My Grow Box Is hovering around the mid 80's temp...can you help me? (see photo's)

[Rush429]

pull heat from bulb ext 4-6" ducting . add 2ed fan lower to plants longs u keep em moist n happy 80 isnt that bad opt temp is 72.8 I think ? replace your liner with mylar and max light usage flat white reflects 98% of your light and not radint heat should help some too. other than spending some coin and picking up an inline fan plus ducting with a ssealed light fixture???? hope [any of this helpsUOTE][/QUOTE]

[Tol]

Whats the size of your inline fan? 4" or 6"? Also make sure you have good airflow going through the filter. When mine is on, I can put my hand up to it and feel a force pushing out just a bit, but close to 2 inches away. So make sure you've got good airflow. If your using a different style of filter, or an inline filter, just insure you've got proper air flow.

As far as those 2" holes - Why not just cut a vent? You can get the vent covers at walmart or any home hardware store dirt cheap, and it's easy to make a 4x8 or 4x12 passive air intake. I'm using 600 watts (actual watts) in a 3x3x18" box and I NEED a powered intake, otherwise I'll hit 120 degrees (have before) within minutes. However, with my powered air intake from a cool source, my box stays a steady 73 in the summer (from an air conditioner) and it's about 77 right now (on and off window cooling, but the air is temped by running over the lights to avoid any sort of shock to the plants, I think this was actually described in this thread, not sure)

At any rate, it does sound like your not pulling enough CFM's through your exhaust to expel the heat fast enough, but it does also sound like your not getting the intake you need. Have you put in an oscillating fan yet?

Just finished up the last of my pineapple express - Got another two weeks for the next crop (bah!) Good thing I've got WW and Powerbud in that one I've got Skunk and Critical Kali Mist coming in the next 4 weeks (YAY)... I've heard really good stuff about blue dream - Let me know how it turns out, I might pick up some auto beans - Just found out I'll have my new grow space by the end of feb

Holy shhhhhoot! I figured it out last night! Like you said, it had to do with my fan. The thing is that i drilled 6 additional 2" intake holes and that didnt help lower the temp. I was stumped!!! Then i checked my fan and it was exhausting as it should be. When i disconnected the carbon filter, the temp dropped down 17 degrees. I was surprised that all this time, it was my carbon filter giving the temp issue.

Now i have to figure out which is the best way to use my carbon filter but with maintaining lower temps. I can leave out the filter but now i have the odor to worry about because its exhausting into my garage as that is where my box is located.

Any tips with odor? I use the ona gels which works so far but not sure how much worse the odor will get. Help please!

[Tol]

Holy shhhhhoot! I figured it out last night! Like you said, it had to do with my fan. The thing is that i drilled 6 additional 2" intake holes and that didnt help lower the temp. I was stumped!!! Then i checked my fan and it was exhausting as it should be. When i disconnected the carbon filter, the temp dropped down 17 degrees. I was surprised that all this time, it was my carbon filter giving the temp issue.

Now i have to figure out which is the best way to use my carbon filter but with maintaining lower temps. I can leave out the filter but now i have the odor to worry about because its exhausting into my garage as that is where my box is located.

Any tips with odor? I use the ona gels which works so far but not sure how much worse the odor will get. Help please!

Or would i just need a bigger carbon filter?!?!?!

[Mal420xl]

i think you need a fan that can handle a filter in the first place. you need more cfm draw that it sounds like you have now

[low_rdr]

I would agree with Mal - I'm using an 8" inline fan (like 300 cfms) and i created my own carbon filter, mine is 2 ply, and works just fine (now and then there is an odor, typically in week 3, but since I'm perpetual, I always have a week 3 going - Now and then when the odor comes, all I have to do is wet my filter, and its gone for another month or so)

I'm glad you found the problem, are you sure your exhaust fan was pointing the right direction? (not being sarcastic) If you followed my carbon filter guide, and put the filter on the OUTSIDE of your box, then your inline fan was reversed

[Tol]

I would agree with Mal - I'm using an 8" inline fan (like 300 cfms) and i created my own carbon filter, mine is 2 ply, and works just fine (now and then there is an odor, typically in week 3, but since I'm perpetual, I always have a week 3 going - Now and then when the odor comes, all I have to do is wet my filter, and its gone for another month or so)

I'm glad you found the problem, are you sure your exhaust fan was pointing the right direction? (not being sarcastic) If you followed my carbon filter guide, and put the filter on the OUTSIDE of your box, then your inline fan was reversed

Yup! The fan is pointing the right direction. I did a lot of research with my silent fan, which i should have done before i bought it, but after reading forums...the silent inline fan i have, when connecting a can filter, it lessens the cfm dramatically which means that i need a 6" fan.

I had just ordered one with a box filter and they will refund my current silent fan. I will install it wednesday. I hope this solves everything!!...for now till summer hits that is...

[low_rdr]

That's why I use an 8"

[Tol]

Can you show me what your filter looks like?

[Tol]

Here are my latest photos. I added 5 more intake holes (2") and I took the hoods off the cfl lights and hung them on the trellis. Tomorrow I'll be getting my 6" silient inline fan to install.

Attachment 289062
Attachment 289063
Attachment 289064
Attachment 289065