Achieve Consistency in Your Cannabis Grow Room with Altaqua HVAC System

As the demand for cannabis products continues to grow in markets everywhere, growers know that it's more important than ever to ensure a controlled grow room environment. That's because a grow room with consistent environmental controls not only improves quality and yield, but only consistent, high-yield product leads to higher market prices and customer satisfaction, which in turn improves economic efficiency.

In this blog, we'll provide an environmentally controlled solution that uses an Altaqua HVAC system to accurately control temperature, humidity, airflow, and carbon dioxide levels to ultimately take control of your cannabis grow room and create the perfect growing conditions for your cannabis.

Why Create a Controlled Cannabis Grow Room?

Cannabis growth is affected by a number of factors, and creating an environmentally controlled grow room for cannabis production can produce more high quality cannabis. Controlled environments not only provide stable growing conditions such as temperature and humidity, but they also allow for precise control of the nutrient supply that cannabis needs, and consistent growing conditions in controlled environments reduce the impact of environmental factors on cannabis gene expression, which can lead to consistent levels of cannabis chemicals such as THC and CBD. Let's explore this in more detail.

Increase Yield and Quality

Standardised production processes and strict quality control measures in a controlled environment ensure that each batch of cannabis meets established quality standards.

Controlling Environmental Parameters

Temperature, humidity, light and carbon dioxide levels are environmental factors that are closely related to healthy cannabis growth, and by regulating these growth parameters to always keep the cannabis growing environment within the ideal range, growers can promote vigorous growth and thus increase yields.

Provide Optimal Growing Conditions

Cannabis takes time to grow from a seed to a flower, and at different points in its life journey cannabis requires different growing conditions. Growers wanting to maximise their profits can only do so by meeting the needs of cannabis at every stage, maximising its growth potential and ultimately the quality and yield of their cannabis. Creating a controlled cannabis grow room ensures that cannabis is at its best at every stage of its growth.

Achieve Product Consistency and Predictability

Consistency and predictability of cannabis products is critical to any commercial cannabis operation, as it is not only key to increasing consumer trust and satisfaction, but also an effective way to increase productivity and competitiveness in the marketplace. By maintaining a stable growing environment, growers are able to reduce cannabis growth variables to ensure consistent cannabis growth, thus guaranteeing a consistent quality product from harvest to harvest.

Maintain a Stable Growing Environment

The stability of the growing environment allows each plant to be grown under the same conditions, so that the quality of the final product remains uniform. Fluctuations in temperature, humidity or light in the grow room can cause stress to the cannabis, which in turn affects the growth and quality of the cannabis. Using a controlled system minimises these fluctuations and provides a stable growing environment for cannabis.

Reduce Growth Variables

Controlled cannabis grow rooms provide growers with a controlled and detectable environment where growers can precisely adjust the factors affecting cannabis growth to their needs. For example, the grower can precisely control the amount of time the cannabis is exposed to light and use specific wavelengths of light to provide the cannabis with the optimal spectrum it needs to grow with optimal photosynthetic efficiency through the use of an artificial light source within the grow room.

Achieve Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains

On the one hand, stable growing conditions give growers a more consistent quality of cannabis product, which can increase market acceptance and selling prices. On the other hand, controlled cannabis grow rooms can effectively isolate pests and diseases, reducing the frequency and cost of pesticide use while also reducing the impact of pests and diseases on the quality and yield of cannabis.

Save Energy

Controlled environments have the potential to save energy by increasing the efficiency of the use of resources to a great extent. For example, a controlled irrigation system can provide the right amount of water according to the needs of the cannabis, avoiding overwatering or water shortages. This saves on water and water costs, while preventing root diseases or other problems with the cannabis.

Increase Yield

Controlled environments are designed to maximise efficiency, and by accurately controlling environmental parameters, growers can reduce risks such as pests, diseases and moulds during the cannabis growing process, resulting in increased cultivation success and overall yields. We all know that higher yields and quality mean higher market value and sales revenue, and even a 1% increase in cannabis production can have a lasting financial impact on a system's capital expenditures and ongoing operating expenses. Creating a controlled cannabis grow room can help growers to better manage and optimise the growing environment for greater success in a competitive market.

How to Create a Controlled Cannabis Grow Room?

Creating a controlled cannabis grow room is so important, so how best to create a cannabis grow room with a controlled growing environment? There are several key factors involved in creating a controlled cannabis grow room, and utilising an Altaqua HVAC system can dramatically improve the process by helping to make the environment perfectly suited for optimal cannabis growth. Let's explore how Altaqua HVAC can be used to control key environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, airflow, and CO2 levels.

Controlling Grow Room Temperature with the Altaqua HVAC

The Altaqua Grow Room HVAC System is an all-in-one system that provides commercial growers with the most precise temperature and humidity control available, and by focusing on solving the multifaceted challenges of large-scale cannabis cultivation, we have fine-tuned our climate control system to make it unique. Our cutting-edge technology solves every one of the most critical grow room problems and can enable our customers to achieve 30%-50% yield increases.

Precise Temperature Regulation

We all know that temperature is a key factor in growing cannabis, not only does it affect the photosynthesis of cannabis, but temperature control is also important in preventing pests and diseases.

As we all know, photosynthesis is very important for plant growth and development. Only the right temperature can optimise the efficiency of photosynthesis for better cannabis growth and development. If the temperature is too low such as below 60 degrees Fahrenheit it can slow down the growth of cannabis, and if the temperature reaches freezing point it can also cause shock or even death of cannabis. If the temperature is too high, it may reduce the amount of cannabinoids (especially THC).

On the other hand, temperature control is an important tool for preventing pests and diseases; many diseases and pests can easily multiply and spread at certain temperatures, such as powdery mildew, grey mould, spider mites and aphids, which can be reduced by controlling the temperature.

Featuring an Austrian E+E brand temperature sensor capable of providing ±0.54°F accuracy over a wide operating range, the Altaqua hvac is designed to provide growers with the most precise temperature control and regulation possible.

Improving Temperature Consistency

Cannabis is very sensitive to changes in temperature, and fluctuations in temperature can cause cannabis to develop a stress response. For example, when the temperature is too high the transpiration rate of the cannabis increases, leading to rapid water loss which can cause wilting of the leaves and stunted growth, and in severe cases, death of the cannabis - this is known as heat stress. Low temperatures can also lead to cold stress - low temperatures affect the metabolic activity of cannabis, slowing down the growth rate, lengthening the growth cycle, and even causing damage to the root system which affects the uptake of nutrients and water.

It is important to know that temperature fluctuations can weaken cannabis' immunity, making it susceptible to pests and diseases. For example, outbreaks of powdery mildew and spider mites can occur when the temperature rises, and grey mould and root rot can occur when the temperature drops. altaqua hvac's Siemens FaceControl visualises temperature fluctuations within the grow room, so that the grower can see when temperatures fluctuate in the grow room and make adjustments in a timely manner. With stable temperatures, cannabis grows evenly, resulting in a higher quality harvest.

Controlling Humidity in the Grow Room with the Altaqua HVAC

Humidity control is another key factor in creating a controlled cannabis grow room.Knowing that controlled temperature and humidity levels can act as a natural barrier against common cannabis threats, Altaqua HVAC systems have been designed to prioritise dehumidification as a key focus, with Austria's E+E brand of humidity sensors being used to maintain accurate humidity detection, which is key to preventing common problems such as mould and fungus.

Precise Humidity Regulation

Unlike traditional dehumidification systems that measure relative humidity for humidity management, the Altaqua hvac uses dew point control instead of relative humidity. Because RH is temperature-dependent, sometimes RH changes frequently due to growth in the grow room, and measurements are not accurate.

Whereas dewpoint is independent of temperature and remains stable to provide more accurate actual humidity levels, the Altaqua HVAC system is capable of adjusting both temperature and humidity settings simultaneously, resulting in more efficient and reliable dewpoint control that allows for precise adjustments to the humidity levels in the grow room environment, ensuring that the humidity inside the room is always at the optimal level for cannabis growth.

Preventing Mould and Fungus Production

Humidity control can also serve as a means of preventing pests and diseases. High humidity levels in grow rooms can lead to the development of mould and fungus that can damage cannabis crops, and Altaqua HVAC systems help prevent these problems by maintaining precise humidity control. 

Managing Odours and Airflow in the Grow Room with Altaqua HVAC

One of the problems that growers encounter when growing cannabis is the smell, as it releases a strong odour as it grows, especially during the flowering period. This odour is not only unpleasant for those who smell it, but may also cause legal problems. Controlling and managing odour in a cannabis grow room is a must, and an Altaqua HVAC system offers a highly effective solution for managing odour issues.

Cultivation rooms are sealed, which means that without good ventilation the air in the room is static, and static air tends to result in an uneven distribution of temperature and humidity, which can result in pockets of high temperatures or humidity in the room, affecting the growth of cannabis.

At the same time, the odour released by cannabis tends to collect in poorly ventilated environments, leading to strong odours inside and outside the grow room, affecting the surrounding environment. This is where certain means of ventilation and odour removal need to be employed by the grower in order to deal with this one challenge.

If you have an Altaqua HVAC system in your grow room, you don't have to worry about this problem. Because Altaqua's HVAC systems use precision supply air flanges to provide customised airflow, whether you want top air, side air, or other directional air inlets, we can meet your needs.

On the one hand, good ventilation and airflow management promotes air circulation, provides fresh air to the grow room and facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. At the same time, it reduces humidity in the grow room, prevents the growth of fungi and moulds and reduces the number of pests. On the other hand, good ventilation helps to expel and disperse these unpleasant odours, preventing them from accumulating in the grow room.  

Managing Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Grow Room with Altaqua HVAC

According to Liebig's Law, it is known that the growth rate of a plant is determined by the essential nutrients that have the smallest requirements relative to its needs. This means that when the light and nutrient levels of cannabis are elevated, if the carbon dioxide levels in the grow room are not elevated, then it can quickly become a limiting factor for cannabis growth. This is when the grower is required to supplement the grow room with a certain amount of carbon dioxide to promote healthy cannabis growth.

Increasing the Efficiency of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which cannabis converts light into energy, and carbon dioxide is one of the key elements of photosynthesis in plants. Low carbon dioxide concentrations directly limit the efficiency of CO2, which means that cannabis is less able to absorb and utilise nutrients, which can ultimately lead to symptoms of nutrient deficiencies such as yellowed, curled leaves and stagnant growth.

The Altaqua HVAC system monitors and regulates CO2 levels. Growers can set minimum and target CO2 levels in the system. When the CO2 sensor detects that the CO2 concentration in the room is at or below the minimum value, it sends a 24V signal to switch on the CO2 generator; when the target value is reached, it sends an off signal.

Only if the CO2 in the grow room is sufficient for cannabis growth can cannabis photosynthesise more efficiently and thus increase yield and quality.

Optimising CO2 Utilisation

In addition to this, the precise control of CO2 levels in the Altaqua HVAC system means that cannabis can get the CO2 levels it needs without wasting it, thus reducing costs.

Our mainframe can form a closed loop with the CO2 injection unit. The grower can connect the CO2 injection unit to an air duct to deliver CO2 to the room. This ensures that there is sufficient ventilation in the grow room to maintain a supply of fresh air, while preventing too much carbon dioxide from building up in the grow room.

How to Manage and Maintain a Controlled Cannabis Grow Room?

Creating a controlled cannabis grow room isn't easy, but the management and maintenance afterwards shouldn't be taken lightly either.

Regular Maintenance

Growers need to establish a specific maintenance schedule for regular maintenance of their equipment, which can usually be done at four intervals: weekly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual.

Equipment Inspection and Cleaning

In many cases, growers will only need to carry out a quick visual check, such as regular inspections of HVAC systems, lighting and irrigation systems, and will only need to do a quick walk-around to ensure that they are still working properly and have not been shut down due to a fault.

While visual inspections can be done quickly on a daily basis, weekly growers also need to watch or listen to the operation of the equipment, assuming there are additional noises or rattles to see if individual parts or components have failed or are worn out, and if so, replace them as soon as possible. In addition, care should be taken to keep the equipment clean. Dust and dirt can affect the efficiency and longevity of the equipment, and regular cleaning can prevent these problems.

Regular Filter Changes

Typically, filters need to be replaced quarterly. High efficiency air filters capture airborne dust, pollen, mould and viruses to prevent them from spreading in the grow room, and over time these contaminants accumulate on the filter. If filters are not changed in a timely manner, they may become clogged on the one hand, increasing the resistance of the HVAC system and decreasing the efficiency of the system, and on the other hand, if filters are not changed for a long period of time, germs on the filters may be re-released into the air, decreasing the quality of the air and increasing the risk of marijuana infestation.

Therefore, it is important to change the filters on a regular basis. The Altaqua HVAC system features nylon mesh and MERV-8 filters on the return air inlet of the unit to prevent larger particles from entering the HVAC system to reduce wear and tear and clogging of the equipment, as well as an easy-to-replace design that makes it easy for growers to change the filters directly when they need to, without having to call in a professional.

Regular cleaning of air-side coils

Generally speaking, air-side coils should be cleaned every six months. The primary function of air-side coils is heat exchange, but over time, dust, dirt, and other contaminants can accumulate on the surface of the coils, which, if not cleaned in a timely manner, can impede heat transfer and reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Dirty coils can also become a breeding ground for mould, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, which through air circulation can not only contaminate the air in the grow room and lead to cannabis infections, but can also endanger the work experience and health of those working in the grow room.

By regularly cleaning air-side coils, growers can keep their HVAC systems running efficiently and maintain a stable cannabis grow room environment.

Environmental Monitoring

One of the most important aspects of creating a controlled cannabis grow room is maintaining this controlled environment, where growers can quickly respond to changes in the environment by monitoring the environmental data within the grow room, guaranteeing that the cannabis is always in optimal growing conditions.

Altaqua uses Siemens Face Controls to visually display trend graphs of temperature and humidity data in the grow room, giving growers a real-time, accurate picture of the temperature and humidity conditions in the grow room.

In addition, the Altaqua HVAC system has an additional WIFI control for remote access, allowing growers to view real-time data from the grow room at any time, regardless of where they are on the planet, using just a mobile phone. Historical data can also be saved in the background for further analysis and adjustment by the grower.

Setting Up Redundancy

A controlled cannabis grow room should have facilities that operate successfully and ensure that they are fault-tolerant to possible failures, i.e. have redundancy. Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and light intensity must remain stable while cannabis grows, and any equipment failure can upset this balance leading to fluctuating environmental conditions that can affect the health of the cannabis. If a grower has redundancy measures in place then they can switch to backup equipment at the first sign of trouble, ensuring that all of the room's systems are functioning as intended and maintaining the stability of the grow room.

By performing regular maintenance, environmental monitoring and setting up redundancies in cannabis grow rooms, growers can ensure that every aspect of the controlled grow room is always in optimal condition to provide the best environmental conditions for cannabis growth.

How Can I Contact the Altaqua Manufacturer?

Altaqua's ability to customise systems to grower preferences and needs provides new and expanding commercial cannabis growers with a quality, accurate and long-term investment.

Information about the Project to the Altaqua Team

When you contact the Altaqua team, you will need to provide us with some information about your grow room project so that our team can better provide you with a service as well as a solution.

Size and number of rooms: the size, purpose and number of rooms will help the Altaqua team to better provide you with a solution.

Number of Plants and Watering Levels: Different amounts of cannabis and daily watering levels will affect the humidity levels in the grow room as well as the load on the HVAC system. Detailed information will help the Altaqua team calculate the NVAC system that will effectively manage the humidity levels to prevent the production of mould and fungus.

Type and Number of Plant Lights: Plant lights are the largest source of heat in a cannabis grow room, and the type and number of plant lights determines heat output and energy consumption. Depending on the type of plant lights (e.g. LED, HPS or fluorescent) the Altaqua team can design the best cooling and ventilation solution for you.

The specific location where the project is to be carried out: different geographic locations have different climatic conditions, and the external conditions also affect the internal environment of the cannabis grow room. Based on the information you provide about the location, the Altaqua team can customise an HVAC system solution that is suitable for the local environment, taking into account the local climatic characteristics.

Clarification of the Requirements of the Project with the Altaqua Team

In addition to the basic information about your cannabis grow room project, it is also important that you fully express your needs and opinions when communicating with the Altaqua team so that we can better customise a solution for your project.

For example, what is the purpose of your cannabis grow room, as what is needed to grow fine buds may not be the same as what is needed for oil extracts. Another example is what are the target temperatures and humidity levels required for the cannabis grow room at different stages of growth, you will need to fully discuss and ultimately agree on these factors with our team so that we can design the perfect solution for you that will accurately control each of the growth factors to create a controlled cannabis grow room.

When you purchase an Altaqua hvac, our team will consult with you every step of the way to make sure it's done right every step of the way. We want your partnership with us to be more than just an investment in a commercial cannabis HVAC, it's an investment in a lasting partner who wants you to succeed.

Conclusion

Creating a controlled cannabis grow room with an Altaqua HVAC system can help improve the yield and quality of cannabis. By precisely controlling the temperature, humidity, airflow and CO2 levels in a cannabis grow room with an Altaqua hvac, growers are able to provide the optimal environment for cannabis to grow. This not only results in healthier cannabis, but also reduces the risks associated with growing cannabis, which ultimately leads to higher yields and quality products.

At the same time, the Altaqua hvac system helps growers who are looking for consistency in their cannabis products to achieve the consistency they need. Altaqua hvac is committed to creating a stable environment that reduces the variables of cannabis growth, helping to achieve a high level of quality in every batch of cannabis product, and helping to increase the competitiveness and satisfaction of growers in the marketplace.

FAQ

1. What is the optimal temperature range for a cannabis grow room?

The optimal temperature range for a cannabis grow room typically falls between 70-85°F (21-29°C) during the day and 58-70°F (14-21°C) at night. Maintaining these temperatures ensures that the plants can effectively photosynthesize, grow healthily, and produce high-quality yields. Using systems like the Altaqua HVAC can help maintain these precise temperature ranges, minimizing stress and maximizing growth.

2. How can I control humidity in my cannabis grow room?

Controlling humidity in a cannabis grow room involves using dehumidifiers and humidifiers, depending on the needs of the plants. During the vegetative stage, the humidity should be around 60-70%, while during the flowering stage, it should be reduced to 40-50% to prevent mold and mildew. Systems like Altaqua HVAC offer precise humidity control with advanced sensors, ensuring optimal growth conditions and preventing common humidity-related issues.

3. Why is CO2 important in a cannabis grow room?

CO2 is crucial for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into energy. Higher CO2 levels can significantly boost the growth rate and yield of cannabis plants. Typically, maintaining CO2 levels around 1000-1500 ppm is ideal. The Altaqua HVAC system can monitor and regulate CO2 levels accurately, providing an environment where plants can thrive and produce higher yields.

4. What are the benefits of using an HVAC system in a cannabis grow room?

An HVAC system in a cannabis grow room helps in maintaining optimal temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. This ensures that plants grow in a stable environment, reducing the risk of diseases and pests. Additionally, systems like Altaqua HVAC can improve energy efficiency, lower operational costs, and increase overall plant health and yield by providing precise environmental control.

Altaqua HVAC · Achieve Consistency In Your Cannabis Grow Room With Altaqua HVAC System