How necessary are cool tubes?

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UpInVapor

Member
I have this 400W HPS from HTG Supply ( http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47929 ). I am going to set up a Grow Box with this layout using CFLs in the mother and clone veg chambers and the 400W HPS and some CFLs for good measure in the flowering chamber. The ballast for that light will be sitting on top of the box and the light of course will be in the flowering chamber.



I am planning on using passive intakes and active exhaust in all 3 of the chambers. 2 of these 6" duct fans will be used in the flowering chamber for ventilation: ( http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=46447 ) along with 2 good sized passive intakes in the chamber opposite wall from the exhaust fans. I will be using 4" PC fans for exhaust with passive intakes in both the mother and clone chambers.

With this setup, how necessary is setting up a cool tube for the light? Will the two 6" duct fans be enough to vent the flowering chamber without a cool tube? With the chamber being 6' tall, I would assume that should leave enough room for the plants to grow as tall as needed with room for the HPS to be far enough during growing?
 
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burnbig420

Active Member
UpInVapor said:
I have this 400W HPS from HTG Supply ( http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47929 ). I am going to set up a Grow Box with this layout using CFLs in the mother and clone veg chambers and the 400W HPS and some CFLs for good measure in the flowering chamber. The ballast for that light will be sitting on top of the box and the light of course will be in the flowering chamber.



I am planning on using passive intakes and active exhaust in all 3 of the chambers. 2 of these 6" duct fans will be used in the flowering chamber for ventilation: ( http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=46447 ) along with 2 good sized passive intakes in the chamber opposite wall from the exhaust fans. I will be using 4" PC fans for exhaust with passive intakes in both the mother and clone chambers.

With this setup, how necessary is setting up a cool tube for the light? Will the two 6" duct fans be enough to vent the flowering chamber without a cool tube? With the chamber being 6' tall, I would assume that should leave enough room for the plants to grow as tall as needed with room for the HPS to be far enough during growing?
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i think you have thought up a good blueprint for a small grow op..so congrats..

the whole point of a cool tube is not so much the temp in the whole room as you use exaust and intake fans to control this.

the point of a cool tube is to allow you to be able to put your light system closer to your plants without burning them.

the closer you can get your lights to your plant without burning them the bigger, faster growing, and greater yield, also keeping your light closer helps control you plant from growing to tall.

so with all that being said..no you dont have to use a cool tube,,however they are a great way to increase yield if you can afford them..

good luck, hope this helps
 
U

UpInVapor

Member
burnbig420 said:
i think you have thought up a good blueprint for a small grow op..so congrats..

the whole point of a cool tube is not so much the temp in the whole room as you use exaust and intake fans to control this.

the point of a cool tube is to allow you to be able to put your light system closer to your plants without burning them.

the closer you can get your lights to your plant without burning them the bigger, faster growing, and greater yield, also keeping your light closer helps control you plant from growing to tall.

so with all that being said..no you dont have to use a cool tube,,however they are a great way to increase yield if you can afford them..

good luck, hope this helps
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Thanks! So do you think I would be better off altering the reflector in http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47929 to attach a cool tube or just buy one already set up for it? Know of any good cheap ones?
 
sagensour

sagensour

Active Member
I highly recommend a cool tube with yoyos and flex duct. Reason being, the flex duct will allow you to position your hood anywhere. Same with the yoyo's. The cool tube has a small flaw with it I think. It doesnt have real good coverge and blind spots. This causes some plants to get less light and other more light. However, the heat generated from the 600w will have to be used with a cool tube. Good Luck
 
C

crondiesel

Member
look into a daystar aircoold hood. your footprint for flower will love it. its not bad design u got. just tight on space. i think youll be better off scrapping the clone area for a rubber maid clone box or something along that diy line. (that top area should be used for ducting your mothers air.)
 
U

UpInVapor

Member
crondiesel said:
look into a daystar aircoold hood. your footprint for flower will love it. its not bad design u got. just tight on space. i think youll be better off scrapping the clone area for a rubber maid clone box or something along that diy line. (that top area should be used for ducting your mothers air.)
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I was originally just going to have one chamber and it be 4.5' x 4..5' x 6' but decided it would be more efficient to be able to veg while flowering so I don't have to waste that time. Then I thought that it would be easier to clone instead of go from seed and figured I may as well add a small chamber for that. I am only growing to supply myself so I only need to flower 3-4 at a time. 3' x 3' is big enough for that, right? Also, the mother and clones chambers, are they big enough? Or could I clone in the same chamber as mothers and just make it 6' tall?
 
golddog

golddog

Well-Known Member
I use a Sun Systems Reflector w/tempered glass to cool my 400 watt. I have a Vortex Fan 190 CFM pulling thru it and a Can-Filter.

So it both Cools the light so I can bring it very close to my plants, and also deodorizes as it sucks air out. I have passive intakes and an Oscillating fan, that's it.
 
stumps

stumps

Well-Known Member
This is what you'll end up with. or something close. Sorry no pics before I took the light apart. It was a 400w from hgt.
new cfl 002.jpg
 
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