Basement ventilation options?

[slowandeasy]

Looking for advice on some ventilation options for a small basement setup. Approx 6x2x7 total area, but made into a custom built in cabinet NGB style inside existing room. Either gonna go with a 600 watt or 400 watt hps, with supplimental CFL's. So here is the problem, how should it be vented? Ideally would like to vent straight outside, but the existing vents are about 15-20 ft away.

What size type of fan would you suggest, going to use carbon filter mounted in room and suck threw and out. Stealth is a concern, it cannot smell like a skunk 24/7. Also do not want a jet engine fan sound either, light noise is ok. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Cozy Amnesia]

15-20 feet is ok with a big enough dayton or elicit or something. And it may not be as loud as the horror stories you've hear, if you have one end with a carbon scrubber and the other into a duct that leads to the outside and if you have it in the cabinet. I'd say go for at least 200cfm, maybe more if you go with the 600w.

 

[FreezerBoy]

6x2 is a horrible proportion for a single lamp with out a light mover. Better 2 lamps covering 2x3 each. Because lamps throw light sideways and not forward or aft, see if you can hang lamps perpendicular to the long side of the grow.



How large is your basement? How cool? I vent my cab into the room but, my rooms a 2 car garage and I'm running a 250.

 

[slowandeasy]

Freezerboy,
That is the dimensions of the whole area, which will be divided into 4x2 flower and 2x2 veg section with a wall seperating them. This will be a room inside of a room. The basement is big and stays cool, but would rather exhaust the air outside instead of in the rest of the basement. This would mean running ventilation to the otherside of the basement, and could be a pain in the ass. If the carbon filter can make it totally stink free without venting outside it woiuld be the last option. Have made some in the past that help, but not quite stink free.

Already have a couple fans, but want to make sure it will push the distance and scrub. So I know how loud they can be, just didnt know if it would require a 6 or 8 inch, which steps up the sound. So any suggestions?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Let's start by defining "stealth." 15-20 feet of ducting seems an obvious conversation starter to me. Now, if people are locked out of the basement, that's a different scene. While my 4" Elicent with quadruple silencing could still be heard over 100 feet away, that was with the garage door up. Door down and no sound escaped, either to the driveway or the entry hall of the house. Problem there was neighbors banging on my door to see if I was still alive. Unable to see me puttering in the garage worried them. (Neighbors, gotta luv'em.)

Can you lock the basement or is that a red flag to visitors?

 

[slowandeasy]

The ventilation will be hidden by drop ceiling, so no big deal. Just need the right fan and filter combo. A little noise is ok, but not a super loud hear you down the street sound. Have a dayton and a conveted stanley type blower. Dont know if they will do the job, so if a new one is needed what would anyone suggest? Efficency and sound are top priority, need zero noticable smell also! Thanks!!!

 

[MTRUM75]

Hello, In my opinion you need to exhaust the hot and humid air out of the basement. Depending on where you live, humidity can be a huge problem in basements.

 

[Lord Doobie]

You never mentioned if the area was locked...We could guess all day
Need more info

So, you'll have flex tubing going to the ceiling from your cab? Definitely suspicious...
Perhaps start with low odor strain if concerned with smell

 

[slowandeasy]

This will be inside of a locked room, in a basement. Due to steel beam and existing ductwork, it looks like it will be impossible to vent outside. So, it looks like it will have to be vented into the basement. There can be no smell at all, and now will have to drop down to a 250 hps to combat heat and vent problems. Have made some homemade filters, that have helped in past, but never was total stink free... might buy one for this set up any suggestions?

 

[Aleon]

My suggestions are as follows:

1. If sound is an issue always use duct muffler. they have worked gr8 for me in the past
http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=DM610&AC=1

2. Use a carbon filter which is bigger than the recomended size as this will ensure the smell if being filtered

3. when installing the ductwork cut an ONA block into a few thin pieces and place them within the track of duct in ADDITION to the carbon unit; this is if smell is an explosive element to this situation.
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/ona-odor-block.html

lastly have you looked for an old chimney vent in the basement? this is the holy grail of a basement grow op vent setup. hot air --> carbon unit --> chimney
the warm air coming out the chimney is a few stories above everyones head to start with, plus the fact that heat rises. that grow room air aint ever comming down

good luck with the grow, and i hope this helps in someway/shape/form. pm me if you have any other questions on this

 

[Jnugg]

As far as I'm concerned a basement would be a dream to grow in,but we don't have them in Fla.

Use a window box to vent outside.

 

[iGro4Me]

The ventilation will be hidden by drop ceiling, so no big deal. Just need the right fan and filter combo. A little noise is ok, but not a super loud hear you down the street sound. Have a dayton and a conveted stanley type blower. Dont know if they will do the job, so if a new one is needed what would anyone suggest? Efficency and sound are top priority, need zero noticable smell also! Thanks!!!

I have a similar situation/setup but with the luck of the draw, a walkout basement/high window for exhaust.

I'm curious to hear how you handle this one because I may be building a bigger room in the basement and will have to deal with a similar issue.

Do you have the need to run a dehumidifier ? I have to right now and it raises temps by about 5 degrees, luckily the basement is a constant 72 year round. Make sure to post back.

GL bro

p.s. I've heard good things about the Panasonic WhisperQuiet inlines....I'm debating on one of those.There is a thread on them here.

 

[CANNACO-OP]

lots of good info here, saw a grow in basement that had a 3" bath fan with duct work running 24/7 pumping fresh air into the flower area, had a 600w in it and had a 4" can type fan with carbon scrubber (fan was incased or built in a diy silencer type thing), ducting running 25 feet, no concerned about stealth...

basement temps about 60-65(on hot days) and room temps 75-90(on very hot days)
4" can w/carbon scrb running 24/7 also. we always thought probably no need to run 24/7, but it works, no other fans needed in that area. think it was about 45" deep by 30 " wide or so, packed freakin full.