Hi all , this is probably my first of many questions on the subject and would like some pointers and advice plz.

Looking to setup a small grow tent in attic for upto 4 plants max, possibly DR80 or DR100. Now the thing that is critical to me is the noise. Its a semi-detatched house but on the plus side the extraction will be on the opposite gable end from my neighbour. I already have an extraction point from my shower installed that is 4" (100mm) via a cheap manrose sf100t. Would it be possible to fit something similar to a "Y" piece into this existing ducting and route extraction from grow tent via it ?

I cant change the extract vent that is already there for a larger one (5" or larger) as it is far too high for my wobbly legs and would either need a triple extension ladder or a cherry picker.

If thats the case and the answer is no , should i be looking for a smaller volume grow tent (DR60) ? And will these be ok for a 400W light or will the light have too much heat build up and I would need something like a Cooltube ?

Sorry for all the Q's

Regards

Just a point of note my 200mm 8" HIGH power Ruck is silent running @ 20-40% using a variac.

Flat out sounds like a jet fighter taking off. Doubt I will ever need to run it flat, the huge size was to be able to have tonnes of control over setting it and noise.

Point is, go BIG and tune it down on a decent variac controller. I could have a 5" running flat doing the same job but it would be MUCH MUCH louder.

I've extra capacity left to deal with any situation and running @ 10% it'll still vent my room ok if the night is super cold etc...

Again with a BIG fan you migh not need a cooltube.

Go for the biggest tent you can, you'll not regret it, you can get a Dr100 setup totally silent, no worries, mines a small room in the room, bigger than your tent ideas and it runs silent, the only noise is the cheapo fan I use inside to circulate air...

Now I got heat issues, 10C last night Off to buy a £17.99 washable/waterproof electric blanket to stick under the floor covering Cheap underfloor heating, more complex than the kits underfloor heater kits on ebay for £70-100.

Airforce fans

google them, I've got one of the AF100 it's a hell of a lot quieter than the 5inch rvk on full whack (Yet same air flow) and I find I can use it fine on 1/3 power and can't hear it above the noise the airpump makes.

When I buy new stuff it's going to be 2 AF200 to solve any ventilation problems forever almost silenty. (There so far above what I need I should be able to get them running at 10% power.)

Expensive but airforce sell a variac controller with optional temp module and timer overide which is highly recomended by me.

I love mine it's great.

those noise levels are the fans themselves without acoustic ducting it's louder but I used it in my shed without acoustic ducting or a silencer and on 1/2 power you couldn't here a thing unless you put your ear to the door.

Hi Gus,

Did you make the variac yourself or did you buy it ?

just to add airforce fans are the dogs bollox tbh... I have two of the 8 inch AF200 models & cant hear anything with them on 80% power using big carbon filters & acoustic ductwork..

my original one from 2006 is still going strong after 3 years continuos use & two changes of location...

easily my fav piece of equipment, testing my new one out without any ducting connected in my living rm it sounds no louder than a hanry hoover & you can talk over it without Shouting which is always a good look

will have to see what the rvk style high power 8 inch fans are like on a variac some time I think there is potential with them to get them damn near silent..

Hi mate, I would use a 6 inch extractor.

Use the bathroom extractor to extract air from the bathroom into your growroom, thats the intake sorted, now you can run a 6 inch duct onto a 6inch to 4inch reducer/adaptor, this adpator will fit into the exsisting 4 inch vent that the bathroom extracted through(the hole in the wall).

Hope thats not too confusing.

I think you'd get away with using reducers on the pipe work to extract out the bathroom so really you should be able to use a big enough fan to suit your room

but thats just my 2 pence

Madness

basically... i second what gus said. i have a 75x75x160 budbox with a 5" ruck fan and a cooltube. i'm using a variac (bought from maplin £30) and i run the fan at night on about 40% and i can hear it. wish i'd spent the money i put on the cooltube on a bigger fan now.

Made it myself, very easy, few pictures in the DIY kit section, works perfect, just waiting for another variac for dual controls.

Thanks for all the replies everyone , much appreciated

I will be using a 5" ruck for extraction purposes via acoustic ducting. I shall be connecting it upto the 4" vent via a "Y" piece and some reducers.

I have just been up to check the ambient temp / humidity of my attic with nothing in there, currently at 68° and 53 RH. Now I am guessing that the ambient info is pretty worthless without my grow tent in there (?). Can anyone see any temperature problems running a 600W lamp in the 1x1x2 tent ?

Thanks

Cheers man...will have to do some reading

Well i finally got me tent up and running in loft , just got it running for a couple of hours to check everything works as it should

Current enviroment is ...

Diamond reflector with 400W Growlux lamp
5" Ruck fan with acoustic ducting
Passive intake
Temp : 71F
Humidity : 45%

Now the above temps and humidity have been stable for the last 2 hours during the day with light on. Can anyone see a problem with them , before my seeds arrive ?

Cheers

I think you should go to a grow shop and hear the fans first...

I've got a DR80 and 400w HPS with a Ruck 125L. Hear it in the loft yeah but I can't hear it anywhere else.

If you want to sleep in the same room then it's not a good idea but it's just a low sort of hum that behind a closed door wouldn't be noticed.

No need to goto growshop and hear fans running mate , i have it up and running now and cant be heard in the house at all.

The question I was asking was in reference to my temps / humidity now that its up and running (with no grow in there)

comments welcome