Small Tent Grows

hrdwrkpaysoff

New Member
I want to start a discussion about small tent grows. Obviously thats kind of vague so Id like to break the topic down into a three main areas of focus... lighting, ventilation, and grow style.

Maybe sharing some of my current thoughts would help get this going...

In this particular situation the grow is contained to a 2×2.5×7 gorilla tent. For lighting my initial instinct is to use 2 2' 4 Bulb T5 for veg and 400 dimmable hps for flower. I am planning to use an aircooled reflector and its the only thing that I dont already have from previous grows. It has been difficult locating one the allows enough room on both sides for duct. The smallest ive found is 22 5/8 between the ends of the flanges. Given the tent is 30'' the long way and the ducting will likely be 6" that should be interesting??? On to ventilation, which is driving me crazy. I would love to suck air through a carbon filter hanging above the light then through a 6" inline and blow the air through the reflector and out of the tent. However im wondering if this would be ok. The air coming through might be warmer that ideal but given the small space, minimizing equipment is a goal of mine. Finally as far as growing style whats most attractive to me is a variation of sog with 4 plants per square foot in 6" square pots flipped to 12/12 at 8-10" tall.

Im interested in opinions related to heat and ventilation, as well as other growing styles besides sog that could be used to maximize yield (maintaining quality) in such a small space.







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SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Sounds like you got the right idea. Here are my recommendations.

- Go with a cool tube. It's just about the only way you're going to fit an air cooled reflector in there. Arrange it like this: Carbon filter--> inline fan (a 6" Vortex or Elicent would work quite nicely)--> cool tube --> out of tent.

- A 2 foot 4 bulb T5 will work great for early veg, then switch to a 400 watt metal halide. Don't worry about dimming the lights, just hit them full strength as soon as they are ready. Start with the lights high, and lower them a little each day until they are about 10-12 inches above the tops. Bulbs aren't very efficient when they are dimmed.

I used to grow with a 400 watter in a cabinet with similar dimensions. My temps were just fine with the fans and ducting arranged like I described.
 

aeafafwe

Member
I have a 1'8x3'x5' tent with a 600w dimmable HPS. My 6" fan at 30% power keeps the tent just a few degrees above room temp (75-85f) and I can keep the light 8-12" from the plants at full power. I'm thinking about switching to a vertical scrog, so instead of a 1'8x3' (720 in[SUP]2[/SUP]) screen below the light I'll have 2 1'8x3'6 (840 in[SUP]2[/SUP]) screens on either side of the light for a total of 1,680 in[SUP]2[/SUP], or 233% more. I could also put 120 degree bends in the middle of the screens, so they kind of wrap around the light like this: < O > which would give me a total of 2,016 in[SUP]2[/SUP] (280% more space).
 

hrdwrkpaysoff

New Member
I use a 2x3x5 tent in a closet....have you considered LED? Less heat...
Yea a few years ago I tried LED for a couple cycles. I was satisfied, but I guess I'm just more comfortable with hps and what I'm able to produce with it. That's a clean setup you have there though. Thanks for the response.
 

hrdwrkpaysoff

New Member
I have a 1'8x3'x5' tent with a 600w dimmable HPS. My 6" fan at 30% power keeps the tent just a few degrees above room temp (75-85f) and I can keep the light 8-12" from the plants at full power. I'm thinking about switching to a vertical scrog, so instead of a 1'8x3' (720 in[SUP]2[/SUP]) screen below the light I'll have 2 1'8x3'6 (840 in[SUP]2[/SUP]) screens on either side of the light for a total of 1,680 in[SUP]2[/SUP], or 233% more. I could also put 120 degree bends in the middle of the screens, so they kind of wrap around the light like this: < O > which would give me a total of 2,016 in[SUP]2[/SUP] (280% more space).
I've been hearing a lot about vertical grows lately, but the concepts very new to me. Thanks for the response.
 
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