Setting up for a 20 sq/ft closet cycle grow

[Guest]

Hey everyone! I'm Fish. I'm working on setting up my grow room. I recently made the closet bigger by moving two walls out. It's now 4 ft deep x 5 ft. wide x 7 ft tall. I only have 1 400 watt MH with a hortilux ultra ace EN HPS conv. bulb. So I'm going to need another light. I plan on adding a 600w HPS. I'm thinking the 400wMH/HPS & 600w HPS will be a good combination. Any suggestions? I have 2 250cfm 6" inline duct fans. 1 for intake and 1 for exhaust. I'll be exhausting into my attic so smell isn't an issue. I also plan on putting down 1" polystyrene insuation board on the floor to keep those roots warm.



I'm planning on only using this room for flowering. I'm pretty sure i have access to a steady supply of quality clones. :wink: At least until i can get set up to get cloning on my own. But one thing at a time. Clones are going to just keep getting added in until i get a good cycle going. Not sure yet how many plants i'll be able to fit.

My goal i think is to get a whole lot of the best bud i can. heh. I was thinking about using GrowDoc's bed method. But i'm concerned about access to all the plants. My access is through a 2ft wide door centered in a 5ft wide wall. And its 4ft to the back wall. Not sure if i should go with a bed or just stick to bags and pots. Any and all suggestions welcome on this one.

That's all for now. I'll keep you updated with the progress.

 

[GMT]

I think I'd do a run with the 400 you already have first. Temps will be kept lower and reflective material will keep light bouncing around. I mean I would opt for a single 600 given the choice, but some lower side lighting may be a better option than to go for the 1000 w as heat will be a major prob. A trial run would allow you to fine tune things better than jumping straight in.
If you went with the beds, ala GrowDoc, You could always build them anyway you wanted to. An inverted U shape would give you good access to all areas. You could always slide a couple of pots into that space when you weren't standing in it.

 

[Guest]

A 400 + 600 gives a total of 50 watts/sq ft, which is adequate. Using the MH during veg & early flowering helps keep stretching to a minimum. You'd get best results from using a light mover, but I don't think your room is large enough to hold one.

GMT's suggestion of using a "U" layout so you can access your plants is practical. It wastes less room than trying to make a pathway around the walls. The disadvantage is that the plants will be against the wall, blocking some of the light. I think I'd still choose the "U" layout for space efficiency, though; the loss to the walls should be less than you'd lose to wasting room for a perimeter-access layout.

I don't think your current fans are powerful enough to extract the heat from 1000 watts of light. If you have a decent amount of passive intake, you might try using one fan to exhaust the lights and the other fan to exhaust the garden. You can reduce heat problems by keeping the ballasts outside of the room.

I prefer to have plants in separate pots. It's easier to rearrange them for efficient use of lights and space. You will also find it easier to remove plants that aren't growing as vigorously as the rest.

 

[valk]

I agree with Ambre that you need a better exhaust strategy, especially thinking about ambient room temps. My grow area is only 1x2 smaller than your closet's dimensions and even with a 440cfm exhaust fan, sometimes I still see low 90's. (430/hps, passive intakes, ballast in other room).

 

[Guest]

GMT - Thanks for the input. I think i might give 1 600w HPS a shot and if i feel i need more or can handle more i'll add in the 400w HPS. Now to find a 600w...

Ambre & Valk - guess i'll be cutting in another 6" exhaust outlet. i'll go 2 intake and 2 exhaust.

Pots it is. Might as well stick to what i'm used to. and i just love spinning around a plant in full bloom to catch it at all angles. Maybe i'll try a bed on round 2.

 

[Guest]

soil beds are cool i guess... More room overall for plant roots, but they are a pain in the ass if you need to move shit fast or get the noids or something...

I would say for soil growing indoors perfectly square pots would be the best bet for moveability, changing soil individually, rather than one big heaping messy job.

 

[OHenry]

Whats up Fish. Next thing you'll know your addicted to IC forums...beware!

Your closet= My first grow space.

We'll give that closet something to be proud of.

Oh

 

[Guest]

Quick Update

Quick Update

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! Just mellowing out a little bit this fine snowy holiday. I now have 1/2 of the new closet sheetrocked & mudded. just have to run a few new wires & cut 2 more 6" holes so i can finish rocking & paint. I'll have 2 - 6" 250 cfm fans exhausting and the same for intake. 500 cfm out & 500 cfm in in a 140 cf closet. should be enough to displace and possible heat issues that may arise from a possible 1000w total in closet. been shopping around on ebay looking for lights. what's the best 600w hps complete fixture to get? should i get light that i can hook directly up to 1 of my 6" exhaust fans? just looking for a few opinions. not sure if it's worth the extra $$.

 

[Guest]

Update 11/27

Update 11/27

Been working real hard throughout this holiday weekend. Got lots accomplished. I think the constuction process is FINISHED. Lets see..

- sheetrock up and mudded
- room taped, caulked air tight
- painted white
- mylar up all around
- ventilation ducts run throughout attic
- fans wired in and installed
- 2 new 20 amp lines run for lights
- floor insulated with 1" R-11 polystyrene foam board
- 400w HPS hanging in center

Total cost so far.. $300, Smoking my own bud.. PRICELESS

I think i just need to poly the floor, buy a digi camera, and eventually pick up a 600w HPS. Well i also need to make a run to the supply house to get soil, nutes and some square pots. But can't start the grow till after x-mas, as i'm going to florida for the holidays. So we'll see what the new year brings.

 

[2buds]

Good luck. Sounds like a lot of cfm flowing around in there. I'm trying to figure out some cfm issues myself for a first grow.
Have a safe holidays.

 

[Guest]

Soil & Nute Recommendations ??

Soil & Nute Recommendations ??

I need to pick up supplies. Wondering what to go with. Fox Farm or promix? Was thinking that maybe because i'll only be flowering that fox farm would be good cuz i wouldn't have to worry about micro nutrients. trying to keep it simple. Also need to pick up nutes. what are your favorite combination of nutes?

also tried to take a few pics of the setup with my camera phone but the mylar is making it nearly impossible. i'll pick a few decent ones and them up on here today. it's cold and snowing outside, so i'll just and relax today.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Guest]

PICS

PICS

Here's a pic of the side by side 6" exhaust outlets. you can see the ballast on a shelf just below.



This shot shows my old ass hood as well as the 1" polystryene on the floor. mylar all the way around. 6" forced intake as well as passive intake.

 

[Guest]

Hey Fish looks like you are off to a good start! I seen that you were asking about lights.... I picked up a 600w with an electronic ballast and i love it. Its real easy on the electric bill. They are a little pricy but IMO they are worth it.

 

[Guest]

yellowsnow - thanks for the info. still now sure what type but i know i'm buying a 600w hps after the holidays. but i gotta wait to see how much cash is left after a much needed 2 wekk florida vacation.

 

[Guest]

Good start yo.

My advice...FWIW...

Go for the 1000. You won't get the yeild you want without it, at least not in that size of space. Believe ambre/folks when they say go for 50 watts per sq ft. (and up to 65) if you can make it work. Also...2 lights (or more) are better than one.

Use the Ocean Forest. Also buy a bag of the largest diameter perlite you can and mix a 60/40 mix FF/perlite. Use individual pots w/ good drainage.....especially if you go with the small light. You'll need to move em around to keep em anywhere near even in height. Read up on beneficial microbes and mycorrihazae....and place more emphasis here than on the mistake of overferting to make em go friggin nuts.

OK>>>One thing I don't see is odor control. DON'T let this one go...it is very critical and your safety and security depend upon it. The smell you blow into your attic **will** come out of ALL of the vents all the way around your house...and in flower...it's gonna smell like Pepe' Le'Pue lives there. (I'm dating myself with that one!)

Believe me...been there..done that! When I first fired yup and had my very first crop just going into 12/12 about 2 weeks...and I thought nobody could tell...my sis-in-law came over with the mother-in-law and broke out in an allergic reaction to "pollen" in mid winter...and the comments started flying around about the "skunk" that must live under the front porch...

get a carbon filter pronto. There are plans to build your own on CW...and probalby on other cannabis relatred forums if you can't afford the $200. (how much is jail?)

Other than that..you be jammin! What kinda clones, anyway?

good luck

durga

 

[Guest]

Durga - thanks for ALL the info. everyone here has been so helpful. it's looking like i'm going to have either 2 400w hps or 1 400w hps & 1 600w hps. 800-1000w's.

i am trying to learn more about micro nutes and stuff. i'll be relying on the expertise of my good friend OHenry to teach me all he knows. you'll see some of his current flavors make their way to me.

i've done multiple grows in the same, but at the time smaller, closet. never had smell issues. but i only did maybe 7 plants from seed right on through. now i plan on starting a perpetual grow, possibly 20-25 plants. so i think i will probably need to make a box in the attic for filtration as you suggested.

i'll update more on ongoing construction in the next week. crunch time. going away for a couple weeks for the holidays and i want to be able to just turn the lights on when i get back. jump right into it. can't wait to see what the new year brings.

 

[Guest]

Leaving for Vacation

Leaving for Vacation

Have a safe and happy holidays all. I'll be back on New Year's Eve and the grow will begin hopefully in the first week of January. Can't wait to be in Florida. NEW ENGLAND SUCKS!!

 

[2buds]

Time to clean up

peace

 

[Guest]

2Buds - thanks for the tip. i'll check it out. good looking bro.

 

[Guest]

seems the lights both sold 1 hour prior to me checking them out. DAMMIT!!