Attic Setup, need help

If you've got to go attik, I would ditch the tent idea and build a real room out of lumber, drywall and insulate it as much as you can afford to insulate it.

First hand, attik grows are a real bitch and add a level of complexity and expense that is hard to justify.

4'x4' grow tent
400CFM fan
6" cooltube
600W dimmable ballasts
4 plant SCRoG

Harvest 2 lbs, any questions?

regards,

Originally Posted by ru4r34l

4'x4' grow tent
400CFM fan
6" cooltube
600W dimmable ballasts
4 plant SCRoG

Harvest 2 lbs, any questions?

regards,

Ok, I stand corrected and always tend to look at things from the perspective of running year round.

I think of a "grow" as running year 'round, too, "Budley". So you're definitely not the only one. I wouldn't ever personally recommend an attic grow (at least not in what I think of as an attic) because the temperature/humidity fluctuations throughout the year (even during the same day) are so extreme here. Not to mention the fact that I have a helluva time keeping the damned ground squirrels out...

If I "had to" grow up there, though, I'd go totally sealed (bottled CO2 in summer, propane CO2 in winter) and insulated like a foam cooler (eg. 2"x4" studs/joists insulated with 3" thick styrene panels). I'd air-cool any HIDs using an in/out sealed run (no exchange of the grow room air) and set up a 4" fan/filter as a "scrubber" (no exhaust) in the peak of the roof. I'd probably step "down" to T8/T5 tubes for rooting/vegging (low heat). Basically, I'd build it like a sheathed-but-not-sided house inside the attic; complete with independent climate control (heat pump). I'd probably want to plumb it, too, but in my own attic that would be a pain. Also, there's no headroom (barely 5'6" at the peak of the roof).

Still, I smile every time I think of setting up a grow in my attic - because I'd totally "disguise" the aforementioned intake/exhaust with 6" passive aluminum roof vents. I have a soft spot for the way the square ones look and I really can't think of a better use for them (because they sure as shit don't let heat out of any attic I've been in - and yes, the soffits were all properly ventilated). Take that little idea and run...

It's hard to imagine a grow tent since I've never seen one in person... If I have a portable AC unit in the tent, that would control the temp and bring the humidity down to about 45-50%... I mean for $200 I can get a decent AC unit that would cool a 4x4 or 5x5 area in no time. The only question is how the grow tent would hold the temp and humidity... Are they not insulated at all? Are the walls paper thin? I know this sounds ghetto, and I'm a bit stoned right now so forgive me. But couldn't I also just put up a tent, and if needed, wrap it in insulation? Again, just a thought... As for space in the attic. Going to look at that right now but I believe it has a good amount of head space... I'll let you guys know.

Ok, here are pics with text on them to help everybody visualize...

First pic is my awesome photoshop skills.

X is obviously where I found the best spot to set up. The blue lines are the AC ducting, just so you can look at pictures and this drawing to completely visualize how my attic is set up.
view.jpg

This is what I see when I climb the stairs to the attic and look LEFT
from-stairs.jpg

Follow me on my adventure to the depths of my attic.
almost-there.jpg

This is the best spot I found... I obviously would have to build a floor, not a problem, and running electric is not a problem either.
spot.jpg

What I liked about this spot was that it was the complete opposite side of the stairs and the AC handler. I could actually easily put some sort of wall, or curtain up to hide the spot that way if an HVAC guy needs to see the air handler he would be clueless to anything being back there. It's only visible ion these pictures because of the flash on my camera. Without the flash that back corner is not really visible. Although I won't jump the gun on that... It may be visible in the middle of the day if there is light shining through the vents along the overhang of the roof.

With all my measurements I'm confident I could fit in a grow tent that is about 5"x5"x6"... Is that the space I would need to grow 4 plants? Could I fit more plants in that space? Or is that not enough space.

All help is appreciated.

Wow, with all due respect, I am not suprised your houses blow away with a bit of wind, Not alot holding your roof together...

On a constructive note..... A tent is a must for humidity and temp control. All air in and out of the tent must be expelled completely from your attic or temps will build up. use a straight through 600w cool tube (no filters and a 6" fan). 2nd fan and filter for tent air. Run your lights at night when its cooler. You can squeeze 6 plants in a 1.2 x 1.2m tent. Have fun....

Expelling the heat is no issue... That spot in the attic is near roof overhang vents. Air coming into the tent will be from an AC unit... So I guess the main thing I need to figure out is how to maintain the temps in the tent... Insulation is a must, so I need to research that now and see what other people have done... Something else I just thought of is noise... I could easily hear people outside in the street when I was at that spot... I need to see if noise coming from that area is heard outside... Last thing I need is to buy everything and set it up, just to find out that you can hear the AC unit or anything else right outside of the house.

I know this won't be the easiest project, but it has to be possible... And I have no other options really, so... I've tried convincing my wife to let me take the master bedroom closet because it is the perfect size, 4x5x10... but I think we all know how that conversation went...