Vortex 449 cfm for cooling lights and tent?

[ballplayer 2]

Hi all. I am beginning to make plans for a tent grow. The tent I am planning on using for flowering is the Dark Room 150 (DR 150). I currently own a 449 cfm vortex fan. I was hoping to use that fan to cool my lights and exhaust my room. Would that be asking my fan to do too much or not?

I also have a Dayton 265 cfm exhaust fan that I could dedicate to cooling my lights. However, I will be using Daystar 6" AC reflectors. I am pretty sure the intake on the Dayton is only 4", so I would need a reducer. I am sure using the reducer will cut down on airflow, do you think that fan would be sufficient for cooling the light(s)?

Lastly I am planning on using (1) 400 MH and 1 (600) HPS both in AC Daystar hoods. OR just a single 1000 in an AC Daystar. What do you think my best option is? Will using the single 1000 be better if hoping to use my 6 inch Vortex to cool light and room?

Also does anybody have pictures or diagrams to help show me how to construct this ventilation system? I am newb to tents and less than handy. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Don't worry about pictures or diagrams if you don't have time, but please chime in with your input or experience with the same or similar situations. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[smoke_tayo]

since your tent is about 125 cubic feet (4'11"x4'11"x6'7"), the 449 cfm should be more than enough. i think it will be easier to handle cooling for just the 1000w, instead of having to deal with ducting for two hoods.

here's how i'd do it.

i'd rest the vortex on a can fan near a vent on the bottom of the tent. this will serve as a passive intake. then with ducting connect the vortex to the 1000w, then connect the light to more ducting leading outside the tent.

carbon filter-vortex--ducting-->1000w--ducting-->outside of tent

the fan will be powerful enough to exchange air in the tent while bringing fresh air in from the negative pressure created.

hope this helps.

 

[ballplayer 2]

Thank you very much smoke, +rep added.

you mean rest the vortex on the appropriate can filter at the bottom of the tent? So do you feel the filter rated for 420 cfm would be appropriate? The vortex will be powerful enough to pull tent air through the scrubber and cool the lights? I should make sure my AC hood(s) are absolutely sealed so no stinky air is sucked through and out?

Anyone else with any input? I would really be appreciative.

 

[liquidmaco]

hey there. i use tents as well. (GLs) in my 145 i run flouros for veg and heat is never an issue but i have a 145L for flower. theres 1200w in tubes cooled by a 440 eco blowing into the attic. tent is vented by another 440 eco. this one has a 90 degree bend in it and airflow is actually around 200. my advice to you would be to start with a 600 in that tent unless your planning on really packing it out in wich case youll need another 600 or one 1000. like i said i use 2 600s for twice the size but am adding one more asap for better coverage. anyway, i would advise you to tube the 600/1000 and duct it out of the room (that the tent is in) unless you have ac. use your largest fan to cool this light. take that dayton 265 and get the largest 4in filter u can find (phresh makes a long 4) and use that to exhaust your tent. if you have straight duct youll prob need to control the speed or use a thermostat bc that will be plenty w/ an aircooled light in there.

 

[smoke_tayo]

yeah ballplayer, rest the vortex on top of the filter. the vortex will pull air through the filter from within the tent as well outside (due to the negative pressure created) and push air through the light and out the tent. you are correct, the seals need to be tightened well so that stinky air cannot escape. this is the easiest way.

like liquidmaco said, you can also use two fans, one for light cooling and the other for exhausting the room.

what are the ambient temps of the room? if they are above 85, you'll want to exhaust the air outside or into another room.

 

[liquidmaco]

st your an even bigger lurker than i am. yeah if your goal was to only use one fan then thats how you would do it, but why not use both if not used already? a confusing question really. i want to use only one fan but i have two... am i missing out on something?

 

[smoke_tayo]

lm, lol. i'm trying to turn a new leaf and participate now! after og died/ and everything was lost, i just didn't have it in me.

ballyplayer, i guess you have two options. i mentioned using only one fan as you had said that you were trying to ventilate and cool lights with the vortex. i like keeping things simple so i'd go that route, then i could use the other lights and fan for another tent . however, using two fans does give you more control of air flow and temps for sure!

 

[liquidmaco]

yeah use one and setup a different area with the other light and fan. thats the winner there!

 

[ballplayer 2]

awesome guys, thank you for participating in my thread. So it seems I owe you guys some further details.

--Ok to start the ambient temps in the room which will contain the tent will be 69-73 in the winter/fall/early spring. During the summer months it generally will be from 73-77.

--I am planning another tent in a different room, a veg tent. The veg tent will be vented with a 265 cfm Dayton (I own two of the 265 cfm Dayton, and 1 449 Vortex). This room has the same ambient temps. For a veg tent I am looking at the 4'11 x 2'8" Dark room tent. I will be using a 4ft 4 bulb HO fluorescent fixture in there, hopefully that will be enough light.

--Ideally I would like to use the vortex to cool both the lights and tent in the flowering room. However, only if it is feasible to do so. I want to be certain that I will be able to keep optimal temps within the tent (not hotter than say 81-82, ideally a bit cooler). Though I am not averse to using two fans in the flower tent.

--I currently own (4) 400W MH systems. Two go with 6" AC Daystar reflectors. Two go with non AC Hydrofarm Radiant reflectors. I will probably trade in the non AC ones for store credit toward my tent or lighting upgrade purchase. I run Sunmaster Warm Deluxe bulbs, I have been pleased with their performance in the past.

--The problem was that I was not certain if the two 400 MH Daystar AC would adequately cover a DR 150 (basically 5x5). What do you guys think? Could I get away 800 Watts in the 5x5 tent? If I can that would be great because I would not have to buy an additional ballast and matching bulb (cause I have a several 400 W Bulbs already, but no 600's or 1000's).

--If using one fan to cool the light, and one fan to cool the tent which configuration do you recommend? Where would the fan cooling the lights be mounted? If mounted within the tent wouldn't it transmit smell?

--Lastly I was planning on releasing the heat from the lights into the same room the tent would be in. I don't want to cut a hole into my ceiling. I could vent it out a window, but that looks awful fishy during the winter time. I was hoping to help heat my second level with that heat. The room containing the tent is relatively large and has three doors I can keep open. One opening to the common area, one to an adjoined bathroom, and one to the closet.

--During the summer time if venting out the window becomes necessary, how would I go about doing so? Could I use an exhaust kit from a portable AC?

Sorry for bombarding you guys with questions and details. However, I'm not real handy and need all the advice/help I can get. I really, really appreciate your help with designing these tent areas. Sorry if some of these questions are stupid/obvious, I'm kinda newbish especially concerning HVAC. Thanks so much again. Rep+ Liquidmaco.

 

[stoney917]

whats up ballplaya. good thread im settin up a new 5x5 tents and am still considerin setup options. this is my plan so far i will run a 449cfm 6'can fan pulling air from outside the tent through an 1000w hps in ac magnum xxxl hood and out of my tent. and run another canfan and filter combo hangin inside the tent cleanin the air inside thus sealin the tent givin me the option for co2 :] i have cental ac in the room the tent will be in so i think temp shouldnt be a prob. take care brotha. ne idea what strain u gonna toss in there?
peace goodluck stoney

 

[ballplayer 2]

Stoney, So you are using the additional fan/filter combo to keep vigorous recirculation of air within the tent? Thus, no exhaust and the option for CO2. Sounds real sweet man.

Yeah same here with Central AC. I am planning on exhausting the air from my lights to the same room the tent is in. I am hoping chilly winter air and central AC in the summer will keep temps in check. If problems arise during the summer I can vent AC light air out the window.

As far as strains. Im not sure what I will be running first. But I have DJ Short Blueberry and FLO. Federation Romulan. White Rhino (Willy Jack). SOL Blubonic. Magus Genetics mix. Mandala Mix, and various bagseeds. I will probably use bagseeds and Mandala Mix to test out the tent and see how it works.

 

[bogfan]

ballplayer
I believe you would benefit most by adding a window air conditioner/heater. They can be bought for 2-300 dollars. Lots of people have window heaters here. The doors open will help you control temps a lot, but during extremes, you will be glad you had the window unit. Just set the thermostat on the window unit and dont worry.

The 400 and the 600 are gonna produce a lot of heat. the air in the tent should first go through the carbon filter, then through the 600, then through the 400, then thru the fan, and out of the tent. hang the filter and the fan in the tent. This will keep the room air clean for your window air conditioner and help keep the fan sound inside the tent. If you just vent out the window, you will pull all of your conditioned house air out of the house.

You are gonna have coverage trouble or heat trouble in a 5x5 tent. The 1000 is probably the best light for that tent and you definitely need an 8 inch fan for that.

Hope that helps! Best of Luck!

The vortex should do the job, you might end up going with the 8 inch fan.

Your veg room should be fine with temps.

 

[stoney917]

yea ima use 2 seperate fans cause if ya gotem usem imo plus having co2 will make a huge difference in yields and if u want a 2nd setup just pick up another fan when u need it.
nice seed collecton to i lost my bb keeper a few years and went thrue a few pks of beans lookin for the replacement and havent found her. and gave up for the time being to focus on sortin thrue a shitload of cuts i got . i have 1 pk left but thats on hold till i pop more beans next year some time