Questions about height and lighting

Nick1450

Member
So I've been lurking on and off for years now and I'm finally at the point where I'm planning to setup my grow room. I'm wanting to build the room in my attic. The only problem is that the height up there is only 5ft tall. I'm worried that if I over do the lights the plants will get to tall and burn/bleach. Also I'm probably going to run a sealed room with a/c and co2 to keep everything consistent.

So my question : should I use a non vented hps setup or led?

From what I see the led's use less watts and have less radiant heat. Which in return would mean the a/c wouldn't have to work as hard to cool the room.
 

Sateven Weed

Active Member
So I've been lurking on and off for years now and I'm finally at the point where I'm planning to setup my grow room. I'm wanting to build the room in my attic. The only problem is that the height up there is only 5ft tall. I'm worried that if I over do the lights the plants will get to tall and burn/bleach. Also I'm probably going to run a sealed room with a/c and co2 to keep everything consistent.

So my question : should I use a non vented hps setup or led?

From what I see the led's use less watts and have less radiant heat. Which in return would mean the a/c wouldn't have to work as hard to cool the room.
It could be LED. Also be careful temperature wise. It's OK to have it obviously, a/c , just make sure to let them be as natural, (if you will) as possible. Try to match the mid summer temperature constantly, including night. I've had wonderful success with this IMO
 

fandango

Well-Known Member
The SOG would work in a 4x4 flood table...the new ceramic315 dual(check high times magizine)8000btu a/c,fresh air and exhaust.
dehuy...net etc.
 

Nick1450

Member
image.jpg A picture of the attic I plan to grow in
The SOG would work in a 4x4 flood table...the new ceramic315 dual(check high times magizine)8000btu a/c,fresh air and exhaust.
dehuy...net etc.
Yeah I was thinking sog or scrog. But with the room height being 5ft from floor to highest point on ceiling idk if I could fit table, res, ect. up there. The roof is on about a 30 degrees slope from point and I need to know the best way to spread all that light/heat without much head room. That's why I'm considering led, well that and efficiency.
 

fandango

Well-Known Member
View attachment 3506599 A picture of the attic I plan to grow in

Yeah I was thinking sog or scrog. But with the room height being 5ft from floor to highest point on ceiling idk if I could fit table, res, ect. up there. The roof is on about a 30 degrees slope from point and I need to know the best way to spread all that light/heat without much head room. That's why I'm considering led, well that and efficiency.
You can make 2 wooden boxes.check out youtube and watch Limbo Holland,he has a room with the perfect set up.
cut the pieces,haul the wood into the attic thru the crawl hole ,screw it together,and line the boxes with panda film or 6mil visqueen.
You can use hydro or soil up there.But I guess either way you will only veg until the plant is 12" tall.
 

kushguy

Well-Known Member
That ceiling looks really low. What is the height a little over 6'? You will not be able to grow very big trees in that room with those height restrictions. My next concern is hot air build up. Remember hot air rises so naturally all the hot air in that house will be drawn towards the attic. Even with a/c temps in the summer time will be in the high 80's-90's. You will need to get vented hoods with your a/c and vent the shit out of that room with an intake and exhaust. Good luck homie.
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
You might have to get just a bit creative. 1000w HPS as side lighting to prevent unwanted bleaching/burning. Low powered lights , short but wide pots ect. With A/C, co2 and a 1000w side light, you will get some bud no doubt. Its all a matter of dialing down your area. I have the same height as you, but with 1000w bulbs and usually left with 8-12" away from the hood by harvest time. Some strains WILL burn.
 

Nick1450

Member
What do you guys think of doing a sog or scrog grow? If I got a 600w hps and I gave 6" for plant pots, 6" for light hood, and 12" distance from canopy id be left with about 3ft. Would I need to vent the hood? I'd prefer not to but I guess I would if left no other option... That's why I was kinda considering LED but I fell off that bandwagon and wanting to go with the tried and true hps. If I did decide to ventilate the room instead of doing a sealed room, would I need to give the light its own fan or would
(carbon filter >fan>light>out) type setup work?
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
What do you guys think of doing a sog or scrog grow? If I got a 600w hps and I gave 6" for plant pots, 6" for light hood, and 12" distance from canopy id be left with about 3ft. Would I need to vent the hood? I'd prefer not to but I guess I would if left no other option... That's why I was kinda considering LED but I fell off that bandwagon and wanting to go with the tried and true hps. If I did decide to ventilate the room instead of doing a sealed room, would I need to give the light its own fan or would
(carbon filter >fan>light>out) type setup work?
3FT is plenty for a 600 HPS, but im not sure what your gonna pull out of 6" pots lol. A "screen of green" is a great method, i use it all the time with great results. If you do a sealed room you will need a fan blowing across the lit foliage, c02 & an air conditioner because it will get humid and hot as shit. If the room is not sealed 30-60%RH and 65-75f lights off 70-85f lights on will be fine .
 

Nick1450

Member
3FT is plenty for a 600 HPS, but im not sure what your gonna pull out of 6" pots lol. A "screen of green" is a great method, i use it all the time with great results. If you do a sealed room you will need a fan blowing across the lit foliage, c02 & an air conditioner because it will get humid and hot as shit. If the room is not sealed 30-60%RH and 65-75f lights off 70-85f lights on will be fine .
What sized pots would you recommend? I figured if I did half gallon pots the plants would stay smaller and more controllable height wise. That and I don't plan on vegging long (if at all) so I felt as if larger pots would waste space and height.

Also, would I need aircooled hood? Let's say I did use an aircooled hood, would it make a big difference in my height struggle? Yield?
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
What sized pots would you recommend? I figured if I did half gallon pots the plants would stay smaller and more controllable height wise. That and I don't plan on vegging long (if at all) so I felt as if larger pots would waste space and height.

Also, would I need aircooled hood? Let's say I did use an aircooled hood, would it make a big difference in my height struggle? Yield?
You can use short and wide pots to keep height down. A hood is worth it, a sealed hood is even better if it gets too hot and yes it will allow your plants to be closer to the light. Yes you will take a yield cut with the glass installed but if you are not a drug dealer then you shouldnt worry as the yield cut is very minimal for the first few times
 

Nick1450

Member
Yeah I guess the vented hood would be worth it then. Also I was pondering the idea of pulling air from a closet in the house and venting the exhaust through the light and out of the room. I think this would be much more efficient then trying to run an ac, a dehumidifier, co2, ect. I'm kinda stuck in the middle on whether to buy the best or the basics. I don't want to, too quickly outgrow my setup (no pun intended lol), but I also don't want to buy things that won't hardly make a difference in a new growers garden.
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
You can use whatever dimensions you like. You could do 10 1 gallon pots if you want. Pull air from a location that constantly gets fresh air, like a window in your bedroom ect. Or get an A/C system that pulls fresh air from outside. Your methods of growing (scrog) ect, might be more trouble then its worth for you because 1. Im not sure if short vegged 1 gallon plants will even take advantage of the screen because the the small size
2. It will be a total pain in the ass to water the soil of that many individual plants under one light. Can i ask why short veg time? Can i also ask why scrogg?
 

Nick1450

Member
Well the main reason I'm considering short veg and scrog both have to do with the original problem of height restrictions in my grow area... I'd love to veg them out and grow trees but it seems my only option with a 3ft max plant height would be a sog/scrog grow. Also with a short veg time is get maybe an extra harvest a year.
 

Nick1450

Member
Also if I could get some opinions on insulation that'd be great! I want to do something like an r-50/60 insulation to make sure that when its 110f in the attic that I can still keep the room cool pumping in 70f air from inside the house.
 
Top