Setting up my first grow

Setting up my first grow right now. Been studying for years, and was very sold on COB lights a long time ago, but these QB and bar light styles are enticing. I enjoy doing my own DIY stuff, and won't be bothered too much if I have to assemble some of my own stuff. Currently, I'm looking at this for a setup:

Location:
- My basement. Unused room, no windows, but has a return register to my furnace/AC system. External room, so 3 of the walls are concrete/unfinished.
Tents:
- Gorilla 4x4 LITE - Veg/the occasional autoflower
- Gorilla 4x8 LITE w/ 1' height extension - Flower
Climate control:
- Either Mars Hydro Smart Vent or AC Infinity Smart vent systems - 6" fan, dual 6" filters (cannot have smell at all), with the veg and flower tents placed in series hydraulically to vent both with one fan. Thoughts on one vs. the other? Should I go 8" to vent a total volume of 344ft^3? 6" fans are rated for that volume, but with lights and additional flow resistance from the series setup, I feel like I might be riding that line a little hard.
- Should I run a hum/dehum? Should I just wait to see when I get the ladies in there and going, and make a decision then?
Medium:
I'll create my own soil, I have an excellent source of organic compost locally.
Lights -
My options:
- 3x AC Infinity EVO6 500w bar light (1 veg, 2 flower), add UV/IR bars for flower
- 3x Mars Hydro FC-6500EVO 730w (1 veg, 2 flower), add UV/IR bars for flower
- For flower: Custom 10x CXB3590 PRO9 4000K 90CRI 72v @ 700-1400ma (probably 1400, dimmable to get some of that efficiency back) with 60deg. lenses. This gives a total wattage rating of somewhere around 500W @700ma, which I could turn up a bit, if needed. These will be on DIY bars, spaced evenly around the top perimeter of the tent (height of ~6.5-7ft), and only 6-12" from the wall of the tent. From there, I'd like to add in something akin to the Mars Hydro SP6500 to run directly down the center of the area (looking for something more rectangular than square with 500w+, open to ideas), and give nice even light in the center of the tent. I'll run two (hopefully spectrum-controllable) UV/IR bars parallel with the long side of the tent. The idea behind this build would be that the COBs will be fixed at the top of the tent, and give high intensity beams of light to the ground for penetration, while the 301H/B diode light will be used for diffuse light in the center, in an attempt to alleviate hotspots and distribute light evenly across the entire canopy, including the edges of the tent where it seems no one gets great light. This would also allow me to place plants into flower and not have to move lights, as the plants should grow up into the 800-1000+umol area of the tent on their own. Just control the dimming, if required, to achieve results. I really like the new Samsung EVO chips, which are available on several lights. However, with the bar lights, it sounds like you need the lamps very close to the canopy to get the kind of light you need. I'd really like to get some of that hardcore COB beam action going on, and use the bar light style in the center, so there's plenty of penetration and well-dispersed light around the edges of the tent, as well as a central light providing even distribution across the center. For veg, I would either do a custom COB build and add supplements to it (say, 4-6 COBs (4000-5000k), with an HLG QB or similar fixture in the center), or one of the manufactured units with the EVO chips. Definitely interested in the EVO chips for veg, for sure, just dunno if flowering out autos will be worth the time to build out the COB array.

I'd like to get overall feedback on the setup, but if the question of the light would be better posted somewhere else, I can do that.

Thank you, in advance, to all who speak up!
 

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Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
Setting up my first grow right now. Been studying for years, and was very sold on COB lights a long time ago, but these QB and bar light styles are enticing. I enjoy doing my own DIY stuff, and won't be bothered too much if I have to assemble some of my own stuff. Currently, I'm looking at this for a setup:

Location:
- My basement. Unused room, no windows, but has a return register to my furnace/AC system. External room, so 3 of the walls are concrete/unfinished.
Tents:
- Gorilla 4x4 LITE - Veg/the occasional autoflower
- Gorilla 4x8 LITE w/ 1' height extension - Flower
Climate control:
- Either Mars Hydro Smart Vent or AC Infinity Smart vent systems - 6" fan, dual 6" filters (cannot have smell at all), with the veg and flower tents placed in series hydraulically to vent both with one fan. Thoughts on one vs. the other? Should I go 8" to vent a total volume of 344ft^3? 6" fans are rated for that volume, but with lights and additional flow resistance from the series setup, I feel like I might be riding that line a little hard.
- Should I run a hum/dehum? Should I just wait to see when I get the ladies in there and going, and make a decision then?
Medium:
I'll create my own soil, I have an excellent source of organic compost locally.
Lights -
My options:
- 3x AC Infinity EVO6 500w bar light (1 veg, 2 flower), add UV/IR bars for flower
- 3x Mars Hydro FC-6500EVO 730w (1 veg, 2 flower), add UV/IR bars for flower
- For flower: Custom 10x CXB3590 PRO9 4000K 90CRI 72v @ 700-1400ma (probably 1400, dimmable to get some of that efficiency back) with 60deg. lenses. This gives a total wattage rating of somewhere around 500W @700ma, which I could turn up a bit, if needed. These will be on DIY bars, spaced evenly around the top perimeter of the tent (height of ~6.5-7ft), and only 6-12" from the wall of the tent. From there, I'd like to add in something akin to the Mars Hydro SP6500 to run directly down the center of the area (looking for something more rectangular than square with 500w+, open to ideas), and give nice even light in the center of the tent. I'll run two (hopefully spectrum-controllable) UV/IR bars parallel with the long side of the tent. The idea behind this build would be that the COBs will be fixed at the top of the tent, and give high intensity beams of light to the ground for penetration, while the 301H/B diode light will be used for diffuse light in the center, in an attempt to alleviate hotspots and distribute light evenly across the entire canopy, including the edges of the tent where it seems no one gets great light. This would also allow me to place plants into flower and not have to move lights, as the plants should grow up into the 800-1000+umol area of the tent on their own. Just control the dimming, if required, to achieve results. I really like the new Samsung EVO chips, which are available on several lights. However, with the bar lights, it sounds like you need the lamps very close to the canopy to get the kind of light you need. I'd really like to get some of that hardcore COB beam action going on, and use the bar light style in the center, so there's plenty of penetration and well-dispersed light around the edges of the tent, as well as a central light providing even distribution across the center. For veg, I would either do a custom COB build and add supplements to it (say, 4-6 COBs (4000-5000k), with an HLG QB or similar fixture in the center), or one of the manufactured units with the EVO chips. Definitely interested in the EVO chips for veg, for sure, just dunno if flowering out autos will be worth the time to build out the COB array.

I'd like to get overall feedback on the setup, but if the question of the light would be better posted somewhere else, I can do that.

Thank you, in advance, to all who speak up!
My eyes aren't up to the task of reading the big paragraph of text, but a few quick comments:

A six inch fan/filter is too small for a 4x8 tent, fine for a 4x4

It depends on your basement environment, but you may need a humidifier when the plants are small, and will almost certainly need a good sized dehumidifier once the flower tent is full of transpiring plants.
 
My eyes aren't up to the task of reading the big paragraph of text, but a few quick comments:

A six inch fan/filter is too small for a 4x8 tent, fine for a 4x4

It depends on your basement environment, but you may need a humidifier when the plants are small, and will almost certainly need a good sized dehumidifier once the flower tent is full of transpiring plants.
Yeah, sorry, hard to explain what I wanna do in short form. I'll draw up a diagram for easier translation. I have a large dehum for downstairs already, so I'll just roll that into the room. Would you run the dehum in the tent, or just in the room so the intake air is controlled? Thank you for the input!
 

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
Yeah, sorry, hard to explain what I wanna do in short form. I'll draw up a diagram for easier translation. I have a large dehum for downstairs already, so I'll just roll that into the room. Would you run the dehum in the tent, or just in the room so the intake air is controlled? Thank you for the input!
Condition the air in the "lung room", not inside the tent.
 

tree beard

Well-Known Member
I set up a 2x4 and a 4x8 using inline filters and plumb them both into a T fitting before getting pumped outside, works great. A 6" works fine in my 4x8 with no issues, no smell or mold problems. Both tents have their own fans and filters, I can post up some pics if you want some ideas
 
I would run separate extraction fans/filters on each tent if you want absolutely zero odor to come from your space.
I've thought about adding 4" intake to the 4x4. Do you think there's just too much leakage around the fittings and things to keep it smell free if I run ducting from one to the next? I've always heard they don't really start to stank until flower, is there a concern for smell from the veg tent?
 
I set up a 2x4 and a 4x8 using inline filters and plumb them both into a T fitting before getting pumped outside, works great. A 6" works fine in my 4x8 with no issues, no smell or mold problems. Both tents have their own fans and filters, I can post up some pics if you want some ideas
Sure, always open to ideas. I get a little over-engineery with it, quite often. I'm very tempted to run solid ducting to alleviate some of the flow restriction from the collapsable ducting, and give a better seal to the duct work due to the smoother mating surfaces.
 

Fallguy111

Well-Known Member
I’m looking into a new light and am settling on hlg quantum boards and building my own frame/heatsinks for under fiddy cent per watt.
 
I’m looking into a new light and am settling on hlg quantum boards and building my own frame/heatsinks for under fiddy cent per watt.
Been looking at them too, but can't find the QBs that I want in raw form. Got a good link to buy them through? Google sucks for this, apparently there's only 8 results on the internet for "hlg qb304" lol.
 

Fallguy111

Well-Known Member
I really wanted the Diablo boards but can’t find them so am settling on the fr288 ones hlg website has the price per diode is better the the Diablo anyway.
 

tree beard

Well-Known Member
Sure, always open to ideas. I get a little over-engineery with it, quite often. I'm very tempted to run solid ducting to alleviate some of the flow restriction from the collapsable ducting, and give a better seal to the duct work due to the smoother mating surfaces.
I have low ceilings in the basement, so standard size gorilla tents were too tall, but the shortys with the height extentions fit perfect. So had to put the filters and everything outside the tents to save on space. Ended up finding a 4" and 6' inline filters and run them outside the tents, then connect together and get piped outside via 1 vent

20230222_111617.jpg20230304_183022.jpg
 
I really wanted the Diablo boards but can’t find them so am settling on the fr288 ones hlg website has the price per diode is better the the Diablo anyway.
Yeahhhhh, that's my issue too. Can't find em to save my life, and I don't wanna get the worse version just because. Thinking a couple of the AC Infinity 2x4 EVO bar lights would match up well. The FRQBs are really nice though. Ugh. I'm a perfectionist, I hate this lol.
 
I have low ceilings in the basement, so standard size gorilla tents were too tall, but the shortys with the height extentions fit perfect. So had to put the filters and everything outside the tents to save on space. Ended up finding a 4" and 6' inline filters and run them outside the tents, then connect together and get piped outside via 1 vent

View attachment 5344536View attachment 5344537
Interesting setup. Hadn't thought to run a filter in each room. Wanna gonna run duct from the exhaust port in the 4x4 to the intake on the 4x8 (split via a y to each of the two ports on the bottom of the 4x4, then run two filters in flower, in parallel, through a y or T to the fan. Do you have any issues with smell at all?
 

tree beard

Well-Known Member
Interesting setup. Hadn't thought to run a filter in each room. Wanna gonna run duct from the exhaust port in the 4x4 to the intake on the 4x8 (split via a y to each of the two ports on the bottom of the 4x4, then run two filters in flower, in parallel, through a y or T to the fan. Do you have any issues with smell at all?
Dont run the exhaust from one tent to the other, run each exhaust out on their own, then connect them before plumbing outside. Ive never had smell issues. I'll try to get better pics
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
I've thought about adding 4" intake to the 4x4. Do you think there's just too much leakage around the fittings and things to keep it smell free if I run ducting from one to the next? I've always heard they don't really start to stank until flower, is there a concern for smell from the veg tent?
Your going to want an extractor per tent.
Think about it. You want different humidity in each, besides pulling out of one will only draw passively out the other and you'll be all over the place. Tents aren't sealed.

Now as to what fan you need, depends on your ambient temps in your basement.
That's your starting point, then your air is going to rise depending on your wattage and your air exchange rate.

What works for you in your basement won't work for some guy in a hot attic ect.

For me a 6" works for an 8x4.. but one 6" can be totally different to another..

I don't see the point in having both COBs and boards in the sense you are wanting.

You'd spend a bunch on cree 3590s for not reason when any pre built bar light is more efficient these days.

But if you want a bit of DIY try looking at grow light Australia 's high cri boards.

I'm assuming you can vent your air ?
If you want to be double sure use both a standard filter and an inline, but you then need to add a bit on your cfm because your increasing the resistance somewhat.
 

tree beard

Well-Known Member
With low ceilings I had to get real creative, and the lung room is pretty small as well, but it does have heat/AC vent finished basement.
Extraction fan outside of 2x4, duct ran over top over 4x8 then ties in after its own extraction fan and filter.

20231118_183531.jpg
 
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