New member with a few ??'s

[Hawaiian Style]

A few questions but first this is what I've built, acquired...whatever.


Cabinet dimensions 21"D x 34"W x 70"H.
Reinforced cabinet with plywood (top and bottom) and set up on casters.
430 HPS with Xtrasun ballast
Daystar AC Hood/Reflector
Hortilux Eye HPS bulb and a Hortilux Eye MH conversion bulb
Active air 265 and 95 CFM squirrel cages for venting hood and cabinet
2 x 8" x 8" "Doran" darkroom louvers, bottom L and R of cab.
13" x 10" passive vent, lower back of cab.
2 x 4"x4" round passive vents.
1 x 6" circulating fan
Scrog screen: 1" x 1" wire mesh. 20"H x 34"W x 18.5"D
61" height for Veg/Flower
7" shelf at top of cab for blowers, power strip etc.
Ballast sits up top.
DIY carbon scrubber built but not needed just yet. May not be used at all as my situation provides for quick dispersal of pungent air.

Much of my inspiration has come from reading posts by Jamstigator and Justaseed. My goal is to try and replicate their success with a stealth scrog combo. Now for a few questions...
My ambient temps (outside air temps) range from 75 at night to 85 mid day. With everything "ON" in my cab, my temps per my digital thermometer are 88 at night and up to 93 mid day. What I donâ??t understand is I can put my hand inside the cab right under the glass (practically touching the glass) and hold it there without any discomfort and yet my temp meter is giving me these high temps? My understanding is we want mid 70â??s to low 80â??s ideally. How can I get this set up cooler without having to haul it inside the apt and into an ACâ??d room? My blowers are working as best they can, Iâ??ve got passive intake throughout the cab. Air circulation as follows: passive air in cab pulled through hood via 265 CFM across bulb, exiting top of cab. 95 CFM simply vents air out of top of cab.
With the above infoâ?¦how close can I place my hood to my 2 week old seedlings?

I know theyâ??re yellow and not looking real healthy right now. They were germed , placed in â??black goldâ?� soil and practically drowned. My bad! Theyâ??re on the wagon as we speak.lol

Hawaiian Style Reviewed by Hawaiian Style on 11-22-2006. New member with a few ??'s A few questions but first this is what I've built, acquired...whatever. Cabinet dimensions 21"D x 34"W x 70"H. Reinforced cabinet with plywood (top and bottom) and set up on casters. 430 HPS with Xtrasun ballast Daystar AC Hood/Reflector Hortilux Eye HPS bulb and a Hortilux Eye MH conversion bulb Active air 265 and 95 CFM squirrel cages for venting hood and cabinet 2 x 8" x 8" "Doran" darkroom louvers, bottom L and R of cab. Rating: 5

[Hawaiian Style]

A few pics...

[jamstigator]

No way to lower your room temps? I try to keep mine below 70 here whenever possible. If you could do that, well, that'd save you 5-15 degrees. Your seedlings certainly look healthy enough. Where is your thermometer mounted? If it's being hit by the light, I'd move it above the light (and not touching the light or reflector). The temps you get at the top of the cabinet are generally the ones I go by, as that's the temp of the air that your oscillating fan is blowing over the plants.

Very nice and clean setup, btw!

[Hawaiian Style]

Top of the cab...makes sense. Thanks Jamstigator. I'll put it to the test right now and see what I get.

BTW, I think I've read just about every post of yours but I've never seen a pic of your veg/clone/mother cabinet. I know you advocate a seperate cab for this so as not not overcomplicate the main cab/leave more room for flowering. Can you suggest the proper lighting/ventilation to sprout/clone 4 to 5 seedlings and the same for a compact banzai mom? I have a 66"H x 14"W x 10"D two door, white cabinet with multiple adjustable shelves.
I'd like to cut down on the cost of lighting, ventilation and was hoping to use just a few CFL's or T12's in seperate compartments to accomplish this task.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.