best economical effective heating options 4 tent

chooselove

chooselove

Active Member
So I have some HLG lights in a grow tent or two and the winter temperatures are dropping too low at night, sometimes in the high 50's and low 60's. I have a few ideas and challenges I should deal with since I think my yield is hurting because of it. LED grows need temps between 82 F and 85 F.

One option is to switch light cycle to night time to compensate for temperature change, this will improve things but not sure if it will solve the problem entirely.

The other is connect a controller that turns off the exhaust fan when temps drop below a certain number (say 78F) Though this risks the skunk aroma getting out as well as decreases air flow in the tent as well as doesn't compensate for extra cold temperatures that may be happening/

Another option is to purchase a heater of some kind. But I think most heaters have safety switches that means they have to be on the floor to work, not suspended on the ceiling like a fan. I am weary about heating up the roots too much since roots love oxygen and oxygen thrives at lower temperatures (nothing above 70 degrees I believe).

I don't own a humidistat controller yet though was looking into a few different models. Also attempting to figure out which heater to purchase. I have two tents one is 40 square feet and the other is 16. It would be great to be able to set up some ducting from a low wattage heater (that doesn't cost much) and send heat into the tent when required over the top of the plants and turn off when it reaches the desired temp. Though then have to consider the exhaust removing precious heat.
 
Lightgreen2k

Lightgreen2k

Well-Known Member
chooselove said:
So I have some HLG lights in a grow tent or two and the winter temperatures are dropping too low at night, sometimes in the high 50's and low 60's. I have a few ideas and challenges I should deal with since I think my yield is hurting because of it. LED grows need temps between 82 F and 85 F.

One option is to switch light cycle to night time to compensate for temperature change, this will improve things but not sure if it will solve the problem entirely.

The other is connect a controller that turns off the exhaust fan when temps drop below a certain number (say 78F) Though this risks the skunk aroma getting out as well as decreases air flow in the tent as well as doesn't compensate for extra cold temperatures that may be happening/

Another option is to purchase a heater of some kind. But I think most heaters have safety switches that means they have to be on the floor to work, not suspended on the ceiling like a fan. I am weary about heating up the roots too much since roots love oxygen and oxygen thrives at lower temperatures (nothing above 70 degrees I believe).

I don't own a humidistat controller yet though was looking into a few different models. Also attempting to figure out which heater to purchase. I have two tents one is 40 square feet and the other is 16. It would be great to be able to set up some ducting from a low wattage heater (that doesn't cost much) and send heat into the tent when required over the top of the plants and turn off when it reaches the desired temp. Though then have to consider the exhaust removing precious heat.
Click to expand...
Run your lights on from 7pm - 7 am.

Most people do that anyways to save on Peak On/Peak Off Hrs from the hydro company too..

Or 20180110_105054.jpg
Put the heater on a timer for the coldest hrs and turn if off afterwards. 24 hr timer.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Yeah you should be running lights on at night and off in the hottest parts of the day. That gives less of a temp diff from lights on to off.
They don't need temps 82+ I'm running at 75 because its winter and they are happy as larry, I don't mind them going to low 80s in summer.
I assume you already have fan speed controllers and fans turned down?
You can also consider venting one tent into the other. One runs in the day and at night the other vents into the first when lights are off.
I have been doing that for years, even when I used to use HPS. My veg tent keeps my flower tent warmer. I would rather that than use a heater, not one about that doesn't use a lot of power and I would rather that power was used in more light.

I wouldn't ever allow my fans to turn off for the reason you stated.
To be honest I think just flip your light schedule and that will solve your problem.
 
chooselove

chooselove

Active Member
Thank you for those recommendations, yes my fan speed is turned all the way down for sure. Hyper fan at <35% on controller. Love having a speed controller.


The one thing that prevented m from running the light cycle in reverse as you stated was for two reasons:1- the chance that light or daylight would find its way into the tent and potentially disrupting Flowering. (Maybe too paranoid or have to do a better job of blocking out the windows better) and 2- being able to work in the room though after 7 pm for a few hours and a few hours before 7 am should provide plenty of time now that I consider that option. If that one adjustment alone solves the temperature problem then it’s totaly worth it. I assume I won’t know until I try.

Thanks again
 
MYGODSMOKES

MYGODSMOKES

Active Member
Maybe a rig job but i mounted a metal side rail off a bed to the side of my tent. It holds my heater and doubles as a place to strap wires and power strip.
IMG_20180110_073631.jpg
 
Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Just remember heat rises.

Why would you have to worry about your roots getting warm?

If they are in hydroponics they will be what the water temp is which usually equalizes with the room temp in a range.

And heats going to rise anyway not like its going to crazy warm your water unluess your aiming the hot air right at the buckets.

Why not a oil radiant heater. They have another benefit by not emiting a glow at dark time from the elements.

Just my 2 hope it helps
 
NrthrnMichigan

NrthrnMichigan

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Yeah you should be running lights on at night and off in the hottest parts of the day. That gives less of a temp diff from lights on to off.
They don't need temps 82+ I'm running at 75 because its winter and they are happy as larry, I don't mind them going to low 80s in summer.
I assume you already have fan speed controllers and fans turned down?
You can also consider venting one tent into the other. One runs in the day and at night the other vents into the first when lights are off.
I have been doing that for years, even when I used to use HPS. My veg tent keeps my flower tent warmer. I would rather that than use a heater, not one about that doesn't use a lot of power and I would rather that power was used in more light.

I wouldn't ever allow my fans to turn off for the reason you stated.
To be honest I think just flip your light schedule and that will solve your problem.
Click to expand...
I love your info but I have one question...WHO IS LARRY?
 
chooselove

chooselove

Active Member
Cold$moke said:
Just remember heat rises.

Why would you have to worry about your roots getting warm?

If they are in hydroponics they will be what the water temp is which usually equalizes with the room temp in a range.

And heats going to rise anyway not like its going to crazy warm your water unluess your aiming the hot air right at the buckets.

Why not a oil radiant heater. They have another benefit by not emiting a glow at dark time from the elements.

Just my 2 hope it helps
Click to expand...
Thank you I will look into those heaters too. Nice photo was just watching 7 samurai the other day.. Classic
 
Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Yep.my avatar is actually from the fortress another good black and white samurai movie :)
Oddly enough my woman says i look like that when im mad lol

A dehumidifier is a great way to add free heat while getting rid of excess humidity @NrthrnMichigan :clap:
 
chooselove

chooselove

Active Member
Cold$moke said:
Yep.my avatar is actually from the fortress another good black and white samurai movie :)
Oddly enough my woman says i look like that when im mad lol

A dehumidifier is a great way to add free heat while getting rid of excess humidity @NrthrnMichigan :clap:
Click to expand...
LOL. I'll add it to the watch list. I guess I've been in a samurai theme because I was just watching Ghost Dog.. Hilarious and brilliant simultaneously
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Time to start working underfloor heating into our calculations. How times have changed.

Watercool your LEDs and run the water through tubes under the pots.
 
J

Jimmy the vest uk

Well-Known Member
Cold$moke said:
Just remember heat rises.

Why would you have to worry about your roots getting warm?

If they are in hydroponics they will be what the water temp is which usually equalizes with the room temp in a range.

And heats going to rise anyway not like its going to crazy warm your water unluess your aiming the hot air right at the buckets.

Why not a oil radiant heater. They have another benefit by not emiting a glow at dark time from the elements.

Just my 2 hope it helps
Click to expand...
Oil rad for sure doesn’t dry out air as much unless you benefit from drying air at night keeps Mold away
 
MYGODSMOKES

MYGODSMOKES

Active Member
You are right on heat rising. I used a turbo fan from staples it draws outside air in from top and also pulls the air from top of tent. Holds 74 all through the tent and 74 soil temp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top