Tent Vs Room ??

Long story short I'm starting another grow in a poured concrete basement w/ no internal walls and exposed concrete floor.

The temp down there is 64.5°F right now but Winter has just started. In the past I've grown open air and also in a tent and the results were less than the pics I see posted here....

Should I build a Marijuana Room for better ability to control the environment? And if yes, should I make a raised floor in the room?

Yes yes and yes. But if can't afford it build a platform for the tent to sit on. I'd also consider a insulation wall style constructed box for the tent to fit into as well. Temps like that will require additional heat if using LEDs perhaps even if you are using Hps/mh lighting which means additional costs. If you are in a more permanent stop and can afford to build a actual sealed room with proper equipment go for it! Just do your homework so that you do it right the first time. Good luck!

farmingfisherman said:

Yes yes and yes. But if can't afford it build a platform for the tent to sit on. I'd also consider a insulation wall style constructed box for the tent to fit into as well.

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Thanks. I'll build a room w/raised floor. The raise will only be 2" or less. Right now there is 6" clearance from the top of the tent to bottom of ceiling joists.

What are you talking about up there? I'm under the impression after a four walled room is built the tent will no longer be needed.

Are you indicating I should build a room and put the tent into the new room? If this is the case how large of a room should I make for a 5'-0" x 10'-0" tent?

I was referring to actually building a room with 2x4 walls, sheetrock and actually painting the inside with a paint that resists mold such as a bathroom or kitchen paint. Then you can think about the ventilation intake and exhaust, power considerations, using co2 or not. For what I said regarding using the tent was only a suggestion on adding a layer around the tent to help insulate for better temp and humidity control. Insulation board is easy to use and can be mounted up to a basic frame, you could also consider not using a tent and use panda film on the insulation board for longevity sakes. I should add I'm a tent grower so I have no actual experience with setting up a room but I do snoop on what others here have used when building rooms or even large grow enclosures.

I make my room out of panda film in my unfinished basement....I'll eventually get the whole basement finished and get a "true" room, but for now I just literally staple up panda film and make a room. Use a sticky zipper entrance and done. I stick to HID because with LED I can barely break 68-70 degrees.

Building a raised floor is pretty extreme ... I grow in a similar space. Raised floor or not, you are going to need heat at lights out. And I have to use hid during lights on, otherwise I'm marginal in temps, like 70f or so.

Building a platform won't hurt, and it's a one time cost. But it's not going to resolve a low ambient temp/lung room situation, in my experience.

farmingfisherman said:

I was referring to actually building a room with 2x4 walls, sheetrock and actually painting the inside with a paint that resists mold

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Exactly. A room with four walls & raised floor in the middle of a basement. My teny yields have been low in this tent. Plants look like shit. I think I need a better environemnt and that's a room.

Triplefastaction said:

Building a raised floor is pretty extreme ...

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Not really. Throw some 2x4 down and screw some plywood on to those. Raised floor.

I know about humidity and heat. I've been through much disaster, but not all. I know there is more out here and I'm going to find it and suffer here complaining and asking for more advice.

inth3shadowz said:

I make my room out of panda film in my unfinished basement....I'll eventually get the whole basement finished and get a "true" room, but for now I just literally staple up panda film and make a room. Use a sticky zipper entrance and done. I stick to HID because with LED I can barely break 68-70 degrees.

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How much more do the HID's raise your temp over the leds?

Yes..

Why a raised floor? If you're floor is concrete put down some 20 gauge plastic sheeting then cover with carpet.
Then set up your tent until you get your groom built. The plastic sheeting stops the concrete sweat from entering the air.
The carpet well its just nice on the feet. I use an electric oil radiator heater keeps everything around 82 degrees.
Paint the floor with water proof paint then carpet. Hight is limited so why raise the floor use all of your space.
Just saying . Have fun with whatever you choose that's what it's all about anyhow.

farmingfisherman said:

How much more do the HID's raise your temp over the leds?

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HIDs keep me easily 6-8 degrees warmer in my room. Since my basement is really cold I never have needed AC units or any of that, just some good airflow.

If you do use the tent alone wmake sure to raise the plants up off the flo

Thodoph said:

Why a raised floor? If you're floor is concrete put down some 20 gauge plastic sheeting then cover with carpet.
Then set up your tent until you get your groom built. The plastic sheeting stops the concrete sweat from entering the air.
The carpet well its just nice on the feet. I use an electric oil radiator heater keeps everything around 82 degrees.
Paint the floor with water proof paint then carpet. Hight is limited so why raise the floor use all of your space.
Just saying . Have fun with whatever you choose that's what it's all about anyhow.

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Bet that heater runs pretty hard keeping that space that warm. How large is your grow space?

Try the blue styrofoam construction grade that you can get at any Home Depot or building supply place to put on the concrete under your tent. Really that is all you need, also very easy and resourceful,low cost.

farmingfisherman said:

If you do use the tent alone wmake sure to raise the plants up off the flo

Bet that heater runs pretty hard keeping that space that warm. How large is your grow space?

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My groom is well insulated. The advice I gave is what I followed to build my groom.works great.
My space is roughly 14'x20'x6.5' tall the heater runs on low temp stays 82 88 degrees

You should always insulate concrete floors if plants are going to sit on it.

Even just polystyrene works as long as the weights not massive but celotex or kingspan ridgid insulation is better, or whatever brand you have in your country.

Agree. Always put something between the plants and floor.

I used foam board down in the tent > tent liner over foam board.

Right now it's below freezing outside so it's easy to find basement air leaks. I'm foaming air leaks in the basement.

I got most of the air leaks sealed. There's not many leaks left, the drafts almost stopped. The next time it's below freezing outside I'll finish the job.

Temp highs in the basement are 64.4°F and lows are 62.9°F and still not Winter.

No wonder my plants always came out spindly and loaded w/PM. It's a miracle I grew anything.

Now I'm thinking build a room for the tent. This should fix my temp issues and probably humidity too.

Too bad I can't link-in to the neighbors power outlet for a few days to run a space heater and get that basement up to 85°F. The dirt outside the concrete walls will soak-up the heat.

Thodoph said:

My groom is well insulated. The advice I gave is what I followed to build my groom.works great.
My space is roughly 14'x20'x6.5' tall the heater runs on low temp stays 82 88 degrees

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You also have to take into account my location. The weather is not as bad as all that. Hell it hasn't froze here in two years.

I say grow in a tent, and run autos & keep the lights on either 20/4 or full 24hrs.? Should keep the heat up. ...?