ice box/chiller or portable ac unit for sealed room

I have a 8'x11' room with three 1k air cooled lights and a 737cfm inline fan to cool them. I am trying to seal the room for CO2 but i need to control the heat from the lights a little better. I also have a 737cfm exhaust fan but i am trying to not use that as much so i can utilize the CO2.

My question is what is a better solution. Installing a ice box/chiller/pump/res or adding a 12,000 btu duel hose portable ac unit.

Pro's and cons of each set up would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I know you didn't ask but personally, I would just skip the co2.

Thanks for the thought but i get bored this time of year and I was wanting to upgrade my room so I figured CO2 was my next step.

The only thing co2 solves is a lack of co2. And any residential building has plenty of co2. It's huge commercial grows in sealed areas that need co2 because there are so many plants they use up the available co2. I think you would be creating a real heat problem in order to solve an imaginary co2 deficiency problem.

I never imagined a CO2 deficiency. All I'm trying to do is improve my system and progress my grow. I've been reading on other posts here on RIU that CO2 increases growth and in turn increases yield. I was not aware that the others using CO2 were all huge commercial grows.

Thanks again for your time and input.

Bump; have the same question regarding chillers and ice boxes vs. portable ACs.

Illegal Smile said:

I know you didn't ask but personally, I would just skip the co2.

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Uh... don't listen to this person please. Co2 is a must in a totally sealed room. In any vented room, the co2 is naturally replenished to some degree. In a sealed room it absolutely is not unless you intervene with Co2 supplimentation. if you want the benefits of sealed aggriculture you have to do it right, and not skip any steps.

Other supporters of sealed aggriculture seem to really enjoy the mini-split AC units, they work wonders. 12000btu is ok, but it might not be enough with your burner going (if you are using a burner). They say it's around 3000-3500 btu per 1k light without a burner, and 4k+ per light with one. That puts you at exactly 12000, and keep in mind AC's do not run at 100% efficiency! Just a thought.

another option is to get the co2 air tank; it will help with your co2 problem without the heat. if u decide the co2 burner then most likely you will need an AC along with other adjustments to your grow which will help reduce your heat problem by a few degrees here and there. Such as putting the ballast outside of your grow room if possible, heat shield for your reflector, and perphaps adjust your timer accordingly to the co2 burner and your exhaust out take. just my .02 cent! Good luck and report back on the progress...

stillcantroll said:

Uh... don't listen to this person please. Co2 is a must in a totally sealed room. In any vented room, the co2 is naturally replenished to some degree. In a sealed room it absolutely is not unless you intervene with Co2 supplimentation. if you want the benefits of sealed aggriculture you have to do it right, and not skip any steps.

Other supporters of sealed aggriculture seem to really enjoy the mini-split AC units, they work wonders. 12000btu is ok, but it might not be enough with your burner going (if you are using a burner). They say it's around 3000-3500 btu per 1k light without a burner, and 4k+ per light with one. That puts you at exactly 12000, and keep in mind AC's do not run at 100% efficiency! Just a thought.

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I'm gonna have to agree with stillcantroll. High levels of C02 in a properly balanced room with quality correct feeding will yield you a much larger harvest. C02 is cheap to supply and the equipment will pay for itself after the first run. If the room is sealed you MUST supplement C02!

As a Controlled Environment Agriculturist (CEA) I've played with several cooling methods. I currently run a mini-split system. It's an upgrade from portable AC's. The portables needed intake and exhaust lines. Intakes needed to be sealed off from pest and exhaust needed to be treated with a scrubber. The duct work coming and going, though looked impressive, was still a pain in the ass. The mini-split eliminated ALL my duct work and cools a lot more efficient then the portable.The mini's are expensive and need to be match perfectly to the heat load. Also, I find the mini splits temperature swings a bit more up and down which isn't good for C02 absorption rates.

My next room design will incorporate a large chiller with dual insulated reserviors (5 ton), ice boxes every other 1000 watt light, and air handler system to act as an AC and dehumidifier. Water cooled C02 burner and a reservoir chilling coil to each res.

I'm switching over to the water chiller method because chillers are even more efficient then AC's (40%) and far easier to install then mini-splits, not requiring an HVAC guy to charge or vacuum pump lines.

May cost more up front but the savings in electricity will add up fast. Also, saves me the security risk of having an HVAC tech on premise. Plus, the water cooled systems keep a very nice precise temp, with programing available for separate day and night temps. Water cooled systems also can use city water and a drain to waste bypass if chiller ever burns out.

Sounds very exciting to be upgrading your room. I wish you the best.

Hydro, water is much more efficient at removing heat, but ACs serve a dual purpose - they both cool AND dehumidify.

Chiller-cooled systems need large dehueys in addition to the chillers - I opted to K.I.S.S. and simply get an AC.

Also, the cost of setting up a water-cooled room was about $8K vs. the $2K for an AC'd room.

Bob Smith said:

Hydro, water is much more efficient at removing heat, but ACs serve a dual purpose - they both cool AND dehumidify.

Chiller-cooled systems need large dehueys in addition to the chillers - I opted to K.I.S.S. and simply get an AC.

Also, the cost of setting up a water-cooled room was about $8K vs. the $2K for an AC'd room.

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I agree.. water conducts heat far better then air. I'm in a similar pickle now. A water cooled system for my set up would cost $15,000 and would take some time to recoup my cost in electricity savings.

HydroDruid said:

I agree.. water conducts heat far better then air. I'm in a similar pickle now. A water cooled system for my set up would cost $15,000 and would take some time to recoup my cost in electricity savings.

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Not worth it, sir.

Go with a $5K mini-split and K.I.S.S.

Simpler and less to go wrong - also won't accidentally flood your grow room.

Bob Smith said:

Not worth it, sir.

Go with a $5K mini-split and K.I.S.S.

Simpler and less to go wrong - also won't accidentally flood your grow room.

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I have been running a mini-split for quit some time now (2 years).

Or possibly get a big enoug chiller and if you can aircool your hoods with just fans and then getting a watercooled AC handler like this one hooked up to your chiller http://www.watercooledgardens.com/product.php?productid=16346 and boom you have your room cooled 60k btu. P.S. if you want an alternative chiller iam looking at some industrial portable ones that are cheaper then those on that site.

I live where it gets extremely hot during the summer months and am exploring different ways of cooling my room. I am presently in the planning stages. I have built grow rooms before but never in such a hot climate area. I am looking at this diagram http://www.kalyx.com/store/images/images_J/J_904490.jpg it shows the lights running without pulling air from the outside and without exhausting air to the outside. The claims are that not only will your lights stay cool but this set up will also act as a/c for the room. I know I will have to run co2 in this scenerio. I will be using 6 600 hps lights running two series of three in each run. I am wondering if anyone has ever seen a set up like this or know of anyone who has any info about setting up like this. My room wil have a/c as well and I am planning on placing the chiller outside of the room, not to mention as I am building the room I am using some serious insulation on both the outside and inside of the walls and ceiling. This room will be insulated better than fort knox...