Chat
RecommendedRecommended

Cooling whilst using humidifier outside a small grow tent

Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420started grow question 4 years ago
I have a small 90x90x60cm grow tent with a VIPARSPECTRA 300W LED. Heat levels are crazy and running a small humidifier with ice blocks inside the tent along side extraction isn’t cutting it. Could I buy a bigger humidifier, keep it outside the tent duct it in to keep it cool?
Solved
Setup. Ventilation
like
nicks
nicksanswered grow question 4 years ago
Well in theory nothing wrong with cooling with ice packs and stuff, whatever works but i wouldn't use open water just because of the moisture you're adding ice packs are gonna have condensation, I have no idea how efficient that is though, but if you can alter the climate with that to benefit you. the dehumidifer in the space does it work? is it brining down the avg humidity, and yeah a fans gonna help keep the air circulated and mixed so its consistent. So if you need 52CFM for the tent, that leaves you about 100 CFM is the rest of the attic smaller than that? Keep in mind im not an expert just have a bit of experience trying to get my setup together and what I've learned trying to do that. So you'll want to make sure it makes sense for you. What is your adjoining room temp, is it hot and humid as well or climate controlled, even leaving the hatch open and getting a fan pointing up there, just so you can get all the stale humid air out of there. Those moisture grabber things i suggested at cheap to under $10 it would help aid your dehumidifier maybe have it work less, and create less heat. I had problems myself with a dehumidifier I cant run it without AC I would get humidity where i wanted, but temp would rise it heats the whole room up by at least 5 degrees in turn heating my tent 5 degrees its equivalent to a 600w HID unless you can get the surrounding temps lower, you cant just exhaust air and hope its going to cool, it can only ever be as cool or as dry as the intake or surrounding room, hope that helps If you could dissipate the heat of the dehumidifier, or have it more like a A/C unit than a fridge have the hot part venting out of the attic some how, but the cool condenser in the attic im not sure what it looks like if that's possible or feasible, but whatever wattage it is, its basically gonna be a 400w-600w space heater in already hot attic so you'll have a moderately dry hot attic. You'll know more when your fan comes and you can measure and monitor your temp/ RH as well you probably already do, but use your lights at night, so it offsets the heat and humidity problems don't leave water in trays if you use the ice method, make sure you're keeping it dry and taking out the condensation with towels now and again, there's a thing Ive heard of a swamp fan or something not sure exactly how that works and i gotta run for a minute, but i might look it up later and see if its of help Gl hopefully your babies are doing okay
1 like
Complain
Selected By The Grower
Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420answered grow question 4 years ago
Thanks Astral! My fan/filter arrived, is up and running and things have improved vastly temp and humidity wise!! I’m still gonna need a small humidifier once out of the propagator.. But the fan has sorted all my temp issues out!! Thanks again, you’ve helped me no end with all the info you’ve provided! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
like
Complain
nicks
nicksanswered grow question 4 years ago
yeah so idk how big your attic space is, but if its less than 90CF and you can intake drier, cooler air, you should be able to figure your tent temp out. if you're sucking up 28C 70RH from the attic space, the tents gonna be that + plants moisture and Light heat.
like
Complain
Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420answered grow question 4 years ago
@Astral, Sorry forgot to add. Im guessing I can still use the cold water / ice blocks idea when I’m having the odd hot spell here in the uk? Unfortunately I have the tent in my loft bedroom, because it’s the only safe place to put it in the house..☹️ Sorry for late reply been learning to calculate CFM.. So much to learn.. Appreciate everyone’s support 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
like
Complain
Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420answered grow question 4 years ago
Hi @Astral, 🙏🏼! From the link on CFM (so helpful) you’ve given I’ve worked out that I need 52CFM after deductions for the filter, ducting and LED lights (no silencer) to cool the air sufficiently. My 4” Fox filter and fan kit will deliver 144CFM so I pleased that my purchase is not a wasted effort. I’ve also got a small oscillating fan to help spread the air about. So with all this in mind a straight up very small humidifier whether inside or outside the tent should take care of the humidity levels alone if I’m thinking correctly and the fan will do the rest? Please let me know if I’m missing anything? Thanks again,
like
Complain
nicks
nicksanswered grow question 4 years ago
Is your tent 3ft x 3ft x 2 ft? 90x90x60cm? because for a box attach like 8 computer fans :P get some LED strobe the link below should help you, I was gonna try figure it out, but if your space in 18Cubic Feet unless you got a spiral 30ft duct i have no idea how you fit a humidifier in there and why that wouldn't be sufficient, but you kinda said it in the post, its because of the surrounding heat and humidity, plus that humidifier is heating up so much you gotta control the space outside, so way better air flow, a portable ac that can sit outside and duct in cool air :D good luck, if your room below is climate controlled and fine, you might be able to buy suitable fan with enough (CFM for the attic space + the added heat and humidity) for intake and exhaust of the attic space, but that can be more conspicuous depending how you chose to go about it, and why you're in the attic in the first place ;) lol Sounds awesome anyway you'll get it under control. you can also maybe toss a desiccant or 2 up in the attic space keep the humidity down you can get them from home depot or amazon gl https://www.acinfinity.com/blog/how-to-calculate-required-cfm-for-a-grow-tent/ https://www.concrobium.com/en-can/products/moisture-grabbers-xl/
1 like
Complain
nicks
nicksanswered grow question 4 years ago
well if you're running humidifier in the tent, yes its gonna get hot, the humidity between room and tents gonna want to equalize so if you can significantly drop the room RH with that humidifier, ac or bigger humidifier I'm sure and have the dry air taken in through the vents and your exhaust system, this should drop the humidity inside without this too would drop your tent temp if your room is climate controlled. basically to control the climate of the tent, you have to control the climate of the room force cooler air past the humidifier ? and you might be able to have better control of the climate of the tent
1 like
Complain
Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420answered grow question 4 years ago
🙏🏼@the8thchevron, Tomz I have a Fox 4” Twin Speed Carbon Filter Kit arriving but I am not sure its going to be enough. Tent is in a rooftop bedroom, and outside the tent is not much cooler than 28deg C.. Do you think I should of gone 6”? Space is an issue. Thanks again
like
Complain
The8thChevron
The8thChevronanswered grow question 4 years ago
Humidifiers will only take you so far. Sounds like you need an inline duct fan. Check out the Terrabloom ECMF-150. It's a great fan and will cycle plenty of air leaving the temp inside your tent the same as outside the tent. The plants love the airflow too.
1 like
Complain
Newbiegrower420
Newbiegrower420answered grow question 4 years ago
Planning to keep using the ice block technique on the outside humidifier idea. I’ve looked at air con but it’s to big for my small space.
like
Complain
Similar Grow Questions