Which Fan(s) Should I Use With My Tent (Secret Jardin DR90 II)?

[PegasusRideR]

This is the first time I'm going to use an air/light proof grow setup. I used a self-made cabinet before which had air/light leaks everywhere and with really cheap fans, wasn't that much success.

I'm going to buy a Secret Jardin Darkroom DR90 II (3x3x6):
http://www.greners.com/secret-jardin-dark-room-pro-dr90-ii.html

I'm planning to use an air-cooled hood, Powerplant Aerowing:
http://www.1st-hydroponics.co.uk/powerplant-aerowing-reflector/prod_4239.html

I'm not going to buy from these sites, these are just examples. Also, Powerplant Aerowing is the only air-cooled hood available here, the only other option is a cooltube which doesn't reflect light as good as an aircooled reflector you know. As lighting, I'm going to use 400W Sunmaster MH Deluxe for veg, 400W Philips PIA Plus HPS for flower.

However, I'm not sure about cooling setup. There is no need for a carbon filter. Since I'll use 400w lighting, I think exhausting the air from one side of the hood with a vent to a fan(top left) will be enough(without connecting a second pipe to the other side for direct air intake from outside), right? However, I have no idea about the fans. Temps go as low as -1 C in winter(room will be heated if necesary) and as high as 35 C in summer(can't cool the room) here. Here comes my question. Should I use 1 high cfm fan to exhaust the air from the hood(which will take air from inside the cabinet as I mentioned), should I use 1 mid cfm fan for hood exhaust and 1 more for another exhaust or 1 high cfm for exhaust and 1 low cfm for intake?

Efficiency comes first for me and sound comes second but it is also important, I mean I want to be able to sleep during nights, also I don't want people coming to my house asking "Where does this sound come from?" obviously More fans seems like a good option because it gives more options(disabling/enabling them in winter/summer gives more options in cooling) but it will result in more sound am I right?

So, I am totally confused and don't know what to do. There is one thing I'm sure about which is exhaust fan will be 6" because hood's flange is 6" Please tell me which fan(s) to use(as rpm, size and fan type), where in the tent to put them, which fan holes should I leave open for passive air intake etc.

Btw, I can buy Vortice fans which have 2 speed options without the need of a controller, getting rid of the humming problem that comes with controllers also.

This:

For example there is a 6" one around 300cfm in full speed. There is one 3.9" 200cfm, and one 4.9" 265cfm. All cfms are full speed as I dunno their cfm in low-speed.

For higher cfms, there is also 6" 410cfm and 450cfm models, but they run at single-speed. It'll be cheaper for me if I buy Vortice fans considering shipping, but I can also buy other fans by international shipping which will cost me a lot more.

All kinds of advice would be appreciated. Thanks. And sorry for long text

 

[PegasusRideR]

Bump, anyone?

 

[messn'n'gommin']

These links should help to answer most of your questions.

“Ventilation 101,” by redgreenry
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862

“A Cannabis Growing Guide – What I have learned during my five years of growing weed,” by Kodiak
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112662

 

[justanotherbozo]

...you should probably spend some time exploring in the Vertical forum as well, ...you don't need that hood.

Vertical / Colosseum Growing

bozo

 

[vukman]

My tent is approx. the same volume size as yours. I have a 6"..660cfm fan in there. I have it set to the first of three settings which is around 400cfm (give or take) and it still sucks in the sides of the tent so if that is any indication for you or helps you at all.......glad I could be of some assistance..

Good Luck

 

[PegasusRideR]

I know, I have read many ventilation guides before creating this thread. I wanted to get results people experienced like "I'm using this and this happens" like this:

My tent is approx. the same volume size as yours. I have a 6"..660cfm fan in there. I have it set to the first of three settings which is around 400cfm (give or take) and it still sucks in the sides of the tent so if that is any indication for you or helps you at all.......glad I could be of some assistance..

Good Luck

Thanks for your replies.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

In that case, I'm using a 603 cfm fan with a voltage regulator set to about 60% in a 2'x4'x8' closet. Ambient temps at about 65F-70F and internal temps of about 75F-80F. 500 watts.

HTH!

 

[Derka]

I run 30x30x68 tents. 400w vertical in each. I use the 6" cap valuline fan (440 cfm) outside of the tent, with the carbon filter inside. Typically I end up about 3 degrees above ambient without regulating voltage.

edited to add:
I use passive intakes, and a small 10 inch honeywell table fan pointed upwards at the bare bulb hung vertically.

 

[rocketman420]

i run a 4x8 2k air cooled hoods with 540 cfm fan exausting through the floor. i keep my room temp about 70-72 and canopy temp is 73-76. the lights are run in line and just sucks the heat and air out of the inside of the box. works great. if your worried about to much air movement or power buy a speed controler for your fan and buy the big fan for those hotter months and turn it down for the cooler months. your fan will last longer too if not ran full blast all the time.

 

[PegasusRideR]

Thank you for all your answers. I'm planning to do this without carbon filter:

I'll use a 6" 300cfm vortex type fan for lighting(since it's gonna be 400w it should be enough I think. Then I'll buy two axial fans one at 110cfm and one at 175cfm and use the one I find the most suitable(these are cheap). I'll use bungee cords to hang vortex type fan and apply dynamat around it. I'll use insulated ducts and a muffler at the end of vortex. I'm going to order soon. If anything turns out to be different than I expected, I'll return that product and buy another one. I'll post here about how things work, temps etc. to help people who are going to set up a new tent. I'm not planning to buy any controllers though, all fan producers making same model at different rpms other than making just one model and put a dimmer stuff on it should mean something.

 

[rocketman420]

i used to use a 400 watt to veg and put a ebay $25 150 cfm duct fan on it no filter and it kept my box plenty cool. you only need that 400 cfm if your gonna run a carbon filter.

 

[johnnyrotten]

I know, I have read many ventilation guides before creating this thread. I wanted to get results people experienced like "I'm using this and this happens" like this:



Thanks for your replies.

I'm in a 4x4 tent, using a 600w vertical bulb, no hood... I use a carbon scrubber attached to an 8" can fan with a controller set to 50%...

It's quiet and keeps the tent cool...

Now, I'm not so sure why you want to know how others have theirs setup because there are so many variables... I started out thinking that would be fine but my outside temps get hot (over 100 many times a year)... My tent would be 88 degrees on really hot days... So I had to add a window ac... Not to mention the humidifier and dehumidifier, they all add to your overall scenario...

What I did and I also suggest you do is buy the 6" fan and use a controller... Set everything up, leave a thermoter that records min and max temps... Run it for 2-3 days empty and see how it works out...then make changes and keep tweaking settings until you find what works best for you...

 

[PegasusRideR]

There are 2 reasons why I wanted to hear people's opinions. First one is practical knowledge is worthier than theoretical knowledge in my opinion, the other is as you said there are many variables and there are many different solutions because of this. For example one person can say "do this" and I may have not heard of that solution before, so I may learn something new this way. Of course I will do the testing before I put babies in, as I always do when I change something in my setup or make a whole new setup like this. I thought I could prevent some trial and errors this way Also after gathering knowledge from this thread and other threads, I posted I'm planning to use these fans, with these etc. to check for example someone might say this won't be enough or this will be overkill.

That 300cfm fan for the light has 2 speed settings by default, without the need of a controller. As I learned that 300cfm should be enough, I'm planning to set it to half speed or full speed according to room temps. I decided to buy 110cfm and 170cfm axial fans to use the one needed for different temps in different seasons. I ordered all the equipments, I'm going to test them soon.

 

[PegasusRideR]

Also, how can I rep everybody in this thread? I've been searching how but couldn't find any infos since you can't search rep in this site as it's too short. I can't even edit my posts. Seems like there is a required post count for those.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

Thank you for all your answers. I'm planning to do this without carbon filter:

View Image

I'll use a 6" 300cfm vortex type fan for lighting(since it's gonna be 400w it should be enough I think. Then I'll buy two axial fans one at 110cfm and one at 175cfm and use the one I find the most suitable(these are cheap). I'll use bungee cords to hang vortex type fan and apply dynamat around it. I'll use insulated ducts and a muffler at the end of vortex. I'm going to order soon. If anything turns out to be different than I expected, I'll return that product and buy another one. I'll post here about how things work, temps etc. to help people who are going to set up a new tent. I'm not planning to buy any controllers though, all fan producers making same model at different rpms other than making just one model and put a dimmer stuff on it should mean something.

Looks good! But, one small suggestion, you might want to push air through your light, rather than pull. The slightest crack or crevice will bypass your filter with negative pressure, whereas positive pressure will flow through the cab and then the filter.