Potentially starting a large grow and have been debating about what the best form of ventilation might be for it. I live in a very hot and humid place. The concept of ventilation using outside air is seeming more and more inefficient. I have been considering using a closed-loop ventilation system and was curious if anybody here has built and used them before. What are your thoughts on efficiency and effectiveness?
I too, live in a hot and humid location. First off, run your lights during nighttime hours. This helps tremendously! Closed looped systems aren't really going to supply you with the fresh air exchange necessary for optimum growth rates. It will definitely work, but better results could be achieved. I cut a hole thru the wall that leads into the bedroom beside it. The windows in that room are cracked about 2"-3" open(there are two). I use central AC for cooling. The ac vent in that room is open, cooling the room and allowing the cooled air to be brought into the room during exchange. By only cracking the windows a couple inches, I am allowing enough for fresh air to fill the room in between cycles(1 hr. 40mins.) and still cool that air without over taxing my ac unit. I cut a hole thru a wall to my living room. Cooled air is pulled thru 8" ducting and used to cool my lights then vented out thru the attic. My outside temps run around 90 degrees plus(up over 100) now thru September, and humidity is always 85%+. I also run a 19 light system,(10 HID's w/ far red LED's in between), at a off site facility. That system utilizes automated greenhouse venting and is kept cool using 2 swamp coolers. By the way, the scenario at the beginning uses 4 1000w lights and I have been using that system for approximately 10 years at that location. Hope this might have helped some. Keep it Green! Peace! P.S. I use supplemental Co2 and this also allows me to run my grows a few degrees hotter(78F)! Every little bit counts! Peace!
Closed loop systems are generally used in a sealed room environment. Creating a totally sealed environment in a room that wasn't specifically built for such is almost impossible, as there are inherent leaks and drafts in all homes(plus, buildup of converted gasses etc..). Peace!
This is not going to be a home build. I am potentially starting a small commercial grow operation (at least 40 flowering lights) The grow space will be constructed to whatever parameters I wish, so creating a sealed environment shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, the basic principle, as I understand from my research, is that I would need a buffering room the same size as the grow rooms. The buffer room would function as the "Lung" where the carbon filter, A/C, CO2, Humidifier, and de-Humidifier would be housed. My biggest worry is that having a buffer room the size of all the grow rooms would use up so much space. When renting a warehouse and constructing a grow facility inside, I need to think about using the space efficiently. If there are other better options for ventilation, I would love to utilize them. Thanks for the reply!
If you have to have carbon filters then your ass will be busted. Move to a state you can grow in at least. Your plan is all fucked up but more than likely its going to be in fantasy land. if you have to ask about shit like a big ass grow then you dont have the skills to do it anyway. I suggest you look for a job.
It sounds like you need some direction in the form of a contractor that specializes in lab/medical construction! Not being a dweeb or anything, but for a sealed room what you're saying isn't correct. Plus, there are serious issues going on in a totally sealed environment! The biggest one being dealing with the buildup of converted gasses! From what you're saying, I personally think you may be in over your head! Good luck! Keep it Green! Peace! P.S. not to mention the half million or more it would cost to convert 2000-3000 sq. ft. of space and outfit it to create a 40 light totally sealed grow!
For a noob, your ambitions and enthusiasm are Huge! In a couple years I will be entering my 4th decade of growing. Running a 40 light totally sealed environment, producing 50+#'s every two months, would tax every bit of knowledge and skill I have accumulated and then some probably! But hey, you sound like either you earned big time money or you inherited it and don't know what to do with it! If I had the money it's going to take you to do this, I might reconsider and invest it wisely or open a legitimate business. Unless you are a adrenaline junkie or thrill seeker, I'm not sure I would take the chance if I already had the money you obviously have. In the U.S., those numbers could have you playing volleyball at club Fed for the next 30 years! Good luck in your endeavors. May the winds of destiny carry you aloft to the heavens so you can dance with the stars! Peace!
You wouldn't be trying to yank our chains would you? Mother Nature abhors, and does not tolerate very well the Trickster! Peace!
At this point, I am in the planning phase of a legal medical marijuana grow center. I am not the sole planner in this. At this point I am coming up with a grow budget and projecting the most efficient grow room setup. My consultant (who is a very experienced big time grower) is out of the country and I have no contact with him. Still, I have to come up with a basic budget for investors until I can create a better plan with my associate. That is why I was asking about possibilities of the best design. Just trying to get information right now. As far as being over my head, I know that my knowledge is limited, but am trying to collect all the knowledge that I can in the meantime. I appreciate any positive feedback. I understand that my endeavors are huge, and my enthusiasm even more so. I simply wanted input from other growers on the subject.
Hire a real consultant that has experience with credentials to back it up. Or why not ask your "consultant",(that's why you have consultants), if he is a "big-time" grower, I'm sure he knows! I know you said he is out of country, but they have phones and e-mail most places on earth now. If you are really curious, hit up some edu sites.
Sorry to barge in on this and step into unknown territory. I appreciate all the input and advise. I'll definitely try to contact my consultant. I'm looking forward to joining this crew of growers. Maybe in a couple of years I can be the one giving advise on how to build a super grow. Wishful thinking, but I'm young and eager, a very dangerous combination.....
No worries Bro! I'd help if I could, but that is taxing everything I know and some I don't! The fellow Blades here are good souls and they would help if they knew or thought it would help! Like I said, hit up some educational research sites and you will find answers. Good luck and always strive to learn and be a better grower. I hope your venture is successful! Post pics! I think that would be interesting! Keep it Green! Peace!
Yeah I would start out with a two room perpetual small grow and get your sea legs first. You're current questions will be answered by experience. Shit, you don't even know if you have the talent. Too many people try to go big and end up sinking too much money into their equipment and buildout, fail, then can't recoop the loss. That's why there's so much slightly used grow equipment on Craigslist. Set up two rooms with a couple T5 lights for veg and a couple 1k HPS lamps for flowering and get to work on honing your skills in producing a quality product before you get dollar signs in your eyes. You'd never see an inexperienced new baker go straight to building a 10,000sqft bakery before baking a few loaves of bread at home. Don't risk the money you obviously have on something like this before you know you can. -growtender