New user into and question

Hey everyone, first post and all that.

I'm gearing up for my very first grow at the tender age of 48. It's finally legal in CA.

I'm sourcing my materials and have learned a lot from you guys in terms of nutes, lights, etc.

Here is my setup so far...
I'll be growing in a 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.5 foot tent. SMALL

I'll utilize an HLG100 led at 3000k (because of tent height I'm looking at more flower less stretch). I'll be doing a single plant in a 5 gal hempy bucket and will try my hand at mainlining or topping to get the most from a single pot.

My issue is this ...
Cooling. My tent adds up to under 35 cubic feet of airspace. I will vent to the outside so no carbon filter needed in terms of resistance - will be one 90 degree bend then straight outside.

I've been going back and forth on cooling. 6 inch? 4 inch? Booster fan? Get something bigger and run at low speed? At 35 CFM I could just drop a desk fan in there and pipe it outside. LOL

Someone set this old newbie straight .

Low cost would be ideal but don't like the thought of getting a new fan yearly...

Thoughts?

Four inch extraction will definitely be enough, passive intake will do. You can buy a dimmer from a grow shop(not light dimmer) for more control of the fan speed. Plants under led can stretch too so be careful if height is an issue, top , lst etc always remember that not all strains like all things, some don't like lst, some topping,some super cropping, some soilless mix, some hydro etc. If it's your first grow I'd steer clear of any advanced growing methods and concentrate on growing and harvesting without issue, everything brings its own problems, small steps etc

Gcodori said:

Hey everyone, first post and all that.

I'm gearing up for my very first grow at the tender age of 48. It's finally legal in CA.

I'm sourcing my materials and have learned a lot from you guys in terms of nutes, lights, etc.

Here is my setup so far...
I'll be growing in a 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.5 foot tent. SMALL

I'll utilize an HLG100 led at 3000k (because of tent height I'm looking at more flower less stretch). I'll be doing a single plant in a 5 gal hempy bucket and will try my hand at mainlining or topping to get the most from a single pot.

My issue is this ...
Cooling. My tent adds up to under 35 cubic feet of airspace. I will vent to the outside so no carbon filter needed in terms of resistance - will be one 90 degree bend then straight outside.

I've been going back and forth on cooling. 6 inch? 4 inch? Booster fan? Get something bigger and run at low speed? At 35 CFM I could just drop a desk fan in there and pipe it outside. LOL

Someone set this old newbie straight .

Low cost would be ideal but don't like the thought of getting a new fan yearly...

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

As @tiltswitch said a 4" exhaust should be sufficient. I have the same size tent and was using a 150 cfm fan that I got from Amazon for $16 when I was using LED lights. Watch out though, some of the cheaper fans won't work with a fan speed controller. I went to a CMH recently so I upgraded to a 275 cfm fan with controller and I find it much better, but it was 4x the cost.

Also, STRONGLY second the opinion that you should start simple when it comes to training. Topping and LST are good places to start. Mainlining can be a challenge if you aren't familiar with the strain and process. Ive been trying it out for the first time and it's been a challenge. I'm glad it's not my only plant growing otherwise I would be really frustrated. I vegged a heavily indica strain under an LED and quickly realized the stalks were getting woody so quickly they were really challenging to train. I broke a few stems in the process. My girl isn't so much mainlined now as tortured into a bonsai tree haha.

Hey guys - thanks for the advice. I have been eyeing a 4 inch tube style fan - yeah the cheap ones. I believe iPower makes a fan and also sells a speed controller. I like the design on the can style fans because it looks like the motor shaft is accessible in terms of lubing on a regular basis compared to the fans with the sealed units. I can get the speed controller and fan for about $30 total.

I'll do passive intake for the most part. maybe during the summer I'll have to pipe in outside air - the tent will be in a garage. There is a hot stretch during the summer.

I think I will start my first grow with just light topping. Mainlining looks like topping, but more surgical in terms of whats being removed, versus just splitting the growth. I'll definitely go with the tomato ring to keep the plant supported.

The hempy bucket looks like the most beginner friendly system, next to DWC. My only concern is watering before the roots hit bottom. I'll be using CNS17 and hydroguard - as it looks the most user friendly for beginners. It's not missing any supplements, it even has cal/mag. I'll start with rockwool/grodan for the seeds, in a dome.

Does it sound like I'm missing anything major?

I think I have the basics down after LOTS of reading here and other sources. I'd love to get a journal going once all set up.

I got amongst other things, 2- 3x3x5 tent's and both have active ventilation with 6" on in and out to keep pressure even, with controllers and 6" on hood pass thrus. Passive makes the tent walls cave/suck in atleast 6" on each side. Also if you neg/pos pressure too much, the tent seams break, I know.

1 tent is 600 HPS, other is 480w at the wall LED.


Harbor freight sells router speed controllers(fan controller) for 12$ ish with a coupon.