Hi guys. First time poster. I've been reading for quite a while but I haven't needed to post before now.
So I have 1 grow under my belt. 4 clones grown outdoors. I had a lot of fun, but now I'd like to plan an indoor setup. I love the idea of having more control, possibly being able to try hydroponics, and not having to worry about the rain/fog/bugs/rippers/unexpected guests, etc. DWC and UCDWC are the most appealing to me right now. I would build a system myself if I go that route.
I have a 9.5' x 10' (ceiling is 7' and slopes to 6' on the other) storage room with a cement floor behind my laundry room that I think will work well once I add a nice door that locks, insulation, and some more electrical connections. I'll probably divide the room into 3 area's, a small veg area with florescent lights for clones and a few mothers, a larger (4-6 plants to start) veg/flower area with a ballast (probably a single air cooled 600 watt) that can run a MH or HPS so that I can veg for a few weeks before flowering if needed, and a small storage area that may also double as a drying room. Though I've also considered using the flower room as a drying room by shutting off the lights and leaving the ventilation on.
The room has 3 exterior walls that can easily be used for ventilation. My thought was to install a passive intake low on one wall (with a basic filter to keep out bugs and dirt), and a carbon filter + exhaust fan high on the opposite wall. (I'm prop 215 legal but I'd rather not have to explain the smell to guests or invite rippers) I figured I could hide each vent behind one or two of those hardware store household ventilation grates that are used on basements and attics.
What I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is how to properly control both temperature and humidity in this room. I plan to run the lights at night to keep the room warmer during cold winter nights and cooler during hot summer days. The weather here is pretty mild but we do get some cold nights (below freezing a few times a year), plenty of rain, and some 90-100 degree days in the summer. With the room air being exchanged on a regular basis (I see some people keep their exhaust fan on 24/7, others run it on a timer or a thermostat) how do I control the room's internal temperature?
If my intake is pulling in fresh outside air that might be hot, freezing cold, and/or damp. How do I keep the room in the correct range? Are fans and moving air enough to keep most rooms stable?
I totally grasp the idea of using a basic thermostat/humidity controller to fire up the ventilation fans whenever it's too hot or too humid, but what if my intake air is 30f? What if it's 100f? what if it's a warm rainy day and the outside humidity is 90%? In those situations it almost seems like fresh air might do more harm than good.
I know that heaters, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers are an option but even then with the room air being regularly replaced won't I be blowing all of my newly temperature adjusted dehumidified air right out of the room and potentially replacing it with more hot/cold/damp air? This seems like it would be a huge waste of electricity.
So, am I over-thinking this? or am I going to need to seal the room and run a bunch of heating/cooling equipment and C02?
I know many people hook their intake up to a living space to get indoor air from their house that might be more mild, but this room doesn't share a wall with any living area's. It shares a wall with an un-insulated laundry room, and an open car port.
Thanks!
So I have 1 grow under my belt. 4 clones grown outdoors. I had a lot of fun, but now I'd like to plan an indoor setup. I love the idea of having more control, possibly being able to try hydroponics, and not having to worry about the rain/fog/bugs/rippers/unexpected guests, etc. DWC and UCDWC are the most appealing to me right now. I would build a system myself if I go that route.
I have a 9.5' x 10' (ceiling is 7' and slopes to 6' on the other) storage room with a cement floor behind my laundry room that I think will work well once I add a nice door that locks, insulation, and some more electrical connections. I'll probably divide the room into 3 area's, a small veg area with florescent lights for clones and a few mothers, a larger (4-6 plants to start) veg/flower area with a ballast (probably a single air cooled 600 watt) that can run a MH or HPS so that I can veg for a few weeks before flowering if needed, and a small storage area that may also double as a drying room. Though I've also considered using the flower room as a drying room by shutting off the lights and leaving the ventilation on.
The room has 3 exterior walls that can easily be used for ventilation. My thought was to install a passive intake low on one wall (with a basic filter to keep out bugs and dirt), and a carbon filter + exhaust fan high on the opposite wall. (I'm prop 215 legal but I'd rather not have to explain the smell to guests or invite rippers) I figured I could hide each vent behind one or two of those hardware store household ventilation grates that are used on basements and attics.
What I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is how to properly control both temperature and humidity in this room. I plan to run the lights at night to keep the room warmer during cold winter nights and cooler during hot summer days. The weather here is pretty mild but we do get some cold nights (below freezing a few times a year), plenty of rain, and some 90-100 degree days in the summer. With the room air being exchanged on a regular basis (I see some people keep their exhaust fan on 24/7, others run it on a timer or a thermostat) how do I control the room's internal temperature?
If my intake is pulling in fresh outside air that might be hot, freezing cold, and/or damp. How do I keep the room in the correct range? Are fans and moving air enough to keep most rooms stable?
I totally grasp the idea of using a basic thermostat/humidity controller to fire up the ventilation fans whenever it's too hot or too humid, but what if my intake air is 30f? What if it's 100f? what if it's a warm rainy day and the outside humidity is 90%? In those situations it almost seems like fresh air might do more harm than good.
I know that heaters, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers are an option but even then with the room air being regularly replaced won't I be blowing all of my newly temperature adjusted dehumidified air right out of the room and potentially replacing it with more hot/cold/damp air? This seems like it would be a huge waste of electricity.
So, am I over-thinking this? or am I going to need to seal the room and run a bunch of heating/cooling equipment and C02?
I know many people hook their intake up to a living space to get indoor air from their house that might be more mild, but this room doesn't share a wall with any living area's. It shares a wall with an un-insulated laundry room, and an open car port.
Thanks!