Growlab 120 Ideas

[UnaidedScruffy]

Okay so I plan on making my first indoor grow room, I am looking for a few answers here to some random questions and also some helpful advice.

so here's the tent - GrowLab GL120 (http://www.aghydroponics.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TENT-GL120&CartID=2)

here's the hydroponic system I was going to use 5 of them in the tent to start with - WaterFarm Complete (http://www.aghydroponics.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HYDROSYS-706975&CartID=7)

here's the lighting I was thinking - Magnum XXXL 6" 400w Switchable Complete System (http://www.aghydroponics.com/Magnum-XXXL-6-400w-Switchable-Complete-System-p/litcompsys-xxxl6400.htm)

Okay so I am growing this in my room, me and my wife dont want something too loud, what can I do about that? from what I have been finding these tents are especially loud because of how thin its walls are, any really quite exhaust/fan system for my tent?

Will it heat up my room any making it uncomfortable to live in?

How can I mask the smell? I would prefer that no one know what I am doing... and definitely don't want the smell to be noticeable when someone walks by my door...

I think the only thing that has prevented me from already buying the set-up is purely my doubts that I can -easily- make this thing as stealthy as possible and to where no one could find my grow short of being told its there or physically seeing it.

I appreciate any and all advice offered, Thanks for your time ;) :jointsmile:

[UnaidedScruffy]

Again this will be in my bedroom, where we sleep... we have no other options as to where we put the tent so keep that in mind guys..

Also, If needed for a 5-6 plant grow I can upgrade to the 600w lighting unit, I just didn't know if that was needed, also thought the 600 might get back into making the room too warm to be in comfortably

I am in Florida and its already far too hot outside, my houses A/C already has to bust its ass :wtf:

[GetThisOrDie]

Ill be honest.

It will be loud and it will smell without odor control AND it will get hot.

I recently had a run in south florida. Even with the AC in the house working like a mule the temps in the grow tent were sometimes 95 degress (way too friggin hot) and the room was around 85-90 (also way too hot to exist in). This was even exhausting the hot air from my hood outside. It was a 400w hps.

The cooling fans had to be on full blast just to keep it at that temp so it was loud as hell. Would be VERY difficult to sleep in there with the heat+sound.

Also running high temps like that will usually make the plants smell even worse.

Growing in florida was one of the worst experiences I had when it comes to this hobby. Also because it was so friggin humid there I was having serious issues with humidity. That can lead to bud rot.

Best bet if you are intent on growing is get a window mounted ac unit or a standing one just for that room. Get a nice carbon filter and an air cooled hood for your bulb. 5-6 plants would be better under a 600w.

Also look up boxing an inline fan. You build a box around your duct fan to reduce the noise. They also sell sound dampeners for the ducting as well.

These are just my oppinions from my experience growing in south florida. DO NOT skimp on stealth and odor control. The laws in FL are so strict that if you get caught you will be spending time in jail no doubt. Be careful.

Goodluck!

[GetThisOrDie]

Also if you are going hydro you have to remember that the water in your res needs to be cool and not hot as shit. This would involve maybe investing in a res chiller for the water. High water temps lead to root rot and other nasties taking over your system.

[UnaidedScruffy]

Thanks for the info, sucks man it just doesn't seem like it's looking good, I really want to make this work though so lets brain storm

What do you think would be the -Ideal- setup for the stealth 'factor' using the items I mentioned before.

We know I need to control the heat, the sound, and the smell of course...
Tell me if you think these changes will be enough to mask the problems Or what I can add to the list ..

Smell - Carbon filter + Fans + Ona gel + Ozone

Heat - Cooling system for the light fixture + Fan or 2 small fans in grow box + Ill put a extra fan in the bedroom to cool us off a little more + Houses default A/C which is kept at no higher than 78 at night and no lower than usually 72-73 at night and early mornings.

Sound - This is the tough one I think but I could be wrong, all the fans and blowers ect... I am finding end up being too loud in the end. I will have a Fan on in the bedroom to control heat and that should mask some sound at least + the box around the inline fan but that is all I have for sound at the moment??


Few additional questions for you guys:
- How well does a box hide the sound of some of these Inline fans?
-Which is the quietest fan that you have used? (that doesn't have to sacrifice all of its performance to be quieter)
-How much of a difference will having or not having a exhaust be?

[GetThisOrDie]

A good carbon filter with a cfm rating matched for the filter will most likely take care of the smell. Always good idea to keep some ona on hand for late flowering stink that gets past the scrubber.

The box around the fan can reduce the sound maybe close to 50%. That involves completely enclosing the fan and including sound dampening material on the inside walls of the box.

Exhaust is 100% neccesary. No way around that. The ladies will need the air in the tent replaced every 10 or so minutes to be healthy. Try looking up window boxes as well. You can exhaust the hot air outside but you will lose the functionality of the window.


You will also need fans circulating air inside of the tent. This can cool the plants but just a little. It is also needed to make the stems strong to support bud weight.


Most stealth fan ive used is ecoplus premium (the blue or purple ones) on a fan speed controller.

[GetThisOrDie]

You can always try different types of lighting instead of the HID.

You can go with a good size LED panel. Low heat and power consumption. Downside is they cost a shitload and arguably arent up to par with HID. I know I will catch some flak for that...

Or floros. Lower heat than HID but not near the yield. Also will cost a good amount of cash.

[UnaidedScruffy]

I guess no one ever said it would be easy at first... But I was hoping it still would be :p

Great help though GetThisOrDie

Exhaust -

My bedroom window isn't usable really, I mean it is but the way my house is set up my bedroom window is close to the front door, obviously not the best place to have cannabis exhaust systems blowing out dank/hot air, but on the other side of the wall I will be growing closest to is the garage, I think I might just run a pvc pipe through the wall into the garage, run that along the wall and floor directly out the the garages back door which isnt usable, plus I have a gate on the back door that is locked 24/7 so it should be perfect.

A fan box is easy so I will definitely put that together all in good time

I was thinking maybe for the grow box fans 12" Wall mount oscillating fan
and plus the fan connected to the lighting/duct work

Do I need another?

Also wondered about a blower? Whats it used for, Is it needed/recommended? Must be terrible sound wise??


I hate to ask so many questions and look like a tard, but lots better than spending a ton of money on something that wont work out in the end.


F

[GetThisOrDie]

One 12" fan inside would work fine.

From the sound of your idea with the pipe through garage and to the door you will be needing to do some calculations on your own. There is some math behind exhaust work that is very important. It deals with length of run and how many bends in your ducting. It all relates to the CFM fan you need, especially since it sounds like there may be a good amount of bends there.

http://boards.cannabis.com/growroom-setup/112273-fans-not-just-blowing-hot-air.html
All to do about fans/exhaust.

Also remember that PVC when heated outgasses very toxic chemicals and will harm your plant. Make sure theres no PVC inside your tent.

[bigsby]

You don't want to do a long exhaust run with lots of bends. It will quickly jack the CFM requirements. Consider exhausting into the attic, basement or another room.

[UnaidedScruffy]

There will be one bend and about 8-10 feet from the tent to the end of the exhaust. Is that bad??

[EvilCartman]

Having the garage makes this pretty easy to keep quiet! :thumbsup:

I'd grab an 8" or 10" centrifugal to mount out there. The bigger the fan, the slower it needs to turn.
In the tent, you could "Y" off after reducing to 6". Run the light "sealed" straight thru, pulling room air, with a baffle on that leg. The other leg, you route to the carbon filter, to exhaust the stale tent air.

You could baffle both legs for more control, but I would run the blower with a speed controller and the one baffle on the light. A duct muffler on the line to the blower would further reduce the sound, as would insulated ducting out there. It should be whisper-quiet.
(unless you have leaks, then it might whistle) :D

With the main exhaust out there, the loudest thing in the tent would be your oscillating fan. :thumbsup:

[UnaidedScruffy]

Sounds awesome Cartman Ill definitely look into that and start piecing it together when I get the supplies..

Anyone have a favorite online seed bank??
I have never ordered from a online seed bank (one that I can pay with US currency of course) so I am unfamiliar with how that is but I am sure there are a ton of scams out there for them as well.

[bigsby]

There will be one bend and about 8-10 feet from the tent to the end of the exhaust. Is that bad??

You will want to double your fan size to accommodate your 10' run. How sharp is the bend? x1.5 for 90 degree bend.

That is doable.

See this link for the mathematics of fan configuration:

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-growing/132514-noobs-guide-growroom-set-up-work-progress.html

[UnaidedScruffy]

It will be just a simple pvc elbow pipe, Ill connect the ducting to both sides, put a 10" fan in the garage in a box

Anyone have want to give me a good reference to a online seedbank that has a good selection and doesnt scam? Also have to pay with US currency

[GetThisOrDie]

ATTITUDE SEEDBANK Cannabis Seeds (http://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/)

Top quality service imo. Then again I havent used any other site... because im so satisfied with them.



Putting the fan in the garage is a good idea but I thought you were going for total stealth. I mean you said you were worried about people walking by your door to the room. Does nobody go into the garage? Will they not wonder why theres pvc and ducting thats hot to the touch coming out of the wall connected to a big ass inline fan thats purring very loud?

Just wondering...

[UnaidedScruffy]

No the garage is always clear, also, the ducting will be insulated preventing hot to the touch plus some of the sound, also the fan will be in a box lined with recording studio foam like you suggested, not to meantion I can take a few other precautions to hide it if I need to.

See the garage is no longer really a garage, its been converted into a extra room, huge and not accesable from inside the house, it has a seperate door outside, its being used as a storage/smoking room actually lol, it also stays locked when no one is in there. I just dont want the grow box out there.

[UnaidedScruffy]

Also there is piping in there for the water heater which is also enclosed in its own box, and the A/C unit is directly besides the back door of the garage where the ducting will go, so pretty convenient. No one would suspect anything even if they saw the ducting, they would have to really investigate, but I dont think that will happen seeings how it kinda blends in, looks like it should be there.