Indoor 1000W DWC grow, design ?'s

[mmayhemm]

Designing an indoor grow. Have decided on DWC, 4 plants, 5 gallon buckets, all seperate. Ceiling height is 6 foot in basement, other than that walls can be any L x W. Thinking 4 X 4 X 6.
My real question is 1000W switchable or digital ballast? I know Switchable would cost more to run, but want it to last for a long time and be reliable. Brands/pros and cons of each?
Also, Poly walls or sheetrock, and Stanley Blower mod, or Vortex fan? Just want to make sure I can control temp, will get dehumidifier if needed for humidity. Thinking about a cooltube, and maybe a VaporTek instead of Carbon Filter.
Would like any advice/critiques, or for some of the experts, maybe a list/plan for a killer room with a $1,400 budget. Thanks...

 

[samba]

Just my 2 cents....
I've heard bad things about digitals....
If you have the money,I'd go Vortex.
Yes on cooltubes,if you can get them,why not a super sun 2 !?
4x4 sounds right for the size

 

[iLLperception]

I just finished a 1000w in 5x5x8, and the biggest prob was heat issues. I don't know what your surrounding temps are, but in my area they were anywhere from 70-95F. I had a 6" Vortex 465CFM at about 2/3 throttle and a 5000btu window a/c unit pumping into the grow room every 30-60 mins to keep the temps below 85. It worked but was difficult to finally dial in. Ended up spending extra money on the A/c and a thermostat controller for it. Just keep that in mind with the 1000w. I had an air cooled hood but not a name brand so that may have made a small diff but I doubt it was that big, as it is very good build quality.

Also with that setup there will be noise!!! Vortex is loud! You will NEED a fan speed controller unless you want that jet engine at full blast all the time. I found I could significantly reduce the noise but keep very good airflow by turning it just a bit below full blast when needed.

 

[mmayhemm]

Would I be better off with a digital 600? I know the yield wouldn't be as good, but I imagine it would make the heat more managable. What kind of loss in bud size/yield would I be looking at?

 

[250wscrogger]

2 aircooled 600's over a 3x6 scrog is better for dwc than a 1000w. Its possible to get 25+oz per 600w light with a proper dwc/scrog or lst with the right strain. I rarely see yields much higher than that under 1000w's

 

[mmayhemm]

Ok. If I went this route, what would be best? I'm thinking two lumatek 600's, one large scrog screen made of pvc and string, one or two vortex fans, or is there a better option? Also I'm thinking of a vaportek 4000 for smell, and maybe a dehumidifier if needed. Cool tubes or cooled reflectors, and which brands are best for either? Also, what brand of lights would be recommended if not lumatek, and which bulbs do you have good success with? Thanks for all the sugestions and help.

 

[250wscrogger]

lumateks go best with agrosun bulbs. Run 1 6'' vortex for exhaust and one in the grow room sucking through a can 66 filter. The lights should intake from and exhaust to outside the cab. Super sun 2 hoods are like the best reflectors money can buy. If not lumatek then go with a sunleaves pulsar magnetic 600w alot of people run these with nothing but good results.

 

[mmayhemm]

What would be the best/easiest way to drain the buckets once the plants start to fill the screen? Elevate the buckets a little bit and use a ball valve at the bottom of the buckets I'm guessing? Any good threads on this?

 

[sophisto]

Elevate the buckets and attach drain fittings prior to setting up the system....

 

[NiteTiger]

Check out my thread Mayhem, I think you'll find it very applicable to you. The buildout thread will have some ideas for you too.

Welcome to IC!