First time grower having issues keeping temperatures down

[drew225]

Hi everyone. This is my first attempt at indoor growing. My current setup is im growing in a shed thats 12 feet long by 4 feet wide by 6 feet tall. I am running a 1000w mh light for the veg stage. Ive also been using a small house fan to try to help cool the plants off and for strong brach structures. My question is the shed is insulated pretty well and I cant seem to get the temperatures any lower than 88-89 degress during the day. The humidity is around 25-30% so I will be using a cool humidifier to get those number up a little. Any suggestions on getting temps down? I dont have any ventalation system currently so maybe that is the way to go? If it means anything I currently have 15 plants (4-5 sickley ones will be removed soon) and plan on adding another 10-15. Also a quick how to on building a vent system would be great. Ive already spent a decent ammount of money on the lights, ballast, plants, etc. so im getting a little low on funds. Thanks

drew225 Reviewed by drew225 on 09-11-2012. First time grower having issues keeping temperatures down Hi everyone. This is my first attempt at indoor growing. My current setup is im growing in a shed thats 12 feet long by 4 feet wide by 6 feet tall. I am running a 1000w mh light for the veg stage. Ive also been using a small house fan to try to help cool the plants off and for strong brach structures. My question is the shed is insulated pretty well and I cant seem to get the temperatures any lower than 88-89 degress during the day. The humidity is around 25-30% so I will be using a cool Rating: 5

[LOC NAR on probation]

You need an A/C unit. 5 or 6 thousand BTU. Only 100 to 175 bucks and most of your problems solved. If you can get one that brings in fresh air that fixes even more. If you just want vents fresh air comes in low to the floor where the air is cool. Vent out from up high to suck the most heat out. If you want it light proof that a little more work. Don't worry about the humidity if you can't get the temp down.
That's alot of plants for 6 feet high room. Do you have the light on a rail system ? What are you growing in ? Hydro ?

[drew225]

You need an A/C unit. 5 or 6 thousand BTU. Only 100 to 175 bucks and most of your problems solved. If you can get one that brings in fresh air that fixes even more. If you just want vents fresh air comes in low to the floor where the air is cool. Vent out from up high to suck the most heat out. If you want it light proof that a little more work. Don't worry about the humidity if you can't get the temp down.
That's alot of plants for 6 feet high room. Do you have the light on a rail system ? What are you growing in ? Hydro ?

I was tired when I posted this. I actually re-measured last night and the ceiling is a little over 8 foot at this highest point since its a little slanted. Thats not as bad as I thought for an ac unit. If I can get one that draws in fresh air will that eliminate the need for an exhaust system? Or would I still need one in the ceiling to draw some air out? No light rail using a 1000w MH for veg stage. and growing in soil

[drew225]

Come on guys/gals anything?

[Miles Monroe]

Hmmm.....1k for vegging fifteen plants? Soil or hydro? It makes a difference. Hydro you have less cooling options. Loc gave you some good suggestions. You can also reduce heat by turning down the light. I run a 1k ballast on 500 setting for my vegging. I mean it's not going to kill the plants to give them less light. If you don't have it ducted to the outside you're really going to struggle with the heat. Spend your bucks on a good fan and go to your home store and get the ducting. I used styrofoam insulation board to seal my windows and cut holes to mount the intake and exhaust ports.

How you set the vent up depends upon your goal. Heat rises and you want your exhaust above your intake to give you maximum benefit. If your shed is like mine it probably leaks a little air. If you're going to run CO2 that requires more cooling as the room will need to be more sealed to enjoy the benefits of the gas.

[drew225]

Soil. I'm switching to a grow tent now. I can't hook up an ac unit, lights, and fans the way my shed is wired. I will be adding a few more plants and the tent already has built in vents and ducts

[drew225]

Update........Im still waiting for a tent, so in the mean time I rigged the ac unit to work without cutting a hole in my shed and it made a huge difference. Started running it Saturday and it only takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of running the unit a day to keep the temps. exactly where they need to be and it made a huge difference. The plants perked up, turned really green, and have already grown a few inches!

[Miles Monroe]

Good luck mate. Sounds like you're back on the path.