I want to upgrade my lighting from the T-12 bulbs I use now to a 400w hps/mh. I'm wondering if I will have heat issues useing a basic gull wing design reflector in a 2x4x5 ft. tent with a 4" inline fan pulling through a carbon filter and a 6" oscilating fan for air circulation. Does anyone know if this will be ok or will I have to go with a Cool Tube and run a second fan and duct line through it? My tent is in my basement and with my T-12's, the tent stays on the cool side of about 72 degrees.
To Air Cool or not to Air Cool, that is the question.
- Thread starter raven1290
- Start date
BCBuddy420
Well-Known Member
It would be a good idea to get a duct line running in there, you will have heat issues, almost guaranteed. Even passive, if short enough should run enough cool air to keep your temps below danger levels. Or you want even cooler just throw a cheap axial fan at the base (where you draw the fresh air from) I am a firm believer in always cycling fresh, cool air throughout the space. Hope this helps. ~ BCbuddy420 
BCBuddy420
Well-Known Member
The t-12's are nothing compared to a HID light. The heat builds fast as heck. You don't really need a cooltube. I assume you don't have a fresh air source yet. It's so important 
I have cut holes in floors and then crawled through 100 or more feet of cobwebs and nasty dirt( rodent feces, etc) dragging a duct line, beneath a trailer to get mine. Whatever it takes...your plants will love you for it.
I have cut holes in floors and then crawled through 100 or more feet of cobwebs and nasty dirt( rodent feces, etc) dragging a duct line, beneath a trailer to get mine. Whatever it takes...your plants will love you for it.
BelieveInJesus
New Member
Best not to take chances man. Cool tube
GorrillaPanic SNP
Member
I agree with drolove, always air-cool Even if you don't "need" to reduce heat, less heat from a bulb means you can place it closer to the plants and that means more intense light, more canopy penetration, less lumen loss, and in turn bigger, denser, more potent harvests.
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
...i know a guy running 2 stacked barebulb 400s in a 3 x 4 x 6 space, ...actually, he just upgraded to a 600 over a 400.
i personally run a single barebulb 600 in a 4 x 4 x 8 closet and i use a CanFan MaxFan 6" with no problems at all so i'd say you don't need an air-cooled hood, just maybe a bigger exhaust fan, the 4" might not be enough.
...these are 24 days in.
peace, bozo
i personally run a single barebulb 600 in a 4 x 4 x 8 closet and i use a CanFan MaxFan 6" with no problems at all so i'd say you don't need an air-cooled hood, just maybe a bigger exhaust fan, the 4" might not be enough.
...these are 24 days in.
peace, bozo
GorrillaPanic SNP
Member
Ya if you are gonna go vertical then it basically eliminates most of the heat from the bulb...but you would need a bigger wattage to get more penetration through the canopy or you would need more than 1 bulb to get both sides of the plants (a setup like bulb>plants<bulb or bulb>plants<bulb>plants<bulb...make sense?)... Vertical definitely has its benefits if you have the proper setup.
Ps. Looking good Bozo!
Edit: If you are in a tent, like Bozo's setup, then 1 bulb is plenty as you can see, there might just be a little more popcorn on the backsides of the plants. In a bigger space, that's when the bulb configuration i put above is better.
RetiredMatthebrute
Well-Known Member
just grab the cool tube option with your kit and you can try it without and see what happens. if it gets too hot just hook your can filter and fan up to the tube and run that same exaust right through the cool tube
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
thanks man but i don't ever turn my plants, i anchor them to the walls with pipe cleaners so the back of the plants never get light, think a SCROG only the back of the plant is the part 'under' the screen, as it were.
...and vertical is the new frontier man, i have canopy on ALL sides of my bulb, not just below it.
peace, bozo
GorrillaPanic SNP
Member
I was wondering if you were doing a vertical scrog when I noticed the netting in the back. That is definitely the way to go if you are using one bulb.
I agree, vertical is dope...i haven't ever tried it myself but it looks and sounds promising, so maybe sometime soon.
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
...i've been growing for 6 years plus overall and vert for a bit more than a year now and i'll never go back, ...the only real downside is trimming, ...it's a major pain in the ass now 'cause there is so much more of it to do!I was wondering if you were doing a vertical scrog when I noticed the netting in the back. That is definitely the way to go if you are using one bulb.
I agree, vertical is dope...i haven't ever tried it myself but it looks and sounds promising, so maybe sometime soon.
...although i have to admit that my grow is so much easier now it almost feels like i'm cheating. ...vertical coco hempy-buckets, KISS style, FTW!
peace, bozo
GorrillaPanic SNP
Member
Haha that doesn't sound like much of a downside!
I've heard of the hempy-buckets...but what is KISS style?
Canna Connoiseur
Active Member
Keep It Simple Stupid
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
Keep It Simple Stoner is a philosophy of simplicity in feeding and is most commonly associated with the use of MaxiBloom as a single, 1 part nutrient for your plant, ...if you use MaxiBloom, from seed and rooted clone up to harvest without additives except a touch of silica to balance the ph it's almost brain-dead simple to grow strong, healthy plants.
...i personally used the MaxiBloom with Silica Blast and nothing else for close to a year before switching to Jack's Pro which is a 2 part meaning you have a base nutrient powder to which you also add calcium nitrate, ...i switched because i saw great results by growers i respected and because it is much less money, ...although compared to regular nutrient lines MaxiBloom is VERY inexpensive to run.
...i'm not allowed to link off site but if you do a Google for 'Ioni Botani' you will find a long running thread on the use of MaxiBloom with full instructions and a healthy discussion with MANY testimonials of VERY happy growers!
peace, bozo
GorrillaPanic SNP
Member
I've read a few threads here about using just a 1 part nute from seed to finish, although I think they used a different brand...floralicious maybe? I cant remember. lol But I don't remember seeing a negative post about it. Personally I'm a fan of the Dyna-Gro line because I run a Re-circulating UCDWC, and their Pro-TeKt (silica additive) kicks ass.