ULTRA stealth rubbermaid build/grow

I decided that it is time I attempted my own stealth grow. After reading a bunch of threads on here over 1-2 months, I've got the itch. This build is more about me proving that I can do it, as well as keeping it secret from my family, than the actual bud that I'll produce.

I moved into my current house about 2 years ago. When we moved, we used silver Rubbermaid containers. There have been 4 of them in my closet ever since. The closet is in a corner of my bedroom, and no one, including myself, goes in there regularly. Once I found out that you can grow in containers, the build started.





Basically I have 2 rubber maid bins stacked on top of each other, sealed, and taped from the inside. All the lids for this system have been sealed with weather stripping. Hopefully this will leave me enough room to grow 2 plants.


My biggest worry about this whole process, is smell during flowering. To combat that I built a fairly large "air filter" system using two 4" inline fans and active carbon. These fans together move some serious air. The fans will be on a remote switch that I can operate manually from outside the box, or leave on a timer. Carbon was placed in the bottom of the filter, and a cut out from a lid was placed on top. This part is not air tight, but the bin itself is. Input on this is appreciated as I built what I felt would be sufficient without anyone's guidance.


So far all I have complete is what is pictured (the box itself and the air filter). I still need to pick out a lighting system. I'm leaning towards CFL, but if someone can recommend an LED system (under $200) I would be all over it.


This will be my first build and grow, so all help/comments are appreciated. I have a background in engineering and construction so this build will surely change a lot before I begin growing.

Hi Imhungry114

looking at the pic your carbon filter won't work as the air has to pass though the carbon not over it.
you would be better buying a 100mm carbon filter and popping that in the box then pushing the air thought it this will scrub the air.

If you are going to be flowering in there you will won't a good filter also you will won't a clean air in take
for that size you can use a pc fan to draw air in about 120mm or 140mm the bigger the fan less the noise

As for light would use cfl to start with

Line the walls with Mylar
and pop a light trap over your intake fan

I have never made one out of boxs but y not good luck

P.s sorry if any of the spelling is Wrong

Thanks sn0wy, that was a concern of mine. I will have some time while the plants are in veg to fix bugs with the filter system.

Mylar lining is also on the list.

Could anyone tell me how many lumens (total) to shoot for when buying and building lighting? Is more always better? Or should I be looking to hit a certain number?

Lumens are for humans

For veg one 45w cfl 6400k should be fine

And for flowering 2700k The lamp are 45w = to 220w for your space bud



GreenLamp 45w Blue Spectrum 6400k CFL grow light lamp bulb Bayonet B22: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting



GreenLamp 45w Red Spectrum 2700k CFL light lamp bulb Bayonet B22: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

This needs an update!

Crazy to think it's been a year since I started this thread.

This project sat in my closet for some time without a plant inside, but now it's fully functional.

Ive got some liberty haze cooking inside the box. I will update this grow pretty frequently.

I hung the lamps using a power strip, and some nylon cord threaded through the holes in the handles of the bin.

For bulbs right now I have:
2x 23 watt 6500k
2x 18w 6500k
2x 18w 2700k


I'm not satisfied with the lighting right now, it'll change a few times I'm sure.


And I still have to line the bins with Mylar.