sealed room, air exchange question

linky

linky

Well-Known Member
I am running a sealed room, I am using a co2 generator. I want to exchange air once a day after lights out. But I want to keep room air tight when not running a fan to do this. How do I do the intake and exhaust and keep it air tight when not running (will run maybe 15 minutes a day when doing an air exchange). I also want the new air coming in to be through a hepa filter and air being sent out through a carbon filter for no smell leakage.

*I do have a can type hepa filter already, I can use.. looks like a carbon can filter but is hepa, but not sure how I would use that for new air in.. can't really hang that filter outside, although I do have an attic I could be bringing it in from through the hepa if attic air is good enough to use?

ideas/suggestions?
 
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Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
Your not asking for much. Air exchange may be more important than co2. The atmosphere in the room will affect plant health. I tried what you're trying and I gave up on co2 for now. Dr who said I needed a environment controller not just a co2 controller. So good luck and I will keep watching to see how it goes.
Peace out Bare
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
Bareback said:
Your not asking for much. Air exchange may be more important than co2. The atmosphere in the room will affect plant health. I tried what you're trying and I gave up on co2 for now. Dr who said I needed a environment controller not just a co2 controller. So good luck and I will keep watching to see how it goes.
Peace out Bare
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I have central air, dehumidifiers and heat in the room, thermostat auto changes between heat and ac when needed.. dehumidifiers have been keeping it at ~50 percent, that is during 90% + outside humidity as well, so hopefully the environment is decent.. just want to get all new air in once a day but want to do it so no bugs/molds etc get in and no smell, or not much smell is leaked out.

thanks all
 
xmatox

xmatox

Well-Known Member
linky said:
I have central air, dehumidifiers and heat in the room, thermostat auto changes between heat and ac when needed.. dehumidifiers have been keeping it at ~50 percent, that is during 90% + outside humidity as well, so hopefully the environment is decent.. just want to get all new air in once a day but want to do it so no bugs/molds etc get in and no smell, or not much smell is leaked out.

thanks all
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Why are you exchanging air if you are running a sealed room?
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
xmatox said:
Why are you exchanging air if you are running a sealed room?
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There really is nothing bad that can happen refreshing the air once a day after lights out as long as you filter from molds/bugs.. but there could be benefit from bringing in all new fresh air. Problem is you will find polar opposite opinions on almost every aspect of growing on forums/google searches etc, some say do this, don't do that, others say just the opposite. I have read if you don't refresh air you can get other negative build ups in the air, you can do some research and come up with your own opinion on it. I figure may as well just do it, it certainly won't hurt anything but could possibly help by doing it.
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
a mongo frog said:
I do it every day. You'd do it with a push button timer or a thermostat. Use a damper for no co2 waste while lights on.
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I was thinking of using a can carbon filter in the room, have it suck from room and blow out through the attic and attach a damper to the side wall going outside. Then having another inline fan attached to my hepa filter (looks like a can filter but its just a hepa filter) I was thinking of putting the hepa filter in the attic near the open vent on the opposite side I would be exhausting out of. Just put the two fans on a timer to run once a day for 15 minutes.
 
xmatox

xmatox

Well-Known Member
linky said:
There really is nothing bad that can happen refreshing the air once a day after lights out as long as you filter from molds/bugs.. but there could be benefit from bringing in all new fresh air. Problem is you will find polar opposite opinions on almost every aspect of growing on forums/google searches etc, some say do this, don't do that, others say just the opposite. I have read if you don't refresh air you can get other negative build ups in the air, you can do some research and come up with your own opinion on it. I figure may as well just do it, it certainly won't hurt anything but could possibly help by doing it.
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What's the benefit when you have a perfect environment inside your room.
 
Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
xmatox said:
What's the benefit when you have a perfect environment inside your room.
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I'm not trying to be a smart ass or nothing like that so here is my answer to that as I understand it.
The environment in the room is changing from minute to minute even when you supplement co2, other factors are changing way to many to list them all . I'm not saying you can't provide the perfect environment, but in general most people can't. So I move as much air as possible , but I don't spray right now either. I have to get more control over my environment before I spray again.
Peace out Bare
P.S. I read about the exchange somewhere on this site but I can't find it now if I find it I'll post it to ya. I screwed up my second grow by spraying and not venting.
 
HydoDan

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
How big is the room? How many plants? Will exchanging air once a day be enough to expel all of the plant toxins?
Bring in enough clean air? Idk..
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
HydoDan said:
How big is the room? How many plants? Will exchanging air once a day be enough to expel all of the plant toxins?
Bring in enough clean air? Idk..
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Its a big room, 28 x 28 approx but only 28 mid sized plants total. I don't know if 15 mins once a day is enough, I could do it once after lights off and another before lights on or even mid lights on too. I am only 2 weeks into flower now (first run in this room) have not exchanged air at all yet.
 
HydoDan

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
In a room that size.. I think once a day would work.. but twice a day would be better for overall plant health..
Good luck with your grow.. I hope all goes well!!
 
ruwtz

ruwtz

Well-Known Member
linky said:
Here is an interesting thread about co2 levels and talks about ethylene buildup

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=221893
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I have read that previously and its an interesting proposition regarding excessive levels of CO2 / challenging the prevailing wisdom of 1200ppm, but doesn't look like ethylene buildup is something a sealed garden running under these numbers would have to be concerned about.

FWIW I run 500-600ppm added in veg with no ventilation, but I have no scientific claim to its superiority over not ventilating, I just chose not to for other reasons.
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
ruwtz said:
I have read that previously and its an interesting proposition regarding excessive levels of CO2 / challenging the prevailing wisdom of 1200ppm, but doesn't look like ethylene buildup is something a sealed garden running under these numbers would have to be concerned about.

FWIW I run 500-600ppm added in veg with no ventilation, but I have no scientific claim to its superiority over not ventilating, I just chose not to for other reasons.
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I currently am running at 1500ppm, may dial it down to 1200 though and compare overall growth, see if I notice any significant change. I would rather not vent but figure I would rather be safe than sorry and as long as I filter the incoming air real good it should not have any negative consequences.
 
ruwtz

ruwtz

Well-Known Member
linky said:
I currently am running at 1500ppm, may dial it down to 1200 though and compare overall growth, see if I notice any significant change. I would rather not vent but figure I would rather be safe than sorry and as long as I filter the incoming air real good it should not have any negative consequences.
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Are you exhausting out too? If not, what really is the point in venting in? You're already supplementing the only thing the plant needs in CO2.
 
linky

linky

Well-Known Member
ruwtz said:
Are you exhausting out too? If not, what really is the point in venting in? You're already supplementing the only thing the plant needs in CO2.
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Yeah, like I mentioned earlier, would have two inline fans, one pulling from room through a can carbon filter going out and another pulling in outside air through hepa filter.

I just want to be sure when they are not running that no air can go in or out through the inline fans, not sure how to keep it sealed when not in use.. or if them just being off and having 20-30 feet of 8" flex ducting is enough to stop air from flowing through.
 
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