installing ventilation systems

[GBgotmefaded]

I have read through entire books about cultivation and many forums and grow-guides on the web, but I can't seem to find specific information regarding the basic set up and requirements of a grow-room's ventilation system. How elaborate does it have to be? where do you buy the parts? and how difficult are they to install? How exactly do you go about installing them -- or constructing a growbox designed to accomodate them? From what I understand, the chamber has to be completely enclosing; there must be no light leaks and no air freely flowing in and out. And why is that so? Why must the air in my air conditioned home be blown into my grow-room with fans, as opposed to letting it flow through freely via unenclosed sections?

[theMD]

HID grow lights (HPS or MH) generate a lot of heat. You must keep them cool in order to control the temperature of your grow room or box. The easiest way to do that on a small scale for a personal grow is to build a box that is completely air tight. With an air tight box you will be able to bring in cool air from your home and exhaust the hot air from the box (preferably directing it into another room, or better yet your attic).

It is also critical that you bring fresh air into the grow box because plants breathe just like you and me -- they just inhale carbon dioxide instead of oxygen. If you don't get fresh air to the plants they will die. By using a good quality fan that can keep your HPS light cool you will be moving more than enough air to provide your plants with fresh air.

Finally, making your box light tight is important because when you force your plants to start flowering by switching the light schedule to 12 hours on 12 hours off it is extremely important to make sure the plants are in absolute darkness for those 12 hours when the light is off.

If you want to see how I converted a wardrobe cabinet into a personal grow box check out this link (http://www.overgrow.com/edge/showthread.php?t=585233). Feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions.