Planning first grow, Ventillation help

[G.Chron P.Eng]

Hi, everyone

This is my first post. So im planning my first grow, it will be using a 24X12X36 space, 2 plants, with aeroponics (I have a planted aquarium so im not new at ferts and what not) and i will probably do ferts. Now one thing i have learned about my experience with planted aquariums is you can never really have too much light.

Initially i was only going to have a 70w hps, and from what ive read that its an absolute minimum. So I figured i would compliment it with 4X42W CFLS.

I am in the process of making a custom hood so i can lower the lights, and put pc case fans on top to suck the air away from the bulbs.

Then i realized that a 70w HPS and 4X42W CFLS is gonna get HOT! especially in such a small space. Should I be cutting down to 2X42W CFLS or increase venting?

I will be making a DIY carbon scrubber, thus killing exhaust flow. I was thinking of using dual computer case fans ( maybe 150 cfm ) to try and push through the filter. Will these fans work with that much resistance? should I switch exhaust fan type?

I just dont want to put everything together and watch everything overheat and have to redo it. I hate redoing.

 

[Sam the Caveman]

Hey G, what kind of diy carbon scrubber are you going to be using?

Normal axial fans don't work very well at pushing air through high resistance, they work better at pulling air through high resistance but not much better.

Look at centrifugal pc case blower fans to pull through your carbon scrubber, Antec makes a super cylcone blower that puts out around 40cfm and there is an off brand one on ebay that puts out a claimed 60cfm.

In micro environments, from my experience, having a fan inside the grow area in addition to and outlet fan caused decreased airflow. The highest airflow came with only and exhaust fan.

 

[ukpitbull]

hello mate , i would sugest that u read ventilation101 and scrubninja ultimate guide to pc fans , if the pc fans are going to be used on your carbon filter its important that it has a high static pressure (mm/h2o) rating or pascals in the uk , the delta sever fans are great but loud , i would recommened sumthing like a ultra kaze 3000 (133cfm 45db and great static pressure rating) As for your lighting array it all depends on ya ventilation mate
in a grow air exchange is your best friend

 

[ukpitbull]

“Ventilation 101,” by redgreenry
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862

Yeah! Broken down in terms even I can understand.
“Understanding Air Flow,” by Hoosierdaddy
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=100823

“The Ultimate Beginners Guide to PC Fans,” by ScrubNinja
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131842

 

[G.Chron P.Eng]

Cool, Thanks for the info. Ok so no fans inside the box? what if I vented all the exhaust through the light hood? I think that might work better and keeping temps down. Oh and as for the charcol filter, I will be making a long mesh cylinder and wrap a charcol filter around it.

 

[ukpitbull]

There is a thread on homemade carbon filters as well mate , ud probley be better off using aquaruim carbon instaed of the carbon sheets just my 2p !!

u can have fans in the box if u want , just have passive intakes (just holes),