I’m presently researching tents. I can only do a 2’x4’ and I’m looking at Gorilla and AC Infinity. I’ll be using two HLG 200 Rspec lights with AC Infinity air circulation fans and filtration/exhaust system. The filtration/exhaust equipment will be inside the tent just below the roof. The HLG folks recommend 15" of clearance between my lights and what’s above the lights.
The GT is 7’11" high. If I allow for 1’ of height being taken up by the filtration/exhaust equipment, 15" of clearance to the top of the lights, ~6" for the depth of the lights/drivers, ~18" clearance between the lights and the tops of plants and ~1’ for the height of the soil in the grow bag above tent floor level, I think I’m looking at about 6’ of committed vertical space and a maximum plant height of ~2’.
I’ve seen lots of pix of indoor tent plants here that looked noticeably over 2’ tall, so I’m hoping my calculations are wrong. Please tell me they are.
My questions:
- How tall a plant could I realistically hope to grow with the described setup?
- In using my described setup – If I make extensive use of mainlining, supercropping, FIMing and LST – how much available vertical plant space will I really need for feminized photoperiods (grown in coco with Jacks 321 if that matters)?
TIA for any helpful advice or insights!
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Did you get the 1 foot extension for your Gorilla tent? Im using a Gorilla also. Their thinline 4×4 and with the extension installed i have more than enough height. I think you will be fine. But, let the experienced and knowledgeable members tell you whats up. Im new to growing indoors.
Thanks for your thoughts. I should’ve mentioned – the tent is 7’11" with the included 1’ extension. I’ll go with that because my ceiling height is 8’, so the 7’11" fits just right.
I also found my first calculation error–the numbers I listed total up to 5’ of committed vertical space and allow for a ~3’ plant. It’s not as discouraging as I first thought, but it still feels to me like 3’ is a low maximum workable plant height.
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I really doubt you’ll need 15" between the exhaust and the lights. Worst case scenario, a 6" walmart fan blowing over the top of the lights would dissipate a lot of heat that would be exhausted anyway.
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I thought 15 sounded like a lot too. But i dunno does the light mfg have anything to say? Might be able to reduce your first two numbers - vent equip. and space above the lights. See others with vent equipment mounted outside tent getting more height.
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I would allow 3’ from top of tent down, for filter or hoses, lights and light clearance to plants. Then you need to flip your plants to flower and 1/2 that height. They will most likely double in size during flowering.
3 to 4 foot tall plants are plenty big enough to produce a lot of buds.
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Thanks for the responses so far. The 15" clearance between lights and what’s above them was what HLG suggested on the phone today. TBH, it feels like a self-serving recommendation intended to keep some jerk (me) from putting lights too close to something, maybe starting a fire or damaging equipment and generating grief for HLG–by recommending more clearance than is really necessary.
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I let the plant decide, some plants are fat and wide, some are tall and skinny. I go with the flow, and work with the plant.
Most of mine end up around the 3-4’ mark, and LST, or super crop what I need to keep the canopy from getting too tall.
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That’s plenty of height and recommend putting the exhaust fan outside the tent. That’ll free up extra space and my Diablo 200s in my 2 x 4 are around 4” from the top in full flower. If heat is an issue remove the drivers and put them outside the tent as well 
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You cant have to much hieght. I used a 5’ tent at first and had fits with it. Went to the GT24 gorilla at 6.3 plus the 1’ extention (which i dont use) but just the difference to the 6.3 was monumentaly easier to work around. So get all you use and then some. IMHO. Also suggust reading up on scrogging. Makes height less critical.
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