Newbie needs help setting up grow tent

Hi guys...i'm a new member and very excited about the amount of great info on this site. Having said that, I'm still looking for a little feedback here. I just purchased a GrowLab 120 grow tent. It's 3'11 x 3'11 x 6'7 with lots of spots for ventillation, ect.
I will be using 1 600W HPS light. I'm looking for recommendations on what I will need for ventillation and cooling and just how many plants can be safely grown in this size tent under the one light.
This is my first time getting set up so I want to do it properly. As of now I only have the light and the tent....so let me know of anything I should need to keep the atmosphere healthy for the plants.
Thanks in advance for any help!!

4x4 = 16sq ft = 4 to 16 plants.
ventilation holes probably 6" ducting
cooltube would work for the light with an inline 6" fan
if you even need cooling. in cooler areas the heat from the light is helpful for keeping the temp warm.

Thanks for the info....
I'm looking at a kit on ebay with a 19"cooltube 600w HPS and 600W MH including ballast, ect. Is there any reason why I can't run it without the fan while the temps are cooler and then just use the fan when it gets into warmer temperatures?
Also, what do I need for seperate ventillation aside from the light cooling system?

firegrower said:

Thanks for the info....
I'm looking at a kit on ebay with a 19"cooltube 600w HPS and 600W MH including ballast, ect. Is there any reason why I can't run it without the fan while the temps are cooler and then just use the fan when it gets into warmer temperatures?
Also, what do I need for seperate ventillation aside from the light cooling system?

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Was up Fire Grower? Welcome.....Now I think that A simple desk fan or those cool clip on fans X 2 would suffice in your tent.
A 6" centrifugal inline fan is needed 270 cfm min. A can 33 or filter is also needed for inside the tent drawing the air right out the flexi tubing you have connected to fan/filter and exporting out one of your holes..... cool?

Thanks for the welcome spliffious...and the info! It's good to be here! Do I need a fresh air intake as well as the exhaust fan? And the filter on the exhaust fan....is this simply to cut back on the smell from the exhausted air, or am I way off, there?

firegrower said:

Thanks for the welcome spliffious...and the info! It's good to be here! Do I need a fresh air intake as well as the exhaust fan? And the filter on the exhaust fan....is this simply to cut back on the smell from the exhausted air, or am I way off, there?

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Ur right, they have carbon filters that take the smell outta the air. And i think they have regular filters too. like an air sock, that just filter air? I'm New to this ventilation Idea too.

I was gonna get this fan. Fantech FX 6XL 6" Centrifugal Inline Fan 392 CFM...

I like the high CFM. or Power! But I bet It is loud... I would want it in the attic, like that pic I sent before. Only visibly seeing filter in grow tent.

I right now have my tent open (only in the front) when the light are on, because I can't afford the cool shit yet, to fiter out air. It gets over 80 quick in there, if it's not open with a big fan running the whole time the lights are on..... No biggie though, except it's inviting for spider mites and pests/nats mosquitos. I've seen weird stuff already. I think I'm gonna bug bomb the room my tent is in. For exterior sanitation. The tent can be sprayed out with hydrogen peroxide to kill the bacteria, then rinse lightly a few times and air dry. Especially if your gonna go hydro. Got to protect the babies. I'm not spending all this time, to just blow it 3 months in. I picked up some Pest Repellent the other day, supposed to be the good stuff. It was 20.00. and is used to prevent the latter on down the road situations and infestations. Preventive measures.... Ohh yah some people have comp. fans for intake. Or can fans. Or duct fan boosters to generate the air flow. Some tube it in from outside. Some just cut holes or slits in the side of the tent for air ducts. You could apply a filter/air duct on the side of tent or in a piece of tubing through one of your tent holes, to let in filtered fresh air in. They even have those dampers on them to shut down airflow for max Co2 absorbtion whenever applying that. theres so much.....

Again....thanks for the info! Much Appreciated! So, why 270cfm for that size room? Is there some kind of formula for determining how much air needs to be moved for a certain size space? And, how often and for how long would I run the exhaust fan? Wouldn't need to run all the time would it?
Also, I do plan on doing hydro....some kind of a drip system with buckets. What is peoples opinions on the best "non soil" growing medium to use?
Sorry for all the questions, but you guys seem to be the ones to ask! Thanks again!

firegrower said:

Again....thanks for the info! Much Appreciated! So, why 270cfm for that size room? Is there some kind of formula for determining how much air needs to be moved for a certain size space? And, how often and for how long would I run the exhaust fan? Wouldn't need to run all the time would it?
Also, I do plan on doing hydro....some kind of a drip system with buckets. What is peoples opinions on the best "non soil" growing medium to use?
Sorry for all the questions, but you guys seem to be the ones to ask! Thanks again!

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ha. im bored and off today.... I went with the aerogarden 200 for my first medium. Then switched to giant 18 g. bubblebonics system(airstones in bottom of tank(misting roots)- didn't like it. Too much water in Rez... Now I am using an aeroponic sprayer system with a rez underneath and a pump shootin water up pvc and out ez-sprayer heads. I set my recycle timer for spraying for 30 sec, every 30 min. Or however I want to set it. I also applied a single node fogger in my root rez(which is above the water rez). Two 18 g roughneck rubbermaid bins, stacked on one another and holes drilled through. It's pretty simple and sweet. so far. I did the whole D.I.Y thing. I even sent back the aerogarden and got the money back to buy additional lighting. That was smart.... Ohh and yes the CFM determines the power needed for bigger spaces. Your's is small, so you might not have to go to big and pay a bunch for the bigger better one's..... think of it this way. The cooler the room, and non-stinky the better....! I run my Fans only when the lights are on, or when i'm vegging a few babies to build there stalks up (as the shakes give them their girth....!

dude u disappeared? wtf man?

Spliffious said:

dude u disappeared? wtf man?

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Still here.....computer was down for a few days...thats all...
but tks for the concern! Seedlings are sprouting up in a safe place while I get the tent set up...was just askin a question about 24 hour light in a different forum.......if it's okay for starting the seedlings, and if so...when do I switch to 18/6....

firegrower said:

Still here.....computer was down for a few days...thats all...
but tks for the concern! Seedlings are sprouting up in a safe place while I get the tent set up...was just askin a question about 24 hour light in a different forum.......if it's okay for starting the seedlings, and if so...when do I switch to 18/6....

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Seedlings, mothers and clones can stay under 24 hours of light non stop if you choose. I ran mine 24/7 all last year and this year decided to run them 18/6.....no noticeable difference in growth only on my electric bill.

shipinit said:

Seedlings, mothers and clones can stay under 24 hours of light non stop if you choose. I ran mine 24/7 all last year and this year decided to run them 18/6.....no noticeable difference in growth only on my electric bill.

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I first started lights 24 on...then I was Using a 18/6 approach in my Aerogarden Pro 200. That got best results so far for vegging.

I know am using 24 on lighting.. 6 seeds popped and I pushed base root through AG sponge and help de-shell the ones trying to push through. I bought a 2 gal. tuppermaid mini bin(covered w/ duct tape). Cut out holes with 2" holesaw and now I have 24 site bubbleponic/fogoponics system... works good too. Just overheats water sometimes with the single node fogger in there.....i add ice occasionally. And I only use fogger for about 6-12 hrs at a time.... it does wonders for new root growth and repair.....

I asked in another thread but maybe you guys could answer me too......I'm running a simple bubbleponics system in 5 gallon buckets with 2 large air stones in each below baskets with hydroton. How close to the basket should my solution be....or should I keep it shallow to encourage turbulence from the air stones...???

firegrower said:

I asked in another thread but maybe you guys could answer me too......I'm running a simple bubbleponics system in 5 gallon buckets with 2 large air stones in each below baskets with hydroton. How close to the basket should my solution be....or should I keep it shallow to encourage turbulence from the air stones...???

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Id say You should submerge the bottom about an inch or so... maybe more if new....so bubbles reach roots... sometimes it doesn't reach through the hydroton or interior of net pots....

I've done that...but it seems like there isnt' nearly as many bubbles once the basked is submerged, even a little bit. As soon as I pull the basket up, the whole bucket is filled with bubbles. I'm assuming they are still there when the basket is in...just "muffled"...by the hydroton. Is this normal? (I'm using two 6" air stones in each 3 Gallon bucket)
Thanks!

Hello All,

I am new to this community here and also a noob as well as far as my green thumb goes.

First I dont want to hijack this guys thread, but also i know some communities like to keep down the # of very similar posts so let me know what yall think if I should keep posting in this thread or start a new one?

Basically I need alot of info on getting my tent started. I am purchasing the following tent.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=130284154856

My next few questions would basically be how to i complete this setup as far as lighting systems and fans and ventilation goes? I dont want to spend a ton of money, but i do want someting that is going to work and not be too hard to set up.

Any help would be much appreciated and again if I should start my own thread just please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

yo taco cat wassup?

Yeah you've got some work ahead of you..(but, Not gonna be hard). But time for more decisions and spendy one's too. If I were you. I would read into a few threads... especially developed newbies... I'm in the process myself of shedding my newbism....working on first grow now... I ve got about 6-8 wks left, before harvest time.... I would say a 400w hps/MH would be the minimum for lights. Maybe a 600w If you want bigger yield... And you need to figure out your growing medium? Ebb and flow/DWC or drip system/Aeropoonic w. air stones? ebay is a good way to learn really what people are or arent interested in.... craigslist is better, for getting good deals on used equipment...

So, I'm running a simple bucket system with netpots/hydroton...I'm using 3Gallon pails. I'm using two 6" air stones in each bucket. Should this be sufficient or should I add something else? Just doesnt seem like it's soaking all up into the hydroton and I don't want my seedlings (which started very nicely) to die!!! Any feedback or am I just being impatient...(just put them in the buckets today...)
Thanks for the help!

Yo spliff thanks for the first bit of info. I actually have been reading nonstop since I first posted and already made the decision to buy a better tent. I got an original bud box from the UK. I didn't want any of the toxic issues with a cheaper unit. So I got a large bud box on the way.

Also I have a friend who is grows very successfully with organics and not hydro so I think I'm going to go that route. It's probably a bit cheaper I would think as well since I wouldn't have to but a whole hydro system. I'm pretty sure I will be going that route.

I think some of my biggest questions are what kind of fans should I get and also what would be the best lighting system to get. I want to get something that is already to go as far as ballast, reflector, timer all that stuff. Any good recommendations would be much appreciated. I'm going to use a combo if hps/mh. I just want something where all I have to do is change out the bulb.

Again big thanks to anyone that can lead me in the right direction with links to purchase equipment I will need.