The things I have at my disposal

[Noahfecks]

I am new to growing and am just finishing up my first grow with mixed results and a WHOLE lot more understanding. I come here to read far more than I will ever post, but I find myself in need of some more specific advice from those with more experience. One of the main lessons that I learned from my first grow is that the space that I am currently using is not a good option for growing (many reasons that I wont go into, is just not a good space). So I have a few ideas and a list of resources and would like a critique of my plan.

I am in CO and it is important that I stay within the spirit and the letter of the law so some of my ideas may be intended to keep me within the 24 plants/12 in bloom limitation. We have come so far in this state, I would be a fool to do anything that would give the naysayers ammunition to move us backwards.

We have an unattached unfinished shop space with interior dimensions of 15' x 9'. Just bare studs, one 120v outlet, a floor drain, no windows, and one exterior door. There is a good metal conduit that goes all the way back to the main electrical service box.

4 1000w ballasts with xxxl hoods with 6" vents

assorted fans

1 12,0000 btu window mount a/c unit in good condition

A small budget

My initial thought is this: Finish out the space by insulating and sheet rocking it and bringing in power via a dedicated sub panel. I would set up 3 4x4' flowering spaces each with their own light so that I can run a pseudo-perpetual grow with different strains. Veg, cloning, and mothers would be handled in a cabinet housed within the main space. This should leave me with good space to work around the plants and have support equipment out of the way. I would like to have a dedicated 220v line to run the 3 1000w lights and two more 120v circuits to handle fans, pumps, a/c, and veg cabinet lighting. I would be running each flowering "pod" on it's own undercurrent system, so that I can keep the conditions just right for each pod and its specific needs. I was thinking about running this as a sealed space since it will be a dedicated grow area and running CO2.

My perceived main obstacles/issues will be:

Security, not from the law as I intend to be legal, but from unsavory elements in my neighborhood. What should I be doing to minimize my exposure in the neighborhood?

Heat, it's HOT here in the summertime, 100+ for days at a time is not unusual. How much more cooling capacity will I need? I will be running the hoods on ventilation. I may possibly also be running a DIY chiller to cool water.

I dont know what I am doing. I come here and read but there is no substitute for hands on experience. Will you help?

I really need some constructive critique of my plan so that I can maximize my budget and end result. Thanks in advance

 

[dank.frank]

I can already tell you this...12btu is NOT enough...more like 3x that amount if your outside temps are that high. You want an A/C that is bigger than what is actually needed...that way it isn't under a high load and constantly running.

If you plan on sealing it - you'll need HVAC metal tape all around your hoods to make sure they are actually sealed tight. You'll want a dehumidifier. An over sized carbon filter will be a must to protect from the unsavory 'hood.

Don't forget to invest properly into a good veg room. The best flowering room in the world can do very little if the plants coming into it aren't 100%.

Another thing - don't forget you'll need space to dry your harvests. Often over looked and forgotten. Drying them is when they stink the most.



dank.Frank

 

[intotheunknown]

Good advice from Frank there. Overkill on most levels here is necessary. Especially when it comes to heat and ESPECIALLY stink.

Overkill your scrubber(s) and overkill your exhaust, get yourself a fan speed controller(s) for optimum control of air flow and heat control along with the a/c unit. remove heat from lamps by exhausting and cool your incoming ambient air with ac.
should be going for a negative pressure setup. Ballasts, or anything that creates heat should be out of the area if possible.

IMO even being in colorado, being anywhere security should still be top priority-legal or not
Problems on that end are unnecessary (law/rippers/etc.)

 

[Granger2]

Good advice above. I've had good luck sealing my hoods with this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_96118-1410-...1&currentURL=?Ntt=weatherstripping&facetInfo=
Then clamping the glass with 10 or 12 of these:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/561339/Office-Depot-Brand-Binder-Clips-Medium/

Good luck. -granger

 

[Noahfecks]

Thanks for the input!

I guess my question is, if I am running a truly sealed room where would I vent the carbon filter to? Does it just recirculate the air in the room and "scrub" it?

Would I be better to run two separate smaller a/c units at opposite ends of the space for redundancy or would it be more efficient to run one large unit?

I wondered if a dehumidifier would be necessary as arid as it is here but I suppose that I am creating a micro climate in the sealed room and the humidity outside is irrelevant. People in this part of the country would think I misspoke if I went into the appliance store and asked for a DE-humidifier.

Granger, the lowes link does not work but I assume it is for some type of foam weatherstripping? Then clamping the glass to help create a seal?

I had also completely overlooked the need for a drying space, I think my current growing space may be perfect for this service. I agree that without a proper veg space the bloom space is pointless, am I kidding myself to think that a closet within the larger area will be sufficient for 4 mothers and 4 clones/vegging plants? I know that it will require 100% light proofing and some venting and that I will only be able to access it during the light hours of the bloom area.

 

[CasioCalculator]

Yup, if you are running a sealed room, you just put the fan on the carbon filter and let it recirculate the air. Also, although your part of the world is very dry, I am sure people ask for DEhumidifiers all the time.

 

[intotheunknown]

Sorry, didnt realize you were going for a sealed room...

 

[Noahfecks]

not 100% set on the sealed room but I think it might be best to set it up that way, I appreciate your constructive comments! If I knew half as much as I think I do about this stuff I would know twice as much as I do.

 

[Noahfecks]

Thanks for the clarification on the filter, does it make a difference if its up high or down low?

 

[intotheunknown]

If simply you are going to scrub and circulate the air within a sealed room, put it wherever you can fit it basically.

If running a continuous air exchange setup, the scrubber is best at the top of the grow space allowing the most of the cooler ambient air being drawn in to circulate through as much of the space as possible. Also, helps in heat removal.

 

[dank.frank]

Filter doesn't exactly matter where - but typically you put them up high to circulate where the heat is...

1 larger A/C is better than two smaller units....then you only have to worry about condensation build up and setting a drain system for one vs two.

You do however want your A/C as high in the room as possible. The point is to cool the heat - and heat rises....COLD air drops down naturally. So place your A/C as high as you can get it.

If you are going for a truly sealed room - you should be looking into ductless units that don't exchange any outside air.

You may look into the option of only running 1 or 2k for the first round - saving up some money and then putting in the proper equipment you want to run a full 3k set up like you are thinking.

You'll get better flowers by having a dialed environment. No sense in growing a lot of mid grade...



dank.Frank

 

[Granger2]

Noah,
I just tried the link again and it works for me, but if you go to Home Depot or Lowe's site and search for weather stripping and look at the closed cell foam ones you see it. It will truly seal your lamps. If they are sealed, you can ventilate your lamps in a closed loop that doesn't need to be filtered. I intake from a hole sawed in the floor, thru the lamps, and then out of the room. It won't smell. Mine goes into my attic.

There are many possibilities that will work well. I prefer a closed loop lamp cooling as above. You can continuously scrub room air, but I still had lots of smell because the plants were constantly giving it off. I now have a stall 3x6x6.5 w/2-600w air cooled, and 1 3x3 w/600w. It's like having tents, but they're made of 2x4, paneling, 1x2's, plywood, white paint, black silicone caulk. Then the rest of the room is in effect a lung room w/ AC, dehum, CO2. Also there's a 2x4' stall w/CFL's for moms and rooted cuttings, and a small nursery stall for seeds and rooting w/1tube-T5 2'. It's well insulated and sealed, but when I open the door, fresh air is exchanged. No smell because each bloom stall is exhausted thru a Phresh carbon filter 2x12. The scrubbed room air [6" Vortex on a 6x24 Phresh] is active intake for the 3x6. The room is healthy.

First thing is to MAKE SURE that your wiring is right. Don't push any limits. Have each ballast on it's own breaker.

Same with AC/s. You already have an AC, right? Best would be a mini split, but it would be a shame to waste it. 12K won't do the job. Won't come close. You could use 2 units. That's for you to decide. Check this link for ideas.
http://www.botanicare.com/Grow-Room-Layouts.aspx

Order your dehumidifier online. Shop price. Consider Friedrich. Good luck. -granger

 

[Noahfecks]

Thanks for all the input!

I was thinking of running the lights off a single 220v circuit with a light controller made to run 4 lights, will that be pushing it?

I will set funds aside for the possibility that I may need a dehumidifier. Right now I am running room humidity at less than 45% and the space is cooled by a swamp cooler. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Wish I had the funds for a mini split (unless there is some sort of deal on quality equipment that I am missing), for now I will have to run with the wall/window mount unit that I have and a second unit that I can borrow from a friend. I will set one at each end of the space up high.

I have looked at many other grow room designs, one of my chief complaints about my current space is that there is no room to work around larger plants and I am constantly bumping them and breaking off growth. Getting to the plants that are up against a wall is nearly impossible. I know that my space is oversized for my desired crop but the space is what it is and its a great problem to have. With my limited plant count and high ceiling height I will be trying for bigger plants, I have a couple of ideas for rolling carts that may allow me to better use the space.

 

[Granger2]

Noahfecks,
I can't advise you any further on wiring, etc. You need info you can rely on. Maybe one of the sparkies will chime in. Good luck. -granger