Need help light proofing my tent intakes

[scurred]

I need help thinking of ideas to light proof my tent intakes.

This is the tent I have:
http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=53376

I'm using the flaps on the bottom sides as intakes, which is fine for veg but for flower I need something 100% light proof because the room the tent is in isn't dark at all times.

Some ideas I have thought of so far:

* Close flaps at night
-- Pros: simple, nothing added to tent
-- Cons: manual labor twice a day (open/close), less intake at night which could stress the fan or collapse the tent

* Build a light trap
-- Pros: could be light proof
-- Cons: might not be 100% light proof, requires construction

* Cut wholes in the sides of the tent and install dark room louvers
-- Pros: 100% light proof
-- Cons: cutting whole in tent


I know many of you use PVC piping but I really don't know how that would work for me. There's only one 4" duct opening at the bottom of the tent and I'm using it for electrical wires. I also don't think a 4" opening is enough passive intake, my exhaust is a 4" 265cfm dayton.


Appreciate any advice you can give me, I think the dark room louvers are the best idea, I just don't know about cutting holes in the tent. Has anyone tried anything similar?

 

[stonedar]

cut a 6" hole beside the 4" intake and use a cheapo 6" duct fan for an intake. one or two "S" curves in some duct makes a nice light trap. you may be better off with a quality 4" inline with a fan speed controller, then you could use the existing 4" duct and figure something else out to run your cords through. like maybe out the top or something.
where there is some will there is a way, duct tape is your friend

 

[scurred]

cut a 6" hole beside the 4" intake and use a cheapo 6" duct fan for an intake. one or two "S" curves in some duct makes a nice light trap. you may be better off with a quality 4" inline with a fan speed controller, then you could use the existing 4" duct and figure something else out to run your cords through. like maybe out the top or something.
where there is some will there is a way, duct tape is your friend

Problem with this is it will take up floor space. I've already got my ballast and fans on the floor, trying to free up all floor space and move everything to the ceiling or corners.

 

[scurred]

Only thing I can think of, without potentially ruining the tent by cutting holes in it. Is to get two 4" fans rated at the same cfm, and have one for intake and one for exhaust. Then have no passive intake at all. That way there will be equal air coming in and out, which should keep the tent at room temperature. I could even attach a carbon filter to each fan, which would make each fan completely light proof and silence them a bit - and filter everything coming into the tent which I kind of like - seems more sanitary.

 

[trichrider]

or...use an elbow in the bottom vent port and close those vent windows.
point the elbow to the floor.
you will have negative air pressure, but not so much as to collapse your tent, supplying constant fresh air to your babes.

anyway...after the flowering is well established, some light leak is not going to do harm(not to your plants, but perhaps to your security).

hope this helps somewhat if you haven't figured it out already.

 

[ecsd]

you should definitly get those ballasts off the floor, for safety sake. your above idea is a good one, tho

 

[ecsd]

or...use an elbow in the bottom vent port and close those vent windows.
point the elbow to the floor.
you will have negative air pressure, but not so much as to collapse your tent, supplying constant fresh air to your babes.

anyway...after the flowering is well established, some light leak is not going to do harm(not to your plants, but perhaps to your security).

hope this helps somewhat if you haven't figured it out already.

wrong, light leaks are bad anytime during flower

 

[Encore]

wrong, light leaks are bad anytime during flower

wrong by your logic, a full moon would interrupt a plants flowering and as we all know it does not...

So.. aslong as its not a huge light leak, all will be fine..

GL

 

[Nicoli]

wrong, light leaks are bad anytime during flower

wrong.
wrong.
wrong.

depends on the strain, some strains dont give a shit. some strains freak out.

 

[scurred]

you should definitly get those ballasts off the floor, for safety sake. your above idea is a good one, tho

Well it isn't on the floor directly, it's on a cinder block which is on the floor. I'm not THAT dumb ! I just meant it's taking up floor space.

 

[scurred]

or...use an elbow in the bottom vent port and close those vent windows.
point the elbow to the floor.
you will have negative air pressure, but not so much as to collapse your tent, supplying constant fresh air to your babes.

anyway...after the flowering is well established, some light leak is not going to do harm(not to your plants, but perhaps to your security).

hope this helps somewhat if you haven't figured it out already.

This doens't seem like it will provide complete light proof though. Plus only 1 4" opening for intake? Right now I have two passive intkaes using the tent flaps which are probably 12" x 4" and the exhaust fan is still sucking the tent sides inward a bit. I imagine it will be much worse with less passive intake.

Security isn't a concern, I'm a med patient, I just don't feel like losing my crop to herms cuz of light leaks.

 

[scurred]

wrong.
wrong.
wrong.

depends on the strain, some strains dont give a shit. some strains freak out.

correct. this is how i was told/taught as well, the caregiver i used to help out had some light leaks that were so small, you couldnt even see them unless you sat in the room for 5 minutes.

those tiny little light leaks hermied a total of 12 plants... some hashberry, sadhu, and grapefruit. but the white widow plants didn't care, they just kept on budding without a male flower that we could find. but it still is a good idea to get eerything completely light proof.