How to lower temp further if I add a 2nd LED?

Cwmoore577 · Jun 25, 2020

Hello .l,

I've got a 2x4 tent that's in a closet. It currently has a 4" intake fan at the bottom, a 4" exhaust fan with carbon filter at the top, and an oscillating fan in the middle. I had a Series 2+ Red Spec 250 watt from BudgetLED and I've just ordered their Series 3+ Full Spec 130 watt to add to it.

With just running the 250 watt LED and the fans at full blast, my temperatures run from 81-82F with lights on and 79 with lights off. I just harvested this last run and I raised the lights as far as I could and tied down branches to make more space which gave me around 16". Still, the top colas showed some light heat/light damage on them, plus they started to foxtail pretty badly at the end.

Because I was unable to produce any kind of density in the buds, I wanted to see if adding more wattage would improve the quality of the buds. It can also switch between the more blue spectrum and the more red spectrum as well as has the added UVA.

My question is what would be a cost efficient way to make sure the temperatures don't get out of hand so I can hopefully prevent foxtails and add density?
Also one of the issues is that the fans both exhaust and intake in the closet as I didn't have anywhere to really run the ducting. Maybe putting a small ac unit in the closet would help? If so, any suggestions?

Thanks!!

Rexer · Jun 25, 2020

Cwmoore577 said:
Hello .l,

I've got a 2x4 tent that's in a closet. It currently has a 4" intake fan at the bottom, a 4" exhaust fan with carbon filter at the top, and an oscillating fan in the middle. I had a Series 2+ Red Spec 250 watt from BudgetLED and I've just ordered their Series 3+ Full Spec 130 watt to add to it.

With just running the 250 watt LED and the fans at full blast, my temperatures run from 81-82F with lights on and 79 with lights off. I just harvested this last run and I raised the lights as far as I could and tied down branches to make more space which gave me around 16". Still, the top colas showed some light heat/light damage on them, plus they started to foxtail pretty badly at the end.

Because I was unable to produce any kind of density in the buds, I wanted to see if adding more wattage would improve the quality of the buds. It can also switch between the more blue spectrum and the more red spectrum as well as has the added UVA.

My question is what would be a cost efficient way to make sure the temperatures don't get out of hand so I can hopefully prevent foxtails and add density?
Also one of the issues is that the fans both exhaust and intake in the closet as I didn't have anywhere to really run the ducting. Maybe putting a small ac unit in the closet would help? If so, any suggestions?

Thanks!!

Not an experienced grower, but I can answer some of your questions. If you have your heart set on adding a 2nd light, you need to increase your ventilation (upgrade exhaust at least to a 6inch), or add CO2. Personally add the CO2, then look to add more lighting. Supplemental silica will also help your plants with heat stress. Theres also a few good threads on the forum for increasing density of nugs

Edit** I was going to post a link on a recent discussion, but you were the author :rofl:

My apologies @Cwmoore577

TorturedSoul · Jun 25, 2020

Remove tent from closet. If you cannot possibly, under any circumstances, grow cannabis anywhere else... remove the tent from the closet, anyway, and just grow your plants in there without it. A box in a box, with the exhaust merely going from the inner box to the outer (and then right back in, maybe?), that's your heat issue.

Cwmoore577 · Jun 25, 2020

TorturedSoul said:
Remove tent from closet. If you cannot possibly, under any circumstances, grow cannabis anywhere else... remove the tent from the closet, anyway, and just grow your plants in there without it. A box in a box, with the exhaust merely going from the inner box to the outer (and then right back in, maybe?), that's your heat issue.

I might try to figure out how to exhaust outside of the closet somehow but taking it out and doing it elsewhere isn't an option right now at least.
Thanks though.

Cwmoore577 · Jun 25, 2020

Rexer said:
Not an experienced grower, but I can answer some of your questions. If you have your heart set on adding a 2nd light, you need to increase your ventilation (upgrade exhaust at least to a 6inch), or add CO2. Personally add the CO2, then look to add more lighting. Supplemental silica will also help your plants with heat stress. Theres also a few good threads on the forum for increasing density of nugs

Edit** I was going to post a link on a recent discussion, but you were the author
My apologies @Cwmoore577

I might look into upgrading to the 6 inch. I already use Stout MSA, which is mono-silicic acid, through the veg and stretch cycle. I'd imagine a co2 tank and regulator kit would be out of what I could afford at the moment but definitely on the list, although I haven't looked at cost yet. Not sure if the hanging sheets and fungi bags are worth it either.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

billyran · Jul 25, 2020

It is going to be to hot in there , I believe that is the reason for light or fluffy buds. One watt is equal to 3.41 BTU , if you have to be in a tent in a closet maybe consider compact fluorescent lights , you could get more lights for an even spread for less watts.

TorturedSoul · Jul 25, 2020

CFLs aren't hugely efficient, don't have much ability to penetrate into a canopy, and it's a RPITA to separate the power supply (ballast) from the part that produces the light, which means the heat output can actually be worse, in practical terms.

Dbdub · Jul 27, 2020

I have a 3x5 are I flower in. With 2 led 240 w lights I'm at 84-88
I have a 6" van for exhaust I leave door open into bigger room with a fan blowing in on plants
Everything seems to be going on fine. I turned lights off today to begin my harvest