To air-cool or not to air-cool...

[WeedReefer]

Hello. I am new to growing and have been doing fairly extensive research on everything grow-related as I am preparing my first setup. I have limited space available and have decided a tent will be the best option for me. I'm debating between a 2'x4'x7' or a 3'x3'x7' Gorilla tent with 2 250 watt HPS lights. My question is would it be necessary to go with air-cooled hoods to maintain a comfortable temperature or could I get away with winged reflectors or something similar? the tent will be set up in a basement that stays fairly cool and of course I will be running an exhaust fan connected to a carbon filter with an intake fan for fresh air. Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.

 

[festerous]

What are your winter temps like?

 

[WeedReefer]

Winters here are fairly mild, 40's maybe a week or two in the 30's. The basement winter temps are in the upper 50's to lower 60's range.

 

[joe guy]

Your best bet would be get the wings they are dirt cheap esp. If you look on CL
For some brown thumbs regret.. I got a full 250 for 40 bucks and 2 grams so that said
Try the cheapest route.. If it runs too hot you got your self a nice mom/ clone hoods..
I just drilled a new hole on the opposite side of the mogul base and run a regular lamp kit thru for a cfl.. And go back on CL and find another brown thumbs a/c hoods and fan..
A buddy gave me a hood and I got my 6 in sun system inline for 20 bucks cash at a flea market.. Buy used shit your first round an upgrade as you get better..
Unless you have cash to toss around then go brand new
Good luck bro hope to see you around the boards

 

[joe guy]

Or head over to the dark side get the bigger tent and stack those 2 250's and tie those bitches to some cages.. I've some super nice yeilds come from vertville..
And with a 250 you'll be able to get a lot closer to the bulb than the guys that are runnin stacked 6's and 1ks and they are cool guys and help point you in the rite direction in reading material and set up ideas..

 

[WeedReefer]

Thanks for the posts and the encouragement joe! Just checked craigslist; not much there and the few lights i found were a little steep so I will keep looking. Fortunately I have time to look around to compare prices and continue researching as I am currently laid up with a broken ankle. Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Apache Kush]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862

4. Two Stage Cooling/Ventilation with cooltube and scrubber

good link i found the other day on venting tents and cabs, might help with some ideas

check out example number 4 with two fans, helps keep em cool with two vs one

 

[greenbeen]

i would see how none air cooled works and you can always upgrade it to air cooled if it gets to hot.... I got air cooled tubes for about 90 dollars each. so what im saying is do a grow see how temps are and what not during the summer because those will get you the hottest readings and once you harvest you could sell a few and make enough for the air cooled tubes... I tried to do it with out air cooled but since im in a apt and what not my temps go into the high 30 degrees c which is like above 80 for sure I think so was way to hot for my girls, but you should be fine in a basement with out them. as for tents try gotham hydroponics i just got a tent from them yesterday it was a 6.5 feet all around and i heard great things about them i haven't set it up yet but ill let you know when i do.. still need to get my flower room wired up

 

[Apache Kush]

since I know gorrila tents have a few exit holes to use for fans and whatnot

 

[greenbeen]

http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/growtents.html

oh if you do buy a tent I would make a wooden support beam to hold your carbon filter and light because the plastic connectors don't hole much weight... I have had my light and carbon filter fall right on my grow in flower now that's dangerous as hell so I would get some 2x4 s and make one beam from the floor up to the top and than get a beam that connects the 2 beams at the top that way nothing will fall

 

[Apache Kush]

http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/growtents.html

oh if you do buy a tent I would make a wooden support beam to hold your carbon filter and light because the plastic connectors don't hole much weight... I have had my light and carbon filter fall right on my grow in flower now that's dangerous as hell so I would get some 2x4 s and make one beam from the floor up to the top and than get a beam that connects the 2 beams at the top that way nothing will fall

The Gorilla Tents' framing polls are rated up to hundreds of pounds. They are the highest priced and highest quality tents in general. Should be fine but that would suck. Get what you pay for ya know..

 

[joe guy]

Here is 3 dudes yeha they are skinny but there is 3 guys hanging from the roof of the gorillia tent.. So the filter and fan would be nothin

 

[greenbeen]

true man I have looked at those but seems like they are close to 1000 for a good sized one.... I like the lighthouse ones because they are cheap (6.5 x6.5 x 6.5 cost me just under three hundred with shipping) and very well made and for the price of the tent and some wood you could save a few hundred dollars but its all preference

but the gorilla tents are good if your willing to pay the price, great tent I just think they are a little over priced

as for my other tent I paid 100 for a 4x4 and it was from kijiji so ya I go what I paid for.... that was headaches

 

[joe guy]

My set up is perfect as is for me I don't serve nor gift so that said I'm very happy with the 200 aluminum shed if you have a back yard it's awsome free storage and a grow room all in one check my profile it's in there if you have a basement u should have a back yard.. Idk why I didn't mention it before but hell u can assimble it in ur basement if u wanted mine is 7x8 with peak roof at 7 foot but I love havin I in the back yard with a locked door it's totally legal

 

[WeedReefer]

Thanks for all the feedback!! I definitely appreciate the information. I am at least a month away from setup probably more like two, which is lame since it is very dry here and migraines suck without the proper meds but hey it's more time to research.

Thanks for the link to the ventilation thread Apache that will come in handy for sure.

joe guy: I do have a back yard but it has very limited usable space, it's terraced and very overgrown at the moment. I did consider an out-building for the setup though.

greenbean: Great idea about the wooden support. I don't think the weight will be a concern if I go with the gorilla tent. My main concern with the tent is light leakage and since gorilla tents really hype their thickness (1600D or something like that, 3x thicker than the secret jardins I was looking at, plus the SJ's have plastic corners) I am leaning heavily towards them.

Again, I really appreciate all the replies, this site is going to DEFINITELY be a major help, you guys rock!!!

 

[Apache Kush]

They are really expensive but if Im only buying one, what the heck... I like the thickness too on the walls. Extra fan holes etc.

That Ventilation link is technical like fickren rocket science level.
I read it once, was a little over my head.
Got some good ideas though.

Also, the Gorilla Tent claim's it s the only tent that has a optional height extension...

I read somthing like they will go up from 6-7 feet normal roof,
to a 9-10 foot roof; for big and tall strechy strains...

 

[WeedReefer]

They are really expensive but if Im only buying one, what the heck... I like the thickness too on the walls. Extra fan holes etc.

That Ventilation link is technical like fickren rocket science level.
I read it once, was a little over my head.
Got some good ideas though.

Also, the Gorilla Tent claim's it s the only tent that has a optional height extension...

I read somthing like they will go up from 6-7 feet normal roof,
to a 9-10 foot roof; for big and tall strechy strains...

Agree 100% about the thickness of the walls. That was a pretty high priority for me as I absolutely do not want light leakage.

And you are correct about the extensions too. You could house some serious monsters in a 10 ft. tent!

The wait to get this going is killing me but I know it will all be worth it. I just keep reading on IC and expanding that knowledge base everyday! I also have Ed Rosenthal's Marijuana Grower's Handbook coming soon and just finished Jorge Cervantes' Indoor/Outdoor bible. Definitely some great info there.

 

[greenbeen]

watch your ph that's a main concern well .... I didn't watch mine at all and was fine till I gave them more nutes and left for a week and they stopped drinking and started to slowly die. so get a ph meter I just did

 

[WeedReefer]

watch your ph that's a main concern well .... I didn't watch mine at all and was fine till I gave them more nutes and left for a week and they stopped drinking and started to slowly die. so get a ph meter I just did

Anyone in particular that you would recommend? How about a ppm/tds/ec meter?

 

[greenbeen]

not really I just got a cheap one which was like 85$ I just talked to my hydroponic guy and he showed me the one I bought haven't opened it yet but ill find the name out tonight.

as for my lighthouse tent I got it up, the material is thick not as thick as gorilla and the connectors are actually made from metal but only tak wielded, bars will bend but they will hold a bit of weight since I actually hung from the top but I wouldn't trust it me self.... that's my review could be a bit better made but for the price its a good tent cost me 270$ for a 6.5x6.5x6.5