JP's cabinet grow: Planning stage

42 Watt CFL Light Bulb - 150 W Equal - Warm White 2700K

42 Watt CFL Light Bulb - 150 W Equal - Full Spectrum Daylight 6500K

total: four bulbs for each stage. 168 watts total for two feminized short ryder seeds from nirvana. I want to limit myself to two females since i am short on space.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8206250&findingMethod=rr#ProductDetail


two computer fans with external controller. Lights are plug ins with Y connectors and will be attached to a power strip and mounted into the cabinet.

I will probably paint the inside of the cabinet with paint for plastic. Might have to go with an emergency blanket for stealth. How do you attach the blanket and make sure it stays?


I will be making a diy carbon filter to go on the outgoing fan. I saw a really good thread about making one from walmart pencil cups.


I'm going to build a 10 gallon rubbermade diy dwc with a dual port air pump and two bubble disks. I am using general hydroponics flora series liquid nutrients and use a ppm/ec meter.

What is a good size net cup to go with? I have some 2 inch cups, but im afraid the plants will outgrow them quickly.

I will add information to this thread as the project develops. As things arrive and i begin to build i will post pictures and try to contain all my noob questions to this thread.

Welcome to my experiment. Hope you will enjoy it as it develops.


JP

Well i decided to practice on a couple bag seeds in an aerogarden 3. I just want to see how good a job it does on germinating and growing a seeding that i can move into my dwc setup im building. As insurance i am paper towel germinating two additional seeds in my desk drawer.

Im using park seed bio dome replacement plugs. they are like perfect starts. Ive had a lot of good luck growing tomatoes and peppers with them.


JP

Hey, JP. Welcome to the site. Use chrome tape to fix the emergency blanket. It's in the hardware section at Wal-Mart or any hardware store. It's super sticky Seems like you'll have a nice little grow. Make sure to get a thermometer 'cause I'm sure it'll be getting hot in there. I've got a box with pretty close dimensions (36h x 31w x 16d) and it runs into the mid-80s after about 12 hours of light with 7 23watt CFLs. Air flow is the key. You may want to look at making some light traps with PVC pipe or a DIY cardboard contraption to keep light out of passive intake/fan holes. I like a nice, tidy grow and it seems like you're on the right track!!

Thank you very much, I hadn't thought about the light through the fans. I have a lot to learn about stealth. I really appreciate the time you spent in sending the reply. I am very excited but trying to take things slow and really trying get everything i can right. I'm not going to rush things, growing takes patience.

I am thinking the two computer fans i have will be enough to keep fresh air in but the controller i will be using has connectors for up to five fans so i can always add another one if the need comes up. I will get a clip on fan and some aluminum tape next time i hit walmart.

I ordered a temp/humidity gauge from amazon, it goes in reptile cages so i figure its perfect for a grow cabinet.

I also ordered some PH down since I've read thats a problem.


I will update this thread with pictures as soon as i have something to show.
Come on mail person!

Thanks for taking the time to check my plans out. I can use all the help and suggestions i can get.

JP

will flat white paint be enough of a light barrier or do i need to include Mylar (no matter how un-straight it is?)

You can definitely use flat white paint. For your first grow you don't want to go too overboard with things you don't really need. Just get a handle on things and then work your way up. I bought emergency blankets and all the little things I wanted and half of them aren't even being used now. It's finicky, especially when you may need to make adjustments. I had mylar on 3 of my walls and the temps were too high so I had to remove it all and drill 3 more holes for fans/air so I decided to go with paint until everything's ready to go. May go with mylar when I'm finished with this test run Good luck! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Hey thanks for the advice! +Rep

I have one can of spray but not sure that will be enough for light proofing purposes. Once i get the cabinet painted, I will start posting pictures.

Oh by the way, what should i use to upload pictures? using photobucket seems a bit too risky for me.

Thanks, JP! I got a sampler of white paint for $5 at Home Depot and it covered my entire grow box (24 square feet), it's great! I just use this site, upload the pics right from your computer! Can't wait to see!

I bought a fixture from stealth hydro, I'm going to use three 105 watt CFLs with it. 315 watts total. I may also add the (4) 42 watt bulbs i have which would bring my total up to 483 watts.

Should i use all the bulbs i can? or stick with the 315 watts for veg?

I don't start my little ones with all the light I can. I usually just start with 1 27w until they start to really grow then I change the 27w with a 42w and then I just keep adding more lights throughout the grow. You can use the 315w for veg (should be plenty) and then add all the rest when you switch to flower.

+rep

Thank you very much, I still have to buy my flowering bulbs. i will order some 2700k 105 watt bulbs and that will give me the same amount of light for flowering.


I have on hand
(4) 42 watt 6000k bulbs
(4) 42 watt 2700 bulbs
(3) 105 watt 6000k bulbs

(1) 3 bulb fixture
(2) Y connectors
(2) Plug in sockets
(2) 120 mm fans
(1) External controller
(1) Aluminum tape
(1) Can of flat white spray paint
(1) Emergency Blanket
(2) Reflective car shades
(1) Length of weather striping
(1) box of zip ties
(4) Yo yo light holders
(1) digital timer
(1) dwc 4 gallon setup
(2) power strips




Build pictures will be posted as soon as the cabinet is painted.


JP

I cut a hole in a shelf with my dremmil and slipped my dwc res in the hole giving me a few inches. I am going to install it on the lowest setting and store my air pump and power under the deck.I wrapped it in aluminum tape since it was black.

I think i am going to lightproof with a couple car shades and a butt load of aluminum tape. I saw a build and really liked the way it turned out so i will post more pictures as the build continues.

I installed the Yo yo hangers so i can hang my reflector once my bulbs come in. They are supposed to be here today sometime this afternoon. Heres a pic of the yo yo's installed, i still have to lightproof the cabinet.

Time has come for ventilation issues to be addressed. Im planning to try out a blower filter and I need to decide if i am going with pc fans as intakes or go with three passive intakes (holes) under the grow shelf.

they would be naturally shaded from light if i placed them down there but would the shelf block too much air? remember the blower will be overpowered for this space which should give me the ability to scrub the air and suck it out of the box.

+rep for all

I installed a 120 mm intake fan at plant level, It seems to already make a difference. I just need to fit the blower and pray i have enough room after i do so. I am installing the ventilation first then light proofing the box.

should i have more than one fan powered intake?


Thanks again,

JP

I am waiting on the 42 watt bulbs to arrive, so i lifted the lights higher and with the fan it has really made a temperature difference. I should have my digital temp/humidity gauge any day, It allows me to track highs and lows. Walmart is always out of everything i need, so i have to order most of my supplies. Thank goodness for home depot. at least some places stock.

I will be cutting up two car reflectors and taping them up with aluminum tape. Its not mylar but i need insulation and this was the best i could come up with. I saw a box a guy built that was just like mine, and im hoping it turns out as nice.

I am still refining my skills with bag seed. I tried growing without the vent fan and the lights really low, didnt work out. I am trying another sprout with the new adjustments. The fan at plant level is really helping so far. I believe i can lower the temps even further with an exhaust fan. I am decided if to use the blower or not. Its a small grow, Space is everything but i need solid odor control for when i flower.


Im saving the named beans for when i know i can grow. I will stick to bag seed since no bags come seedless here anyways.


JP

Do you have an intake fan and an outtake fan? If not just use the outtake and cut a hole for intake.

And I use the car reflectors and they work great. I think your grow is going to be great. Goodluck!

I have temps holding at 88 degrees with just one intake fan mounted low. Tomorrow i plan to cut an out take hole near the top for an exhaust. The blower motor is quiet and really sucks in air. The input has carbon wrapped around it and i plugged it in to see how it was and i was impressed. It would really suck the air out of my cabinet, ive just got to make the decision on if i have the space for it. Its a 24v blower so I know it will handle the job.

I bought some IR blocking tape that is 4 feet wide. I thought about using that since its got adhesive already built into it might be easier to work with than the car reflectors but i worry i might lose too much insulation if i do that..

Did you cut up the car reflectors then tape them up with aluminum tape?

Thanks so much for the reply! I appreciate the time!

JP

Well i installed the car reflectors with aluminum tape, did a good job in making the cabinet lightproof. I have some issues with the temperature still. I installed a 120mm fan in each opening. One as an exhaust and one as an intake but i am still getting a reading of 86.

Thats just with one 105 watt cfl too. For now im letting things settle and see if temps climb or lower now that the doors are light proof and both fans are installed.

Thanks for reading this

JP

looks good. In for the rest of it.