Temperature issues.. or are they?

[CJ117]

Howdy. I've got a small setup going, a little SOG perhaps, or maybe a short stock of 6 plants well tended, not sure yet. That ultimately depends on how many males i get from my seeds =P

Here's the thing. Inside temperatures with my flowering bulbs, 4x@40w->2700k in a short amount of area gives me about 85°F when all bulbs are on. I don't know if this is going to increase as we get more into the summer months and the heat increases. I can only imagine it will climb to about 89-95°F. So, as a result I'm considering making my daytime light hours actually take place between 6pm and 6am to compensate for the heat. Is this a good idea?

Should I install a small yeast-powered co2 generator? Humidity seems a constant 40-50%. It might get more humid in there (55-60%) once the soil is exposed, as it is I'm still germinating and testing out my temperature setup. Maybe I should even install a 3rd air intake? I only have 2x 1" intakes at the bottom of my setup...

It's pretty small, 24"L x 16"W x 32"H. I have a 27cfm computer fan installed. Not sure if it's doing a good job. Sooo.. what's the consensus?

Would switching the lighting hours be a good idea? Should I install a 3rd intake? Would it be beneficial to construct a co2 generator?
Should I perhaps, remove one or two of the bulbs? Think I need that many for a 2.5 sq. foot area?

Thanks in advance for the advice.. I know you guys have better things to do!

 

[purpledomgoddes]

w/ 85*f lights on, try to get actual leaf temps ~80-82. also, since high @ day, try to keep night temps no less than 10*f lower. ~76f. if can have zero diff, or 1-2*f drop/raise, will be ok.
cheap 4-6" oscillating fans, positioned vertically+horizontally+diagonally will give air flow desired in high temp room.
just maintain the higher temps, since plants have been set in it, and are acclimating. should be ok.
if method if found to decrease temps, do gradually, over 1-2 weeks. plants sense temp on daily/weekly avg's. lowering 1-2* over a few days will be ok. like human traveling from desert to snow on plane. adjustment gradual. but human can live in either environment - just wants stability - like plant.

hope this helps. enjoy your garden!

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I don't know if this is going to increase as we get more into the summer months and the heat increases. I can only imagine it will climb to about 89-95°F. So, as a result I'm considering making my daytime light hours actually take place between 6pm and 6am to compensate for the heat. Is this a good idea?

Yes, the temps will go up in summer.
Yes, it's a great idea to run your lights at night. (Works for me)

Should I install a small yeast-powered co2 generator?

Not until you know how to grow cannabis. Until then, work on learning to properly control the environment. With additional heat you want to look first to your ventilation. It's the cheapest remedy that's the most successful. Once you know how to grow, THEN start adding things like CO2, UVB and other interesting stuff. You'll have a lot more hair left that way.

Humidity seems a constant 40-50%. It might get more humid in there (55-60%) once the soil is exposed, as it is I'm still germinating and testing out my temperature setup. Maybe I should even install a 3rd air intake? I only have 2x 1" intakes at the bottom of my setup...

An extra intake will always help. You want your fan to pull the air through your setup freely. This will definitely help with moisture buildup. (Though not much is going to come from the soil, compared to what the plants put out.)

As your plants progress through flower they're going to give off moisture into the air. (transpire) This can lead to great little humid pockets for mold to grow. Make sure you have good airflow through your plants and that the leaves don't get so packed together no air will flow through. (If you see puddles on your leaves when the lights come on, you have too much humidity.)

So far it's looking pretty good. Congrats.

 

[CJ117]

For some reason, now when I check my box it says temperature is at 87°F with my 23w veg cfl's..... even though I stick my hand inside and it doesn't feel anywhere near that hot, even right by the bulbs. Maybe my thermometer is busted? but.. it's electronic, so..?

I thought I made a pretty good seal on my exhaust, the rating is 27cfm.. and yet I can't get the heat out? Damn. Maybe I do need that extra intake?

 

[Hydro-Soil]

For some reason, now when I check my box it says temperature is at 87°F with my 23w veg cfl's..... even though I stick my hand inside and it doesn't feel anywhere near that hot, even right by the bulbs. Maybe my thermometer is busted? but.. it's electronic, so..?

I thought I made a pretty good seal on my exhaust, the rating is 27cfm.. and yet I can't get the heat out? Damn. Maybe I do need that extra intake?

Shade the thermo so it's not reading the temp of it's heated up plastic housing. (or whatever it's made of) I think you'll find it lists a bit lower

Edit: Wait..... 27cfm? Sorry I missed that but it's probably not going to be enough airflow to cool that much heat. Need to look into a more powerful fan. I have a, not so quiet, 50cfm bathroom fart fan (<$30) that cools my 220 watts fairly well. It would probably work very well with your setup.

 

[CJ117]

A solution I've tried and am testing out is the following:

I didn't have a screen available on my window. Naturally it stays closed in my room as a result, I don't want bugs crawling inside, or plants moving in or whatever as they usually do when its left open. So, I found some screen, installed it over my window and am now leaving it open to try to reduce ambient room temperature about 5-6°. I hope that will help.
My friend seems convinced that reducing ambient temperature won't have any effect on the inside system. Is he right?

Additionally I opted to do the 3rd passive intake. Hoping this will help too.

I'm hoping that my mistakes and learning experiences will assist others with similar issues.
I'll keep posted based on my findings. Here's hoping!

 

[Hydro-Soil]

So, I found some screen, installed it over my window and am now leaving it open to try to reduce ambient room temperature about 5-6°. I hope that will help.
My friend seems convinced that reducing ambient temperature won't have any effect on the inside system. Is he right?

The lowering your ambient temp will definitely help. Increased airflow will help more. Again, try to figure out a way to increase your airflow as it's your most efficient route.

The additional intake will help, yes.

 

[delerious]

A solution I've tried and am testing out is the following:

My friend seems convinced that reducing ambient temperature won't have any effect on the inside system. Is he right?

Lowering your ambient will help, but you need to pull the cooler air through your cab and exhaust the warmer air. I need to run my AC in the summer here because the ambient temps can hit 90's or higher with lights off.

 

[CJ117]

I ditched 2 of the lights, that helped knock off about 10°F. Additionally, I stuck my room fan facing the box, so I think it should be fine on the temps. More fans do help lol