Advice on my planned stealth cab grow?

YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
This is my planned setup. I have not started it, or bought anything, just making sure this will work.

Grow Cabinet:
http://www.walmart.c...Cabinet/5645617

36"H x 30"W x 20"D
The volume is 12.5 ft^3

Is this big enough to have two separate chambers? One for the mother, and the other to grow?
Planning on doing the ScroG method.

Will be lined with mylar or equivalent.
Ventilation:
Exhaust: 4" inline fan
http://www.amazon.co...4 in inline fan

It is 100 CFM. (Again, volume of cab is 12.5 ft^3)


Or these 2 case fans: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RESFYK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
View attachment 2924903
These fans have a high static pressure rating, which is why I'd choose these. They would be better for pushing air through resistance (in this case, carbon filters).

Will these work with a DIY carbon filter?
Case fans: Would using both fans for exhaust be better then just using one? Maybe one in each camber?

Inline: Ive read to not push air through the filter, but rather pull through it. Im confused as to put the carbon filter outside the box, or inside. Can I put a 90 degree elbow between the fan and the filter if I do put it on the outside? I want it to be pretty stealth so I'd like the filter to be parallel with the side, or facing downwards rather than sticking straight out. (I also plan on getting a dimmer so that its not as noisy, just depends how well it will work in conjunction with the filter.)

Filter: DIY http://www.rollitup....bon-filter.html
For the case fans:https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/101248-best-diy-ez-walmart-carbon.html
Ill add at least a fan per chamber for circulation. Haven't decided if im going to use a computer fan or two for the intake.

Lighting:
I plan on just buying CFL's and find whatever I can to house them. Will be getting at least 2 different color temps; 6500k and 2700k.

Again money is an issue, and I want it to be stealth as possible (not a huge change in electric bill)



This is all I have for now. I have a really small budget so it will probably take awhile to get it all together.


The cab will be in a closet and I will make it as safe from failing (fire ect.) as possible.
Will be growing with soil.

Im trying to get this set up, then deal with researching nutrients and others while I'm waiting for parts/money...

How does this look? This is very vague but its a decent start to move on from it. Any tips? Box too small?

Goal is to have a very stealthy grow cab.
 
Commander Strax

Commander Strax

Well-Known Member
I would be worried that once you get pots in the bottom and lights and fan in the top you will not have a lot of room for plants. I grow in a cab almost twice as tall and into flowering it gets kind of full. People grow in a PC case, I have no idea how they do it.

I am also in a DWC so that takes up a bit of space, but not that much more than a pot.
 
mrCRC420

mrCRC420

Well-Known Member
It's too short to flower plants in; they're going to be pressed up against every wall; you could buy two, one with a mother and clones, the other w/ flowering plants... Also that inline fan is going to be loud enough to ruin your stealth when it's on. And all the wires leading out of the cabinet; also you can't lock it.... I don't know man..... I always prefer a closet...
 
YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
mrCRC420 said:
It's too short to flower plants in; they're going to be pressed up against every wall; you could buy two, one with a mother and clones, the other w/ flowering plants... Also that inline fan is going to be loud enough to ruin your stealth when it's on. And all the wires leading out of the cabinet; also you can't lock it.... I don't know man..... I always prefer a closet...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the replies guys! If I grow using the Scrog method, height wont be too much of an issue...right?

mrCRC420, I plan on only having a power strip running into the cabinet, and all the wiring for the grow being contained within the top of the cabinet. Could anyone recommend a size that I can use for both the mother/clones and flowering? Im completely new to this whole idea of growing, and I've seen some fairly small setups, so thats why I choose the cabinet that I did. Also, the closet does have clothing in it, but I could go up another foot or so. Just need room to put a laundry basket between it and a shelf. Also, the doors are lockable. If thats not good enough, I'm sure I can find a way to lock it securely.

Anyways thanks guys! I would love more advice, I'm very new to this. :roll:
 
Commander Strax

Commander Strax

Well-Known Member
who are you hiding it from??

If you are trying to hide it from people in your house then good luck.

If you are trying to hide from everyone else then go for it.

I would look on Craigslist for a cheap cabinet or armoire
 
YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
Commander Strax said:
who are you hiding it from??

If you are trying to hide it from people in your house then good luck.

If you are trying to hide from everyone else then go for it.

I would look on Craigslist for a cheap cabinet or armoire
Click to expand...
Not hiding it from my roommate. Just anyone who walks in my room and happens to open my closet.
 
Dragon311

Dragon311

Well-Known Member
If you're going to do a cabinet I would highly recommend this cabinet here. Was less than 100 before tax I believe. The only fixed shelf is the top shelf, and its very easy to modify since its sauder "wood" with cardboard backing. With some ingenuity and elbow grease you can make it light-proof too if need be.

And if you're doing a cabinet get a real carbon filter. The DIY filters are fine for PC grow boxes IMO, but anything larger you want something bonafide. If your goal is stealth, you don't want to cut corners in that department.
 
YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
Dragon311 said:
If you're going to do a cabinet I would highly recommend this cabinet here. Was less than 100 before tax I believe. The only fixed shelf is the top shelf, and its very easy to modify since its sauder "wood" with cardboard backing. With some ingenuity and elbow grease you can make it light-proof too if need be.

And if you're doing a cabinet get a real carbon filter. The DIY filters are fine for PC grow boxes IMO, but anything larger you want something bonafide. If your goal is stealth, you don't want to cut corners in that department.
Click to expand...
Yeah I realized after this post, how awkward a garage cabinet would look in the closet. Also, I realized.... I have one of the bigger mini fridges, which I could use for the mother and clones. It would be totally chill because its always been in my room but not used, just there if I needed it.

Ill look into a better filter. Any you recommend? Also, is it wise to just not risk it and go with soil, and once thats pretty consistent, move to hydro?
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Just look on Craigslist if your in the states, literally handfuls for free out there. Picked up both of mine this way.
The good ones don't last long [hours]..........but it is worth it if available.

In the micro/stealth/whoe-ever else identifier section, most people tend to scrog or LST for maximum amounts of cola sites. The 1st cab would be fine for flower as long as you practice an even canopy.

Cfl from the sides provide the most umol's but a 150 hps or definitely some type of LED fixture would fit as well.
 
YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
Abiqua said:
Just look on Craigslist if your in the states, literally handfuls for free out there. Picked up both of mine this way.
The good ones don't last long [hours]..........but it is worth it if available.

In the micro/stealth/whoe-ever else identifier section, most people tend to scrog or LST for maximum amounts of cola sites. The 1st cab would be fine for flower as long as you practice an even canopy.

Cfl from the sides provide the most umol's but a 150 hps or definitely some type of LED fixture would fit as well.
Click to expand...
Yeah I plan on scrog. If only I could afford hps or an LED light. Ill see what I can get buy with CFLs. Or I could try to find a bigger light at a demo site but I don't know how to go about finding them. I live in a small town (30,000) so craigslist isn't of much help. But I always check it!
 
kushdaddy1980

kushdaddy1980

Well-Known Member
i grew in a full size fridge once, but the only thing is people would wonder why i had two fridges lol..other than that the mini fridge idea sounds great, you can put a lock on it too without someone questioning why, you just say so noone gets into my food, right? and the sound of the fan will sound like a normal fridge fan. i did have a problem with the smell though, i usually do, even with a carbon filter, after a while it soaks up the smell and stinks up the place. my only resolve for the smell issue is pumping it straight into the wall, i have no idea where the air goes, but i dont smell a thing. niether does my landlord. or try to set the box up somewhere where you can exhaust it outside or somewhere undetectible
 
kushdaddy1980

kushdaddy1980

Well-Known Member
mewk69 said:
Hahah... I like your style Kush!
Click to expand...
haha thanks .ive had years of practice hiding my grows, since i was about 12 ive been building stealth grow boxes to hide it from my parents and the law and so forth. i started before decriminalization so ive always had to be stealth, my first real stealth grow was inside of home speaker box, i took the 12" subwoofer out and put a light in it and put the speaker back on with only a couple screws on it so it would be easy to get to. the speaker still worked so needless to say that one was never discovered.
 
Dragon311

Dragon311

Well-Known Member
I highly reccommend coco for a first grow. I've used it exclusively, and had great results with it. The primary reason I think it's one of the best materials to learn with is that you essentially can not over water your plant when you use coco (with or without additives like perlite and others). That alone makes it worth using the first few times while you get the hang of growing :)

The cool thing about coco is that it behaves much like soil, but has some great properties. It's very light and airy..roots love this type of material to grow in. It also holds water quite well, the best part is that it will only hold X amount of water, and anything additional you might give it will just run thru the medium, preventing over watering. What's counter-intuitive is that even though it act and feels like soil, it's technically hydro because there are no nutrients in the medium. The only food the plant gets is what you mix into your watering. You can go simple and water by hand, or you can get all elaborate with fully automated systems of various types.

If you choose to use coco, make sure you get nutrients that are coco specific!
 
YourAvJoe

YourAvJoe

New Member
Dragon311 said:
I highly reccommend coco for a first grow. I've used it exclusively, and had great results with it. The primary reason I think it's one of the best materials to learn with is that you essentially can not over water your plant when you use coco (with or without additives like perlite and others). That alone makes it worth using the first few times while you get the hang of growing :)

The cool thing about coco is that it behaves much like soil, but has some great properties. It's very light and airy..roots love this type of material to grow in. It also holds water quite well, the best part is that it will only hold X amount of water, and anything additional you might give it will just run thru the medium, preventing over watering. What's counter-intuitive is that even though it act and feels like soil, it's technically hydro because there are no nutrients in the medium. The only food the plant gets is what you mix into your watering. You can go simple and water by hand, or you can get all elaborate with fully automated systems of various types.

If you choose to use coco, make sure you get nutrients that are coco specific!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip good sir!

I'll definitely look into it! Sounds pretty fool proof as long as I get the right nutes.

Currently: I have been searching low and high on craigslist for cabinets/dressers. To no avail though :sad:

Once I snag a decently sized cabinet (looking for something thats a good depth as well as width) I'll start ordering more parts. Christmas is top priority. Much better to give then to receive :smile:

Then I'll tear into the fridge and cabinet/dresser/whatever I use.

Question: Anyone know any place to look for cabs/dressers other than craigslist and wally world? That would be a GREAT help!


Thanks Everyone!:hug:

Happy Holidays!
 
S

snookdacrook

Member
I'm using something similar and honestly I'd advise against it it'll be good for vegging but flowering get a small tent growlab makes a pretty small tent good to flower 1 plant and it'd be able to hide in a closet behind some clothes
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
YourAvJoe said:
Thanks for the tip good sir!

I'll definitely look into it! Sounds pretty fool proof as long as I get the right nutes.

Currently: I have been searching low and high on craigslist for cabinets/dressers. To no avail though :sad:

Once I snag a decently sized cabinet (looking for something thats a good depth as well as width) I'll start ordering more parts. Christmas is top priority. Much better to give then to receive :smile:

Then I'll tear into the fridge and cabinet/dresser/whatever I use.

Question: Anyone know any place to look for cabs/dressers other than craigslist and wally world? That would be a GREAT help!


Thanks Everyone!:hug:

Happy Holidays!
Click to expand...

Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity has stores selling donated stuff, similar Home Improvement recycled resellers...Ikea, Walmart, HomeDepot, Sears.


The same scenario [on Craigslist] played out for me too, it took a bit to find what I wanted, but it was worth it.
You could build a small cabinet too, not that hard if you had a screwgun and HomeDepot's cutting saw.

Take a look at these for comparison to Cfl's too....150w HPS $75 You can also get 75W and 100W versions, but usually with an outdoor fixture @ HomeDepot
http://www.amazon.com/Sun-System®-Grow-Light-Fixture/dp/B001JL0BWG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1387337215&sr=8-2&keywords=150w+hps
 
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