100% Dundee
Member
So I decided its time for me to my game up a bit by building a new, larger flowering box. My previous thread can be found here (http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=4861434#post4861434) and is still ongoing, but I wanted to make a new thread dedicated to my new project. The general idea is to create a larger, more productive version of what I already have going. Anyway, I have everything mocked up in SketchUp so I will be able to illustrate the idea for now.
The Plan:
Box Dimensions(Outside)-
-2'(d) x 3.5'(w) x 4' (h)
Lighting-
-400w HPS
-400w LUmatek Ballast 120/240 Dimmable
-6" Super Sun 2 Reflector
Ventilation-
-6" S&P TD-150
-DIY Caron Scrubber(something along the lines of https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=39506 , that thread/tutorial is fantastic)
Plants-
-Strain - BOG's Bogglegum for now since that is just what I already have mothers/clones of at the moment.
-44oz Foam Smoothie/Food Serving Cups
-Hempy Style, 3:1 Perlite:Vermiculite
-Nutrients - Spurr's Formula
The Frame:
I am using good old 1x3 dimensional lumber, about $4 for an 8ft section at your local lumber yard/hardware store. The top and bottom platforms are mocked up as 3/4" plywood/OSB, have not gotten to that part of the construction yet though so I might actually use 1/2" when the time comes. You can see the beginnings of what will my ventilation solution, the huge square hole in the top panel. It will all make more sense after a few more pictures/explanations
.
The Lighting:
I am planning on using a 400w HPS inside of a 6" Super Sun 2 hood and running it off a Lumatek digital ballast. As you can see, the Ssuper Sun 2(which is mocked up very close to actual dimensions) will be a relatively tight fit in the box but I think everything will be fine since I don't plan on having any real ducting and also plenty of air flow. The ballast will be dimmable so turning it down to 250w mode at times will be possible if plants get too close to the bulb or my temps get too high(summer time perhaps), whenever necessary.
The Ventilation:
The ventilation that I have planned will be a passive, negative pressure type deal. The intake will be 2-4 6" holes(gonna start with 2 I think and see how temps do, I have it mocked up with 4 just to see how it would be spaced) cut into side of the box. On the inside of the holes there will a slot/shelf that I plan on sliding in a generic Filtrete/HEPA Filter into, whatever size fits. Just to keep as much large dust/particles/whatever from getting sucked in. Exhaust will be handled by a S&P TD-150 mixvent fan with a DIY carbon scrubber(something like https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=39506 , that thread/tutorial is fantastic).
The Plants:
In my current grow I am using 16oz solo/beer cups that I have turned into little hempy cups, I plan to do the same thing here with larger 44oz Foam cups. I have it mocked up to hold 10 staggered rows of 3 or 4 plants, or 35 plants/cups total. There is a good half inch between every cup on all sides and a few inches on the sides in the mockup so I might be able to fit a bit more/less plants in. I will have to see how it goes and gauge from there once I try out those containers under the light. I yield ~15grams average per plant in my 16oz beer cup hempies once I got the plant size dialed in and I figure I should be able to get at least the same amount in these much larger containers under much more light. If I can maintain that ~15grams per plant, at 35 plants and 400watts, that should blow out that elusive 1gram per watt out of the water(being very optimistic here, I don't think this is going to happen my first run or anything hah). I am going to keep on using Spurr's Formula as far as nutrients are concerned mainly, might play around with a few additives to see what kinda results I get. I have also been wanting to try Lucas with maxibloom since I had great results doing it with the liquid nutes. More on those things later when the time comes.
The Completed Box:
This is the orientation that the box will be placed into my closet/showing the door panel that I will use to access the plants as well. So far I have just purchased the 1x3's and began making the top and bottom frame. Once I get this up and running I will probably turn my 252w CFL setup into a clone/veg/mother area just to keep it with a steady supply of plants. Ideally with the ~35 plant capacity I will be running it perpetually, probably around 5 Plants/1 week apart. That would take 7 weeks to fill it up, then I could take a week off before harvesting the first 5 and replacing them with fresh clones.
I will take some pictures of the build process along the way and of course of the finished product, I basically have everything that I need so the build process should go relatively quick. Stay tuned. Also, I feel I covered most of the bases pretty well but if anyone has any questions of course feel free to post away, more than happy to answer!
Heres a little teaser of what I have done so far. Just have the top and bottom frames made as well as the 4 corner uprights cut.
The Plan:
Box Dimensions(Outside)-
-2'(d) x 3.5'(w) x 4' (h)
Lighting-
-400w HPS
-400w LUmatek Ballast 120/240 Dimmable
-6" Super Sun 2 Reflector
Ventilation-
-6" S&P TD-150
-DIY Caron Scrubber(something along the lines of https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=39506 , that thread/tutorial is fantastic)
Plants-
-Strain - BOG's Bogglegum for now since that is just what I already have mothers/clones of at the moment.
-44oz Foam Smoothie/Food Serving Cups
-Hempy Style, 3:1 Perlite:Vermiculite
-Nutrients - Spurr's Formula
The Frame:
I am using good old 1x3 dimensional lumber, about $4 for an 8ft section at your local lumber yard/hardware store. The top and bottom platforms are mocked up as 3/4" plywood/OSB, have not gotten to that part of the construction yet though so I might actually use 1/2" when the time comes. You can see the beginnings of what will my ventilation solution, the huge square hole in the top panel. It will all make more sense after a few more pictures/explanations
.The Lighting:
I am planning on using a 400w HPS inside of a 6" Super Sun 2 hood and running it off a Lumatek digital ballast. As you can see, the Ssuper Sun 2(which is mocked up very close to actual dimensions) will be a relatively tight fit in the box but I think everything will be fine since I don't plan on having any real ducting and also plenty of air flow. The ballast will be dimmable so turning it down to 250w mode at times will be possible if plants get too close to the bulb or my temps get too high(summer time perhaps), whenever necessary.
The Ventilation:
The ventilation that I have planned will be a passive, negative pressure type deal. The intake will be 2-4 6" holes(gonna start with 2 I think and see how temps do, I have it mocked up with 4 just to see how it would be spaced) cut into side of the box. On the inside of the holes there will a slot/shelf that I plan on sliding in a generic Filtrete/HEPA Filter into, whatever size fits. Just to keep as much large dust/particles/whatever from getting sucked in. Exhaust will be handled by a S&P TD-150 mixvent fan with a DIY carbon scrubber(something like https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=39506 , that thread/tutorial is fantastic).
The Plants:
In my current grow I am using 16oz solo/beer cups that I have turned into little hempy cups, I plan to do the same thing here with larger 44oz Foam cups. I have it mocked up to hold 10 staggered rows of 3 or 4 plants, or 35 plants/cups total. There is a good half inch between every cup on all sides and a few inches on the sides in the mockup so I might be able to fit a bit more/less plants in. I will have to see how it goes and gauge from there once I try out those containers under the light. I yield ~15grams average per plant in my 16oz beer cup hempies once I got the plant size dialed in and I figure I should be able to get at least the same amount in these much larger containers under much more light. If I can maintain that ~15grams per plant, at 35 plants and 400watts, that should blow out that elusive 1gram per watt out of the water(being very optimistic here, I don't think this is going to happen my first run or anything hah). I am going to keep on using Spurr's Formula as far as nutrients are concerned mainly, might play around with a few additives to see what kinda results I get. I have also been wanting to try Lucas with maxibloom since I had great results doing it with the liquid nutes. More on those things later when the time comes
.The Completed Box:
This is the orientation that the box will be placed into my closet/showing the door panel that I will use to access the plants as well. So far I have just purchased the 1x3's and began making the top and bottom frame. Once I get this up and running I will probably turn my 252w CFL setup into a clone/veg/mother area just to keep it with a steady supply of plants. Ideally with the ~35 plant capacity I will be running it perpetually, probably around 5 Plants/1 week apart. That would take 7 weeks to fill it up, then I could take a week off before harvesting the first 5 and replacing them with fresh clones.
I will take some pictures of the build process along the way and of course of the finished product, I basically have everything that I need so the build process should go relatively quick. Stay tuned
. Also, I feel I covered most of the bases pretty well but if anyone has any questions of course feel free to post away, more than happy to answer!Heres a little teaser of what I have done so far
. Just have the top and bottom frames made as well as the 4 corner uprights cut.
