Back in the saddle again

Ha ha I just watched my video again. It took me like 5 minutes to remember the word "ballast" :roffl:

 

Vertical bulb guys


I was wondering if I have enough cubic feet of space in the bloom tent (and height) to run vertical 600's, and if so, how would one go about venting the room? The bloom tent is a rectangle 6' high and 5X9 so 270 cubic feet. My hope is I can cram 4 600's in there, over 2 2X4 flood tables. I've been planning to run a dehumidifier in there, but now I'm thinking for a few more watts/hour I could run AC rather than a dehum (that produces hot air) which will dehumidify the room AND cool it. If I can get away with bare vertical lights so much the better because ducting and hoods are costly.


Speaking of tables - the 5 gallon buckets I am using are 17" tall, and I can build flood tables 20" tall. I know 3" is a lot with such short ceilings but I'll just have to become a master at growing SOG :new_blackey:

 

Ofo I meant the buckets are that tall, and that's what I'm growing in now, and I measured the height of some tables and reservoirs at a local shop and if I get these low 20 gallon reservoirs I can run tables and they will only be a little taller than regular ole buckets. So I'm thinking I can try tables.


You running vertical bulbs right? It's looking attractive as four 8" cool tubes cost a bundle. If I have the room. I am assuming vertical lighting requires a certain cubic feet to work in, since closet grows HAVE to use closed reflectors of some kind, and cool tubes seem to me to be the most efficient if you're gonna use vented hoods.

 

I'm at 82 degrees 20" below the light. The trouble is in the actual layout of the venting, especially the exit and fan location, which I need to not look TOO suspicious, as service people WILL be in the basement. I plan to actually shut the breakers off for any strangers in the basement itself, which, along with poor lighting, should keep the interest down. But you loose something like 30-50% of your cfm with every 90 degree bend, and I have like eight 90 degree bends :roffl:


I'm sure the answer is in getting the ducting straitened out (literally) and get two 8" fans, and add another 8" exit run to the outside as inconspicuously as possible. To cool 5 lights I'll need at least that.

 

Didn't think of the smell, but I only have one passive air intake 12X22 that I can seal completely with relative ease (few screws, some plywood and weather stripping) for short stints. Good call tho. The whole thing goes to shit if I need a boiler replaced but I have an HVAC toker buddy who I could call in a real emergency.


Ofo if you took that same rig you were taking about in the attic and put in in the basement do you think you would still have had the same temp issues?


Duc thanks for the tip, mate. :read2:

 

Just watched your vid, nice setup it looks professional. Once you get it all dialed in you will be golden.


.:goodjob:

 

Im actually been thinking of doing something like this in my flower room. I have headroom issues in my attic. The scrog worked ok for me but I didnt like the fact that the plants are now stationary once they grew into and around the trellis. Made it a real bitch treating for pests, flushing and keeping things tidy under it.


Two questions.


1) How many 5' plants can you circle around 600w HPS?


2) Do you need a special bulb to hang vertically?


asssit:

 

Filter is going up high. And now that's it's cooled down a bit outside, I'm down to 79.


I've been reading and researching. I like your idea Res. Can't visualize it for shit but it sure sounds good :jj:


I know this - I need to map out for worst case scenario (hot out, damp like the last week, 2000 BTU's) and based on your input Ofo I'm steering away from vert no tube. Your right about the smell too. no service men. I guess I'm my own HVAC electrician plumber :eusa_eh:


Res you gonna tie all three lights into one fan, and filter it all? That's my issue - with fat ass insulated ducting its tight lots of bends.

 

Very cool. I like those ideas.


I'll do a pictural final update on the layout and basics of the airflow etc when I get all through. Right now I have the veg room almost all set up, exempt large light proof air intake in space restricted areas... :icon_confused:

 

Water!


Whew. I have been up until 3 am for several nights plumbing the water. I have a 1.5" PVC drain now - used two whole 10' sticks. This takes the RO filter discharge and the sink drain to a sump outside the rooms. No leaks. It's large enough to eventually take some serious drainage :new_blackey: I plumbed cold water to the sink and the RO filter, and the tank is slowly filling. :thumbs-up: Before long I'll actually be able to water my plants for real. I've been using tap water collected in a single gallon jug, a bucket, and a coke bottle. :roffl:





It's been cooler and the temps are way down - 75 degrees below the light, 70 at the bucket tops. No worries until next summer for temps. The 6" fan cools the 1000W MH even with all the bends and extra duct and bullshit. Next project is the plenum, and re-doing (third time's a charm) the veg ducting to run directly to the plenum, and flower light ducting and filter set-up. I have to re-run the metal halide light ducting. I ran the duct directly from the MH hood in the veg room on 18/6 to the cool tube in the flower room on 12/12, with about 2 feet of straight duct in between so light pours into the flower room from the MH. :bduh:


I'm going to use the wood box that used to house the water chiller and now houses the fan as a plenum and also to hide the fans and reduce their noise. Once I get that huge wood box off the ground and reduce the ducting and add some rigid ducting and another 8" fan to power the plenum, and one more straight metal 8" duct direct to outside the house (with a T- damper and filtered exhaust INSIDE the house for winter heat thank you Ofo) I should be able to cool four 600 W HPS bulbs, running them all to the plenum with rigid 6" ducting and a few filters. Definitely in the fall/winter/spring this will be fine. I may need AC for the hotter summer months, and certainly I'll need a dehumidifier. But I have an old cabinet I cut down to set the plenum box on and get it as high as possible while still resting on floor and NOT attached to the drumhead floor above. Even insulated its loud upstairs.

 

Wow FF, the room is coming along real NICE. :coolbounce: Keep up the good work. :redbong:

 

Almost complete


Although my grow rooms tend to morph into a series of never-ending improvement projects, I have finally gotten to a point where I have functioning veg and bloom rooms. By functioning I mean they get all the essential jobs done - cooling, air exchange and circulation, light proofing and water, all with an acceptable level of discretion.


Right now I'm using a 600 in a cool tube and a 400 hung vertically. Temps are in the high 70's. I've got the plenum rebuilt and positioned better, and the ducting pretty much worked out, including plans for additional lights soon to come.


Lessons re-learned this go round - don't use white velcro for doors. It bleeds light. I think dxe posted that in his room thread :bduh:

 

Finally done


Well the new rooms are complete. There will be little edits as time goes on, but here's where I'm at now.





























Veg room not included. Oversight.