4x4 grow tent , air cooled or non cooled?

ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
Hey y'all got my second post going here and need some help on setting up the correct equipment before buying. So I'm growing for medical purposes and can only flower 4 plants at a time. That being said I'm going to start out with a 4x4 grow tent going scrog. And thinking of running 1000w or 600w based on my budget of course. Now my main question is. Should I need to run a air cooled hood? Or can I run the a/c onto a different hood and be ok? If so would I still need a inline fan? I have set up a 12,000 btu dedicated to my grow. The issue I'm having is I'll be growing in my garage it is not cooled nor heated. The summer temps can get in the high 90s in the room and seen it low as 20 degrees in the winter. Would it be better to cool of the tent or to try and cool of the garage/tent? Also down the line the plan is to have secondary tent set up for veg/mothers clones. And would like to use same a/c if possible. If any one can point me in the right direction would be a blessing. And any suggestions on grow lights kits(ballast,hood,bulb) would be great thank you all.
 
714steadyeddie

714steadyeddie

Well-Known Member
Im setting up my 4x4 setup as well.

I'm going with a 6in air cooled hood, sun systems blockbuster, with a lumatek 600 watt dimable ballast, I'm going to get a 400cfm inline fan(hydrofarm) and a Presh Carbon filter, I have a smaller 4in inline fan that will solely be pulling air through the air cooled hood only. The bigger fan will be exhausting the heat (pulling) through the filter but outside the tent.

If you have AC maybe you can get away with not cooling the hood, only if your exhausting your hot air outside the garage

I'm not too sure about your AC setup, maybe have the AC with some ducting and run that into your tent in the lower flaps ?

Hope this helps man. Wish I had AC, my tents are in my spare room
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
Hi thanks for your reply. And idea of equipment your using. Yeah if I can get away not running air cooled I would like that, more light penatration the better. And Big yes will defentily will be exhausting into the attic. If needed I will be exhausting the air cool hood separate like And will also be exhausting ( to the attic) pulling cold air into the tent via a/c unit with the lower flaps.
Yeah will need to find someone doing a similar set up to tell me if it would work or not. About the air cooled lights . I hope there is a solid answer.
 
714steadyeddie

714steadyeddie

Well-Known Member
ChewThumb said:
Hi thanks for your reply. And idea of equipment your using. Yeah if I can get away not running air cooled I would like that, more light penatration the better. And Big yes will defentily will be exhausting into the attic. If needed I will be exhausting the air cool hood separate like And will also be exhausting ( to the attic) pulling cold air into the tent via a/c unit with the lower flaps.
Yeah will need to find someone doing a similar set up to tell me if it would work or not. About the air cooled lights . I hope there is a solid answer.
Click to expand...
Even though you lose some intensity with an air cooled hooded, you can put your canopy a lot closer to the lights. So in turn giving out a stronger output then if you were to not have an air cooled hood and have it 2x as far away,

But to keep it simple you have AC, running an air cooled hood or not will not really change your temps too much. So just get what ever fits you. As long as you exhaust in a separate room I think you'll be fine.

Best bet would just to tinker with your setup before you actually throw plants in the tent.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Eddie is right on the air cooled hood, you may loose a small amount because of the glass ect but you will gain a lot more than you lose due to it been a lot lower. A 600w you may get away without one but it wont hurt to have one and run an inline fan. You can use the same fan if needed. In which case you would have it set up like this..

Filter>.Fan>>Hood>>Duct to attic. That way you would be sucking air from filter,, pushing through hood. You do this because if there were any leaks in the seal of the hood you would be pushing air out of them, rather than pulling air, which had not been cleaned into them. Also your fan is then not dealing with higher temp air. Most good inline fans should push as well as they pull in a small grow with reasonable duct length.
Obviously you can have a dedicated fan just for the hood but then you need to pull clean cool air into it from somewhere and extract it from your grow space or it will heat the area up.

With one air cooled hood you want to go with a quality one, not a cool tube. You will get a much better footprint.
With a 1000w in a 4x4 you would want a air cooled hood regardless. With a 600 its a matter of ambient temps and how much cooling the AC provides, I suspect you would be fine.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
714steadyeddie said:
Even though you lose some intensity with an air cooled hooded, you can put your canopy a lot closer to the lights. So in turn giving out a stronger output then if you were to not have an air cooled hood and have it 2x as far away,

But to keep it simple you have AC, running an air cooled hood or not will not really change your temps too much. So just get what ever fits you. As long as you exhaust in a separate room I think you'll be fine.

Best bet would just to tinker with your setup before you actually throw plants in the tent.
Click to expand...

Yeah man your absolutely right on using an air cooled for the 1000w . What distance could I keep a 1000w Ac compared to the 600w not cooled?Also came across a 600w double ender air cooled is that going to be same distance as 600w hps. And how is that going to affect the foot print? Will be using all the tent as scroggrow so large foot print is important.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
coreywebster said:
Eddie is right on the air cooled hood, you may loose a small amount because of the glass ect but you will gain a lot more than you lose due to it been a lot lower. A 600w you may get away without one but it wont hurt to have one and run an inline fan. You can use the same fan if needed. In which case you would have it set up like this..

Filter>.Fan>>Hood>>Duct to attic. That way you would be sucking air from filter,, pushing through hood. You do this because if there were any leaks in the seal of the hood you would be pushing air out of them, rather than pulling air, which had not been cleaned into them. Also your fan is then not dealing with higher temp air. Most good inline fans should push as well as they pull in a small grow with reasonable duct length.
Obviously you can have a dedicated fan just for the hood but then you need to pull clean cool air into it from somewhere and extract it from your grow space or it will heat the area up.

With one air cooled hood you want to go with a quality one, not a cool tube. You will get a much better footprint.
With a 1000w in a 4x4 you would want a air cooled hood regardless. With a 600 its a matter of ambient temps and how much cooling the AC provides, I suspect you would be fine.
Click to expand...
Hi thanks for your reply. That's very helpful info to connect the filter to the light and exhaust that way that's only if not running air cooled lights correct? Other wise I need to exhaust lights and filter separate correct?

So if I did the 1000w in a 4x4 do you think it would be to much light, or heat ? My tent is only 6.5' so that's why I'm going scrog.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
If you are going to scrog then a 600w will be plenty. A 1000w would be ok but the benefit of 1000w would be the extra penetration on plants 3 feet and above. If it were me I would go with 600 then you are well within manageable range. A 1000w is very hot so if not needed then don't bother. Plus a 1000w is a very expensive light fixture where as a 600 is the most economical price wise due to them been so popular.

Connecting the filter to the light is an air cooled system, air cooled light is the same thing as air cooled hood.

So air cooled would be

Filter>>>Fan>>>Aircooled Light/hood>>>Into Loft. Think of the arrows as air flow and ducting.

Non air cooled would be

Filter>>>Fan>>>Into Loft (or window/chimney)
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Sorry I had to edit out the first picture of a two fan set up.. it linked to another site and I don't think I'm allowed to do that.
 
indawindica

indawindica

Well-Known Member
I started out with a 4x4 using a 600w and a batwing reflector. Never had temp issues. Got great results.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
coreywebster said:
If you are going to scrog then a 600w will be plenty. A 1000w would be ok but the benefit of 1000w would be the extra penetration on plants 3 feet and above. If it were me I would go with 600 then you are well within manageable range. A 1000w is very hot so if not needed then don't bother. Plus a 1000w is a very expensive light fixture where as a 600 is the most economical price wise due to them been so popular.

Connecting the filter to the light is an air cooled system, air cooled light is the same thing as air cooled hood.

So air cooled would be

Filter>>>Fan>>>Aircooled Light/hood>>>Into Loft. Think of the arrows as air flow and ducting.

Non air cooled would be

Filter>>>Fan>>>Into Loft (or window/chimney)
Click to expand...
So I was under the impression to get big dense buds I need to a 1000w to produce any kind of descent yield? But if a 600w will do the job for scrog than that's awesome saves me money.

The pic you sent helps a lot for the visual. I was thinking I had to run the a/c directly through the hood to get it to cool and then also pump cold air into the tent seperately but if it will cool enough pulling the air through the filter>>fan>>hood>>exhaust. Than that would also save some money although I might need a larger fan. This is awesome thank you again for your time and knowledge. I was just going in circles looking online for an answer.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
indawindica said:
I started out with a 4x4 using a 600w and a batwing reflector. Never had temp issues. Got great results.
Click to expand...
Hey sorry missed you there some how. But thanks for the reply . Thats great to hear you had good results . I'm gonna pick your brain if that's ok . What kind of temps were you able to maintain? And if you don't mind what types of yields did you average? ( what #s of plants)Thanks I love to hear direct from growers. I haven't grown in 10 years last time I did was outdoors, and 1 plant in a closet grow misley 250w but hey I got a zip or so. Lol.
 
indawindica

indawindica

Well-Known Member
It was just a basic 4x4 tent. Used a 600w mh for veg and 600w hps for flower. Hydro using 5 gal buckets with the hydrofarm waterfarm setup. Like I said the 600w with a batwing reflector. Had a fan pulling in air and inline 6" fan hooked to a carbon filter pushing air out. And 2 stationary fans inside to keep things moving around. Held temps inside at 77 to 80. I think I had 4 or 5 plants in there. It was a easy setup to maintain and got good yields.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
indawindica said:
It was just a basic 4x4 tent. Used a 600w mh for veg and 600w hps for flower. Hydro using 5 gal buckets with the hydrofarm waterfarm setup. Like I said the 600w with a batwing reflector. Had a fan pulling in air and inline 6" fan hooked to a carbon filter pushing air out. And 2 stationary fans inside to keep things moving around. Held temps inside at 77 to 80. I think I had 4 or 5 plants in there. It was a easy setup to maintain and got good yields.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that. It's in encouraging to hear from someone who has done that type of set up. Sounds like something I might be able to pull off. I think I'll set my tent up with a/c first before buying a light just to see where temps get me. And build off of that And decided if I really need air cooled or not. Being this is the hottest part of the season for me.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
Do you guys know what the temp difference is? Say a 600w hps with just a wing VS. the 600w hps air cooled? If I remember right my hps bulb was about 5 degrees difference from mh.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Hey Chew, no worries. There is so much info out there and so many people doing the same thing in different ways its hard to wade through all the info.

I cant say the exact temp difference and my set up is not 1 light but to give you an idea, I first tried 3x 600w hps without air cooled hoods, my temps on a good day were in the 90s in the tent and on a bad day were 100 degrees f. When I put in air cooled it came down to 87 degrees at highest and usually 80 degrees on a good day when lights are on. I changed to a separate fan last year because I was lucky to get one free, that brought the temps down a a few more degrees and allowed me to run my larger fan with just my filter at low speed. (it is an 8" airforce2 fan with 3 speed switch)

You should have no problem with a 4x4 with a 600 in. You will get excellent results and can still pull a pound out of it or more depending on how you grow. My buds are not huge but they are very dense.

If you buy an air cooled hood then choose one that has either 5" or 6" flange so air flow is good, it also doesn't hurt to go one size bigger on your filter than your fan is, so if you had a 6" inline fan a 8" filter (make sure you can fit it in before buying)

Good luck with however you decide to do it.
 
ChewThumb

ChewThumb

New Member
coreywebster said:
Hey Chew, no worries. There is so much info out there and so many people doing the same thing in different ways its hard to wade through all the info.

I cant say the exact temp difference and my set up is not 1 light but to give you an idea, I first tried 3x 600w hps without air cooled hoods, my temps on a good day were in the 90s in the tent and on a bad day were 100 degrees f. When I put in air cooled it came down to 87 degrees at highest and usually 80 degrees on a good day when lights are on. I changed to a separate fan last year because I was lucky to get one free, that brought the temps down a a few more degrees and allowed me to run my larger fan with just my filter at low speed. (it is an 8" airforce2 fan with 3 speed switch)

You should have no problem with a 4x4 with a 600 in. You will get excellent results and can still pull a pound out of it or more depending on how you grow. My buds are not huge but they are very dense.

If you buy an air cooled hood then choose one that has either 5" or 6" flange so air flow is good, it also doesn't hurt to go one size bigger on your filter than your fan is, so if you had a 6" inline fan a 8" filter (make sure you can fit it in before buying)

Good luck with however you decide to do it.
Click to expand...
That sounds perfect!!! I'm defently going to try the 600w air cooled system i don't wanna battle temps if I don't have to . I was looking at getting a 6'' flange I don't think I'll need the 8''.
Appreciate the suggestion on filter and fan. and will defentily keep in mind fitting it in first. Sounds like you have experienced this first hand :) . Don't think I can go too big for the filter. not sure where the light will sit yet, based depending on the hood I get. But it's shopping weekend for me so I'm gonna dig in on some research for my light.
I'll update you on what I ended up getting. Thanks again you truly saved me from headaches and hours of looking on the net. Appreciate people like you who take the time to help someone like my self. Cheers
 
M

Muleskinner

Active Member
another data point - I upgraded from 3X3 to 4X4 to prepare for legalization this fall. I did one crop w/ 600w Gavita HPS and 4 plants, organic soil. The light seemed just right, I could run it at 18 inches from the canopy in 80 degree ambient temps. I use a Fantech FG6 centrifugal fan to exhuast the tent through a Can33 filter. It keeps the temps inside to within a few degrees of ambient. I keep things very simple - I put the Can33 on the floor of the tent in one corner, place the fan on top, and run a 6" duct straight up out the roof vent (DR120). that way I don't hang anything heavy over the plants. The 6" ducting does occupy a small space in the canopy but the leaves and branches usually cover it. The FG6 is strong enough to ventilate the entire tent and canopy without an agitator fan.

in your house my problem would be keeping the garage temp between 60-85 year-round. Going to be expensive when outside temps are warmer or colder. I'm shut down for the summer, hopefully when I return in November 12 plants will be fully legal!!
 
714steadyeddie

714steadyeddie

Well-Known Member
Muleskinner said:
another data point - I upgraded from 3X3 to 4X4 to prepare for legalization this fall. I did one crop w/ 600w Gavita HPS and 4 plants, organic soil. The light seemed just right, I could run it at 18 inches from the canopy in 80 degree ambient temps. I use a Fantech FG6 centrifugal fan to exhuast the tent through a Can33 filter. It keeps the temps inside to within a few degrees of ambient. I keep things very simple - I put the Can33 on the floor of the tent in one corner, place the fan on top, and run a 6" duct straight up out the roof vent (DR120). that way I don't hang anything heavy over the plants. The 6" ducting does occupy a small space in the canopy but the leaves and branches usually cover it. The FG6 is strong enough to ventilate the entire tent and canopy without an agitator fan.

in your house my problem would be keeping the garage temp between 60-85 year-round. Going to be expensive when outside temps are warmer or colder. I'm shut down for the summer, hopefully when I return in November 12 plants will be fully legal!!
Click to expand...
Were you running an air cooled hood? If so did the AC hood have a separate fan to cool the bulb ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top