Hi Ross,
Thanks so much for all the detailed info! Now that I know more about how swamp coolers work and the conditions they work best in, I've definitely decided not to go that route. I've been thinking about simply putting louvers in the door that goes from the grow room into the garage.....ones that I can open and close (for now, I'm just leaving the door open). Before Rodney and I started this project, it didn't cross my mind that the one small little vent (about 18" from the floor) would not be enough. I just wasn't thinking about that and, as I've said before, I didn't expect that the T5s heat output would be as much as it is, you know. As I've also said before...."you live, you learn".
Thanks for the picture....I like your growing setup. Where did you get those little fans on your walls? Let me know, if you don't mind. I had never thought about putting them there. Good idea.
Thanks again for your help,
Vicki
TE=Ross;156922]The secret with t5 lights (based on more than a year of concentrated experimentation and study) is to control the heat before it becomes a problem. What I mean is, the bulbs run at 95 degrees F. That's a part of the technology. On top of that you are adding heat to ambient room temps. The cooler the ambient temps are, the less affect the tubes have (even though they still emit light at 95 degrees F.)
With that background, there may be some options. In winter, the added heat can work to your advantage (even though you don't need much, you still need some.) In summer is when we need to cool the air or evacuate the heat. The reason I said fans is that's how I deal with the heat. But I chose a different method. An oscillating fan really doesn't do anything except stir up the air (temperature averaging
) which doesn't help with ambient temps in the 90s. Evacuating the warm air and replacing with cooler air is the goal.
This is my solution. Small fans directed at the fixture.
Now, how can we (you) do this? Kona gave you some great recommendations that should be considered strongly. I have my problem area in a basement and open the windows during the night to cool down the basement, run fans to direct the coolest air toward the tank (takes 4 small desk fans to do this) and shut down a couple during the day. If there is some way to evacuate the heat from the room (not spread it around) that will help. I'm thinking of supplies that hydroponics (and marijuana) growers need, because of the same problems with their hot lights.
Grow room and green house exhaust fans and filters at Sunburst Hydroponics
But you can only reduce temps around your orchids to outside ambient temps unless you cool the air somehow. Perhaps "swamp coolers" or even room air conditioning? Swamp coolers work best in dry climates like Arizona, not in humid areas like yours, so don't expect great cooling. Bringing in air from a cooler shaded area (outside) would work. Your goal shouldn't be 60 degrees when ambient temps are 90s. Not possible without mega airconditioning. Most plants we grow can tolerate up to the mid 80s with no problem. Even my Dracs tolerate this even though they prefer 60s. Hope this longish post gives you some things to ponder. Let us know how you decide to go. Lucky thing is, you're coming up to some cooler weather and the solution may be a ways off.
A last thought (thus the edit.) Even in warm climates like yours, evening temps tend to be a bit cooler. Can you rig up a system to cool the orchid room at night via fans (even big ones) and close this off during the day to eliminate the sun's warming?[/QUOTE]
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