i was looking into getting a super closet deluxe due to the fact that I have kids and its easy to hide the fact that I'm growing I've read a commits that you could send links on how do build your own. Do you feel that you could build a better system than the super closet? Any feed back would greatly be appreciated... Thanks
Need help building super closet.....
- Thread starter biggerdog
- Start date
It's not a great system, and is very expensive for what it is. The cabinet is metal, loud, and not quite light or airtight.
The hydro setup is decent but a better one can be DIY'd using a cooler to help keep water temperatures low.
In a space that small it would be better to flower just one plant and train it SCROG style to keep all the tops at the same height.
All but the largest Super Closet are only one chamber, you would need something else to have a plant in veg at the same time so it would be ready to flower right away.
Super Closet systems and other prebuilt setups do have their place though, if one isn't too handy it definitely saves a lot of time and effort but would likely need some upgrades.
If you've got the time, get a large wooden (better sound absorption) wardrobe, preferably with two chambers for a veg and flower side.
Cut a large hole out of the back covering both chambers for air intake, put a furnace filter on it so dust/insects/whatever don't get in, and make a light trap.
Cut a hole in the top of the chambers for air exhaust, and make a carbon filter fitted with a large fan. Make the filter so that the carbon can easily be changed out.
Use several feet of insulated ducting on the exhaust to help quiet things down.
Fit a 250-600W HPS for the flower side, with a cooltube and reflector, either pulling fresh air in and exhausting out or fit another carbon filter to the intake and draw air from the inside of the wardrobe to help cooling.
Line the doors and other gaps with adhesive foam/rubber weather stripping of various thicknesses to keep things light and airtight.
Tub the bottoms of the chambers with heavy plastic so any leaks will be contained.
Make a hidden locking system using something like Tot-locks or electromagnets so it's not obvious.
Something like this:
The hydro setup is decent but a better one can be DIY'd using a cooler to help keep water temperatures low.
In a space that small it would be better to flower just one plant and train it SCROG style to keep all the tops at the same height.
All but the largest Super Closet are only one chamber, you would need something else to have a plant in veg at the same time so it would be ready to flower right away.
Super Closet systems and other prebuilt setups do have their place though, if one isn't too handy it definitely saves a lot of time and effort but would likely need some upgrades.
If you've got the time, get a large wooden (better sound absorption) wardrobe, preferably with two chambers for a veg and flower side.
Cut a large hole out of the back covering both chambers for air intake, put a furnace filter on it so dust/insects/whatever don't get in, and make a light trap.
Cut a hole in the top of the chambers for air exhaust, and make a carbon filter fitted with a large fan. Make the filter so that the carbon can easily be changed out.
Use several feet of insulated ducting on the exhaust to help quiet things down.
Fit a 250-600W HPS for the flower side, with a cooltube and reflector, either pulling fresh air in and exhausting out or fit another carbon filter to the intake and draw air from the inside of the wardrobe to help cooling.
Line the doors and other gaps with adhesive foam/rubber weather stripping of various thicknesses to keep things light and airtight.
Tub the bottoms of the chambers with heavy plastic so any leaks will be contained.
Make a hidden locking system using something like Tot-locks or electromagnets so it's not obvious.
Something like this:
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Gastanker
Well-Known Member
Yes, you can build a much better unit yourself for just a fraction of the price. You want to know how I personally would do it? What's my budget? Space available? Ambient temps/humidity? Soil or hydro? And any other required criteria; i.e. lockable, mostly premade vs your an expert carpenter, sound issues, UV supplementation, exhaust issues...
that would be great!!!!!!! My budget is $1500. I will need to disguise the unit in my home office so that looks like it belongs there for office work. I would like to fit it in the closet if possible. The size would need to be kept at or under 4' wide x 3' deep x 6'6" height (how much can we produce in that amount of space?) The temperature can be kept at whatever is suitable for the plants and I live in Southern California so we don't have any humidity issues here. We have an expert carpenter, so we can build pretty much anything. We need it to be locakable, disguised, quiet, and smell-free. For exhaust issues, we can cut a hole in the drywall and run a duct out through the attic crawl space. I would prefer to grow using whichever method would produce the best product with the highest yields in the environment provided, I would appreciate your reccomendation. I am curious about the SCROG method, do you have an opinion on that?
Gastanker
Well-Known Member
You can produce ~1lb/cycle (8-12weeks) with that foot print.* *Once you learn to grow and become accustomed to your particular strain and grow conditions. You're more likely to hit .5-.75 lb/cycle.
Personally I would recommend you utilize your carpenter. Have him build a well insulated decorative box in the dimensions you want (A box inside a box with insulation). An insulated wooden box will keep temps more constant than the metal lockers but more importantly will kill the sound. Metal cabs tend to amplify all noise and growing pot can be noisy. Not sure what you're carpenter costs but the materials should be cheap (Less than $150 on the cheap with ok looking veneer). If you want to go with a metal cab then here's one
72x36x24 steel locker for $257 with free shipping http://ibuyofficesupply.com/Products/72-High-Standard-Cabinet--36w-x-24d-x-72h--Black__TNN1480BK.aspx?ref=google&source=google&utm_medium=shopping_engine&utm_source=google&gclid=CPSM5v7r97ICFQSCQgodT0MAcA
You can surely get these cheaper from different sources but here's a 600w dimmable lumatek with aircooled sealed hood and digilux MH and HPS bulbs for $425 - http://www.urbansunshine.com/index.php?main_page=shopping_cart&number_of_uploads=0
I highly suggest paying for a quality ballast and I highly recommend lumatek. I also recommend digilux as well as lumatek bulbs.
Already you have a better a hood, ballast, bulbs, enclosure, and it's a fraction of the price.
If this is going in an office I would spend your big bucks on a high capacity QUIET fan. I hear S&P makes some very quiet ones. Keep in mind you can get a fan that will grow pot great for ~$50 but it will make a lot of noise. If you want quite be prepared to spend considerably more for a fraction of the CFM. You might consider splitting the exhaust between two smaller (100-150cfm fans) rather than a single 250-400 cfm fan. Same air movement but again less noise.
If you choose to have a lower compartment then I personally would recommend a cheap DIY LED fixture. For $150 you could have 150w of LED which could keep temps down compared to flouros. If you want to go cheap then go with bathroom vanity lights and CFLs. You can of course replicate the grow box with T5s - they work great but might cost you as much as the LEDs.
Not sure if you wanted more details but that's the basics. $500 for good ballast, hood, bulbs. $250 for a metal cab or $150-? for a custom wooden. $50-250 for fans. $20-$150 on veg lights (let me know if you need in instructions/sources for DIY LEDs). You'll spend another $50 on ducting and then there's soil and seeds. So that's on the high end $1200. If you want to go hydro I'd suggest a DIY unit. They are cheap and easy and there are tons and tons of different types/styles. Hydro/soil is a preference point and you are the one to make that choice preferably once you are a more competent grower. I personally would suggest a first time grower to start with soil - preferable an organic follow the recipe super soil (just add water and wallah!). But if you want to really be lazy and buy something you can find cheap hydro kits just like the grow box all over.
From the homedepot there are systems ranging from $30-200, 1 plant to 10: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=hydroponic&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL
If you want a cheap kit like the grow box here's one for $45 with free shipping and media included, just one of many - http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-SITE-HYDROPONIC-GROW-SYSTEM-KIT-W-NUTRIENTS-Ph-test-/150898412578?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23223f0c22
As to a scrog... that really depends on plant count, strain, veg time... Yes I think scrogs or at least a bit of LST can be extremely beneficial, especially in a small enclosure.
Hope that helps a little.
Personally I would recommend you utilize your carpenter. Have him build a well insulated decorative box in the dimensions you want (A box inside a box with insulation). An insulated wooden box will keep temps more constant than the metal lockers but more importantly will kill the sound. Metal cabs tend to amplify all noise and growing pot can be noisy. Not sure what you're carpenter costs but the materials should be cheap (Less than $150 on the cheap with ok looking veneer). If you want to go with a metal cab then here's one
72x36x24 steel locker for $257 with free shipping http://ibuyofficesupply.com/Products/72-High-Standard-Cabinet--36w-x-24d-x-72h--Black__TNN1480BK.aspx?ref=google&source=google&utm_medium=shopping_engine&utm_source=google&gclid=CPSM5v7r97ICFQSCQgodT0MAcA
You can surely get these cheaper from different sources but here's a 600w dimmable lumatek with aircooled sealed hood and digilux MH and HPS bulbs for $425 - http://www.urbansunshine.com/index.php?main_page=shopping_cart&number_of_uploads=0
I highly suggest paying for a quality ballast and I highly recommend lumatek. I also recommend digilux as well as lumatek bulbs.
Already you have a better a hood, ballast, bulbs, enclosure, and it's a fraction of the price.
If this is going in an office I would spend your big bucks on a high capacity QUIET fan. I hear S&P makes some very quiet ones. Keep in mind you can get a fan that will grow pot great for ~$50 but it will make a lot of noise. If you want quite be prepared to spend considerably more for a fraction of the CFM. You might consider splitting the exhaust between two smaller (100-150cfm fans) rather than a single 250-400 cfm fan. Same air movement but again less noise.
If you choose to have a lower compartment then I personally would recommend a cheap DIY LED fixture. For $150 you could have 150w of LED which could keep temps down compared to flouros. If you want to go cheap then go with bathroom vanity lights and CFLs. You can of course replicate the grow box with T5s - they work great but might cost you as much as the LEDs.
Not sure if you wanted more details but that's the basics. $500 for good ballast, hood, bulbs. $250 for a metal cab or $150-? for a custom wooden. $50-250 for fans. $20-$150 on veg lights (let me know if you need in instructions/sources for DIY LEDs). You'll spend another $50 on ducting and then there's soil and seeds. So that's on the high end $1200. If you want to go hydro I'd suggest a DIY unit. They are cheap and easy and there are tons and tons of different types/styles. Hydro/soil is a preference point and you are the one to make that choice preferably once you are a more competent grower. I personally would suggest a first time grower to start with soil - preferable an organic follow the recipe super soil (just add water and wallah!). But if you want to really be lazy and buy something you can find cheap hydro kits just like the grow box all over.
From the homedepot there are systems ranging from $30-200, 1 plant to 10: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=hydroponic&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL
If you want a cheap kit like the grow box here's one for $45 with free shipping and media included, just one of many - http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-SITE-HYDROPONIC-GROW-SYSTEM-KIT-W-NUTRIENTS-Ph-test-/150898412578?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23223f0c22
As to a scrog... that really depends on plant count, strain, veg time... Yes I think scrogs or at least a bit of LST can be extremely beneficial, especially in a small enclosure.
Hope that helps a little.
Arifachief
Member
Ask your carpenter buddie to build you a closet in your home office, materials would be cheap. I've got kids as well and decided to build a closet in the laundry room (they definitely don't do their laundry) it worked out great. With a door that locks gives me peace of mind.