help with hanging hood, fan and filter

so this is my first grow i have a 3x3x6 closet im currently using a 2ft T5 4bulb light. I have one auto flower 3 weeks old and two regular seedlings that are a week old. i just purchased a 400w set up radiant6 hood, 6 inch 409cfm inline fan and a 6x16 carbon filter 400cfm that i would like to install today.

so my question is how do i make it fit? can i put the filter and fan up above the hood atached to the cieling or should i put it down by the plants? im just trying to figure out how to maximize my space

Just the closet or a tent? Is the air exhausting outside or are you pushing it back into the room? You'll want to pull through the filter first, then the hood, then the fan, then exhaust to wherever with ducting between any or all of those and that takes up space so mounting the fan closer to the point of exhaust will take up less space. Do you have an intake into the closet, or just leave the door cracked, or maybe just pull air around the door through the cracks and gaps?

I ask all of this since the filter will be the only source of air circulation unless you have another fan in there, so you'd want to place it opposite where the most air is coming in, for example if you're just pulling under the door for the most part, the filter would be best mounted up high so the draft is constantly pushing fresh air up across the plants toward the filter.

You can definitely mount the fan to the ceiling, but if it's the actual ceiling make sure the vibrations aren't too much or you'll want to figure out a way to dampen the sound. I did the trick using the box the fan shipped in, and cut holes, clamped lines first then put the fan in and taped the box, wrapped with large bubblewrap two or three times, and then set on top of a folded towel so it's virtually silent.

As far as space, on the ceiling you can mount the fan around the back or sides where it won't interfere with the hood at it's maximum height, since you won't have plants up higher than where the light shines. You'll have to think about ducting moving with the light too, so if the slack is hanging in the way once your light is higher you'll want to tie some cord or something to support it.

GSTrichome79 said:

Just the closet or a tent? Is the air exhausting outside or are you pushing it back into the room? You'll want to pull through the filter first, then the hood, then the fan, then exhaust to wherever with ducting between any or all of those. Do you have an intake into the closet, or just leave the door cracked, or maybe just pull air around the door through the cracks and gaps?

Click to expand...

So it goes Filter -> hood -> attached to fan -> ducting -> exhaust area?

I've read it goes filter -> fan -> hood -> ducting -> exhaust area

All elevated since heat rises.

...you've got 2 options and you've mentioned them both. I have found that it is best to suck the filtered air through your hood, however most blow the filtered air through the hood....your just going to have to experiment and decide which is best for you. (heads up) if you suck the air though your filter make sure your hood doesn't have any airleaks, use tape if you must to seal it airtight. Good luck.

its an actual closet i put up some pics of what i got. the T5 will come out a long with the shell its hanging on and the shelf on the bottom where the plants are i'm making the whole depth of the closet. i have 3 fans now 2 6inch clip ons and an 8inch honeywell none of them oscilate but the air seems to be moving pretty good. I would like to not cut a hole in the cieling for exhust but i will if I have to. i keep the door cracked now for the power cords but eventualy would like to close it.

im gonna have to use elbows on both sides of the hood and then ducting and fan is that ok? with the elbows and the hood there is only an inch and a half of space left on either side its really tight but i think it'll work.

thanks for all your help

I was going to mention the hood leaking too, but it's just as fiend said though I'd tape either way if your hood isn't super tight so heat doesn't leak back into the grow area. Around the glass and maybe the base of the flanges is usually where you'd need to check, I suggest using metal duct tape since it's reflective on the back and made to resist heat.

The best method is to put the fan closest to the exhaust and pull through all or as much of the run as possible, so any small leaks or punctures wouldn't let smell or heat and moisture into the room where it's run due to the negative pressure, but they all work if they're done right. Happy growing

thanks GST and Trichome fiend +rep!!!

Definitely tape around each end of both those elbows, but that should work ok. I doubt it would fit, but if that could go in at a 45 degree angle instead of square you'd have more room at either end.

I think you'll absolutely have to exhaust to somewhere to get the heat, humidity, and stale air out, otherwise you won't have fresh air coming in and you'd have to open the closet here or there to exchange the air. You can always go into the wall as well or into the floor and exhaust into the space between, but I've never tried that method and dunno about the moisture and what not.

The other fans sound good, so long as they're moving the foliage and air around a bit. You might be able to cut back to one or two after all is installed, since the extra airflow will make a huge difference.