400w cabinet - help me max it!

[Mindovermatter]

Hey guys

I have been a lurker at OG for many years I just read about growing as conditions were never right. Now a friend has got a nice place so I thought I would get him started and share the experiences and loot with him.
Anyways, this is the grow cab. The left larger area, is about 40*16*60. I was thinking about fitting 4 clones in an NFT system there, with a SCROG and a 400w grolux light. The fan would be a 6" about 300 cfm. I will also add a small airpump (90L/min) to the NFT which is neatly fitted inside the closet. strain is BOG bogglegum.

As far as ive understood, getting 0.5 gpw shouldnt be any difficult with this system as long as I do no serious mistakes, but of course I want to grow like a pro from the outset, and hopefully get 1 gpw like NBG in this thread (you can find if you search for NBG+scrog). Also remember some peep at OG some years ago who got 660g out of a 400w, system NFT, strain was chronic too if I recall it correctly. So any experienced peeps who couldnt give me some pointers are highly appreciated. Will post some pics when I get it running. Should I be looking at beneficial bacteria and that sort of things or hormones etc?

 

[waster]

hi MOM,
I found this site v. informative re lighting/area/yield and nutrients:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/

just my opinions, but I would say that grow area is quite small to squeeze everything in, you'll need to keep on top of temp and humidity. If you're just starting out, I'd say keep it as simple as possible, you can get very good results hand watering or growing in soil. I think to get the highest yields takes experience and tuning of setup, but with good strain, and getting the basics right, you'll get good results.
happy gardening mate!

 

[Mindovermatter]

wow this is some quality information somebody should put this on the site!

 

[Mindovermatter]

Ok so ive been reading alot again about this issue, and ppl are suggesting its not possible to get more than 1-1,5oz/sqf. I got ~ 4 sq in this closet, does this mean Im dreaming or that I should buy a 250w hps instead?

 

[Mindovermatter]

Can someone please answer?

 

[BeachBum]

get 400 at least

 

[sugabear_II]

the biggest problem w/your cab is the shallow 16" depth. why not get a c-22 or c-25 with more depth? it's too much of a rectangle to get good light coverage with a single lamp - two 250's would be a good option or maybe a single air cooled 400 or 600 on a light rail. you can get more than 1.5 oz per square foot with ease - that rule is based on SOG growing - longer veg times and training yield more per square foot with taller plants 2oz is easy. if you want to get the biggest yield per square foot of floor space go vertical. how about four 4 foot 4 lamp t-5's one on either side wall and then two back to back in the middle.

 

[Jam Master Jaco]

Man put whatever you want in there.

Just for the record I have not grown myself, I have read up on a lot though (lurked around OG for about six months and have been here a few). But take my advice with a grain of salt. Anyways, with the shallow space you have going here's what I would do:

get a 400 watt light and make yourself a veg chamber. Get a seperate light for that veg chamber (make sure it's big enough to keep a healthy mom or two and enough room left over to start out some clones. I'd go with a 250 mh myself). Since you're growing BOG and his strains have relatively short flowering times I would go with a perpetual system. Put to flower one plant every four weeks. So after the first four week flower period you will constantly have two plants in the flower chamber. That way you can harvest once a month and pull at LEAST an ounce or two per plant. (the best advice I've heard from other growers when first starting out is to worry about every little thing EXCEPT yield, cuz it's all the little things you do right that lead up to a good yield). Oh, and I'd Scrog if I were you...and since you're gonna have the light in the middle of that rectangular grow chamber I'd be sure to flip the plant around every other day so the leaves that are farthest away from the light can get more direct light every other day.

So there ya' go, hope I helped.