Hello all
I am ready to start piecing together my supplies for my liquid cooled sealed tent grow. I would love input from everyone on specific brands/items, or to let me know if I'm missing anything.
This is my list so far:
General Setup Cost (One time Costs)
1/4 HP chiller
Chiller reservoir
Chiller pump
Carbon Filter for scrubber fan
Scrubber fan (already have)
Fan speed controller
Duct muffler
12,000 btu A/C (already have, won't run unless needed)
Spare CO2 tank
Per Tent Setup Cost
4x4 tent
1000w Ballast (Unsure which brand)
1000w Bulb (Unsure which brand)
Fresca Sol platinum tube
Socket assembly (all Fresca Sol tubes have a note "Doesn't include socket assembly", not sure where to get this)
Fresca Sol magnum reflector
Circulation fan - 16"
Sentinal CPPM-4 controller
CO2 Regulator
CO2 Tank
rDWC / ScroG setup (res, containers, airstones, pump, screen, etc)
I was looking into environmental controllers like the iPonic 600 or the Agrowtek, but the iPonic doesn't do everything I want, and the Arowtek is priced out of reach (for the moment). Looking to run two plants DWC/ScroG in the tent. Looking to possibly add more identical tents down the line short term, and build out a veg / flower room setup in a basement down the line long term. If that happens, I know the tent itself plus the CO2 controller won't be enough, but I would like to be able to reuse everything else.
Thanks in advance for the input everyone!
don't take this the wrong way bud but this all sounds WAY off track. i really don't even know where to start. i run water cooled rooms and have for a while. i've actually tested a few products for some of the bigger companies. i'm gonna point out some things that seem weird to me.
* 1/4hp chiller isn't gonna do much. it "might" help you remove the heat of the lamp but it will not cool your grow room. the most efficient way to run a chiller that size would be on a very small reservoir. maybe 15-20 gallons max. your a/c is going to be working. how much depends on where you live and the temps of the room around your tent. burning co2, ballasts, pumps, etc....all create heat that your a/c is going to need to cool. no way you will be able to add anything in the future. i can guarantee that. you may also need a dehumidifier. it just depends on your relative humidity and how much your ac is actually working.
* i know some guys who use them but those fresca sol things are CRAP in my opinion. you'd be much better off running an ice box by hydro innovations. sounds like you don't have a full handle on the whole water cooling thing. feel free to ask me any specific questions. also, check out
www.hydroinnovations.com and the videos they have. really informative stuff. anyway...frescas suck. i've heard of leaking issues, i've heard they are a pain to setup, i've heard of footcandle reduction, etc... not worth it in my opinion.
* you are gonna need a pump to push water to your chiller and another one to push water to your equipment. you can get centrifugal pumps with multiple ports. either way, any pump you get needs to have enough lift on it so compensate for the height of your lights and reservoir. i would say at least 15' of lift.
* why do you need a fan speed controller? if you are using that fan/filter combo to scrub the air in the room and recirculate it then just let it run. for fans and filter i recommend CAN.
* for ballasts i recommend Lumatek and for bulbs i say Hortilux. i've used them both for a while and couldn't be happier. great warranties and their products outperform the others in my opinion.
* a socket assembly is a "mogul socket" this is where you plug the bulb into. any online hydro store sells them. the reflector/hood should come with one but double check.
* if you are using a 1000w light in a 4x4 tent you don't need a magnum reflector. i use 2 600w lights in a 4x8 tent. 1000w is plenty. you don't need to spread the light that much. better off finding a good mid sized reflector.
* don't get a 16" fan. it's too big. if anything a single 12" or two of those 6" clip-on fans is fine. you don't want a hurricane in your tent. just a light breeze. plus you already have the fan/filter which will be circulating air as well.
* spending $500 on a co2 controller in a 4x4 tent is a huge waste of money in my opinion. save that money for a better chiller or better setup. you can get decent co2 controllers for half the price or cheaper. you don't need the "best" co2 controller for a room that size. it's your money but you can use it better elsewhere.
* you will have to have that a/c in the room if you set this tent up this way. even if you can keep the chiller, chiller reservoir, pumps, ballasts, etc... out of the room you won't have the space to really scrog 2 plants much bigger than 2x2 screens. i would put the 2 plants against the back wall and cover them each with a 2x2 screen. this will give you 2 feet in front for equipment and to work in. you might be able to get away with 2x2.5 or 2x3. just depends on how big your ac is and how much other equipment will be in the room. will also depend on whether or not you will be working "in" the room. i go in my tents and close them behind me when i am working in there. but my tents are in the garage with bugs, heat, etc... if your tent is in the basement or a bedroom you might be fine just opening the tent and working on it from outside. either way, figure you will need to be able to reach under the screen to change out the reservoir and stuff.
* i know we talked about this but neither of those environmental controllers is what you want. i thought you were working with a MUCH larger space. using a $1000-$1500 controller in a 4x4 tent is a waste. you won't even scratch the surface of what they can do. save the money...you don't need one of those. not even close. get yourself a nice $400-$500 controller that will monitor your lights, Co2, fans, etc... that's all you need.
But alas, I don't see it happening this go round.
