Tent size - Wisdom needed

Stranger307 · May 19, 2018

Hello lovely people! Supershort question - optimal tent size for 1 max.2 plants?
Side question - 250w hps to be used, so the smaller the tent size, the more crucial the exhaust topic is due to hps heat, right? Any cfm numbers here (aim is to keep dB level as low as possible)?
Thanks a lot!

tiltswitch · May 20, 2018

You could use .8m square tent, be good for two plants easy,and leave room for filter / fan etc , really where you've got to grow will dictate this anyway. Better you answer your own question, how big is the space where you can put a tent,Then buy a tent to fit it.a four inch extraction will easy be enough for 250 hps.buy a dimmer switch if worried about noise

Stranger307 · May 20, 2018

tiltswitch said:
You could use .8m square tent, be good for two plants easy,and leave room for filter / fan etc , really where you've got to grow will dictate this anyway. Better you answer your own question, how big is the space where you can put a tent,Then buy a tent to fit it.a four inch extraction will easy be enough for 250 hps.buy a dimmer switch if worried about noise

Thanks for your reply! The plan was 1x1x2 m tent - I still consider buy vs diy tent while purchasing some hydro parts, lights etc.
Plan to grow in DWC bucket 56x39x28 cm 56x39 could be enough for more plants, just don't need it.
28 cm height of the bucket makes me feel I won't need 2 meters high tent - my focus is on Indica strains, short and bushy growing.
Another side question if I may - is it ok to use such bucket for the DWC? I saw higher and narrow "barrels" used more often

tiltswitch · May 20, 2018

Height does not matter as a rule, rather the size area. You should be fine. Indices can still be as big as sativas,a lot depends on temps so definitely learn about topping, I'd steer clear of lst unless really bad height restrictions. Some strains don't like it at all.

Gentlemencorpse · May 20, 2018

Stranger307 said:
Thanks for your reply! The plan was 1x1x2 m tent - I still consider buy vs diy tent while purchasing some hydro parts, lights etc.
Plan to grow in DWC bucket 56x39x28 cm 56x39 could be enough for more plants, just don't need it.
28 cm height of the bucket makes me feel I won't need 2 meters high tent - my focus is on Indica strains, short and bushy growing.
Another side question if I may - is it ok to use such bucket for the DWC? I saw higher and narrow "barrels" used more often

So my metric to SAE conversions aren't great and I'm too lazy to Google it, but I use short wide tubs for DWC and it works fine.

Also, personally I would recommend getting the tallest tent that will fit your space. Extra head room never hurts. Especially early on before you master training or when your unfamiliar with the strain your growing it's easy to find your plant stretching more than expected. Also it's just more cubic footage to work, for heat dispersal, fans and exhausts etc.

Gentlemencorpse · May 20, 2018

Oh, also, with a shallower tub I'd suggest multiple airstones if possible. The roots reach the bottom quicker than in a taller bucket and can wrap up and block the stones real quick.

OldMedUser · May 21, 2018

tiltswitch said:
.buy a dimmer switch if worried about noise

Do NOT use a dimmer switch for any fan. Get a ceiling fan controller. They're different. Many fans won't run slower without rattling or frying after a while no matter what form of controller you use.

A cheap 3-speed fan with a dimmer switch can catch fire they get so hot. I had the plasic motor casing melt with one years back when I thought a dimmer switch would work. Turned it down until it started to rattle then up just enough so it ran quieter.

Be safe!

:peace:

tiltswitch · May 21, 2018

OldMedUser said:
Do NOT use a dimmer switch for any fan. Get a ceiling fan controller. They're different. Many fans won't run slower without rattling or frying after a while no matter what form of controller you use.

A cheap 3-speed fan with a dimmer switch can catch fire they get so hot. I had the plasic motor casing melt with one years back when I thought a dimmer switch would work. Turned it down until it started to rattle then up just enough so it ran quieter.

Be safe!

Iv used dimmers from grow shops for ten years without problems, no rattle but definitely there is a hum that's quite loud from the forcing off the power, he won't need to use one with a four inch anyway, really Iv only ever used a dimmer on a 12 extraction fan, four to 8 run quiet with ducting on, biggest noise is from the oscillating 16 inch fan lol

OldMedUser · May 21, 2018

tiltswitch said:
Iv used dimmers from grow shops for ten years without problems, no rattle but definitely there is a hum that's quite loud from the forcing off the power, he won't need to use one with a four inch anyway, really Iv only ever used a dimmer on a 12 extraction fan, four to 8 run quiet with ducting on, biggest noise is from the oscillating 16 inch fan lol

Those 'dimmers' you get from grow shops aren't the same as a dimmer you buy for a light bulb so calling them a dimmer will send a nOOb to a hardware store where they will get the wrong item.

The hardware store sells ceiling fan controllers too and they are marked as such. Need to put that in an electrical box and wire cords at each end so buying one ready to plug in is best for most people that would have to buy the other stuff and wire it up properly. I just happen to have all the extra stuff lying around so just have to pay for the controller. Did up a baseboard heater thermostat for my room heater like that too.

A temp/RH controller is a must if you want good climate control and not have to leave the fan on all the time too. I make my own from a bathroom fan controller and a heat/cool thermostat wired together so when the heat or humidity get too high the fan kicks in for a while then shuts off.

tiltswitch · May 21, 2018

OldMedUser said:
Those 'dimmers' you get from grow shops aren't the same as a dimmer you buy for a light bulb so calling them a dimmer will send a nOOb to a hardware store where they will get the wrong item.

The hardware store sells ceiling fan controllers too and they are marked as such. Need to put that in an electrical box and wire cords at each end so buying one ready to plug in is best for most people that would have to buy the other stuff and wire it up properly. I just happen to have all the extra stuff lying around so just have to pay for the controller. Did up a baseboard heater thermostat for my room heater like that too.

A temp/RH controller is a must if you want good climate control and not have to leave the fan on all the time too. I make my own from a bathroom fan controller and a heat/cool thermostat wired together so when the heat or humidity get too high the fan kicks in for a while then shuts off.

View attachment 4139398

Good point, definitely didn't mean a dimmer from a hardware store.

OldMedUser · May 21, 2018

Stranger307 said:
Hello lovely people! Supershort question - optimal tent size for 1 max.2 plants?
Side question - 250w hps to be used, so the smaller the tent size, the more crucial the exhaust topic is due to hps heat, right? Any cfm numbers here (aim is to keep dB level as low as possible)?
Thanks a lot!

For a small tent and a 250 you don't need lots of air movement so you could use a cheap duct boost fan. A 6" one cost me $35 a while back and is sitting in a box. A lot quieter than any inline fan and hella cheaper.

If you're planning to get a charcoal filter for odor control that kind of fan might not be powerful enough tho.

If you get a better inline fan for use with a carbon filter a 6" with a speed controller will be a lot quieter than a 4" going full bore. A 4" on speed control may not be able to move much air sucking thru a filter which has a lot of resistance. I run my 6" at half speed so it's about 200cfm and bought a larger filter rated for 600cfm so there is less resistance and it will last a lot longer while not costing a lot more than a smaller one.

:peace:

Stranger307 · Oct 5, 2018

OldMedUser said:
For a small tent and a 250 you don't need lots of air movement so you could use a cheap duct boost fan. A 6" one cost me $35 a while back and is sitting in a box. A lot quieter than any inline fan and hella cheaper.

If you're planning to get a charcoal filter for odor control that kind of fan might not be powerful enough tho.

If you get a better inline fan for use with a carbon filter a 6" with a speed controller will be a lot quieter than a 4" going full bore. A 4" on speed control may not be able to move much air sucking thru a filter which has a lot of resistance. I run my 6" at half speed so it's about 200cfm and bought a larger filter rated for 600cfm so there is less resistance and it will last a lot longer while not costing a lot more than a smaller one.

I'm about to purchase carbon filter as odor becomes a problem even in veg. Could you please advise if it will work just as effective if I'll set up the filter on the opposite side of exhaust (outside the grow room - air will be pushed through the filter)?
The thing is that I can't technically set filter inside...
Appreciate

OldMedUser · Oct 6, 2018

Stranger307 said:
I'm about to purchase carbon filter as odor becomes a problem even in veg. Could you please advise if it will work just as effective if I'll set up the filter on the opposite side of exhaust (outside the grow room - air will be pushed through the filter)?
The thing is that I can't technically set filter inside...
Appreciate

They are designed to have air pulled in thus the pre-filter wrapped around them but will still work the other way. A buddy of mine ruined his filter as he lives in a dusty area and totally plugged up his filter from the inside doing it that way. A couple layers of cheesecloth over the intake side of the fan would have prevented that. I tried to use it the proper way and found it almost totally plugged.

I used some metal screen and a 6" hose clamp to cover the intake of my exhaust fan so it doesn't suck my hair into it. With something like that it would be easy to put some cheesecloth over and hold with a rubberband or just over the screen then hold both on with the hose clamp.

Dynamo626 · Oct 6, 2018

OldMedUser said:
They are designed to have air pulled in thus the pre-filter wrapped around them but will still work the other way. A buddy of mine ruined his filter as he lives in a dusty area and totally plugged up his filter from the inside doing it that way. A couple layers of cheesecloth over the intake side of the fan would have prevented that. I tried to use it the proper way and found it almost totally plugged.

I used some metal screen and a 6" hose clamp to cover the intake of my exhaust fan so it doesn't suck my hair into it. With something like that it would be easy to put some cheesecloth over and hold with a rubberband or just over the screen then hold both on with the hose clamp.

View attachment 4211591

I have been pushing into filters for years just take the prefilter off and put it in the inside of the filter. I also have a fan speed controler i gueas you can call it a dimmer. I dont use it much but no problems yet. I will say that a vortex sline at 50% is nearly silent.

OldMedUser · Oct 6, 2018

Those Vortex S-line fans are sexy beasts for sure. The 10-year warranty doesn't hurt either. Lots of other good features as well.

At the price they are you'd think they'd come with a built in speed controller tho. Sound isn't an issue for me tho I'll be needing a new fan soon as my no-name one has been making noise for the last year but hasn't really been getting worse so may last another few years. Other priorities.

Tent size - Wisdom needed

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