$30 heat solution for small grow space

[Agentbuckwold3]

Hey all,
I was recently having some problems controlling heat in my small DWC grow box (18w x 13d x 48h) with a 300watt led. It's only a 6quart reservoir and my temp in the box was getting as high as 90F putting the res at 77F which I believe was making it very difficult for my roots to get oxygen and causing my plant to droop terribly. Where it was such a small system I didn't want to invest in chillers used in larger setups. So, I gave this a shot and it has worked wonders. It's brought my grow box temp down to 78F and my res temp down to 68F. So I'm going to give it a few day and see if she makes a turn around. All the materials cost me $30.

 

[DW2]

Howdy Agentbuckworld3. Looks like a plan to me! Have You thought of supplementing the cold packs with a couple of small chunks of dry ice? The dry ice is colder than ice packs and the CO2 addition could not hurt, also does that set up have an air pump to aerate the reservoir?

 

[D.A.A.S.69]

What is that A3 ??

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Just a styrofoam cooler and 2 extra large ice packs. I've added 6 more ice packs since the pic. 4" vinyl duct run directly to the intake fan. I also replaced the white 6" fan with a more powerful 9" fan to help push more air. I do have an air pump with one airstone but I ordered another air pump with 2 outlets and air stones to try and get more oxygen to the roots.

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

I am very unfamiliar with handling dry ice. We also only have one distributor around us that sells it and it's kind of pricey. How often would I have to change it out?

 

[D.A.A.S.69]

Thanks man, sounds like it's doing a nice job.

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Thanks, it's been a battle with this first grow. I regret starting with DWC but I'm learning plenty on the fly. Hopefully she will start to turn around soon.

 

[DW2]

With out the fan, it could last for days (depending on the initial amount used, etc.). I place the leftover dry ice (from making hash) at the top of my grow closet in a Styrofoam cooler, it takes days for the ice to completely sublimate, the CO2 gas escapes out of the seam at the lid of the cooler. Around here the dry ice is available for $1.75 to $2.00 per pound. If you are un comfortable handling it, then don't. At -109° F it can cause a nasty 'freeze' burn to the bare skin. I bought a pair of insulated cryogenic gloves, but just a pair of weather proof work gloves will do as well and are less expensive. A pair of BBQ mitts would work also.

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Thanks for the info as always DW2. I'm going to give the ice packs a few days and see if they work out. If I need something more aggressive I'll give the dry ice a shot.

 

[D.A.A.S.69]

Yeah A3 , I hear you, that's why I grow in supersoil cause I ain't smart enough to do all of that other stuff even though it's fun doing it.But I do know how to use only water, that's easy. Haha

 

[Sammy]

No Title

I did a water probe ice chiller it's made for aquariums my 5-gallon dwc Reservoir stays 66 68 degrees room temp varies from 74 to 80 I paid about $140 for this one I've seen them on eBay for 119 works great. If you're interested search ice probe on this site I did a little bit on it good luck ☮️

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Is it really as easy as buying/making your super soil, planting, and just watering? GWE made it sound so easy and I should have started with that, but I like tinkering with stuff.

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Man that's intense. It may be a little much for my system. I'm way more small scale than your setup. But, if I decide to go bigger I'll for sure look farther into that. Thanks good luck on your grows.

 

[Aloner]

I'm using Kind Soil same as him, and yeah, it really is that easy! Which is good because I've made a number of missteps along the way (nothing serious, fortunately). I've only had to deal with external stuff like making sure the water is pH'd correctly, giving enough water but not too much, watching out for bugs, and trying to avoid any heat stress. And if I was growing inside, it would pretty much ONLY be dealing with the water!

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

That's great to know because I was very close to buying some Kind soil. Did you guys germ right in the soil or wait for the seedling to get going and transplant?

 

[Aloner]

The Kind Soil goes in the bottom of the pot, then you fill it the rest or the way with coco/potting soil (they recommend either Roots Organic or Coco Loco). I had mine in only Roots Organic for the first three weeks or so, until I transplanted them into their final 5 gal. pots. Kind Soil would be way too "hot" for seedlings, and in my (limited) experience, the potting soil had plenty of nutes in it to support them through their early weeks. (All my of early problems were due to not pH'ing the water, and using too-weak lights at the start, both of which were corrected while the girls were still seedlings. They're flourishing now, 2 months in.)

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

That's what I thought. I remember reading the Kind soil is hot. I've got all the materials bookmarked for a full organic grow so if I can't save this poor girl in the DWC I think that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the input guys I really appreciate it. You know how much it sucks when you're growing and all you want to do is talk about it but you can't when you're in an unfriendly state.

 

[Aloner]

Hell, I'm in a friendly state and I don't really feel like I can talk about it! Other folks at work can talk about going to whiskey tastings or how they home brew beer but I have to keep quiet about this interesting new hobby of mine. (I'm only slightly bitter lol.)

I was considering switching to DWC when I move indoors after this grow but I decided yesterday to stick with Kind Soil, at least for the time being. It's just too easy! Maybe after I've mastered the art of the manifold and got my light setup just so.

 

[Agentbuckwold3]

Don't let my DWC problems discourage you. I think my problems aren't from all the tedious measuring and keeping track of PH and ppm (which I monitor twice a day). I think this premade grow box I ordered, as convenient as it is, has major problems as far as temperature control. Even using an LED, it gets sooooo hot in the box. Hopefully my little makeshift a/c unit will solve this problem and she will start looking better.

 

[Aloner]

It's more the added cost than anything else. Why shell out for an entire DWC setup (rez, nutes and supplements, air pumps, water pumps, etc), when I already have the basics for soil growing? I'll still need a tent, fans, filter, and light(s) but that's it. And some fresh soil, of course!