Small Grow Room - First Time Grower

[Deadcalm]

Hello everyone and thank you in advance for your help.

I'm a first time grower and I'm in a legal state. I've just completed building a small grow room and i'm ready to equip it with lighting and ventilation. There are so many different options and it's a little overwhelming for this first timer.

First things first...the room is in my garage and is fully insulated. The room is 3x5 X 7 feet tall grow room (3x3 growable area with 2 feet left for me and equipment). -I will be adding a 8000 BTU air conditioning and a heater into the room. -I will be venting air from and to the garage and it has a 12 inch oscillating fan. -I will be growing hydro (I loose 1 foot ceiling height because of this)

With all of this said and money not being an issue....what would be the perfect lighting and venting solution for this room? - I see a lot of commercial growers use HPS lighting. -With everything I've stated could I run air cooled HPS with my 6 feet ceiling hight? And what venting would I need to take care of the room? -I would like to run an intake filter also to keep bugs out of the room.

Indoor or Outdoor? Garage
Soil or Hydro? Hydro
If Hydro, Reservoir size? 20 gallon
If Hydro, what type of Medium? Coco
If Hydro, what type of Setup? Drip to waste
Is it Air Cooled? Vented and 8000 BTU air conditioner
Size or Square Footage of Room? Inside 3 X 5 7 feet ceiling

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Buy a switchable 600/1000w digital ballast and a 600w Hortilux HPS bulb. Room to go > 1kw HPS later, the 8k BTU AC will easily(!!) cool that space w/600w or 1kw. No need for an air cooled hood, a gull wing reflector will be dandy.

 

[EBnFLO]

I am in a similar height room with a 600w HPS and it's working out great. 1000 is too much for this height. 600 with a sealed hood or cool tube attached to a 6" hose drawing air from outside, thru the light and directly back outside with all the heat. Then a secondary fan to circulate air through the grow chamber.

Edit: I re-read the original post and see that the AC is going into the grow. Won't that be more expensive to create all that heat in the chamber and remove with AC rather than using a sealed hood, doctor?


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[DoctorGonzo]

I am in a similar height room with a 600w HPS and it's working out great. 1000 is too much for this height. 600 with a sealed hood or cool tube attached to a 6" hose drawing air from outside, thru the light and directly back outside with all the heat. Then a secondary fan to circulate air through the grow chamber.

Edit: I re-read the original post and see that the AC is going into the grow. Won't that be more expensive to create all that heat in the chamber and remove with AC rather than using a sealed hood, doctor?


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OP could set up air cooled, first, and then add AC as needed, but I was working on the idea that he wanted a sealed room type of design.
By running an air cooled hood he'd certainly add room efficiency, no doubt.

 

[Miasma]

Subbed, super dope little room


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[Deadcalm]

I am in a similar height room with a 600w HPS and it's working out great. 1000 is too much for this height. 600 with a sealed hood or cool tube attached to a 6" hose drawing air from outside, thru the light and directly back outside with all the heat. Then a secondary fan to circulate air through the grow chamber.

Edit: I re-read the original post and see that the AC is going into the grow. Won't that be more expensive to create all that heat in the chamber and remove with AC rather than using a sealed hood, doctor?


Sent from my iPhone using 420 Magazine

Thanks guys for your help.

I should of mentioned this in the beginning, but I do have to deal with hot air from the garage entering my room. since I'm pulling air from it through my intake. This will only be an issue in August when it will get over 100 degrees in the garage.

For lighting I have been trying to decide between these two options:
1. Air cooled 600w HPS/MH
2. Sun System 315w Lec Fixture


For the ventilation system...can I get away with using one fan if I install an intake filter? Or do I need a second fan to pull air for the intake?


Thanks again

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Thanks guys for your help.

I should of mentioned this in the beginning, but I do have to deal with hot air from the garage entering my room. since I'm pulling air from it through my intake. This will only be an issue in August when it will get over 100 degrees in the garage.

For lighting I have been trying to decide between these two options:
1. Air cooled 600w HPS/MH
2. Sun System 315w Lec Fixture


For the ventilation system...can I get away with using one fan if I install an intake filter? Or do I need a second fan to pull air for the intake?
Thanks again

Buy the 600w, use HPS.

Air cool your hood. Even 100°f air over a 700°f bulb cools bigly (yup, I said "bigly!" .)

With AC, NO need to intake outside air except to air cool the hood. The room w/a oscillating fan will draw air in through gaps.



Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Took a sec to Photoshop of an easy air cooling schematic for your 600w HPS. No external air gets in the room. In > through sealed hood > exhaust out.

You could, also, exhaust out of your room's ceiling. The air won't stink as you're moving air in > through sealed hood > out. That way one less visible vent. If you did that you'd mount the fan on the room's roof & pull air through the illustrated intake vent shown.
If stealth is IMPERATIVE, you can mount the fan on the room's roof, PULL (always pull air never push) air through the light via another, roof located, intake, vent and exhaust through the roof. But a straight line for ventilation is always more efficient than a "U" would be. The less resistance the better the efficiency.

Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

 

[Deadcalm]

Took a sec to Photoshop of an easy air cooling schematic for your 600w HPS. No external air gets in the room. In > through sealed hood > exhaust out.

You could, also, exhaust out of your room's ceiling. The air won't stink as you're moving air in > through sealed hood > out. That way one less visible vent. If you did that you'd mount the fan on the room's roof & pull air through the illustrated intake vent shown.
If stealth is IMPERATIVE, you can mount the fan on the room's roof, PULL (always pull air never push) air through the light via another, roof located, intake, vent and exhaust through the roof. But a straight line for ventilation is always more efficient than a "U" would be. The less resistance the better the efficiency.

Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

Wow thank you so much I didn't even consider this configuration. When I created the room I designed it like a tent with an intake at the bottom and the exhaust at the top. The room is basically sealed otherwise with all the corners and floor taped. I have no problem removing these two vents sealing them and putting new vents in to match what you've illustrated and building it right.

My only question then would be smell. Do I not have to have a fan inside running a carbon filter to keep the smell down? I would probably also need a dehumidifier also right?

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Wow thank you so much I didn't even consider this configuration. When I created the room I designed it like a tent with an intake at the bottom and the exhaust at the top. The room is basically sealed otherwise with all the corners and floor taped. I have no problem removing these two vents sealing them and putting new vents in to match what you've illustrated and building it right.

My only question then would be smell. Do I not have to have a fan inside running a carbon filter to keep the smell down? I would probably also need a dehumidifier also right?

You're most welcome! I've built more rooms, from very small to veryfuckingbig, over the past decades. .
You won't need to scrub the exhaust, as the air passes through a sealed hood and exhausts-as long as you buy a good, tight air cooled hood. ExtraSun by Hydrofarm hoods seal real well, for example.
And intake low > exhaust high is fine, except you're not venting the room, just the hood. With heat/AC unit covered, the only thing you might want to consider is a mild, passive intake (a 3" hole, covered in fine mesh) just so the room isn't inadvertently pressurized adversely due to you building it almost air tight. This will also help you avoid low CO2 levels that sealed rooms can acquire due to poor ventilation. CO2 management via bottle is a pain in the ass, & a burner in your case is no bueno. So passive ventilation would be best.

As to a dehumidifier, if you're using a wall mount AC (please do, portable, rolling AC units fucking SUCK) the unit will be an (very!) effective dehumidifier. Set at 70°f & you're good to go. Oh, and buy an analog wall AC unit if possible-digital units tend to not restart in case of brown out or power interruption. Which can bork everything quick, if your lights do restart. A $109 5000BTU unit from Wallyworld will be peachy.






Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

 

[Deadcalm]

You're most welcome! I've built more rooms, from very small to veryfuckingbig, over the past decades. .
You won't need to scrub the exhaust, as the air passes through a sealed hood and exhausts-as long as you buy a good, tight air cooled hood. ExtraSun by Hydrofarm hoods seal real well, for example.
And intake low > exhaust high is fine, except you're not venting the room, just the hood. With heat/AC unit covered, the only thing you might want to consider is a mild, passive intake (a 3" hole, covered in fine mesh) just so the room isn't inadvertently pressurized adversely due to you building it almost air tight. This will also help you avoid low CO2 levels that sealed rooms can acquire due to poor ventilation. CO2 management via bottle is a pain in the ass, & a burner in your case is no bueno. So passive ventilation would be best.








Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

I get it thanks again. I could just keep the 4" vent on the bottom (you can see in the picture to the right) painted to match room. I would then block the 4" vent in the top and cut two 6" holes on both sides for the light intake and exhaust.

I think I would still need a 4" fan and carbon filter ran disconnected to keep smell down? I would also need a dehumidifier?

 

[DoctorGonzo]

A sloppy photoshop, to illustrate my thinking...


Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

 

[DoctorGonzo]

I get it thanks again. I could just keep the 4" vent on the bottom (you can see in the picture to the right) painted to match room. I would then block the 4" vent in the top and cut two 6" holes on both sides for the light intake and exhaust.

I think I would still need a 4" fan and carbon filter ran disconnected to keep smell down? I would also need a dehumidifier?

Correct, keep your lower vent as a passive intake.
And...

As to a dehumidifier, if you're using a wall mount AC (please do, portable, rolling AC units fucking SUCK) the unit will be an (very!) effective dehumidifier. Set at 70°f & you're good to go. Oh, and buy an analog wall AC unit if possible-digital units tend to not restart in case of brown out or power interruption. Which can bork everything quick, if your lights do restart. A $109 5000BTU unit from Wallyworld will be peachy.

Also, vented hoods come in 6" & 8", so make sure you buy accordingly.

The scrubber, you just drop the fan on top of it, and it sits in your room, recirculating. No venting necessary.







Bulletproof Growing In Coco: How To

 

[Deadcalm]

Thanks DoctorGonzo! My mind is blown right now. I was over thinking/complicating this whole build.

 

[Deadcalm]

I tend to overdue things so bear with me. Would it be crazy overkill to completely seal the room and use this kit in the room?

Titan Controls CO2 Enrichment Kit (20 lb Tank, Controller, Regulator, Rain Tubing)


I'm thinking of buying this wall unit because it has power saver mode (fan and condenser both stop when at correct temp) and if power goes out it remembers settings.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/frigid...air-conditioner-white/5077426.p?skuId=5077426

 

[DoctorGonzo]

I tend to overdue things so bear with me. Would it be crazy overkill to completely seal the room and use this kit in the room?

Titan Controls CO2 Enrichment Kit (20 lb Tank, Controller, Regulator, Rain Tubing)


I'm thinking of buying this wall unit because it has power saver mode (fan and condenser both stop when at correct temp) and if power goes out it remembers settings.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/frigid...air-conditioner-white/5077426.p?skuId=5077426

AC looks good!
I'm no fan of CO2, ran bottled for years as a nervous tic, but saw fuck-all difference when I ceased using it. So, me, I'd pass.
I enjoy overthinking room design, myself. I file it under "Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance." Most people see empty space, I see unrealized growing areas.

 

[Deadcalm]

AC looks good!
I'm no fan of CO2, ran bottled for years as a nervous tic, but saw fuck-all difference when I ceased using it. So, me, I'd pass.
I enjoy overthinking room design, myself. I file it under "Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance." Most people see empty space, I see unrealized growing areas.

I was hoping you would say go for it with the CO2....I love gadgets lol

Would you be able to recommend a few 600w ballasts and a/c hooks you could recommend? I've also heard that some electronic ballasts can cause interferance. How do you avoid that?

 

[DoctorGonzo]

I was hoping you would say go for it with the CO2....I love gadgets lol

1)Would you be able to recommend a few 600w ballasts

2)and a/c hooks you could recommend?

3) I've also heard that some electronic ballasts can cause interferance. How do you avoid that?

1) Any electronic ballast will do, make sure & buy UL-listed, not cheap-o Chinese no-name crap.
2) AC hooks? Please elaborate
3) They don't, really. I've never seen it be an issue. You should run it through a really good surge protector though, ones meant for computers (about $40) to protect your investment. There are RF (radio frequency) filters you can buy at Radio Shack if you find interference upsetting your online porn habit .