Optimizing Grow Tent Efficiency

Skeksis

Well-Known Member
Hi All.

I recently upgraded my DR120 from a 400w to a 600w lumatek ballast. I have run into heat problems that have put my hobby
to a screeching halt. I realize now after doing some research and testing that my problem is airflow. I'd like some opinions as
to which direction I should take to solve this problem.

First, let me describe my current setup:


DR120 grow tent
600w HPS Lumatek
Super Sun 2 air cooled reflector from Sunlight Supply (6" flanges)
Sunleaves Windtunnel 6" 409cfm
centrifugal fan with speed controller
(2) - 6" passive intake ducts at the bottom
190cfm (max) carbon filter
6" clip on fan for circulation
76f Ambient room temp
91f max temp inside of tent with lights on (max temp was 83f with 400w HPS)


FILTER>>>>REFLECTOR>>>>INLINE FAN(sits on top)>>>>EXHAUST(into ceiling)

I've come to the conclusion that the filter is a major choke point in my airflow. I'm going to replace it with a unit that allows
375-400cfm. I am also going to improve my ducting setup, possibly isolating the light onto it's own cooling circuit, and using
a seperate fan to filter and replace the air inside of the tent.

Here is where I need some opinions and advice. I'm thinking of replacing the reflector to improve efficiency and cooling.
Here are the options I've come up with:

Cool Tube attached to Adjust-A-Wing
Hydrofarm Radiant 6 AC
Adjust-A-Wing ONLY

So I'd like some opinons on these different options. The last idea was to just have an open Adjust-A-Wing in the tent and rely on
replacing the air enough times per minute to vent the heat. I've heard that the wing doesn't build up as much heat as sealed reflectors,
so I'm really interested in this option.

There's nothing really wrong with the reflector I currently have, except that the light spread is somewhat small and I think the small
enclosure causes heat to build faster, requiring higher cfm. The idea is to improve efficiency on my ventilation system, to keep the temp
inside the tent as close as possible to ambient temp.

I appreciate any experience anyone has to offer.
Thanks!
bongsmilie
 

fat sam

Well-Known Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjbLYNePQGA check out my setup on this vid, i have 2 600's cooled with a 100 cfm fan then i have a can 9000 filter on the top of the tent with a 4 inch 180 cfm fan with a speed control so its turned down to 60-70% for the sake of noise and to make sure that i wasnt pulling to fast for the filter to catch the smells, but yeah if your still having trouble with temps it could be that you dont have enough circulation going on in the tent, i use 4 of those little clip fans at ground level to circulate the air around the plants then i hang a window fan so it blows strait across the top of the plants, that really helps keep the temps in check from the lights
 

Skeksis

Well-Known Member
Thanks for that video, that was really good actually. That's exactly how I want mine to be - cool, bright, and wall to
wall leaves! I'm assuming your tent is a DR150, because you could fit 2 600s inside. I'm surprised you keep 2 600s
so cool with such low cfm. I'm running about 240cfm right now and I have a hard time keeping the tent within 10deg
of the room it's in. There must be something seriously wrong with my ducting setup. I probably need more circulation
too like you said.

So what is your ambient temp, or the temp you keep your house?

Oh and +rep for the vid. Your grow is so nice and healthy!
 
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