My Stealth Cabinet Design Question

[GrassArt]

Hey, so this if my first post on ICMAG, and my first grow ever, so please, all input and advice is greatly appreciated!

I put together a model of my cabinet using SketchUp, a free 3D model program available from Google. www.sketchup.com . Basically, I plan on sealing the cabinets doors shut and then using either black or white caulking to seal in any light leaks, so from the outside, it appears like a normal cabinet, but the drawers and doors will not open. I will access the cab from the back, where 2 pieces of wood will slide open to reveal the chambers. At the moment, I am having trouble trying to decide which model to go on, so I drew up 3 different ones with hope that I could get some advice for what everyone thinks. I plan on doing a SOG grow, with maybe 3 different strain mother plants and then having about 9 clones (3 each?). I have access to a 400W HPS remote ballast and light, and am thinking about either getting a 400W MH for vegging or if that’s to much, a 250W MH for vegging. Depending on which Cab model is the best (obviously both models have strengths, one option gives me a lot more height and the other a lot more sq Feet, I’ll choose my strains). What I really need info is on whether there will be enough room for the plants, and whether I need a smaller/larger space for Veg/Flower. Hope the pics help. Also, in Cab Option B, I will have to find somewhere else to put the ballasts, cause Option A has the space below.










GrassArt

 

[b8man]

Nice sketches -

Ok - in that space, you can't use a 400w anything. It's just too hot and will kill your plants.

Instead consider dividing the space into 1/3 Vegging, 2/3 flowering. CFLs for vegging (125w enviro would be fine), 250w hps for flowering. Even the 250 will get pretty hot so consider air-cooling this one.

Because you are so limited on space you will need to consider either a SOG or SCROG to make best use of the light and keep the height down. In which case the wider design would be most appropriate. The ballast can live out of site on the floor next to the drobe.

You also need to think about where the fan will go, how the air will flow through both sections without leaking light and where your carbon filter will go. These all take up precious space when utilizing small spaces.

As this is your first grow and you have access to a 400w ballast, it might be best to just use the whole drobe. It would be easier to have another small bit of furniture which deals with the vegging.

Hope this helps.

B8

 

[GrassArt]

Darn!

Darn!

Lame, it turned out that it actually is gonna be a 600W HPS, which I take has NO possibitlity of fitting in this cab. Totally thought that 2 feet would be enough for small clones. Even if the clones were in about 6" pots and were put into flowering RIGHT after being cut, there wouldnt be enough room? Now that I think about it, most guys grow out to be higher than 2 feet . Crap lol

Suggestions anyone?

GrassArt

 

[eLiguL]

Buy a GINORMOUS fan and get a bigger cabinet. Besides that I dont think that you can run a 600w. A 250w would be your best bet in such confined spaces and even then your gonna need a well thought out ventilation plan.

 

[KUSHEATER1]

your gonna have way to much heat with a 400 or 600 try a 250 but a 400 could work with a good fan and clones also what will your ambient temp be that's the big ?

 

[b8man]

When you consider that this wardrobe is going to be supplying you with prime weed for the foreseeable future, I think it's well worth investing in a full, nice double wardrobe which looks good and can do everything you want it to do. In other words, if you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

But 600w is wayyy too much. Go with a big drobe with 400w air cooled HPS in the flower section, a small MH for veg, and CFLs for a mum and clone section. A good 5" in-line fan with a carbon filter attached and some nice planning and you'll be able to yield 10oz every 70 days.

Get it right the first time and you won't waste tons of time and effort on inadequate prototypes.

 

[B.C.]

Fer what ya'd pay fer a cab and 600 watt light,you could build yer own cab (the way ya wanted) and line the whole thing with floro's fer the price of the light alone.If yer jus tryin ta keep yerself in smoke,it'd work fine.Check out Floroscrogers (sp?) set up.He's gotta sweet lil setup.Not sayin ya gotta do it jus like him,but it gives ya an idea of how well floros work anymore.They are three times more powerful as they used ta be, not ta mention the color rendering index is up around 90.With jus a computer fan on the top of the cab yud be set as far as heat goes.Anyway, don't limit yer thinking.If yer jus tryin ta stay in personal bud,this would work fer a fraction of the price.Hope this helps...BC