Stealth Cabinet... Could Use Some Advice.

[Ryan1010xxx]

I picked up this large cabinet that i want to turn into a stealth grow cab. I want to do my vegging on bottom and flowering on top. Its not huge so ill probably do a ScrOG or some LST. But I need a little help. I want it to be stealthy so i need a way to seal off the doors to keep light from cominng through. ANY IDEAS???

 

[mrboots]

Use foam weather stripping. They sell it at Home Depot or Lowes, by the insulation.

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

Use foam weather stripping. They sell it at Home Depot or Lowes, by the insulation.

thanks. i had an idea thats what i wanted to use but i wasnt sure where i could find it

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

im wanting to go with a High Pressure Sodium for flowering but im not sure what size i should get. i know its a small area but would a 250W be enough? is 400W too much?

 

[alexonfire]

Go with 2 x 150w. Get the security lights from home depot and mount the ballasts on the outside of your cab. This will be better light distribution than one 250w. You can also do some sort of cootubes to lower temps

 

[bloomfields]

that cabinet is far to small heat build up would be massive using 2x150 hps, go for the 250hps and use a cool tube to keep the temp down, you wont gain a massive amount by using 2 150hps normaly yes light spreadage is important but the space your trying to cover is very small,a 400hps would almost certainly be "overkill" , good luck =)

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

Any idea on the price of those? im not wanting to spend a ton of money but i am willing to invest a little more in lights to get a better product. i know most of the 250W i saw cost almost the same as a 400W...

BTW heres the flowering chamber with the reflective material and a pic of my two passive intake holes. ill probably drill more but these were already there lol...

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

that cabinet is far to small heat build up would be massive using 2x150 hps, go for the 250hps and use a cool tube to keep the temp down, you wont gain a massive amount by using 2 150hps normaly yes light spreadage is important but the space your trying to cover is very small,a 400hps would almost certainly be "overkill" , good luck =)

yea heat will be an issue. thats why the 400 was too much. i just hate to spent the same amount on a 250 but oh well some times we gotta do what we gotta do lol. ill use CFLs for supplemental lighting... +Rep. thanks for the advice

 

[bloomfields]

your welcome, i too use cfl's in my veg room, i used to grow in a cab , but im in a loft at the mo, 250w lights are easy to pick up , i live in the uk , grow shops add alot to the cost of lights try to source elsewhere if you can , again good luck .......

 

[JeSt3r]

you said you wanted to veg in the bottom chamber correct? you might wanna find a way to keep the light out of those passive intakes u have cuz they might cause u some problms...besides that gj +rep

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

you said you wanted to veg in the bottom chamber correct? you might wanna find a way to keep the light out of those passive intakes u have cuz they might cause u some problms...besides that gj +rep

im planning to make small 90 degree elbows to block the light and still let air through. thanks for lookin out though lol. +Rep

 

[JeSt3r]

heh no worries man just wanted to make sure... sometimes details are overlooked! keep us posted when u start gl

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

heh no worries man just wanted to make sure... sometimes details are overlooked! keep us posted when u start gl

thanks bro. ive actually already started the grow. just some bag seed. its in my signature. theyve been flowering for 4 days under CFLs. but im in a TINY cabinet and hopefully i can get them moved into this bigger one SOON!!!

 

[devero420]

Yes weatherstripping will do but you will have to address the seam in the middle, you can just add a piece of 1/4 trim on the inside of one door and placing your weatherstripping onto it. I recommend that you stay away from FOAM and go with rubber. It will seal better, and last longer.

 

[JeSt3r]

i agree wit dev...i built a small box for a friend a while ago and used the foam stuff... the humidity from the frozen water bottles in the cab made the adhesive fall off...so then it had to be stapled on which didnt give the same seal after it had been stapled down...

 

[friendlyfarmer]

yea heat will be an issue. thats why the 400 was too much. i just hate to spent the same amount on a 250 but oh well some times we gotta do what we gotta do lol. ill use CFLs for supplemental lighting... +Rep. thanks for the advice

check it out, you dont have to. I'm about to order one of these myself, just can't decide on brand.

http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/lumatek-250w400w-hpsmh-dialawatt-dimmable-ballast-p-2563.html
http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/galaxy-250400tc-selectawatt-electronic-ballast-120240v-p-2354.html

on a side note, i would def. reinforce the floor of the flower section/ceiling of veg. wet soil can get very heavy and the last thing you need is all that shit tumbling down, smashing lights and plants, killing clones, etc. its even a possible fire hazard. i would put a support beam in the middle. like a 2x4. it wouldnt take up much space but i assure you it will add peace of mind. you could even replace the floor with thicker plywood just to be safe.

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

check it out, you dont have to. I'm about to order one of these myself, just can't decide on brand.

http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/lumatek-250w400w-hpsmh-dialawatt-dimmable-ballast-p-2563.html
http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/galaxy-250400tc-selectawatt-electronic-ballast-120240v-p-2354.html

on a side note, i would def. reinforce the floor of the flower section/ceiling of veg. wet soil can get very heavy and the last thing you need is all that shit tumbling down, smashing lights and plants, killing clones, etc. its even a possible fire hazard. i would put a support beam in the middle. like a 2x4. it wouldnt take up much space but i assure you it will add peace of mind. you could even replace the floor with thicker plywood just to be safe.

I thought about that but this thing is HEAVY. its made with some quality wood. i dont think the weight of anything will be too much for it. but i will definitely keep an eye on it... thanks for the thought +rep

 

[wannaquickee]

i have tried to do a cabinet grow many times with just t5's i cant keep temps down for shit..everyone else can though! looks good man

 

[bloomfields]

i have tried to do a cabinet grow many times with just t5's i cant keep temps down for shit..everyone else can though! looks good man

i agree man .....and here's a thought.....why grow in a box anyway .....including tents , all seems silly to me, i mean if someone is going to search your private place , i.e , police , im sure they would look in your tent or box lol ......just a thought.....peace

 

[Ryan1010xxx]

i agree man .....and here's a thought.....why grow in a box anyway .....including tents , all seems silly to me, i mean if someone is going to search your private place , i.e , police , im sure they would look in your tent or box lol ......just a thought.....peace

My reason is just space and privacy. i agree if the police are looking for it then they are gonna find it. but if i have company over then they arent just gonna see a cabinet and know im growing, and i can lock it and not just anyone can open it up. thats my reason lol...