Sealed room options advice

[IlPapa]

Hi everyone, I am new here but I have gained invaluable knowledge from this site and would like to thank everybody concerned.

I am designing new room.

11' x 4'
3x600w (currently using adjustawings but may go air cooled)
propane co2 with ecotechnics controller
DIY aeroflo type system. (Fully dialled in on this.Works great.)

I want to use a sealed room. As I see it my options are

1. Non cooled lights and small split A/c with "outdoor" unit in separate vented room.(I feel a/c fighting heat would keep humidity down).Room could be vented periodically also.

2. Fully cooled lighting system independent of room air supply with dehumidifier running in room.


I live in temperate area. No extremes of temp.Outside humidity can be high.

Would a 7000btu split A/C suffice for option 1?

How would running costs compare? I reckon a/c would only run part time but dehum would be on almost constant. Opinions?

During dark cycle room would be vented so A/C or dehum would be off.

Any opinions advice appreciated.

Il Papa.

[c-ray]

dehumidifiers create heat, so you might need a larger a/c, or you might have another room you can stick the dehumidifier in to 'pre-condition' the air before bringing it into the grow room (via the intake)

also co2 generators create heat and humidity, best to get a co2 bottle, regulator and cycle timer if you can...with a small room you should only need 1 bottle per month or so

[Lungus]

also co2 generators create heat and humidity, best to get a co2 bottle, regulator and cycle timer if you can...with a small room you should only need 1 bottle per month or so
I have a 4x4x7 box that uses a 20lb tank a week in veg and every week and a half in flower. I started out dispensing CO2 according to the numbers, then I got a sniffer and found out I wasn't enhancing shit, I was just barely bumping the ppms. Those numbers only matter if your room was personally sealed by Jesus. It would behoove you to no end to either buy or rent a sniffer or use a sniffer controller for your CO2 to ensure that you are actually enhancing your environment and not throwing away money for nothing. I could get away with less CO2 but I don't have a dehumidifier or air conditioner so I use a slow fan to bleed moisture laden air out of the box and a thermostat to quickly vent all the air if it still gets too hot. I would suggest to you that you should use both air cooled lights and an air conditioner as even cooled lights will eventually heat up your room. If you don't have to pay for your water I would suggest, in that case, using a swamp chiller and a dehumidifier. Also, if you want the best light delivery for that space I would try to go with 3x1000W bulbs, because if you are going to spend the time and money getting a CO2 system up and running why fuck around with less than optimal lumens. Light is the engine that drives growth and the more you deliver the better growth you will see. All the nutrients and CO2 in the world won't make up for having sufficient light but they will make sure that you get maximum production from that light.

[IlPapa]

"also co2 generators create heat and humidity, best to get a co2 bottle, regulator and cycle timer if you can...with a small room you should only need 1 bottle per month or so"

Bottles not an option. I am already using co2 generator. Lights on at night so outside temps low.

My actually grow area is 32 square feet. 3 x 600 is ample I think.I am an experienced grower but don't know much bout a/c.

I have a complete ecotechnics control with sensor for co2. (British thing google it)

With vented room I can get co2 to about 600ppm before stat vents room. Even this increase in co2 is noticeable and flowering time is shortened.Big noisy fans are an issue.

Propane co2 is so cheap that I can afford to vent at high temps.and humidity.Small a/c should reduce need for venting.

CO2 thing is an interesting experiment as much as anything else.I am getting great results as is with seperate vegging cab, Chronic/Euforia mothers, aeroflow and chiller. Lucas formula of course. Would like to get it working as efficiently as possible so all other input welcome.

Thanks for replies and I will look into the Swamp chiller Lungus.

Sorry I can't get quotes thing to work. Think it may be my proxy.

[Lungus]

My actually grow area is 32 square feet. 3 x 600 is ample I think.I am an experienced grower but don't know much bout a/c.

So it is. I still love the canopy penetration that you get from the 1000 watters. Ya, my buddy has a sealed room and has a swamp chiller and a dehumidifier with a CO2 burner going and is very happy about the yields he's been getting after years of conventional flat or stadium style grows.

[IlPapa]

So it is. I still love the canopy penetration that you get from the 1000 watters. Ya, my buddy has a sealed room and has a swamp chiller and a dehumidifier with a CO2 burner going and is very happy about the yields he's been getting after years of conventional flat or stadium style grows.

I am in europe. 1k lights hard to come by and expensive. We tend to grow shorter plants I think.

Modern 600watters with good bulbs and the right reflector and digi ballasts penetrate enough for all but the tallest plants imo.

Just recently started using digi ballasts and according to my reasonably accurate ammeter they are about 10% more efficient(than a newish 600 magnetic). Combined with the more constant output and longer lamp life I reckon 2 600w costs about same as one conventional 1000w to run. More lumens though so maybe cheaper per lumen.

Forgot to mention I have been using same trickle fan/ stat fan technique as you. Hate to be using it for bottled co2!!!! lol.

Keep the faith. Papa.

[jhc046]

If I where you I would not use the CO2 bottle unless you are doing something mush smaller. You can find air cooled CO2 gen that are great for what you are doing. I switched to a CO2 gen about 10 years ago and have found that it make a much bigger difference then a bottle. Plants can grow up to an inch or more in daylight hours with the right mixture of CO2 Nutrients and lights