Poll + Pics: Temperature vs Lumens Trade off?

Hey everyone,

I hope this is a correct use of this forum...

I have 2 plants flowering in a uhaul shorty wardrobe (21" x 24" x 31"-H) at 2 weeks of 12/12. What would you choose between these two scenarios, if you had to choose between them...

#1. 13,000 lumens (2x 26w t5s + 6x 23w cfls) and 90 degrees in the box

#2. 10,000 lumens (2x 26w t5s + 4x 23w cfls) and 84 degrees in the box


I know that ideally I would increase lumens AND decrease temp, but supposing I can't and I *have* to choose between the above two options, which is better, (1) or (2)?




Thanks!! +rep to any suggestions

homer371

climate choices first imho

I'd choose the lower temp, but it looks like you are blowing hot air from the light on the plant. Can you put the fan on the ground and point it up? If you can blow the air between the plant and the light up toward the exhaust you may be able to lower your temps more.

thanks for the h.o. flamdrags420, +rep!

MrDank007 said:

I'd choose the lower temp, but it looks like you are blowing hot air from the light on the plant. Can you put the fan on the ground and point it up? If you can blow the air between the plant and the light up toward the exhaust you may be able to lower your temps more.

Click to expand...

thanks mr dank, that's a very good idea. it's very tough right now to position the fan in the way you suggest, but i will keep thinking about that. that will sort of happen naturally in another 2 weeks when the plants stretch another few inches. in the meantime, thanks for the vote! +rep

id really like to know more about your space.
With the right exhaust you should be able to drop it a lot assuming you are dumping the heated air far away from the incoming much cooler air.

flamdrags420 said:

id really like to know more about your space.
With the right exhaust you should be able to drop it a lot assuming you are dumping the heated air far away from the incoming much cooler air.

Click to expand...

Thanks flamdrags, right now I'm using two "true air" hamilton beach carbon filter vents to push air out through the top of the box. link:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=true+air&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=398217694753314746&ei=Ax9jTYqQK4aCsQOnzKSKAQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CEMQ8gIwAw#
I'm estimating each to be about 50cfm, and I want to use those as the only exhaust because I don't have another carbon filtering option at the moment and smell is the biggest concern.

Intake is a 188cfm booster/duct fan that's pushing colder air in through the side, but because of the way it's angled and limited space on the intake end of that fan, I'm guessing it's really only pushing about 100cfm in.

Here's a couple more views of my setup in case it helps:


and more info in my thread here if you're interested -- thanks again bro.
My grow - post 252

homer371

voted for the less light, the 3000 lumens extra of light isnt going to outweigh the uncomfortable temperatures.

MrDank007 said:

I'd choose the lower temp, but it looks like you are blowing hot air from the light on the plant. Can you put the fan on the ground and point it up? If you can blow the air between the plant and the light up toward the exhaust you may be able to lower your temps more.

Click to expand...

agreed, it would help move the air around the base of the plants more when they get bigger. which will help prevent molds

shmow52 said:

agreed, it would help move the air around the base of the plants more when they get bigger. which will help prevent molds

Click to expand...

thanks shmow, that's a hilarious avatar pic by the way. right now the box is too small in the length & width dimensions to't fit the fan where i would like to put it, like you said blowing air up toward the lights. but hopefully as the plants get taller, and i expect they will (and i have another 8" to spare in height in my box), that will be doable.

thanks for the vote, +rep! option #2 (lower lumens, lower temps) is winning 3 to 0...

homer371