First time grower, need some help.

[NoSmokingPlease]

Hey guys, I've been lurking these forums for a few weeks now, trying to pick up some knowledge and as the title says, I am starting my first grow very soon.

As it is my first time I am starting off with something small, a stealth PC grow. (don't know the exact dimensions, but a generic Dell pc shell should give you a rough idea).

I've purchased a 400w HPS Grolux HPS bulb and ceramic fixture, but I also have 2x 30w CFL (one red and one blue)

My set up has 2 fixtures, I'm just wondering if it is best to use the HPS in one socket permanently and putting the blue CFL in for veg and changing it to red when it comes to flowering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-NSP

P.S. If this is meant to be posted in the lighting section, I apologise, just thought Newbie thread seemed more appropriate.

 

[Coho]

Umm a 400 watt HPS in a pc box? Nope.

 

[NoSmokingPlease]

Umm a 400 watt HPS in a pc box?

Yeah like I said, I'm new. What wattage (mouthful) would be best in your opinion? And do you think the HPS+CLF-Blue / HPS+CFL-Red would be successful?

I am planning to expand once I have 'perfected' my horticultural skills so no items purchased at this date will go unused.

 

[purklize]

You won't even be able to fit a 400w light in the PC case. My reflector is bigger than my full size PC. They produce a lot of heat and you need an inline fan to extract it.

I think a PC case is probably too small to grow anything worthwhile, period... I'd look into something at least 2ft tall, maybe an old dresser, cabinet, or a tower speaker you found on the curb...

 

[superman27nc]

completely agree with Coho..you would burn your seedlings up quick with a 400 watt'r in a PC box..you would be better off saving your money and just buying some..if you live on your own or are permitted to grow you should trying coverting a closet or something with that size a light..(not to discourage your ambition) if you have to use a pc box cfl's are really your only chance with that kind of space

 

[Coho]

Look at the stealth grow in the subforums. I use a 400 in a 3x3x6 veg tent. Bes of luck.

 

[NoSmokingPlease]

You won't even be able to fit a 400w light in the PC case. My reflector is bigger than my full size PC. They produce a lot of heat and you need an inline fan to extract it.

I think a PC case is probably too small to grow anything worthwhile, period... I'd look into something at least 2ft tall, maybe an old dresser, cabinet, or a tower speaker you found on the curb...

As I said previously, I am planning on expanding once I feel I have the required skills to do something bigger. The rewards for time and effort are meaningless, I don't smoke anymore and am doing this purely as a hobby. What light wattage would you recommend for such a confined space?

 

[NoSmokingPlease]

completely agree with Coho..you would burn your seedlings up quick with a 400 watt'r in a PC box..you would be better off saving your money and just buying some..if you live on your own or are permitted to grow you should trying coverting a closet or something with that size a light..(not to discourage your ambition) if you have to use a pc box cfl's are really your only chance with that kind of space

Thanks for the reply. I don't have the 'permission' to grow it, which is why I am looking into stealth grows for the time being. I will take your advice for the future though as I do plan to move up to a closet or stealth chest of drawers once I have completed 3-5 successful grows.

 

[DeeTee]

A PC box?????????your kidding right?

 

[jswett1100]

Most of the time people use CFL light bulbs for pc grow box's, produce less then non heat, very cheap, more then 1000 lumens and small enough to fit allot in a small area.

 

[DeeTee]

Maybe so but just one small pure indica plant will grow to 1 to 2 feet by the time it fully flowers,probably more, that pc box would be filled to the brim. your plant would be suffocating and burning from the lamps, even if you did sog,scrog or lst.

 

[balactus]

Maybe so but just one small pure indica plant will grow to 1 to 2 feet by the time it fully flowers,probably more, that pc box would be filled to the brim. your plant would be suffocating and burning from the lamps, even if you did sog,scrog or lst.

Is this your first time hearing of a Stealth PC Grow Box? I've been doing my own research and look at plenty of other peoples set ups for a PC grow case. Almost all successful. Its small for stealth since not everyone can hollow out their closet or any other space. 2 plants max would be able to fit in a PC and short strains are ideal obviously. ScOG and LST would be used for any other strain to maximize veg and flower time. But you are right on size, his Dell case really doesn't leave much room. I am gathering my parts and the case I am using is a couple inch below 2ft. It was either get a slim 2ft case or a wider one thats almost 2ft.

 

[Matchbox]

I would definitely consider not using a PC case they work well enough but for the yield over effort factor they aren't really worth it.

Building a small wooden cab of say 3ft tall by 3ft wide by 1ft deep will not only be the absolute perfect size for a starter grow, but the box itself can easily be hidden in a cupboard, wardrobe or something. Also building one will only cost you about £30 a big enough pc case will set you back £40 and then you need a dremmel or something to cut all the appropriate holes etc, PC cases take a LOT of work to make into grow boxes lol

Another thing, save that 400w for a later grow when you have a full closet space to grow in, at the moment and with the space your planning on using your best bet would be a 250w hps or a 150w hps, though in the UK we don't have many 150w suppliers, both of these will still kick out a lot of heat, I need to use 4" inline fan to cool my 250 in the space I have. If your wondering about a micro stealth grow check out my grow thread in my sig!

 

[scroglodyte]

what's a lumen?

 

[cues]

One more point. You mention a 400w bulb and fixture but no mention of a ballast?

 

[Malevolence]

I don't think you'd even need a reflector in a PC case. When the OP mentions Dell, we all think of their small mid-tower computer cases... but actually you can get a nice full-tower case from newegg for 100-200$ that is 2 feet tall and has great airflow with 200mm fans and good cable/hose management with cavities behind the motherboard tray to route cables. Add some cool looking cold cathode lights and slap some nvidia/gaming stickers on the case and anyone that sees it will just think you have a gaming pc.

 

[dannyboy602]

Hey guys, I've been lurking these forums for a few weeks now, trying to pick up some knowledge and as the title says, I am starting my first grow very soon.

As it is my first time I am starting off with something small, a stealth PC grow. (don't know the exact dimensions, but a generic Dell pc shell should give you a rough idea).

I've purchased a 400w HPS Grolux HPS bulb and ceramic fixture, but I also have 2x 30w CFL (one red and one blue)

My set up has 2 fixtures, I'm just wondering if it is best to use the HPS in one socket permanently and putting the blue CFL in for veg and changing it to red when it comes to flowering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-NSP

P.S. If this is meant to be posted in the lighting section, I apologise, just thought Newbie thread seemed more appropriate.

i think to give your plants a broader spectrum is a good idea. mb less blue in flowering?..anyone wanna chime in???

 

[shrxhky420]

What dannyboy said. Mixed spectrum us good. They say 2:1 ratio... more blue in veg more red in flower. It doesn't have to be 2:1... I've seen ppl flower with all blue spectrum, in actuality its the light cycle which will induce flowering not the spectrum. Unless autos. The blue spectrum mimic summer days and red more fall. stay high.

 

[Coho]

Other things would be a busted minifridge to gut, an old style tower stereo speaker, an old tv cabinet..garage sales.

 

[NoSmokingPlease]

Thanks for the help. My PC case I am using is a gaming one and is larger than the average pc (I actually measured it.)
I am only starting small until I can perfect my grows, then I will move up to a bigger space and raise more plants at the same time.
I don't want to jump in at the deep end and be stuck with shit loads of problems a month down the line and then have to start all over again.