New Closet Grow Questions

Hi all!


First of all let me say that I am a absolute newb as to grow weed (I came real close one time though) and this is the site I was always looking for, you are doing a great job spreading the knowledge!


I was convinced that I can make a stealth closet grow, I had plenty of questions, but most have been answered in this forum before, so I only need to hear a “I do not see anything wrong, go! “ from you guys to know that I can make it, plus some info from the more experienced about closet-to-room temp and such.

So, I have a 86x45x131cm (or about 34x18x52 inch) length-depth-height inner space closet and also from an older group failed-before-even-started attempt an 400W HPS Sylvania Grow Lamp with ballast, a Diamond reflector (sadly too big to fit in the closet) and some really expensive feminized seeds (good after 2 years?).
My plan is to mount the lamp at the top middle (since the reflector is too big) with some kind of “metal heat shield” above it, mount the ballast outside to keep temps low inside and put 2 fans at the back, one low for intake and one high for exhaust.

My two main concerns are “stealthiness” and temperature.
I live with my mother so there must be not too much heat,smell or noise.


I tested some fans, the big ones where quite noisy but the 8cm (3inch) ones are ok, I could use two of them. I also tested the lamp, the heat it produces is a lot for mounting it 2cm from the top of the closet without some kind of protection for the wood above, but I think I could make that better with an flat aluminum piece or some metal tape. Maybe I will try to make something like a cool-tube and connect the exhaust fan with the lamp somehow. I will also use some pieces of paper or something to stop any light come out of the closet.
Now, my questions:
About temps, now I have about 18-25degrees in my room, how much higher will the inside of the closet be? I know it depends on fans and stuff, but any input would be helpful.
I am thinking to keep light on during day and off during night (when flowering), must the fans be on at night too?
Also can I start germinating using only the HPS lamp? Do I absolutely need fluorescent light (or other) for the vegetative state?


Also what can i expect from a space this small? One plant, two or more? How close can the plant be to the lamp? Can i start the flowering if the plants are only 10cm tall?

Thank you very much for reading this, any thoughts or suggestions will help a lot.

John

Alright ill try to help you the best I can here, First off your gonna have a problem with heat running a 400Whps in that small of a space....I know I did. Get yourself a Cooltube and a good 150-300cfm exhaust fan....I think their called "inline fan" and attach that to your cooltube and have it pulling air from your grow space over the bulb *cooling it* and up and out of the grow area (best to exhaust it out of the closet like in the attic or it will just heat up your closet thus heating your grow too) it should keep your temps down to growing conditions.....ummm....there are alot of DIY threads on this site if your short on cash....and if sound is an issue on your fan you can put the fan in a box thats a bout an inch bigger than it connect your exhaust duct and fill it with great foam( stuff you use to seal crack in your house) not too much either or ull blow the box apart...then tape the shit outta it and hang it from bungie cords itll dampen the vibration of the fan down to almost nothing. also the inline fans sucking air sounds like a jet taking off *literally* they sell a muffler for the sound but you could just look on here and there is a DIY thread for a fan muffler it'll only cost you like 25 bucks instead of like 100 if you do it yourself! I think the only think your gonna have to work on is that every thing else looks pretty good!you could grow like 4 autoflower plants in 1-2 gal square pots I think they grow SUPER fast and really good bud two...I harvested in 2 months... so the skys the limit....actually your bank acct it the limit haha! remeber have fun dont get stressed out your plants will feel it too! G luck if you have any other specific questions just PM me!
<boogs>

If you still have a problem with temp, then open the door often to woft the hot air out and spray your plants with cold water everyday, raise the 400 watt bulb higher if needed. another little trick in that small of a space is to take your reflector off so the heat rises more. Just keep your plants blowing in the fan air, tho and spray often with cold water and you should be fine

Ive never heard to spray the plants with cold water....I thought spraying them was just a wasted time and effort?

Ic ya the inlines are super loud but they work great! I would have 4 fans if I were you 3 blowing out and 1 sucking in at the bottom with a sumwhat larger hole to act as a passive intake. and ya I have my fans on a seperate timer than my light, the light is on an 18/6 and the fans are on a 23/1 just to give them time to cool off a bit. and ya making your own stuff is the way to go if you have the time because then YOU can customize it to your needs! I would recomend using either like a hurricane glass from a craft store(round glass cylinder used for candles hollow and open at both ends) or go on ebay and get yourself a "pyrex bake-a-round" I heard they make very good cooltubes but can only fit the smaller hps bulbs... once again G luck man its always a pleasure to help out a fellow noob! I was in your position bout a year ago and found this site since then its been nothing but improvements to the grow op! If ya need anything else just ask im subbed to this to help you out the best I can

<boogs>

Thank you very much boogs, I also wish good luck with your crop (assuming you have one now)!
I also that this site is a GREAT help to all those who want to grow for themselves.

Anyone knows the CFM that this kind of fan would have?

Id say like 50-60 tops

eJohn said:

Anyone knows the CFM that this kind of fan would have?
View attachment 1475965View attachment 1475966

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Not enough. PC fans are not effective at all. NOT even a 90mm tornado fan is effective for 250 watt HID in my newb exp. Just hang at least a 400+ cfm fan for that space with bungee cords as an exhaust outside of the grow space, leave the intake passive and be done with it.

BOOGS said:

Ic ya the inlines are super loud but they work great! I would have 4 fans if I were you 3 blowing out and 1 sucking in at the bottom with a sumwhat larger hole to act as a passive intake. and ya I have my fans on a seperate timer than my light, the light is on an 18/6 and the fans are on a 23/1 just to give them time to cool off a bit. and ya making your own stuff is the way to go if you have the time because then YOU can customize it to your needs! I would recomend using either like a hurricane glass from a craft store(round glass cylinder used for candles hollow and open at both ends) or go on ebay and get yourself a "pyrex bake-a-round" I heard they make very good cooltubes but can only fit the smaller hps bulbs... once again G luck man its always a pleasure to help out a fellow noob! I was in your position bout a year ago and found this site since then its been nothing but improvements to the grow op! If ya need anything else just ask im subbed to this to help you out the best I can

<boogs>

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btw pyrex bake around are 4.75" in diameter. Make sure that bulb fits. They break VERY easy especially when porcelain molex make a slight contact with the borosilicate glass. You're way better off with the open hood.

He said *sound* was an issue I tried telling him the foam box hung from bungies it quiets it down ALOT then you can add a muffler to the end of the sucking hose and it quiets the *WHOOOSHING* sound VERY WELL

Spraying plants with a fine mist of h20 is not a waste of time ! Marijauana loves to be sprayed with water just like every other plant , it's not a cactus., how do you think you control humidity, even a humidifier putts a fine mist in the air, for advanced grow rooms, using a spray bottle has the same effect. spray the plants and soil inbetween waterings

that fan is not 40-60 cfm its like 80-90 cfm tops >.>... I got more than one of those fans and all them are rated atleast 70+... could even be 110 for all u know.. read the back if it has a sticker