Darkroom Growtent Ventilation Help

If I had money and time I would switch out my 6" for my 4" for comparison reasons but I already know the answer and I can't afford heat stress

I actually use a ~400cfm inline as well in my 2'x4'x7' tent. It wasn't much more expensive than the smaller inlines of the same brand and I like being able to really get a good negative pressure pulling through the carbon filter (odor control is super important for where I live). The larger size also means a bit less noise when it's turned down a little compared to a smaller inline running at an equivalent cfm. Another thing I like is that I have passive intake ducting that I can position and direct anywhere in the tent - when I crank up the inline, that ducting blows cool, fresh air like a fan without taking up any space or needing any wires at the bottom of the tent.

Personal preference however, one could get by with a smaller exhaust inline with such a small tent and save a little cash.

Right now I have a budget of only $250.00 so I dont know for sure if I could afford 2 cfm fans and a filter. SO what would be the best bang for my buck??? so far 2 are saying overkill and one saying no overkill....Keep it going, the more I learn and hear the better set-up I will have. Thanks for replying all....

If you're in Sunny So Cal hit up craigslist, you'll find it all for less than $250

Tao did you see my update pic of the ventilation diagram? Is that what you were saying about positioning? Thanks

your realy not going to know till you start setting this up and add cheepest at a time idf say, lots of items regulate your room, like outer temps that it will be drawing in and so on. how many plants in room.....so on

www.greners.com

400cfm Phresh Filter - $140
400cfm 6" inline fan - $124


Save money and do it right the first time, I started cheap and ended up paying for it in the end, especially in Sunny SoCal, you will have the same issues I've had.

Bajafox,

I been on craigslist for the last month and ther has been only only post and there were 2 cfm fans 4" and 6" for $275 but they were used and I didnt want to buy used fans especially not knowing how long they used them and how many grows. I rather buy new if possible, too many downfalls to buying used. I appreciate your inputs bro, good looking out!!!

If you're in San Diego I know of a pretty good hydro shop that has greners.com prices

Good luck

I already know what your talking about cause the weather here was insane about 2 weeks ago with the massive heat wave. I have a 33 day old plant that has been through some heat stress cause of the crazy weather here. But now its very cool and perfect inside my bedroom that has a old school window A/C unit.

man id never touch craiglist after seeing so many get robbed after buying form there. watch your not followed like many others have been.

If you have AC you can get away from using such a big fan, the problem is I honestly think you'll end up running it more often than you'd like.

That heat stress we had not too long ago almost killed my plants. I was running 430cfm with my ballast set to 360w and my temps were hitting high 90's, it hit 100 once so I just shut it down for the day.

If I had a 4" fan in there I would probably have a lot of dead plants

bekindbud said:

Tao did you see my update pic of the ventilation diagram? Is that what you were saying about positioning? Thanks

Click to expand...

You got it - I used nylon zip ties to hold the carbon filter to a section of the tent's horizontal frame at the roof of the tent, hung the inline vertically from two horizontal bars in the corner of the roof and, attached a short stretch of ducting between them. Then all you have to do is add ducting from the inline to your cool tube and then to the exit.

By the way, most carbon filters can be directly attached to an inline fan if you want to do away with that section of ducting if it's more convenient for you.

I took a couple of pictures real quick since it's easier to understand.

This is looking at the upper left corner of the tent. Carbon filter in on the upper right, inline is the green thing on the left.

Ducting continues down from the inline to enter the hood (I have a 600w HPS in there at the moment)...

And on the right side of the hood there is more ducting that exits the tent.

Only took about 5 minutes to hang everything, cut the ducting, and get it going. Hope the pictures help.

Tao Thanks, now I feel better about understanding it, do you think I should use a 6" or 4" for my diagram and set-up. 4x2x5/400 watt mh/hps cool tube lighting. I was planning on only having 4 plants going, is that reasonable with the size and lighting? I have the following seeds already: all from Attidude Seeds: Vanilla Kush/G-13 Pinapple Express/Dutch Purple Passion/Snow White they are all feminized seeds well at least i hope they are.

The larger the diameter the less the fan will have to work and the lower the noise (6" is preferable to 4"). I'd only go with a smaller diameter if space is really cramped - which it shouldn't be with the tent being 4' wide.

If you notice in my picture, my carbon filter came with a 6" to 4" reducer attached and I was just too lazy to remove it even though my ducting is 6"... technically I should have removed the reducer for maximum efficiency but... well you know, I'm a pothead.

---------

Oh and yeah you could support 4 plants under 400w inside of 2'X4' feet (if you aren't thinking of growing trees). I'm guessing you want to do four because you have four different strains? If so, take into account that some of those strains are sativa dominant and some are indica dominant so their widths, heights, nutrient requirements and flowering length/time are going to differ a lot which can lead to some minor headaches/hoops to jump through if being grown at the same time.

Hope you are planning on doing a grow journal? My first grow I did one on here (under a different name and through proxies for security) and got a lot of help from start to finish. The feedback really helped in making it a successful grow.

And I have to agree with bajafox - dealing with heat can be one of the most annoying aspects of growing indoors. It's one aspect you have to throw some money and thought into or else it will kill/retard your plants.

Actually I don't plan on growing all strains at the same time, what would be a good plan of attack for growing in a grow tent that size? I obvisiously don't have much room that's why I went with that size tent. Should I grow 2 plants at a time or 1 and then clone? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated...also I do plan on a starting a grow journalfor whatever I grow. I need to becausei am sure there are going to be good helper and also ones that talk shitt too! I am a newbee grower and iam sure i will make mistakes that's why I started with. A few unknown seeds that I had just to see if I could germinate,veg,clone,flower n harvest it. I made quite a few mistakes: #1 overwatering. #2 heat stress #3 the plant tipped over #4 during the heat wave in Cali I put the CFLs back on it and shut the 400 watt. I hanged the CFLs on thereflective hood and they fell on top of my plant. All iamsaying is iam learning and better to learn like this with a unknown seed then one I spent money on. Actually I am watering my 34 day old plant tonight with its 1st full dosage of nutrients, FoxFarm Grow Big. I gave it 50% dosage about 14 days ago. I haven't watered my plant in 8 days cause I was over watering it so I purchased a moisture meter and whata great investment of $5.69!!! Well I am open to all ideas on what I should set up in my tent.

hey bekinbud, I cleared up my pms and left you a message on your profile

Yeah I saw that and thanks, i just didnt understand the whole blower by the window, is that to cool your ballast and add fresh air into your tent? I am happy you cleared your pms, i was trying to send you a message last night. Good looking bro!!!!

It pulls in fresh cool air from a shady area outside my window, the blower sucks it and pushes it at my ballast and where I have my intake fan. The last few nights I've had to shut them down at night because it gets kind of cold. They make a huge difference, I have turned them off and my temperatures rise quickly.