Attempt at Vertical Cultivation

Hey all I wanted to float the layout for one of my upcoming Vertical Rooms, and I wanted to get feedback on what can be done in the overall dimensions.

I will be growing in soil, and I am undecided or better yet unaware which variant of HPS bulbs will be adequate and manageable in that space.
The entire room is being exhausted by a 6 inch 250cfm blower. I will be attaching a carbon scrubber to it in the very near future. I originally wanted to run 2 x 1000HPS hortilux bulbs. But now I am wondering would that be overkill?

I'm still playing with the idea of someone economically "cool-tubing" the lights with perhaps pyrex cylinders, but I haven't grown with a digital 1000watt hps yet.........so what type of temps are to be expected from 2 of them.

Leave me some feedback, I'm eager to get back into cultivating, but I want to try this vertical approach now. (and I've read almost all the posts I could find on vert gardens......but if u have any that would be awesome)

i would use 2 x 1000 watt if you have it or 3 x 600 giving you the roughly 50 watts per sqft
your best bet is cool tube hoods and they are reasonably priced
they will be your best friend in keeping temps down

Phinxter said:

i would use 2 x 1000 watt if you have it or 3 x 600 giving you the roughly 50 watts per sqft
your best bet is cool tube hoods and they are reasonably priced
they will be your best friend in keeping temps down

Click to expand...

thx for the input, but I'm not going to be using hoods or reflectors of any type....... I will be hanging the bulbs vertically as to hit all the plants on both sides of the room.

You will get way less lumens with no reflector man. Hanging bulbs vertically is the least efficient way to go.

You should buy a air cooled reflector from a local indoor gardening (if you have one), they should guarantee it too. Go home, and turn on your lights. Then plug your bulb into the reflector, turn on the light, and if you still think you want to do this, you can simply take back your reflector, and tell the guy you never used it. But trust me man, everyone uses those things for a reason.

well I've grown before, and I have reflectors, but have decided to abandon them for this new grow/project......

My questions are more related to the grow room size, amount of lighting, and ventilation, then how I hang the bulbs. Its just not efficient for me to grow a flat garden.

haha if you're making this room into a stadium style grow then you DON"T USE REFLECTORS. u seem like you know what you're doing. you will have plants on every side of the bulb correct? this is why you don't/can't use reflectors.

2 1000watters will be perfect IMO.

actually i knew you were going vertical which is why i suggested the cool tube.

all you do is remove the inner reflector and viola you have a clear glass air coolable glass tube with 360 degree angle of lighting.

then hook up the ducting and fans and cool away giving you all the advantage of cooled hoods as well as the 360 degree lighting

so 2 1k hps wont crank up the heat too much??? This shouldn't be a problem in the upcoming months as we plunge into nighttime 40-60 F range.....I can just open the windows make the house cold. But say I don't use the cooltubes, is it reasonable to assume that the heat buildup is just going to be too much in that space? There is going to be plus minus 250 Cubic feet of air in the room which is going to need evacuating and replacement. At present I have 2x 1000 hps digital ballasts and Hortilux bulbs on order, and the gentleman providing them said that I can cancel and change the order by monday. My other alternative is going with either 2x 600 or 3x 600.......I know this route might cost a bit more, but will there be a substantial heat difference between burning 2-3 600's as opposed to 2 x 1000's........I've never worked with numerous high wattage HID so I want some input I don't want to pick up the lights only to find its 100F in the room in a matter of minutes. I also know a lot has to do with ventilation, so if i need to increase my airflow, then I'll do that. Thx for all the feedback.....I plan to fine tune and maximize yields, my goal will be to do around 3-5 lbs running 2 1k lights........

Here is a link ( https://www.rollitup.org/1226353-post5.html ) from some dude doing the type of setup which I'm putting together. Its basically the same concept, except my shelves are going to be right up against the walls on both sides, with a 12 inch open path down the middle, to be able to tend to plants. I'm also thinking to angle my shelves 45 degrees to give the plant better exposure.

Drop in with some feedback......

I'm doing 2-1000w in 8x8, inspired by same pics and others on Cannabis Culture...Greeen Bastard...

Check out this thread Vertical Grow for Maximum Yeild - Cannabis Culture Forums

It gets hot and I have to use and AC to keeps things under 85, even using cool tubes...

I think the 1000s are better if you are doing larger plants...I only rdo 30 plants due to staying within CA medical guidelines, so I only have two levels of stadium...using dutch pots (Bato Bucket) as they drain into PVC really easily...

P.S. I have heard of issues with multiple digital ballasts...anyone?

I'm currebtly 1 month in on two shelf vertical...Room dimensions - - 83"x70"x96" ---- shelves are 42" apart... I run a 590 cfm 8 inch inline passive through a 48" dual cooltube (holding two Sunamster conversion MH bulbs which will change to 2 super eye hortilux bulbs for flower) out the room and into fresh air. I have a 6 inch inline that fills the room at 340 cfm ducted straight from the outside air... I use the digital dual 600 lumatek (that sits outside my room) and I, like my man above me ( Gangaman) still have heat issues. No way in hell you run 2 k's in a room that size, bare, not without some CRAZY ventilation.... I have outside humidity temps here of 60 to 70% and had to put a humidifier in the room to hike the humidity (want it at 65%).... was sitting in low 30's.... I soak the shit out of them once or twice a day with sodium free seltzer water. Some people believe in this some think it has no real goodness and some think it makes your plants burn from water maginification. I obviously like it. (A lot actually) but only if the room or greenhouse run warm. I want them to soak it up fast.....I have grown for many years and many ways.... Vertical is a cool way, but it's a lot of work in a tight hot environment.... And I am running for my medium, what Earl referred to as enhanced soiless. 3 gallon pots with 1 part mixed rock to equal 1 part Ocean Forest and 1 cup earth worm castings...... Yes, plenty of soil, but very ventilated so no root issues.... Not trying to be a dick in what I said about the bare lights and I am well versed in GB,s vertical grow. It's great, but also vented insanely well. Very expensive....... This site is full of people with help and knowledge. I'm just sharing some with you... Trust, and take it in good faith and it will save you from some of my mistakes

thx for the heads up bro. I am now rethinking to get a 450 cfm fan attached to a carbon scrubber and moving out the air/heated air in the room? I'm going to be picking up the same lumetech ballasts. do these digitals give off any heat? cause you said you put them outside of the grow room......also in about a month my outside night time temps are going to be in the 50's is that cool enough air to manage the heat issues??? so dump the 2x 1000's and go with 600's???

thanks for your input!!!

You could make the 1000s work, it would just take a lot of ventilation, and you def. need cooltubes, they can be made out of a bake a round cheaply https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/107317-cooltube-awesome.html if your even slightly handy. Imo 3x 600w would be ideal for this room, in diy cooltubes so you can keep the plants close.
What will the temps be like during the day? I take it you'll be running the lights overnight but during veg they'll be on through at least some portion of the day. Whats the highest ambient temp you expect to have your lights on in?

I'm sure you can pretty much run anything with proper power and ventilation, but I figured why not be efficient. Isn't that the point. To maximize yield off of your amount of space in the most efficient manner. Where I am from nobody that is an established grower, grows with 1000's, everyone uses 600's... And it's all you need in a room as small as yours.... I run during the day into the night on 18 on 6 off and the heat during the day makes my issues harder to battle, but I fear overhead heat sensors in the night, so I guess it's all in where you live.... I, like yourself would have preferred just hanging bulbs, but went with the dual cool tube under the advice of someone that knew I would have heat issues if I did not use one. I can't imagine what my heat issues would be if I did not use the cool tube..... As you know, my room is almost identicle in size to yours, so I will keep you posted if you have any questions.... I have 6 strains going, so it is tedious, to say the least, as far as getting each one of these hybrids the ideal conditions they desire.... Also, the Lumatek dual 600 is sick. It runs way cooler than a regular ballast and is more efficient so it gives off a more efficient lumen output. you can read all about it anywhere on the web.... But don't get too caught up in it if you do not have a 240 circuit, as it only runs on 240... Otherwise you will have to get seperate 600 or 1000 watt ballasts to achieve your desired light output.