Aero/NFT Grow in Tent w/ CO2, AC, Dehumidifier, and DIY Chiller

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
I would put 2k watts over each unit and put those on a LightRail 5 that can move up to 3 lights at a time. I am putting my 3 - 1k watters on one light rail.
Not sure what purpose a light mover would have, after I put a Bigfoot hood over each unit. The light footprint is supposedly close to 6'×6'.
 

AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
Not sure what purpose a light mover would have, after I put a Bigfoot hood over each unit. The light footprint is supposedly close to 6'×6'.
The footprint may be enlarged with xxxl's, but thats just spreading the 1000K around. A mover would help get light to other areas of the plant that would not otherwise ever see that light of day, thus increasing your yield anywhere from 15 to 40 percent depending on how you set it up.
 

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
The footprint may be enlarged with xxxl's, but thats just spreading the 1000K around. A mover would help get light to other areas of the plant that would not otherwise ever see that light of day, thus increasing your yield anywhere from 15 to 40 percent depending on how you set it up.
Yeah, understand all that. Just meant that I don't see physically what a mover would do. In a space that would be 8' wide × 6' long, 2 hoods with dimensions of roughly 43" × 32". I'd be better off just equipping some side lighting for the area around hoods.
 

AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
Yeah, understand all that. Just meant that I don't see physically what a mover would do. In a space that would be 8' wide × 6' long, 2 hoods with dimensions of roughly 43" × 32". I'd be better off just equipping some side lighting for the area around hoods.
Cool man. Sounds like you've got it all figured out. I watched my best friends grow in a similar space to your increase his yield by an average of 37% by adding movers to his 4k watt set up that already used xxxl hoods. I was really impressed with the difference. Nothing like adding wattage without adding much electricity.
 

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
Nah, I figure it out as I go. I've contemplated going with a single de 2k fixture on a rail over each 2 flower units, or I could go 2 smaller footprint fixtures on a rail. Nothing set in stone, reason why I like to hear experience & input.
-Shifty

Edit: sorry didnt actually mean a de bulb. But rather a reflector running 2 bulbs, such as this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrofarm-Raptor-8-Air-Cooled-Grow-Light-Reflector-Hood-w-Dual-Lamps-RP8ACD-/231549503027?hash=item35e96d0633:g:s1sAAOSwgQ9VyNbf
 
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AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
Nah, I figure it out as I go. I've contemplated going with a single de 2k fixture on a rail over each 2 flower units, or I could go 2 smaller footprint fixtures on a rail. Nothing set in stone, reason why I like to hear experience & input.
-Shifty

Edit: sorry didn't actually mean a de bulb. But rather a reflector running 2 bulbs, such as this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrofarm-Raptor-8-Air-Cooled-Grow-Light-Reflector-Hood-w-Dual-Lamps-RP8ACD-/231549503027?hash=item35e96d0633:g:s1sAAOSwgQ9VyNbf
Dude! Those dual reflectors are fucking boss! You would probably want to incorporate water cooled heat exchangers for the hoods or possibly duct some AC directly through the hoods to keep the temps down, but who knows...

Why cant the damn LED industry get their shit together and come out with some products that beat HPS? I simply cant trust LED to beat HPS yet. A decade ago I was saying that everything would be LED by now, and here we are 10 years later and I am saying the same shit. Seem like the technology has moved slower than it should have, but maybe I am just impatient.
 

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
Dude! Those dual reflectors are fucking boss! You would probably want to incorporate water cooled heat exchangers for the hoods or possibly duct some AC directly through the hoods to keep the temps down, but who knows...

Why cant the damn LED industry get their shit together and come out with some products that beat HPS? I simply cant trust LED to beat HPS yet. A decade ago I was saying that everything would be LED by now, and here we are 10 years later and I am saying the same shit. Seem like the technology has moved slower than it should have, but maybe I am just impatient.
I really like those hoods. I'll be updating to them, after I get some money flow coming in again. I've also considered the lec fixtures, but I know & trust hps. So, I'll pickup 2 of the linked hoods, and 4 digital ballast (researching which brand I wanna pickup). Side note, just spent $400 on electrical wiring (12/2 & 10/3) + a sub panel & receptacle boxes. So that I can build out the grow space. Ordered my EDPM rubber for my flooring also. Money out, sigh.
-Shifty
 

AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
I really like those hoods. I'll be updating to them, after I get some money flow coming in again. I've also considered the lec fixtures, but I know & trust hps. So, I'll pickup 2 of the linked hoods, and 4 digital ballast (researching which brand I wanna pickup). Side note, just spent $400 on electrical wiring (12/2 & 10/3) + a sub panel & receptacle boxes. So that I can build out the grow space. Ordered my EDPM rubber for my flooring also. Money out, sigh.
-Shifty
On your way there bro... once you're up and running that money will be flowing back your way.
 

AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
I really like those hoods. I'll be updating to them, after I get some money flow coming in again. I've also considered the lec fixtures, but I know & trust hps. So, I'll pickup 2 of the linked hoods, and 4 digital ballast (researching which brand I wanna pickup). Side note, just spent $400 on electrical wiring (12/2 & 10/3) + a sub panel & receptacle boxes. So that I can build out the grow space. Ordered my EDPM rubber for my flooring also. Money out, sigh.
-Shifty
I also really like these http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Innovations-904493-Ice-8-Inch/dp/B003AZD15S?ie=UTF8&keywords=cool box hydroponics&qid=1459362901&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
This would do the trick...
 

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
Don't think the inline chiller is necessary, as I'll be pulling air from my veg room thru the hoods and Back out. The veg room will be climate controlled.
 

questiondj42

Well-Known Member
Dude! Those dual reflectors are fucking boss! You would probably want to incorporate water cooled heat exchangers for the hoods or possibly duct some AC directly through the hoods to keep the temps down, but who knows...

Why cant the damn LED industry get their shit together and come out with some products that beat HPS? I simply cant trust LED to beat HPS yet. A decade ago I was saying that everything would be LED by now, and here we are 10 years later and I am saying the same shit. Seem like the technology has moved slower than it should have, but maybe I am just impatient.
What keeps you from trying out some of the cottage LED products that are available? Say, the TimberLED or the TastyLEDs?

My first grow was with a Kind K3 L600. Which, I was very pleased with, despite not having any reference with HIDs.

I've added 3 TimberLED CXB200s for the second run. And I am very, very, very happy with the Cree CXB3590s. In fact, they're so powerful that, even 18" off the canopy, I've had to turn the intensity down because it's bleaching the leaves. 35 days in and I am very happy with what I'm seeing. They're performing leaps and bounds better than the Kind.

I had originally gotten 2 Timbers for flowering (3K) and 1 for veg (4K), but my veg tent is not tall enough and I can't turn the light down enough to keep from yellowing the leaves. So I took the 4K out and put it in the flower tent and replaced it with a 2' 4 tube T5.
 

questiondj42

Well-Known Member
20160331_184740.jpg 20160331_184800.jpg 20160331_184825.jpg

This is what I've got going on currently. They're pretty burnt, which is embarrassing. Switching from DWC to Aero with Dyna-gro had a bit of a learning curve.
 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

letdown shifty

Well-Known Member
I have been wondering how they work? My trim pros are a tad large and Wasteful for what I do now, but it's still a giant ass pain :(.
The trimmer works pretty good. Was a shock going from hand trimming everything, to using that. Found a happy medium, I hand trim everything greater than a lighter and throw the rest in and spin. I'd easily spend the Money again, as it saves lots of time in smaller stuff that I'd normally toss in a salve.
-Shifty
 

AKGrowAreo

Well-Known Member
What keeps you from trying out some of the cottage LED products that are available? Say, the TimberLED or the TastyLEDs?

My first grow was with a Kind K3 L600. Which, I was very pleased with, despite not having any reference with HIDs.

I've added 3 TimberLED CXB200s for the second run. And I am very, very, very happy with the Cree CXB3590s. In fact, they're so powerful that, even 18" off the canopy, I've had to turn the intensity down because it's bleaching the leaves. 35 days in and I am very happy with what I'm seeing. They're performing leaps and bounds better than the Kind.

I had originally gotten 2 Timbers for flowering (3K) and 1 for veg (4K), but my veg tent is not tall enough and I can't turn the light down enough to keep from yellowing the leaves. So I took the 4K out and put it in the flower tent and replaced it with a 2' 4 tube T5.
Well I guess cost has been my only thing holding me back. Every time I go to buy an LED I end up getting cold feet just buying another couple 1k HPS for less money that one LED. Good to hear some advice on quality brands. Maybe Ill add an LED soon as supplemental light. Thanks for sharing your experience!
 

questiondj42

Well-Known Member
Well I guess cost has been my only thing holding me back. Every time I go to buy an LED I end up getting cold feet just buying another couple 1k HPS for less money that one LED. Good to hear some advice on quality brands. Maybe Ill add an LED soon as supplemental light. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You're welcome! The costs are a bit high, but they seem to be coming down/becoming more viable with the COB technology. If heat isn't an issue, there's definitely no drawback to going with HID! I'll share more once these plants are closer to harvest.
 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Well I guess cost has been my only thing holding me back. Every time I go to buy an LED I end up getting cold feet just buying another couple 1k HPS for less money that one LED. Good to hear some advice on quality brands. Maybe Ill add an LED soon as supplemental light. Thanks for sharing your experience!
It's a scary amount when the majority of advice on forums is HID is still better. But yes I would love to try a new COB setup. Perhaps a good project for the late summer nights on the porch :).
 
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