Need help outfitting ikea cab 18 x 22 x 48

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

Hey folks, I have a few grows under my belt under a 600w hps but never done a micro, always been intrigued to say the least. I have this nice white cabinet from ikea, interior dimensions are 22 wide by 18 deep and 48 high. I realize I'm not going to get deep penetration with whatever lighting I go with, it's a fair bit taller than needed...so I'm gonna start with putting the plants on a shelf that can go up/down towards the lights, and I will store some nutes, accessories etc underneath that shelf (probably need 12" for storage) so that brings the interior height down to about 36". I have a few computer fans that I'd like to make use of, otherwise need to go out and buy everything else.

I'd like to start with lighting recommendations. I am thinkin about 250watts of cfl's, but open to anything. What do you micro experts recommend for this cab?

TIA

Hydro-Soil · Jan 5, 2012

With the extra height... you may be able to go vertical PL-L lamps. The 55w are just over 22" for clearance.

Reflectix on the walls and PL-L lamps in the corners? Couple of movable 23w lamps to put in dark spots maybe?

Oh yeah... get a pair of shade 5 welders shades... they make some comfy sunglasses types that work well. Awesome for working in close with CFLs and PL-L lamps. Save your vision now.

Whatever you do... Hempy buckets would probably be ideal.

Stay Safe! :blowbubbles:

FRIENDinDEED · Jan 5, 2012

+ a 150MH (higher than that will give you heat issues)
+ DWP tub (you may be able to get a nice more flat 5gl)/ you could do either a 1-6 sites out of it/ personally i would do 4sites
+ keep cuts and clones handy, may need an offsite somewhere tucked away
+ mylar throughout
+ no need for light hood, that small a space is gonna do nothing but hold heat whether you vent or not, just hang the light vertically and let the mylar reflect the light around . . . with an a 18x22 space? you dont need heat issues
+ 3 of the long blue or black airtubes/stones
+ maybe soil?
+ vents have to be opposite each other (if the top outake is to the front left of the cab then the bottom intake has to be back right on the bottom )
+ put a tub on top () for outake vent, air scrubber assembly (that small a space you can DIY it), the ballast
+ i would run all wires in side the cab running down the corner of the cab just to keep it out of sight

- no hoods!

***cant think of anything else right now

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

Hydro-Soil said:
With the extra height... you may be able to go vertical PL-L lamps. The 55w are just over 22" for clearance.

Reflectix on the walls and PL-L lamps in the corners? Couple of movable 23w lamps to put in dark spots maybe?

Oh yeah... get a pair of shade 5 welders shades... they make some comfy sunglasses types that work well. Awesome for working in close with CFLs and PL-L lamps. Save your vision now.

Whatever you do... Hempy buckets would probably be ideal.

Stay Safe!

Lotsa great lighting suggestions I will look into. Hempy buckets I'm definately gonna try this round.

FRIENDinDEED said:
+ a 150MH (higher than that will give you heat issues)
+ DWP tub (you may be able to get a nice more flat 5gl)/ you could do either a 1-6 sites out of it/ personally i would do 4sites
+ keep cuts and clones handy, may need an offsite somewhere tucked away
+ mylar throughout
+ no need for light hood, that small a space is gonna do nothing but hold heat whether you vent or not, just hang the light vertically and let the mylar reflect the light around . . . with an a 18x22 space? you dont need heat issues
+ 3 of the long blue or black airtubes/stones
+ maybe soil?
+ vents have to be opposite each other (if the top outake is to the front left of the cab then the bottom intake has to be back right on the bottom )
+ put a tub on top () for outake vent, air scrubber assembly (that small a space you can DIY it), the ballast
+ i would run all wires in side the cab running down the corner of the cab just to keep it out of sight

- no hoods!

***cant think of anything else right now

So you're recommending a 150mh hung vert bare bulb? That would be the simplest but you think 22" x 18" is enough space for a 150 vert?

Hydro-Soil · Jan 5, 2012

Maximum 'intense' lighting from an HPS 150w is approximately 9.5 inches. MH is probably a bit less... but you can get the plants a bit closer as well....

Dunno... seems awful tight for a 150w. Doable, but tight.

CFLs or PL-L will be the least amount of heat issues.

Has anyone come up with a vertical PL-L column with say 3-4 lamps in the middle of a space like that? 220w vertical PL-L. LOL

I'd love to try that some day.

Chicken-wire on the inside will give you tie-off spots to scrog the plants to the walls.

With the CFL/PL-L route you'll also only need the pc fans. Just make sure if you use PL-L's that the bases are closest to the exhaust vent.... they get the hottest so it's best if their heat gets sucked out over the shortest distance.

Stay Safe! :blowbubbles:

thinkin · Jan 5, 2012

150 vs 250 - grower specific

150 vs 250 - grower specific

GO HID!

What are your yield goals? ambient temps? stealth? likely to change setup to go bigger later? etc.. all impact what size bulb you use.

Ive run a 150 and 250 HPS in vert cool tube in similar space. 2'x2'x2.5'

Easier:
If ambient temperatures will be high or dont want to run a lot of fans, I'd recommend 150. Or just want to be a lazy grower.

Complicated:
But you can run a 250 in the space. You will need to build a pretty good ventilation setup.

My .02
With 150 HPS life was easier/quieter. 250 HPS is challenge.
With 250 HPS, low Lumens/Par wont be the limiting factor. Heat will be the issue. Opposite for 150, low Heat vs limited amount of Lumens.

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

I don't need this super stealthy...it's going to be in a locked room...ambient temps are kinda coolish (high 60's).

What about those bigger cfl's for vert? I can get a 125w or 200w cfl light, would that work vertically? Maybe a stack of 2 x 125w would be better than a single 200 in my space? I don't know how long/tall those 125 cfls are, maybe 2 stacked would be tall for micro? Probably a 250 hid will be too much challenge for heat, I'd rather keep it simple as possible with regards to cooling/venting issues.

Aiming for 3+ zips.

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

That idea of a vert pl-l 220w tower is sounding promising...

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

Here is a pic of the cab...looks like 6 plants would be a good start if I go with horizontal lighting. Have 3 or 4 of these fans kickin around which would be nice to use.

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

oh yeah the pics...

J. Greenstein · Jan 5, 2012

thinkin said:
GO HID!

What are your yield goals? ambient temps? stealth? likely to change setup to go bigger later? etc.. all impact what size bulb you use.

Ive run a 150 and 250 HPS in vert cool tube in similar space. 2'x2'x2.5'

Easier:
If ambient temperatures will be high or dont want to run a lot of fans, I'd recommend 150. Or just want to be a lazy grower.

Complicated:
But you can run a 250 in the space. You will need to build a pretty good ventilation setup.

My .02
With 150 HPS life was easier/quieter. 250 HPS is challenge.
With 250 HPS, low Lumens/Par wont be the limiting factor. Heat will be the issue. Opposite for 150, low Heat vs limited amount of Lumens.

Just remembered, I have an extra 6" vortex fan and a carbon filter for it (400 something cfm, can't remember exactly off hand) what if I went with a 250 hps air cooled then with the vortex outside the box then the filter after the vortex. So all the air in cab would get pulled through the light, then outside the cab it would be pushed through the filter. I know pushing isn't as effective as pulling, but a
6" vortex and that sized filter is pretty overkill for a 250 anyhow.

rollinmachine · Jan 5, 2012

if u have a speed controller on the vortex it would be fine. it would also open up more options in lighting as u have more then addiquite ventalation for a 250 in that space.

edit: if u wanted and were able to keep the humidity in the box u could do the 250 vert with 4 plls(1 in each corner) to get maximum light coverage around the plants.

Mr Jay · Jan 5, 2012

With that vortex you could easily bang a 250 in there, or two stacked 150s in cool tubes vert. However, we would love to see you put a vert pl-l in there, just because you can
:prettyplease:

With a cherry on top?

FRIENDinDEED · Jan 6, 2012

So you're recommending a 150mh hung vert bare bulb? That would be the simplest but you think 22" x 18" is enough space for a 150 vert?[/QUOTE]

yup more than enough, and all youll have to do is worry about venting. instead of relying on a hood, let the walls of your cab be your hood

i just really think a 250 would be pushing it. if you have the resources or ability to try them both out on some mock runs, test them both with a thermometer (if ya have), and see which one runs cooler at lights on.

my smaller cab (4'x21"x6') is a regular setup for a cab, i use it as a mom/cuts+clones cab but i can convert it right back to a regular "veg on top/ flower on bottom" setup if need ever be.

my larger cab is a prototype cab that i designed in my head, nothing simple just designed it to be able to breaks down into 6 pieces. all of the parts of it can fit into a large tub (the scrubber, light hoods, ducting, ballasts, teh outside power cable is an extension cord that plugs into the cab- cab has the male end in a junction box)

i pass numerous portable spaces on the street and immediately start thinking of how i would set it up, no matter what it is! lol if ive gotta add parts then i will/ wiring not a problem/ venting never and issue . . . just where my mind goes.

EDIT: you know what, maybe if you rigged up a wire assembly into the frame of a hood and then aluminum tape some mylar to the frame and hang it off of the cord for the light or maybe attach it some how to the mogul base? gotta sit back, burn one and think about it.

J. Greenstein · Jan 8, 2012

Mr Jay said:
With that vortex you could easily bang a 250 in there, or two stacked 150s in cool tubes vert. However, we would love to see you put a vert pl-l in there, just because you can

With a cherry on top?

If somebody can give me a link to pl-l's online in canada I'm down with that.

I really wanna give the vert pl-l tower a go, but I will need some help with it.

Just germed 4 beans so it's time for action.

Fuzz420 · Jan 8, 2012

i vote 250hps + vortex + speed controller.

Goodluck with whatever you decide to flow with.

Buju09 · Jan 8, 2012

I wish I could remeber who, but someone in chat linked me a really good site, history has been cleared since unfortunately for you. Perhaps he'll read this and link you it, seemed very reasonably priced.

J. Greenstein · Jan 10, 2012

Ok I've made a couple decisions.

I'm gonna do 4 x 55w pl-l's. Not sure yet vert or horizontal.

I'm not going to use the vortex and big carbon filter, I will use some of the excess headroom in the cab to house a carbon filter / fan. Probably gonna splurge on one of those silent panasonic fans was reading about, or something similar. I decided I should make the cab stealth, in case it ever needs a new location.

I just found a 49 page pl-l thread, got some reading to do.

Got 4 beans just sprouted...2 bubba and 2 og.

Still could use help finding pl-l's in canada.

J. Greenstein · Jan 12, 2012

Ok just sourced some pl-l's so I'm set there...

J. Greenstein · Jan 18, 2012

Just got these 55w x 4 kits from AH Supply (great service btw).

They just barely fit across the 22" width I have. There is about 1" between the reflectors, I plan to mount them to a board that will have slits between the reflectors so the hot air can travel up to top where there the extraction fan and carbon filter will be. I am kinda worried about the reflectors trapping the heat...

Now waiting on bulbs...

Need help outfitting ikea cab 18 x 22 x 48

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