Growcabinet: Exhaust in bot instead of top

lax123

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I have to fight with low temps, especially durings "lights off".
0,5 x 0,7 x 2meters.
Currently its the normal way with exhaust on top and intake all over the cabinet.
I want to turn that around and put the intake at the top and the carbonfilter and exhaustfan at the bottom and put in a 2nd layer above that to place the pots.
Warm air rises to the top.
I want to get that warmer air and hopefully I maybe gain 1-2 °C

Im wondering if anyone has tried this, if it might work and what you think about it?
Is that a good idea?
 

Growan

Well-Known Member
I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. And should increase temperatures a lot depending on your lighting.
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member

lax123

Well-Known Member
Thank you for your replies.
Well im using led and my first grow went well, so now its time to improve.
For my 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] grow im trying to get much more efficient. This means Im even reducing the light wattage and spread the light more evenly on my grow area. Maybe I also will let the intake take air near the ballast. I think I will implement Styrofoam also at the bottom.

So regarding your suggestion its the opposite direction I want to go as this would decrease efficiency by wasting electricity, same as with the rooms heater.

Location is my basement, naturally its about 14-15°C. Heater on max I get about 19°C-20°C. But Id like to reduce that, as Im just using that 3,5x3,5m room to store tools and stuff.
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
How Low are you trying to go....?

I mean IF too LOW then Yield will be LOW...which won't be very efficient...

1FT Tubular Heater = 45W

Maybe invest in a 200w (4 x 15w CFL ALL DAY) Solar Panel Kit....set you back a few hundred $$$ but It's not hard to build 1 cheaper...In-fact I will be building one this year, as pt of my LED Adventure......

Maybe something "Like" this > > > >

This is 200w solar panel full kit. 200W solar panel complete kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMPLETE-KIT-200W-2-100-W-PV-Solar-Panel-12V-system-RV-Boat-solar-cell-panel-/390719529525?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item5af8b2e235

Peace

:twisted:
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
If Temps are too Low will cause problems(unless the Strain is from a Colder Climate) some don't have a problem with Low Temps...but I think(could be wrong) You really want between 22-25°c for optimum growth...

Peace

:twisted:
 

lax123

Well-Known Member
In the Basement there is no Access to sunlight and laying 20meters of cable to put them on the Roof is no viable Option to me.

I dont want to go low on yield.
In that 0,5x0,7x2m im aiming for about 220-230W led, building my new Panels right now. I think in my first grow I had too much W for that space.
I want to improve my g/W Ratio.

22-25°C also constantly during night?
On the other Hand im wondering why temps should be so relatively high.
Just a wild guess, but most places where mj thrives, will there be temps above 15°C during nights?
 

kmog33

Well-Known Member
I intake from the top because it's where my fan fits lol :)

Works fine here

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Rollitup mobile app
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
Gotta go, but pretty sure most peeps say to keep Temps within certain Ranges and Wild Fluctuations are not advised...

CLIMATE TEMPERATURE RANGE: During lights-on cycle, between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During lights-off cycle, between 64 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal day cycle growing temperature without C02 augmentation: 73 degrees Fahrennheit/23 degrees Centigrade. Ideal day cycle temperature with C02 augmentation: 76 degrees Fahrenheit/24.5 degrees Centigrade. (Centigrade is the same as Celsius).

Peace

:twisted:
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
vostok You Crack Me up.......

@ OP what about just adding something "Like" one of these...

View attachment 3037205

Here's the FleaBay Link > > > > >

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1ft-2ft-3ft-4ft-Electric-Tubular-Tube-Cat-Dog-Puppy-Outdoor-Kennel-House-Heaters-/330873201883?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&var=&hash=item4d099464db

How Cold are Ya Temps???

Peace

:twisted:

Add a small USB Powered Fan(Also available on FleaBay, about a fiver+ two quid for USB Adaptor) and you Good To Go....
As lax is having difficulty attempting to maintain temps now, adding a heater is only gonna cause condensation and open the poor bloke to a visit from the
Pm angel, increasing even more ruin on his crop of forth coming buds ...? its obvious to increase the size of the grow environment and or buy in a strain thats can handle deep temp. swings, like most modern autos, within limits ..?
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
That won't do anything to raise your lights off temp. If you have a light on warming the air in your cab, then yes, that warm air will rise to the top (actually the cooler air will sink and displace the warmer, but ya...). If you don't have a heat source going, you won't have much if any measureable temp difference from the floor to ceiling of your grow space. This is especially true if you have some oscillating fans going in the grow space while the lights are off, stirring it all up (as you should).

If your floor itself is cold (like a concrete basement floor) then simply raise your plants off the floor a little. Some 2x4s and cheap plywood would do the trick.
 

lax123

Well-Known Member
Yea cold concrete floor.
I just checked the temps using a IR Thermometer. No Air circ running.
At the wooden ground of the cabinet its 18,5 °C and on the top 21,9°C.
Id say thats a lot of difference.
And even last time when I realized that diffence, there were 3x 120mm fans running.

Also I just could increase height of the layer on which the plants stand and it would help as you just aid, but then I loose a lot of space when the exhauststuff is still on top.

But you just gave me another idea.
I could drill a bigger intake hole at the bottom and then attach a 120mm flexible ducting behind the cabinet that has its entrance on the top.
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
From Ed Rosenthal's Book :-

Temperature, Humidity & Air Quality

Marijuana grows well in moderate temperatures – between 70° and 85° F (21°-29° C). Both high and low temperatures slow marijuana’s rate of metabolism and growth. Plants grow fastest when the temperature during the lighted period is kept between 72° and 77° F (22°-26° C). When CO2 is being used, the plant prefers to be a few degrees warmer, between 79° and 85° F (26°-29° C). Individual marijuana varieties differ in their temperature preferences by a few degrees, so some experimentation is required to find the ideal temperatures for the strain you are growing.

Ideal temperature is tied to light conditions. As more light is available, the ideal temperature for normal plant growth increases. Strong light and low temperatures slow growth and decrease stem elongation. Conversely, when plants are given high temperatures and only moderate light, the stems elongate.

Plants growing under moderate intensity lamps (40-50 watts per sq ft, 430-540 watt per sq m) should be kept on the low side of the recommended temperature range. Plants growing under higher intensity lamps (60 watts per sq ft, 650 watts per sq m and higher) should be kept on the warmer end of the scale.

During dark periods, the temperature can be kept as much as 10˚ F (-12˚ C) cooler than the lit period without any negative effects. Wider temperature differences cause slower growth, stem elongation and delayed flower ripening.

Plants that are kept at a constant temperature are likely to grow stouter, sturdier stems and have denser bud growth. Plants that experience a large differential between day and night temperatures suffer from stretching and slowed growth rates.

At temperatures below 60° F (15° C), photosynthesis and plant metabolism slow, stopping growth as it waits for better conditions. As soon as the temperature rises, the plant resumes full functioning. When the temperature falls below 40° F (4° C), marijuana plants experience tissue damage and require about 24 hours of warmer conditions to resume growth. Young marijuana plants are somewhat tolerant of low temperatures; when outdoors, seedlings have been known to pierce snow cover without ill effect. But low temperatures during ripening, even just overnight, delay or prevent bud maturation. Some equatorial varieties stop growth after a few nights with temperatures below 40° F (4° C).
 

lax123

Well-Known Member
Thank you. But the text seems inconclusive:
"Plants grow fastest [...] (22°-26° C)"
"During dark [...] temperature [...] 10˚ F (-12˚ C) cooler than the lit period without any negative effect"
"At temperatures below 60° F (15° C), photosynthesis and plant metabolism slow, stopping growth as it waits for better conditions."

Even at the hottest point 26°C not even talking 22° minus the 12°C difference without any negative effect = 14°C, which he later describes as bad.
WTF? @ 22°C minus 12°C its even 10°C... Seems that ED doesnt know his shit ;-)
 
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