3x3x5 Grow box?

[Jacob Shearer]

Ive been gathering the equipment to make a grow box Id like it to be 3'x3'x5'. My plan is to keep the box in my backyard inside of my fishhut. I realise it may get cold so ive got a heat sensor outlet (with a space heater) to keep the temps between 65f-80f. I have a timer for the lights I will run them on 18/6 to veg for a month then move them to 12/12 for flower. Ive got a 600w HPS Veg light (60,000 lumens) and 400w MH Flowering light (55,000 lumens). I almost forgot I have two bathroom ceiling fans for the ventilation, one will suck air from the top and another will blow air in from the bottom. is anybody able to tell me if this will be an efficient grow? Ive got Vanilla Kush, Blue Mammoth Auto, and Blue Cheese Auto to start with

 

[SouthCross]

It needs to be taller. Like 7'.

7' will give more room to space the lights and room to grow taller strains. You're limiting your space with 5' tall. It's tighter then you think. It'll stress you out if a plant gets too tall.

 

[coreywebster]

If smell is an issue then you would be better going for a proper inline fan and filter rather than bathroom fan.
I assume you got your flower and veg lights the wrong way round? It should be a 400mh for veg and a 600w hps for flower. Your hps should be kicking out 90000 lumens not 60000.
I agree with southcross on the height, 5ft will limit you but if you cant afford extra height you will just have to scrog plants instead or not veg them.

 

[SouthCross]

Isn't that correct? Full power summer sun for veg with a softer fall sun for flower?

 

[coreywebster]

Isn't that correct? Full power summer sun for veg with a softer fall sun for flower?

Well I could of missed something a long the line but for the last 30 years its been blue mh for veg with less wattage, red/orange hps more wattage for flower. Never considered it much more than that's been the "norm" passed down from old grower to new pre internet. . MH in veg gives tighter nodes. I know some folks like to mix the MH in with HPS for frostier buds.
I'm happy to learn new info. Sheeet since legalisation over the pond all sorts of "norms" are changing. You folks are producing quality strains that makes Holland blush.

 

[Jacob Shearer]

yes The veg is 600 watt Flower is 400 the 600 whats is only 60,000 lumens it says it on the box

If smell is an issue then you would be better going for a proper inline fan and filter rather than bathroom fan.
I assume you got your flower and veg lights the wrong way round? It should be a 400mh for veg and a 600w hps for flower. Your hps should be kicking out 90000 lumens not 60000.
I agree with southcross on the height, 5ft will limit you but if you cant afford extra height you will just have to scrog plants instead or not veg them.

Yes

 

[Jacob Shearer]

i may be able to go 6' tall?

If smell is an issue then you would be better going for a proper inline fan and filter rather than bathroom fan.
I assume you got your flower and veg lights the wrong way round? It should be a 400mh for veg and a 600w hps for flower. Your hps should be kicking out 90000 lumens not 60000.
I agree with southcross on the height, 5ft will limit you but if you cant afford extra height you will just have to scrog plants instead or not veg them.

 

[coreywebster]

yes The veg is 600 watt Flower is 400 the 600 whats is only 60,000 lumens it says it on the box

Yes

Well if it says it on the box then so be it. It probably because its MH, I'm comparing 600w HPS lumens, my bad..
If you can go for 6 foot in height then do it, better to have room and not need it than need it and not have it.
Not sure on why the lower wattage for the flowering light, plants need a lot more light to flower than they do to veg. Either way, will be interested to see how that effects things overall.

 

[SouthCross]

Well if it says it on the box then so be it. It probably because its MH, I'm comparing 600w HPS lumens, my bad..
If you can go for 6 foot in height then do it, better to have room and not need it than need it and not have it.
Not sure on why the lower wattage for the flowering light, plants need a lot more light to flower than they do to veg. Either way, will be interested to see how that effects things overall.

I've found there's two trains of thought on the subject. Discovered myself, researching and through dialing in my own style of growing. I've grown using 24/0, 18. Then the old 12/12.... 400watt HID/HPS.

Now, Its Gas lamp using an 300watt LED. They get a broke up 13hrs a day. Then go into flower at 11hrs. Diminished down to 9.5hrs.

Currently the plants are in the 10hrs stage. Colas are about 24" from the light. They see more dark then light. The plants have gone from a strong summer sun to a fall season environment.

I've never had plants grow as well till I broke the usual system of doing things.

 

[coreywebster]

I've found there's two trains of thought on the subject. Discovered myself, researching and through dialing in my own style of growing. I've grown using 24/0, 18/12. Then the old 12/12.... 400watt HID/LPS.

Now, Its Gas lamp using an 300watt LED. They get a broke up 13hrs a day. Then go into flower at 11hrs. Diminished down to 9.5hrs.

Currently the plants are in the 10hrs stage. Colas are about 24" from the light. They see more dark then light. The plants have gone from a strong summer sun to a fall season environment.

I've never had plants grow as well till I broke the usual system of doing things.

It would certainly make sense to imitate nature in every way possible. a few decades of indoor growing cant compete against millions of years of evolution.

 

[SouthCross]

It would certainly make sense to imitate nature in every way possible. a few decades of indoor growing cant compete against millions of years of evolution.

The gas lamp has worked well in my set up. The hour of light in the middle of sleep seems pretty Damn abnormal. Next grow, I might try to use a straight 13-13.5 hour day verses the 5.5-1-5.5/12 break up.

 

[Jacob Shearer]

Anybody heard about ballast causing a.m. interuptions? should I switch to cfl or will i be alright with hps and mh

 

[thelionsden]

Well I could of missed something a long the line but for the last 30 years its been blue mh for veg with less wattage, red/orange hps more wattage for flower. Never considered it much more than that's been the "norm" passed down from old grower to new pre internet. . MH in veg gives tighter nodes. I know some folks like to mix the MH in with HPS for frostier buds.
I'm happy to learn new info. Sheeet since legalisation over the pond all sorts of "norms" are changing. You folks are producing quality strains that makes Holland blush.

 

[justugh]

Anybody heard about ballast causing a.m. interuptions? should I switch to cfl or will i be alright with hps and mh

depends if the shielding on the ballast is bad magnetic is the worst for this (can trip RF in simple alarm units
if u can get your hands on some copper mess just wrap that around the ballast it will block the RF troubles .......the idea is called faraday cage u will trap the random RF signals from getting out (got to be copper mess work encasing it)

never switch to CFLs........they are a trap the bigger the plants get the more CFLs the need the more CFLs they need the more heat it makes meaning u need more air movement and possible AC outside the normal ( learn from my adventures) .....and portable AC are sheer crap never invest in one (look ar the energy use vs the area the cover compared to window shaker/mini split

HID is the best for footprint(over all area of coverage)
LED is the best for depth into the plant (area of coverage is limited due to lens angles if u got 120 u only gain about 6 inches of depth if u go 90 u are looking at 10 to 14 and 60 degree the soil could grow grass under the plant)

 

[TurboTokes]

highly disagree that led has more canpoy penetration compared to hps

5' height is not bad at all. I grow in 5' with a 600hps, plants are 28" tall about 8" away from an enclosed air cooled hood

Paying to run a heater in a grow space during lights off makes the electric bill almost double though, gotta be a place above 60* ambient you can grow?

 

[justugh]

highly disagree that led has more canpoy penetration compared to hps

5' height is not bad at all. I grow in 5' with a 600hps, plants are 28" tall about 8" away from an enclosed air cooled hood

Paying to run a heater in a grow space during lights off makes the electric bill almost double though, gotta be a place above 60* ambient you can grow?

check out the math .......it is due to the lens that the LED diodes used .......they can defuse the light or they can focus it

it is like a flash light
use a old bulb type and use a LED type
bulb gives u a wider area of coverage but the LED gives u greater range

 

[Lucky Luke]

r. Ive got a 600w HPS Veg light (60,000 lumens) and 400w MH Flowering light

Different..Normally its MH for veg and HPS for flower.

On the height thing. Go at least 6ft. After trays pots and light heights you still are not left with allot

 

[Hpo777]

Ive been gathering the equipment to make a grow box Id like it to be 3'x3'x5'. My plan is to keep the box in my backyard inside of my fishhut. I realise it may get cold so ive got a heat sensor outlet (with a space heater) to keep the temps between 65f-80f. I have a timer for the lights I will run them on 18/6 to veg for a month then move them to 12/12 for flower. Ive got a 600w HPS Veg light (60,000 lumens) and 400w MH Flowering light (55,000 lumens). I almost forgot I have two bathroom ceiling fans for the ventilation, one will suck air from the top and another will blow air in from the bottom. is anybody able to tell me if this will be an efficient grow? Ive got Vanilla Kush, Blue Mammoth Auto, and Blue Cheese Auto to start with

MH for veg, it has a blue spectrum better for vegetative growth. HPS has a red spectrum better for flowering growth. Also yea that's a pretty good setup. Height is gonna be an issue "maybe". LST your plants and just make sure you know how much your strain is gonna jump when the photoperiod is moved over 12/12. If you don't know...play it safe and flower early! I'm in a 32inx32x60 tent with 150w HPS and 6500k cfls. Plants are big bushy and healthy! Make sure you vent that 600w it'll heat up faster than you think!