Newbie Looking For Advice

Hi All,

Long time listener, first time caller....

I live in Ireland and as the Irish people here know the state of product here has been on a steady decline. While I am not a large user (A few joints on my days off), I am finding in harder to get decent herbs at a reasonable price, if at all.

After discussing the subject of growing my own with my wife (who doesn't use) I have been allowed to use the closet in our spare room for four plants. This comes with one very strict condition, if I stink the room out of it she is going to burn them on me (While very understanding she does not kid about this!).

First let me give you the dimensions/details of the press:

Dimensions:

Base: 57cm Length x 66cm Width
Height: 190cm Main x 29cm Overhead
Kicker: 14cm Height x 66cm Width

Details:
- 2 Doors cover both compartments at a height of 219cm
- Rests on legs hence the kicker board
- 12cm gap between the ceiling and the press
- It's in an alcove so I can't drill through the back, left or right sides

So what I was thinking was:

1 250w sodium lamp attached to a cooling tube. 125 Fan in the overhead with exhaust out the top. The overhead could then be insulated from noise and at the other end of the cool tube a carbon filter to suck in the smell.

Now to questions:

1) The makers of the press did not have cannabis in mind during construction and as such it is not air tight there is a noticeable gab between the doors for instance. will the negative air pressure stop smells seeping out? If not how should I go about sealing the press.

2) If 1 is true do I need an air take also, if it is not I will install an intake into the kicker, would this produce smell?

3) While 400w would be great it would mean more vents, with that being said is 250w enough for 4 plants for personal consumption.

4) When I open the press it is going to stink. What are the best ways to keep the smell to a minimum?

Thanks to all that respond. I place special emphasis on the smell as it is my wife and not the law who will be the arbiter of this project.

Thanks

1. Yes the negative pressure will stop smell leaks. But you don't want big gaps because that will cause light leaks, causing your plants to hermie.
2. You can add a active air intake but it isn't necessary, a passive air intake will do. Just cut a hole large enough for air to come through.
3. 400w seems a little overkill for your area, the 250w is enough for 4 plants and will be enough for your personal use.
4. When i open my tent it does smell a little but i don't think it's anything you should worry about.

Just make sure you vent your exhaust outside of your grow room and you will do fine with the 250w or the 400w. Hope i helped. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice,

I had been to a grow shop and while the owner is great the guy who served me did seem a bit on the sell side, which is fair enough but I don't want to have more equipment than needed. In terms of the smell from your tent. It sounds as if it is the sort of smell one would get from opening a large bag of fresh product which is fine. I was more concerned that it would be a room consuming smell. I notice there are spray based products that people mention here on the boards, I'm sure they can take care of anything lingering outside the press. I will seal the gap using draft excluder's as I cannot find anything smaller.

On the subject of sex...

I am not in a huge rush to get to flowering so I was thinking of growing a female and then cloning from it x4 is this advisable or is it easier to go with feminised seeds?

Here's my 2c, much the same as what purplecream has to say.

Welcome to the boards, Ethan,

In general, I would say that your space is a small one, so 400w would be overkill-- and difficult to cool. A Cooltube is nearly 50cm, so you will have to carefully plan how you would use it in your space-- it won't even allow for bent ducting; to use it, you would have to vent straight out the sides of the press. Fans will also make noise, which might be trouble for you. For your situation, I would seriously consider CFLs or T5 floro-tubes (13W variety).

Now for your questions:

1- Sealing the gaps is almost always a good idea. Sealing will let you control the airflow, and will keep light from leaking out (a dead give-away that you have a grow in there). One good way to seal is to add thin boards around the inside of the openings that overlap with the doors. Foam insulation can be added to the boards to complete the seal.

2- You need an air intake on the bottom of the press (will not need a fan) and a fan for exhaust at the top. If you are concerned about smell, you will need a carbon filter-- for that size grow box, you could probably make your own out of coffee cans or pvc tubing. Only by controlling air-flow will you be able to contain the smell (ie. tight seals, and a good fan).

3- You should be able to pull at least 100g every other month from the 250w-- and up to 200g. Your space is limiting yeild more than your lumens

4- The best solution is to vent to the outdoors. In any case, use a carbon filter; get Ona (or a similar deoderant); and buy a less-smelly strain like Northern Lights or C99.

NOTE: Even after taking precautions, you will very likely still have an odor-- you and your spouse will have to decide for yourselves how much is too much.

On sex.... Unless you have a second space to veg your plants, you will not be able to clone regularly (perpetual harvest). For your situation, I would just go with feminized seeds.

Thanks for the input,

There seems to be a lot of modification going on to my press here which the OH may not like. The grow shop sells small tents, are they sealed better?. Noise is not a major issue as we both work during the day. The problem is smell. And since it is relative I have no idea how to figure this one out. In terms of what you guys smell is it constant or is it only when open? Unfortunately venting outside is not an option but to combat this I do not mind paying extra for high grade carbon filters.

Active carbon filters. Active carbon filters. Active carbon filters... If you run your exhaust thru enough active carbon filters (aka activated charcoal) it will kill the odor. Plenty of venting with filters and you'll be fine. You may also want to consider "Room deodorizers" like the ones that sit on a table top and cycle the air thru cabon filters for the room your press is in. Can't hurt and I found it eliminated the last of my issues...

If I use CFL/T5 bulbs and lots of vents would the box not get too cold?

EthanWolfe said:

If I use CFL/T5 bulbs and lots of vents would the box not get too cold?

Click to expand...

Flourescent lights are less efficient than HPS (lumens/watt), and that lack of efficiency translates into heat. So, the flourescents will put out more heat than the HPS, but it will be spread over a larger area, and is less likely to burn your plants. A lot of people think HPS puts out more heat because it feels hot, but electrical energy can go to only one of two places: light or heat, and floros produce less light per watt.

In regards to venting, you only need to pump the air through the grow space when it gets too hot. Your plants will only need fresh air a couple times a day. You'll probably want to get a small thermostat that triggers the fan when temps get to high, which may be a couple times a day or all day long, depending on ambient temps.

Thanks for the info,

So do I actually need a cooling pipe? Would two Ceiling fans with carbon extractors not be more efficient?

EDIT: with regards to 1 250w HPS

EthanWolfe said:

Thanks for the info,

So do I actually need a cooling pipe? Would two Ceiling fans with carbon extractors not be more efficient?

EDIT: with regards to 1 250w HPS

Click to expand...

If you circulate enough air (the volume of air in the closet a couple times a minute, for instance) you will probably be fine. You just need to be sure the hot air does not get trapped under the reflector (circulate the air inside with another small fan). Also be sure you are ok with the noise of the fans.

Others on this site have recommended growing vegtables (like peppers) in a new space with a new grower. I think that is a great idea if you aren't in a hurry. It will let you know if the grow space presents problems before you try it with mj. You could even grow something stinky to check how well you are controlling the smell.

Thats a great idea!

There is no point me rushing to get it thrown out so I will try that first. Regarding the fans. The idea is to house them in the top shelf with exhausts exiting out from there through the top of the closet. This gives me a good way of controlling noise.

Sounds like your off and running. Post some pics of the closet once you have it rigged up.

Will do! Cheers for all of the advice!

So I spent the whole night doing some calculations/searching and here is what I have come up with:

1: For my space CFL is better. Rather than loads of little bulbs I was going to run with 1 x 125w bulb, one of the big ones. This will be held horizontally with a reflector. If needed I can add smaller 13w bulbs at the sides to penetrate foliage.

2: I'm going to Mylar the whole press to increase my light yield. I'm going to overlap this on places like door hinges to achieve total darkness. this will also help with the smell.

3: To intake vents in the base for air in, unfanned and covered by standard vents.

4: For plants per yield using feminised seeds of a less smelly strain.

5: One exhaust fan running for 5 mins per hour. This is because the volume it sucks out is well above my cubic meters so it doesn't seem to need to be on much.

6: Inline active carbon filter on the fan exhausting to the top of the press.

7: Small fan moving air around the whole box, for heat dissipation and "wind".

8: Some Ona gel for further smell reduction:


I appreciate all the help so far, any more input please feel free to add.

Best of luck with it

Thanks a mill,

I'll start up a diary once I get the press set up!