does nothing.




The temps are getting to 86-88, up to 90 regularly. The pictures here were taken with a 400w metal halide dimmed to 250w. I'm at 400w MH now, still vegging, and will be switching to a 600w HPS To flower.

Does anyone have any great cooling ideas or links to a perfect mini portable AC?

I'll be upgrading my inline to a 6" 440 cfm in a few days but even then, I want to get down in the 60s at night during flowering.


Here's a few more pics of my setup details. I have an air cooled cooltube w/wing reflector (6" I believe). I'm using two small clip-on fans inside the tent blowing the hot air towards the air cooled hood, then I have two floor fans blowing from outside the tent near the bottom, which also blows the hot air up. I'm using a 4" inline fan 185cfm, vented with un-insulated ducting out of the window, all shown in the pictures. Also have a 4" carbon filter in top left corner not pictured or connected yet.








The current temps in the tent are at 85-88 regularly, up to 90, and I need the ability to drop 10-20 degrees using the most optimal solution possible for the small 4x2x5 space.

Anyone have any portable AC solutions or links to a perfect mini portable AC? I have a window vent if needed.
 

Skylander

Well-Known Member
I used a spot cooler used to cool servers and it worked well.Mine was kinda pricey do to the btu requirements for my setup but you should be able to find one pretty well priced.
 

T5-to-HPS

New Member
I used a spot cooler used to cool servers and it worked well.Mine was kinda pricey do to the btu requirements for my setup but you should be able to find one pretty well priced.
Hey thanks for the info.. When you say pricey are you talking <$500, <$1000, more than $1k?
Thanks again
 

Skylander

Well-Known Member
Just a heads up... Make sure whatever you buy has a auto-restart function so you can plug in to a environmental controller if you decide to down the line.
 

SickSickWorld

Well-Known Member
This is my first grow, although I've been researching for awhile, so the 4x2x5 is just a tester that, if successful enough, will turn into a dedicated room(s) for a scaled up perpetual operation.
When I have that room setup in the near future, I'll be using a mini split. But for now, I need the optimal solution for cooling this small 4x2x5 space for flowering. Ideally I want full control over temps & humidity (being able to drop temp at night) but I'm not sure whether to try a small portable vented AC, a dehu, co2 to help with higher temps...
I tried putting 10lbs of dry ice in the tent just as a curiosity, but it does nothing.




The temps are getting to 86-88, up to 90 regularly. The pictures here were taken with a 400w metal halide dimmed to 250w. I'm at 400w MH now, still vegging, and will be switching to a 600w HPS To flower.

Does anyone have any great cooling ideas or links to a perfect mini portable AC?

I'll be upgrading my inline to a 6" 440 cfm in a few days but even then, I want to get down in the 60s at night during flowering.


Here's a few more pics of my setup details. I have an air cooled cooltube w/wing reflector (6" I believe). I'm using two small clip-on fans inside the tent blowing the hot air towards the air cooled hood, then I have two floor fans blowing from outside the tent near the bottom, which also blows the hot air up. I'm using a 4" inline fan 185cfm, vented with un-insulated ducting out of the window, all shown in the pictures. Also have a 4" carbon filter in top left corner not pictured or connected yet.








The current temps in the tent are at 85-88 regularly, up to 90, and I need the ability to drop 10-20 degrees using the most optimal solution possible for the small 4x2x5 space.

Anyone have any portable AC solutions or links to a perfect mini portable AC? I have a window vent if needed.
How is the cool tube hooked up? Is it open one end? Is the fan blowing over, or sucking through? Either way, I'm sure cool tubes are meant to be sealed, in line units, so I would either run it... (>>> = direction of airflow)

Carbon filter >>> fan >>> duct >>> cooltube >>> duct >>> exhaust

This way you're using one fan, ducking all that warm stinky air through the carbon filter, blowing over the bulb and out through your extraction. Any leaks in the cooltube would then reenter your tent, back through the filter, etc.

Or...

Cold air intake >>> duct >>> fan >>> cooltube >>> duct >>> exhaust

That way you'd be getting coolest possible air going over the bulb, all nice and sealed in, and you can exhaust aywhere as no smell. You would need a separate system for your tents ventilation though.

I wouldn't suck hot air through the fan, as I reckon that may shorten the life of the fan. Also, if there are any leaks, you'll have negative pressure in the cool tube, and it'll start ducking in that unfiltered aromatic grow room stank, and vent that through your exhaust as is. Not really ideal if you're looking to keep low key.

I know nothing. At all.

Sick
 
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