CFL's and heat

I am having a heat problem and wondering if I would be ok in cutting back the lights a little. They are in a stealth box with 2 exhause fans and 1 intake fan in my closet. They are 2 weeks old and doing fine, other than some of the leaves are curling down a little and a few brownspots on the two largest leafs.

I am running 92F and 103F, depending on the thermometer. Both are digital thermometers, guess I am going to have to go old school to find out which one is correct. Nevertheless, it seems a little too hot regardless. The plants(2) are no more than 2 inches from the lights. There are 8 23w, 1600 lumens cfl's. If I start taking out bulbs to bring the heat down, how much will that affect the plants? Basically, what I asking can I afford to take a few bulbs out with what I am running?

U wanna watch removing to many bulbs, it will affect the growth and the lightning and make it turn hermie on you from the start. As far as heat goes, get a desk fan and put it in there and put it on a setting that isnt killing ur plants in a tornado.. take the lights off of ur plants a little the brown spots show burns

are you closing the closet door as well? 1 intake/2 exhaust should be fine for eight lights - I had six 27watts running only 82 degrees (4x4x8 area but no ventilation yet) - what kills me and is forcing me to run unenclosed during the day is my 100watt flourex Anyway, if the closet is closed then you are just exhausting hot air into an enclosed area (closet) then reintaking it - in other words you can't put your enclosure into another enclosure and expect it to stay cool - you need your enclosure encapsulated by a fresh/cool air source (leave the closet open, or at the minimum duct all three fans outside the closet)

Yes, I am leaving the door open about 2 feet. But it is very possible it is still not able to pick up the cool air. Wonder if just removing 2 bulbs would still keep me in check with the needed light and reduce the temp some.

I got a better idea - go buy a $10 box fan from walmart and aim it into the closet from about 1 foot away.

More light=better - I would recommend that you not downgrade the lighting system you have already invested in, and instead figure out what is wrong with your cooling

Maybe you could take all the plants out and do some smoke tests, where keeping the box in the closet, you blow some smoke into the intake and see how long it takes to come out and where it goes once it is out. You will need some pretty strong lungs for this

I need to make some light baffles as the light is coming out of the fans and I need to hide that. After that I can open my door closest to the box.

Is around 83F a little high with lights off? If it is then, it is definetly an air circulation problem in the closet.

ya now that i re read. u have a air circulation problem

I have 3 42wt and 3 13 wt with one intake and one exhaust fan and the temp never gets above 77. Either you have too small of a grow area for the bulbs or not enough air circulation.