My new highland grow tent

[twigs]

I've got my new set up going. I still have some improvements to make but for the most part it's finalized.

Parts list:
Mother Keeper Grow Tent - 51.5" x 22.5" x 48.5". $100.00 ebay htgsupply
3x 48" T8 shop lights - reused from my old setup
1 48" x 18" shelf from my old setup
Ultrasonic humidifer - $9.50 ebay largedepot
2 net pots and styrofoam block
4 misc fans from wal-mart ~$50


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aoen12HqQhWg3S6mLwInp6PuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h7bR-Emwt3c/T-EyVRaqJaI/AAAAAAAAArI/3jYVviAwYPI/s800/IMG_4687.JPG" height="725" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W_Q2BSw_MhQsZcuE5lSIu6PuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g1h_fYSE7ZU/T-EyYPQKAnI/AAAAAAAAArQ/bWrO0amVSKg/s800/IMG_4691.JPG" height="649" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SyQdTQIEyv-_Ag29x4y3AqPuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3BDaMfJt0ms/T-EyiJlQ-WI/AAAAAAAAArs/kfjZYLkryNc/s800/IMG_4695.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XBwPXI4nj4njcJN4MrJP7qPuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tNYeFqx8pEo/T-EyZ2F3gCI/AAAAAAAAArY/1kegIZsNJmc/s800/IMG_4692.JPG" height="800" width="600" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NIqfDmiGrkptnCvoBRKQCaPuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j3ZLMqbbsng/T-EyjVdg-nI/AAAAAAAAAr0/qbhsU2eti5s/s800/IMG_4696.JPG" height="800" width="600" /></a>

To start from the top:
Lights - 3x T8 shop lights. I have a fan blowing across the lights and a vent hole open at the top. This keeps the daytime max temps around 77F . Without the fan, the temps were getting above 84. Two more fans circulate air on the plants. One is on at night to circulate the cold air coming up from the bottom, the other is on during the day for simple circulation.

At the bottom:
The tub in the middle has a fan and is filled with gallons of ice in the evening to provide cooling. The fan blows the cold air and humidity from the ultrasonic humidifier up towards the plants. Depending on how much ice I put in, temps get down to 56-61F lows. 56F was achieved by using about 10 gallons of ice, 61F was achieved with 3 gallons. I'm experimenting on what will yield the best temps without using excessive amounts of ice. Best amount to use, should I put ice directly in the humidifier water, whether or not the plastic shroud helps cooling, etc...

Ultrasonic humidifier runs at night. The top net pots are tied to each other and set in the styrofoam block as a float. The net pot on top is there to catch the splashing (I taped the top to further reduce splashing)


Improvements:
I definitely looking to upgrade the lighting to a T5 fixture. I also need to switch to an automated cooling system. The ice isn't too annoying yet but I need a long term solution. I've been following robthered's cooling thread which looks promising.

 

[mikefallen13]

WOW that is an impressive setup! I may eventually do something like this

 

[pebes]

Nice set up! what are your ambient temperatures, day and night?

 

[lance]

Wonderful setup!! It reminds me of my HL chamber which was hard to put together.

 

[Favian]

great job!, I can't wait to see more updates

 

[twigs]

Ambient ranges from 68-78. I was going to build something instead of buying a pre-made tent but by the time I put a part list together for a DIY enclosure, this tent was cheaper. The grow tent was surprisingly easy to put together. Took no longer than 20 minutes, even though I had to take apart the frame and put it back together because I didn't read the directions (certain poles have to face certain ways, who'da thunk it?)

 

[mylesG]

love the setup I will definitely be buying a growtent down the road when my new tanks get overcrowded.

 

[twigs]

I picked up a temperature and humidity data logger from ebay. It hooks up to a computer and you can download data to excel. Temps hover around 60-62 for about 5 hours at night. The fans/humidifier shut off around 5 AM and come back on for an hour around 6-7. I though it was pretty cool to see the drop in temps and the rise in humidity on the graph. Day temps don't get much above 76 but I just put a 4th T8 fixture in the tent so we'll see if this raises the temps. I'm still looking to upgrade to T5s but I'm waiting at the moment.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ocDXsVym-8uVsDjqsCESEqPuNnvwR1ob8uEA3xfPsh0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_QH6QqyzRPI/T_EUSk1V8VI/AAAAAAAAAsM/UfXPEHaTcgo/s800/Temp%2520Graph.jpg" height="583" width="800" /></a>