Help me max out a server case

[Undrgrnd Armory]

I realize this might be referred to the micro grow subforum, but the people who view this sub forum have always been extremely creative and helpful to me in the past to I wanted to post it here.


I want to use the largest under $100 server case I can find and do a small and simple soil grow, but I will not limit the criteria to soil if someone has an idea I find fitting.

Yield is not of HUGE concern as my only goal is to supply myself (daily smoker) to smoke. Anything over one quality ounce could be stretched out for quite a bit of time with good conservation technique.

Based on what I have read in other "computer case grows" I was planning on cutting a piece of glass (I have the proper tools) to use as a heat shield, or buying thick plexiglass. I do not know for certain if one would be significsntly more desireable than the other.

This case will have to suffice for both vegetative state and flower. I am undecided on large numbers of florescents or one small hps. The extra ventilation required for hps (at least the 400's and 600's I have used in the past) seem to make it unweildy for even a large server case, however the extra density and likely yeilds of an hps are tempting.

Plant number is fairly irrelevant as I find it highy unlikely anyone would come with an efficinet design for a large server case which incorporated more than a few plants at a time.

I have provided as much information as possible. I look forward to youre responses.

 

[Guest]

if you check out the micro forums there's tons of information there

check out the pc growers club thread, it should be pretty useful.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=54232

usually a 50 or 70 watt hps is a pretty good balance between heat and light output in server cases. if you have the means to cut glass, use this before the plexiglass, as the plexiglass will more than likely discolor over time, and it blocks more lumens than glass too. The glass shield will be pretty necessary if you want to keep things cool.

Ideally you want a sealed off light chamber with 2 dedicated fans set up in a puch pull or just one fan set up in a pull. If mounting the ballast to the back of the outside of the case is an option at all do that.

A soil bed in a custom sized box filling the bottom of your case would probably be your best bet. By using a bed of soil, you can maximize soil volume while minimizing height.
Hydro is an option, but you'll probably find that soil is simpler just because you won't have to worry about changing out that small volume of water too often or trying to keep it cool in such a small environment.

 

[devilgoob]

get a dell server case off ebay.....theyre double wide....but might not look to inconspicuous.

 

[Undrgrnd Armory]

get a dell server case off ebay.....theyre double wide....but might not look to inconspicuous.

Would you mind posting a link? I can't seem to find what you are describing, but it sounds like exactly what I am after.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Would you mind posting a link? I can't seem to find what you are describing, but it sounds like exactly what I am after.

I don't know where you can buy one but I got one on Craigslist for cheap.

Look around ebay and you may be in luck.