Getting Ready For First Time Grow... need advice!

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chrisbtx

Member
Hello everybody, I've been a long time reader but this is my first post as I'm finally about to start my first grow! I am, however, having trouble putting everything together regarding growing with a tent and am hoping that everyone can help me out a bit with understanding everything I need.

First off, I'm looking at getting a DR80 to start with. I want to grow in a closet that is roughly 5' x 4' but want to make sure that this will work (enough space for everything needed)?

I'm looking at getting a 400 watt HPS setup as well from htgsupply.com as based on some other posts I've seen on the site it seems that they have the best deal. I'm curious as to how much heat this is going to generate though as there is no real ventilation in the closet (planning on leaving the closet door open) and whether or not I need to get set up with a cool tube and what is required in addition to the reflector hood itself.

I want to use computer fans and basically set up a DIY carbon filter to keep from having any odors as I do not want the smell to be an issue. Does anyone have any fans they would recommend for a setup like this and where I could find them? I'm also unsure how to get the fans and filter(s) set up in the tent and haven't been able to find much information regarding this as well.

My plan is to grow organically and my babies are Sativa Spirit which I will be growing from seed. I'm thinking that I could grow 2-4 plants in the space that the DR80 provides... is this correct?

Right now this is all I have been able to come up with regarding my setup, so PLEASE enlighten me on anything I am missing out on (not so aware of the ducting involved that I've seen in others' pictures).

Thanks to everyone in advance for any assistance you can provide!
 
NLXSK1

NLXSK1

Well-Known Member
Most people dont know what a DR-80 is and are not going to go look for the information to answer your questions.

Computer fans will not move enough air to pull through a carbon filter and keep the tent cool. A cool tube light and an inline fan will help keep the tent cooler but the exhaust heat from the light will have to be vented out of the tent and out of the closet as well. Maybe a cheap box fan could be put into the doorway of the closet to aid in hot air exhaust.

I would recommend some inline fans. They are pretty expensive 100-200 and up but they can provide sufficient ventilation for temps to not be a problem.

There are alot of good stickied informational posts at the tops of each of the forums, I recommend you read around a bit to get more info.
 
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snwbrder03

Member
for a good way to not spend a lot of money is buy a 100+CFM(CFM=sucking power) bathroom fart fan and put up high, wall or ceiling, then buy a 8-10 inch box fan and cut a hole 6x6(8in fan) or 8x8(10in fan) and but the boxfan right up against it(works as a great ventalation) and put a mesh screen on the outside if bugs are a problem then get a clip on fan and put it in between the plants and the light to redirect the heat, preferably have the fan pointing up so it goes towards the fart fan. i did all of this and here is what it will basically look like CIMG0401.jpg in the pic the cabinet on the right doesnt have a fart fan yet and to block of the smell hang your carbon filter about a foot down from the fart fan and you will be set. hope this helps! and pls ask question
 
Forzaitaly1

Forzaitaly1

Well-Known Member
I don know much about grow tents but I did use a 400 hps b4 and eventhou theyre fairly lower wattage lights, they still put out a good amount of heat. If u order from HTG make sure to get an aircooled hood with a remote ballast(not one of those all together ones), U will also need an inline fan to pull the heat out. Computer fans are just too weak for that. I don know where ur located but I would look up craigslist for a good fan. A good 4 inch will do the trick for a 400 watt grow light but if incase later on U wanna expand and upgrade ur system, Ur better off investing in a good 6 inch. Im looking at a used HO 6" canfan on craigslist now for $100. U can find a 4" for probably around 60. Which is a very good investment. And to be honest with u I don like the cooltubes, they jus cover a smaller grow area.
 
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chrisbtx

Member
NLXSK1 said:
Most people dont know what a DR-80 is and are not going to go look for the information to answer your questions.

Computer fans will not move enough air to pull through a carbon filter and keep the tent cool. A cool tube light and an inline fan will help keep the tent cooler but the exhaust heat from the light will have to be vented out of the tent and out of the closet as well. Maybe a cheap box fan could be put into the doorway of the closet to aid in hot air exhaust.

I would recommend some inline fans. They are pretty expensive 100-200 and up but they can provide sufficient ventilation for temps to not be a problem.

There are alot of good stickied informational posts at the tops of each of the forums, I recommend you read around a bit to get more info.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. The problem I'm having is there is so much involved with all of this that it seems a bit overwhelming. For those that don't know the DR-80 is a grow tent by Secret Jardin that is 2'7.5" wide x 2'7.5" deep x 5'3" high. I'm starting to get a better grasp on the cooling and ventilation and am coming to the realization I should probably get an inline fan like you are speaking of. The way I see it is if I spend a couple to a few hundred extra for some better equipment, my yield will be much better and higher quality.

Thanks for the help!
 
C

chrisbtx

Member
snwbrder03 said:
for a good way to not spend a lot of money is buy a 100+CFM(CFM=sucking power) bathroom fart fan and put up high, wall or ceiling, then buy a 8-10 inch box fan and cut a hole 6x6(8in fan) or 8x8(10in fan) and but the boxfan right up against it(works as a great ventalation) and put a mesh screen on the outside if bugs are a problem then get a clip on fan and put it in between the plants and the light to redirect the heat, preferably have the fan pointing up so it goes towards the fart fan. i did all of this and here is what it will basically look like View attachment 1018490 in the pic the cabinet on the right doesnt have a fart fan yet and to block of the smell hang your carbon filter about a foot down from the fart fan and you will be set. hope this helps! and pls ask question
Click to expand...
This was recommended to me by a friend awhile back when I first started to show interest, but I didn't see how it could be implemented well in regards to my grow since the ventilation for the closet will consist of the closet door being left open. The level of sound that would come from something like that seems like it would be a deal killer for me too...
 
Forzaitaly1

Forzaitaly1

Well-Known Member
chrisbtx said:
This was recommended to me by a friend awhile back when I first started to show interest, but I didn't see how it could be implemented well in regards to my grow since the ventilation for the closet will consist of the closet door being left open. The level of sound that would come from something like that seems like it would be a deal killer for me too...
Click to expand...
Don worry they sell mufflers for those fans, HTG has them for cheap. Good Luck
 
C

chrisbtx

Member
Forzaitaly1 said:
I don know much about grow tents but I did use a 400 hps b4 and eventhou theyre fairly lower wattage lights, they still put out a good amount of heat. If u order from HTG make sure to get an aircooled hood with a remote ballast(not one of those all together ones), U will also need an inline fan to pull the heat out. Computer fans are just too weak for that. I don know where ur located but I would look up craigslist for a good fan. A good 4 inch will do the trick for a 400 watt grow light but if incase later on U wanna expand and upgrade ur system, Ur better off investing in a good 6 inch. Im looking at a used HO 6" canfan on craigslist now for $100. U can find a 4" for probably around 60. Which is a very good investment. And to be honest with u I don like the cooltubes, they jus cover a smaller grow area.
Click to expand...
I've actually been reading stelthy's journal(s) a lot and am trying to model some of my grow setup after his. I'm actually looking at getting a dimmable ballast (either 600w or 1000w) so I can start at a lower wattage for now and eventually move up to a larger grow. Like you were saying, a 6" fan is what I'm currently looking at... I figure if you're going to do something like this you might as well do it right, eh?

Are there any differences between the different models of inline fans that would make one significantly better than the rest?
 
C

chrisbtx

Member
Another question... for the size tent that I'm looking at growing in (2'7.5"x2'7.5"x5'3"), would a 600w HPS be too much and a 400w be better, or would the 600w do a better job overall? Doing the measurements in the closet it just doesn't seem like the tent is going to be that much area total and I'm thinking that would cause some serious issues if I were to go straight to a 600w grow....

I'm feeling like the height of the tent at 5'3" could potentially cause some issues as the plants get to their full size in regards to the heat and burning them.
 
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