Grow Design Needs Help!

[Inavixious]

In my basement I've got a crapload of boxes, a room measuring roughly 10' by 20' filled about 8' high with boxes everywhere. I was thinking (not sure yet) about trying to grow some seeds up through the vegetative state and then put them outside for their flowering.

The best idea that I could come up with was creating a fake box with one of those tall (4-5 foot tall, 2-3 ft. wide/long) boxes with the two finger-grip holes near the top on opposite ends, in which theres a metal bar that slides across near the top in the middle to hang long clothes on for a move. Few ever go into that room, and if they do, I doubt theyll ever find it stashed in the basement surrounded by 20 boxes (the holes will face other boxes parallel to the longest wall, so theyd never see the holes anyways).

I was thinking about hanging a 400 watt Metal Halide (ballast inside) light from that metal bar, for easy suspension too, and then lining all the insides of the box with Mylar for optimum reflection. A slit would be made from the middle of one of the holes down the box a ways to gain access. The picture I just drew should show the basic idea.

I was wondering, since I am not going to use CO2, how I should go about venting this beast, what fans should I use and where should I put them? I am not worried at all about the odor, as it shouldnt smell like the dank because it won't be flowering in there.

There are the two finger-grip holes at the top of the box already, but what should I do? The room is naturally recycled with fresh outside air through a filter, and it is a little more chilly down there (mid 60s) even during summer - however I plan on 24/7 lighting for the first four weeks.. I need some advice!

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Phillabonger]

So to sum up, you're looking to burn your parrents house down.

Don't, imo.

 

[cobo]

So to sum up, you're looking to burn your parrents house down.

Don't, imo.

what he said

 

[Guest]

I always find it funny that people just turn a shoulder when someone speaks as though they are growing in their parents house. Kinda hypocritical.

Based on what you're saying you're going to be using a 400w light for the veg phase only? And then take outside for flowering? Not sure why you would go this route or if you fully understand what's involved..... but, seems to me if you want a stealthy, low maintenance veg box - just stick with CFLs and not a 400w light. No heat issues, way way cheaper and you can still veg a ton of plants from seed to pre-flowers this way.

 

[Guest]

Much better to stick with fluoros for vegging. Much cooler and a good spectrum. For the least amount of heat, I'd use shop lights. 4' shop lights are cool enough that I can let my plants grow up and touch the bulbs without burning them. For vegging, buy the "daylight" spectrum (6500K).

I have cut holes in the cardboard that fit a 9" round fan very tightly. Wedge the fan into the hole, arrange a box over it that's open to the back to act as a light baffle, and turn the fan on medium or high. You'll need some holes at the bottom for air intake; I suggest taping pieces of window screen or something over the holes to keep critters out of the container.

Line the box with white plastic or mylar to reflect light. Or rig up moveable walls (sheets of cardboard covered with white or mylar) that you can rearrange as the plants grow.

Use compact fluoros to supplement the shop lights if needed. I find I only need those when the plants get a good size, by which time you should be ready to move them outside anyway.

Good luck!

 

[chosen]

I like the shoplight idea. IT's safe and easy to cool. I really hope that this isn't someone growing in a space with roomies or parents without any form of consent. IT's an accident and an argument waiting to happen. I also don't like the idea of going outside and maybe exposing the plants to the world.

 

[Guest]

I agree 100%,a 4 ft 2 lamp shoplight can veg 10 plants beautifully and 20 plants pretty dern well,to 5 or 6 inches anyway.Keep the lamps literally 1/4 inch above the growtip at all times,if the uppermost fans grow into the lamps no big deal,just bend them down a bit.I can't emphasize how important distance is when using tube floros,if you're two inches above the tops thats way too far.Grow them this way until 5 or 6 inches in height then put them outside,you dont want a HID unless you plan to flower inside.