Running a Cool Tube

I have a DR120 II and I am moving up to a 1K watt MH/HPS light, so I know that I am going to have to run a cool tube to keep the heat down. I haven't had any experience with this in my previous grows. I have a 6" inline fan with a carbon filter. Can some one help a brother out with either some pics of their cool tubes set up, or tell me exactly how I should run the cool tube???

I think, but not totally sure, that I should run it filter-> hood->inline fan

But if I do it that way, I am going to have a couple of 90 degree turns in my ducting. Could use some input.

Thanks

Keep a fan dedicated for for carbon filter and get a inline just for your cool tube. Have ducting from one hole in the tent to the cool tube through the fan then back out ducting to the outside of the tent, so your just running outside air through the cooltube not air from the tent. Ive tried running a carbon filter with a fan through the cooltube and out with a 600w and it didnt do much to help so a 1000w would be better off with its own.

Yeah, that was what I was originally thinking too, but I was hoping to keep my costs down. Do you think I could get away with a 4" inline fan that is 165CFM for the cool tube?

MidnightJoker said:

Yeah, that was what I was originally thinking too, but I was hoping to keep my costs down. Do you think I could get away with a 4" inline fan that is 165CFM for the cool tube?

Click to expand...

Like Whatstrain says, you really NEED airflow to go from outside, through your cooltube to outside with nothing to impede the flow. You will also need an exhaust fan that draws in from the tent and blows out through the filter to the outside. I would also recommend an additional fan of the same cfm blowing in from the outside. We're talking about 6" inline fans here, three of them at about $30 a piece. I would say that's about the minimum ventilation setup for a 1000W tent. Those things get HOT.

how big of an issue is sound? you can get fans that push a lot of air no problem for relativly low prices, they just sound like jet engines. plan on having like 400 cfm going through that tube, and you'll have to get rid of the hot air still (venting into another room, etc). 1000 watts means its time to get creative lol.

sine143 said:

how big of an issue is sound? you can get fans that push a lot of air no problem for relativly low prices, they just sound like jet engines. plan on having like 400 cfm going through that tube, and you'll have to get rid of the hot air still (venting into another room, etc). 1000 watts means its time to get creative lol.

Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, standing near my tents is like standing next to a 747 winding up for take-off. I did see some posts about DIY solutions for fan noise here on RIU; I'm sure you can find it in a search. The alternative, if sound is an issue, is to buy quieter fans - but they get expensive.

Thanks for the advice, +Rep given to all.

So it looks like I am going to have to get a 6" inline fan dedicated just to the cool tube. With 2 inline fans blowing at once, that is going to be one loud grow room!

Just wondering, with a DR120 II (4x4x6.7) should I go with a 600w MH/HPS rather than the 1K watt light. I just started a grow with 6 Indica dom plants...

MidnightJoker said:

Thanks for the advice, +Rep given to all.

So it looks like I am going to have to get a 6" inline fan dedicated just to the cool tube. With 2 inline fans blowing at once, that is going to be one loud grow room!

Just wondering, with a DR120 II (4x4x6.7) should I go with a 600w MH/HPS rather than the 1K watt light. I just started a grow with 6 Indica dom plants...

Click to expand...

If it'll fit in the budget, go with the 1K. 600's are the most efficient, and cooler than the 1000's (of course) but you'll definitely get better yield with a 1000W.

Make sure you go fan-- cooltube--carbon filter otherwise you will drastically reduce the life of your inline fan due to air that is 100 deg going thru it instead of about 70 deg air going thru it. Save you money on fans. Even the filter isnt necessary if the ducting is well sealed, the carbon filter is for the room exhaust not light exhaust.

*BUDS said:

Make sure you go fan-- cooltube--carbon filter otherwise you will drastically reduce the life of your inline fan due to air that is 100 deg going thru it instead of about 70 deg air going thru it. Save you money on fans. Even the filter isnt necessary if the ducting is well sealed, the carbon filter is for the room exhaust not light exhaust.

Click to expand...

Carbon Filter can do both, I have my tent set-up with a Carbon filter, '8 fan on top of filter sucking air through my filter, then through my lights and out my tent. Why use 2 fans? My fan is 750 cfm, but I only need one going for outtake.

go for the 600, it'll be nicer on you. a 1k with an xxl hood is good till about 6x6, you should be able to cover 4x4 with a 600.

Many thanks to all. +Rep always given, and given to all!!!

I really have been thinking about this and I think that I am going to take sine143's advice and go with a 600w light. I have the money for a 1k, but I am really worried about heat. I am in a small condo and keeping the heat down can be a problem for me so I think a 600w would better suit my needs.

I have a follow up question: Would I need to run a cool tube with the 600w?

it would probably be a good idea to, but it really depends on your ambient room temps, and how well you set up the rest of your venting.

You will want to have an air cooled hood or temps will be an issue in that space. If you are not using a filter run the air in one side of your tent through your light and out the other side or where ever you vent to.