Grow Tent -Proposed Layout - Any Suggestions?

Hello RIU Member for a few years now but I'm a first time poster/grower. Still in the planning process, won't be starting up for another couple of months. But was wondering if I could get any suggestions on a layout I have made for a grow tent (Gorilla Grow Tent, 5x9). Here's what I've come up with some far:

-Gorilla tent, 5 ft. x 9 ft.
-4x 600W (2400) in 27''x33'' "Big Kahuna" air cooled reflectors with gasket sealed tempered glass
-12 5gal pots in two lines of six, set up as an "ebb and flow" system with reservoir and controller tank outside tent (12 aerated pots inside 12 regular pots)
-An inline fan with ducting connecting the front top left hole with the first light, then ducting connecting the second light, with ducting exiting the second light and out the front top right hole. Same thing with the back two lights and their corresponding back top right and back top left holes.
-A 315 CFM intake fan connected to the front bottom left hole
-4 6'' fans in each corner
-An exhaust fan with carbon filter towards front top right, with ducting exiting the top right hole
-Some sort of CO2 implementation



Questions/Concerns:

1. Are these reflectors way too much? Or even the wattage? I keep seeing an ideal 60-75 watts/square ft. This set up is still only at ~53 currently.
2. Any suggestions on if I should do hydro or soil for a set-up like this? I keep going back and forth and literally can't make up my mind, pros/cons of each?
3. Is there a suggested CFM for the fans just for the lights? Should I be trying to somewhat calculate the air in all the ducting/lights and find a CFM for that? Or will a high CFM 6'' fan work fine?
4a. Should I have another exhaust fan, since the one I have will be using the carbon filter and might be exhausting air at a slower rate than coming in? Maybe just add a smaller exhaust?
4b. Should the fan's CFM connected to the carbon filter be higher than that of the intake? Since the carbon filter is making the fan lose some of its power?
4c. Is it better to have more air coming in or out? I would guess it's better for the exhaust to be more powerful. Otherwise, if theres too much air in the tent, it will start leaking anywhere possible? Correct?
5. Just kind of worried about the weight of everything on the tent. Any suggestions on weight distribution for all this equipment? Could the intake fans be placed on the ground outside the tent with ducting going up to the top holes?
6. CO2: how should I do it? Again I'm a first time grower and with everything else on my plate, I feel, for the first time, the easiest way is to throw a few of those "exhale bags" or "co2 boost buckets" in there. Which works better? Any other suggestions? I'd like to eventually use a Co2 tank with tubings all around the plants, but don't like the idea of having to go register my name somewhere to buy/refill the tank (don't you have to?). Or is this even the most ideal way now?

comments/suggestions/any help is greatly appreciated!

thanks so much again seriously!!!

Going to get crowded in there fast. No room to walk.

Too many bucket sites for that area imo.

Two 1000 watt HPS lights would do the job imo.

If your using rdwc toss a chiller in the loop.

Always oversize fans imo, you can use speed controls to drop CFM (and noise) but a small fan can't gain anything. Use centrifugal blowers as they better handle static losses in ductwork.

Never undersize carbon filters or you'll find halfway into flower they can't keep up.

And, lol, if using CO2 you will need an air conditioner as venting will blow your CO2 out.

^^ what he said

that's a pretty serious grow for your first time. might want to ease into it, get your bearings. the fact that you want to use CO2 and hydroponics when you have zero experience impresses to me that you might be in over your head. Just plant a seed in a pot and put it under a light, don't need to be all complicated about it. Learn first!

SnapsProvolone said:

Going to get crowded in there fast. No room to walk.

Too many bucket sites for that area imo.

Click to expand...

You think so? Not completely relying on the features and specs of the tent, but the tent does allow for 360-degree access by unzipping the walls. I'm sure I will need to get in there and mess around more than I think though, so I appreciate the thought!

SnapsProvolone said:

Two 1000 watt HPS lights would do the job imo.

If your using rdwc toss a chiller in the loop.

Always oversize fans imo, you can use speed controls to drop CFM (and noise) but a small fan can't gain anything. Use centrifugal blowers as they better handle static losses in ductwork.

Click to expand...

I think I'm sticking to 4 lights, whether I lower the wattage or get smaller reflectors. I like the idea of more light distribution with 4 lights (also with the added wattage) and don't want to deal with hot spots that come with having only 2 1000w. But maybe this wouldn't even be a problem with the amount of space? Not totally sure.

Oversize fans, got it. Thanks! Centrifugal blowers…? Vs. Inline fans? Is there a difference?

SnapsProvolone said:

Never undersize carbon filters or you'll find halfway into flower they can't keep up.

Click to expand...

Got it. At the most, my room will be 5x9x8 (360 CFM) so I plan on buying a 6''x24'' 400 CFM Phresh filter with appropriate exhaust fan. Appreciate it!

SnapsProvolone said:

And, lol, if using CO2 you will need an air conditioner as venting will blow your CO2 out.

Click to expand...

Kinda confused, what does an air conditioner do to help keep the CO2 inside the tent?

m3d1c1n3man said:

^^ what he said

that's a pretty serious grow for your first time. might want to ease into it, get your bearings. the fact that you want to use CO2 and hydroponics when you have zero experience impresses to me that you might be in over your head. Just plant a seed in a pot and put it under a light, don't need to be all complicated about it. Learn first!

Click to expand...

You're right. I probably should be starting something smaller for my first grow, but I figured since I have the cash and resources, why not do it (somewhat) professionally from the very start! Plus with all the AMAZING help for you guys, the rest of this site, other cannabis communities, Google, and the ability to work on this full time and give these girls all my attention all day everyday, I have confidence. We'll see what happens


Any other input? Issues with spacing? I feel like I've seen way more crowded set ups that looked like they worked just fine. Anybody with any info. on CO2 implementation? Thanks again you guys for all the info.!

I join their line of thought...grow a few plants and then step it up to full production once you know what you're getting yourself into.

Learn to crawl before you sprint!

or sprint fall flat on your face and ill buy your used equipment off craigslist...

OP you said in your first post that you have been planning and won't be starting for at least 2 months. That's more than enough time to try something small as an experiment and it will teach you a lot.

Ditch the co2 idea. I'm sure there are folks who will disagree with me, but co2 enhancement of your tent would be the least of my worries at this point.

Inline fan sucking air through the carbon filter, not blowing into the carbon filter, then exhausting wherever you are planning to exhaust ( attic/outdoors/etc etc ).

Too many pots for my liking as stated ^^^^^^^ and overkill on the four 600W lights. I agree that two 1000W are more than enough. Spend any extra $ you save from changing your lights and trashing the co2 idea on some LED spots to get your plants that nice 640-665nm red spectrum for tight buds.

Just my opinion of course.

Good luck.