Lights and Temperatures

[simonh]

Hey Everyone

I'm using a BC Northern Lights Bloom Box that for its flowering side, comes with an Artemis 400w HPS light

I have 6 seedlings in the veg side ready to move over at the weekend (currently in 1L pots) to the flowering side and 6.5L pots as they will be 3 weeks old

Problem is that the temp in the flowering side is 93 degrees which is way to hot

But I was thinking that in the flowering side could I get away with a 250w HPS instead of the supplied 400w HPS as its only 6 plants, all dwarf auto's ??

Should this bring the temp down 10 degrees without having to open the doors and also what is the max temp I should not exceed in there ??

FYI the flowering side of the Bloom Box is 35 inches wide, 39 inches high and 25 inches deep

Thanks

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

78F is ideal

I try to not exceeed 80F any higher is pushing it without added co2.

I wouldn't think that stepping down to a 250 will change the temps by 10 degrees. Your best bet is to increase airflow, exhaust increased as well as intake.

What are the ambient temps outside of the box? Where does the box exhaust to?

Ambient temps can play a large role in determining the temps inside your box/room if it is not sealed.

My guess is either:

1. Box you have does not have a well suited intake/exhaust to support the 400 watt bulb
2. You are exhausitng the air form the box into the room it sits in, and not exhausting the hot humid air out and away formt he grow IE: outside
3. The ambient temps in the place your growing is to hot IE: attic

I am not familiar with those boxes but if you increase the exhuast and intake you should be good to go

Edit: I looked at the box, are you using the co2 feature?

 

[High Country]

Is that 400W air cooled, if not I would try and rig one up.

Cheers.

 

[simonh]

thanks for the quick replies - have a look here at the bloombox:

http://www.bcnorthernlights.com/indoor-hydroponic-grow-boxes/the-bloombox

Its totally sealed (hence the temps) and the amb. room temp. is around 72 degrees (I'm in Uruguay and its the end of the summer so come next December.....bigger problems !)

As you can see the 400hps in the bloom box is fixed above a piece of glass and it has an intake and outake fan by the lights, there is also a small fan in the flowering chamber that has a carbon filter attached to it on the outside, so actually inside the flowering chamber there is very little airflow - should I add a small 'normal' fan in there as long as its not pointing directly at the plants just to increase airflow??

The hot air from the light currently has no exhaust its just blowing back in the room so as you say - problem !! However I am a bit loathe to vent it and have to cut a big hole in the wall to take away the hot air

So is the simple answer vent it (any other ideas to avoid big hole in wall ?) and drop to 250w bulbs (would they be ok for 6 lowryder type strains ???)

Should that do it ???

Another bigger fan at the back of the box pointing at the two 'internal' fans ??

not using the Co2 feature - doing organic soil not hydro

 

[ACBract]

I agree that you should try to stay below 80F, but if you have trouble with that, keep in mind that photosynthesis stops (for most strains) above 86F, so if you had to you could go as high as 85.

I have a air movement fan, not intake or exhaust fan, that turns from side to side blowing DIRECTLY on/at the plants. That little wind makes the stems stronger, which means branches break and bend less when they have large buds to support. Air flowing directly on and through the buds also greatly drops the chance of mold on the leaves AND inside the buds. If you dont want moldy buds then keep a fan blowing gently on them until harvest.

 

[High Country]

I agree that you should try to stay below 80F, but if you have trouble with that, keep in mind that photosynthesis stops (for most strains) above 86F, so if you had to you could go as high as 85.

I have a air movement fan, not intake or exhaust fan, that turns from side to side blowing DIRECTLY on/at the plants. That little wind makes the stems stronger, which means branches break and bend less when they have large buds to support. Air flowing directly on and through the buds also greatly drops the chance of mold on the leaves AND inside the buds. If you dont want moldy buds then keep a fan blowing gently on them until harvest.

I work in a plant propagation nursery for plants of a different variety. We maintain our hot houses st 24C or 75F.

This is with computer controlled air con, heating, shading, fogging, high pressure mist jets and heat beds.

This temperature regime is ideal for the entire growth cycle.

I maintain my grow within the same parameters.

 

[High Country]

I just read your link for the Bloombox. It obviously isn't living up to the hype and temps can't be controlled enough.

I am not experienced with small stuff like this.

SO ALL YOU MICRO GROWERS WITH HID, GIVE THIS CULTIVATOR A HAND

 

[streetvibes]

simonh can you get an air extract unit so you can pump cool air in this will help loads

 

[simonh]

simonh can you get an air extract unit so you can pump cool air in this will help loads

can you please give me more info on this ?

 

[streetvibes]

hi mate look up air extract units all grow shops do them just goggle or look at peoples set ups if you get the right unit it will do the job proper you could go for an air con unit but i think that would cost quite a bit of cash good luck