setup input

[jpond83]

i have been lurking and reading for a while and this is my first post. I have a box i built and wanted some input or suggestions. some info bellow

plants: 8x6 weeks into veg bagseed
box: 26"x26"x36" with emergency blankets wrapping the inside
light: 3x105w 5500k cfl (i will add 2700k when flowering)
soil: due to funds i used jiffy organic seed starter mixed with horse manure and perlite
ventilation: input is a broan 50cfm bathroom vent fan wired to be plugged(would i be better of without the fan as i feel a good amount of suction from the input hole without the fan) into a wall socket ..................output: hydrofarm 400cfm vent fan
nutrients: open seame-veg, beastie blooms-first half of flowering flowering, cha ching- second half of flowering, no nutes last 2 weeks.

what do you think am i good to go or do you have any suggestions?
i know my soil is not the best but this is my first grow and i will get better next go around, im just testing the waters.

i will post more pictures tomorow, my lights are out

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp190/jpond83/2012-01-14225718.jpg

[jpond83]

also im going to start flowering in about a week. i have around 8 inches left of verticle space so im hoping im good. i did tie most the the plants down from the main stock with a 45 degree bend to make a little more room. im hoping to get 4 females, any less will just suck and any more will be just thrown into my wife's indoor flower and other odd plant shit garden. if the ones thrown under her lights herm and pollinate themselves (light leak) what are the probability that i get fem seeds?

[jpond83]

165 views and nobody said im fucking up yet so i guess im good.

[tacman7]

Looks like you're off to a good start.

I found that the 8 plants I had in my grow box wouldn't fit into my bloom box, all I could get in there was 3.

Both my boxes are 2'x4' x 4' tall. I'm using the waferboard that has a shiny side put on it (radiant barrier) cheap and works great.

I had problem with over watering and not enough air circulation ie powdery mold.

Something box growers have to watch out for I'm thinking.

[jpond83]

cool i added an led panel to the inside of the door today.

[Farmer Rich]

As tacman7 said, you have too many plants, which was also my mistake when starting. My vote on yours would be 2 plants max. If they're still there, check some of the photos from my signature. This was my first attempt at growing, also in a big box. The dimensions on mine were 2' x 4' with max plant height of about 4'. I packed a 600w HID system in it with a sealed reflector, and had major ventilation built in as well. I used duct wrap for inside insulation. One other note, you should be pulling air out, which will pull cooler air in. I used 2 bathroom fans in the top of my box along with a 150 cfm fan that sounded like an airplane taking off when it went on. All of this was controlled by a CAP environmental controller.

Good luck! Post more questions as you get in to it more.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[tacman7]

Hey Farmer Rich,

I was looking at some of your pics, I see a fellow builder!

Looks good!

I haven't built much yet, just quickie things but I'm working on a better design. I thought about a two level box, a small grow box on the bottom and a flower box up top. T5's don't take up a lot of room, so might be possible.
Design is hard!

A lot easier to see problems after you build it.

Design by evolution.

[jpond83]

the bathroom fan is pushing air in and a hydrofarm vent fan pushing out. i know its a little crowded i didnt use femenized seeds so i was trying to start with 8 and weed out the males. i am using the same box for veg and flower. do you think it will be fine for another 2 weeks until they start showing sex(hopefully). my next grow will be fem seeds and i will start with only 2 plants.

[jpond83]

started in the closet but it was getting way to hot so i moved everything to this grow cabinet.

[Farmer Rich]

Hey Jpond,

Here's a few pictures that may help you figure out how to setup your cabinet.

Looks like I did force air in, the input is down at the bottom and the duct fans are blowing into the cabinet. When it was too hot, I added the big blue fan on top to push the air in. The exhaust was the 2 bathroom fans at the top going to a common exhaust. All of this was controlled by the CAP controller you see on the inside. The 3 switches at the top enabled/disabled the fans. For the light, it's the two vents toward the top; there was a 6" duct fan inside to put air through the closed hood, controlled by the lighting timer.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[jpond83]

had to tear everything down today. I give up.

[Farmer Rich]

Hey Farmer Rich,

I was looking at some of your pics, I see a fellow builder!

Looks good!

I haven't built much yet, just quickie things but I'm working on a better design. I thought about a two level box, a small grow box on the bottom and a flower box up top. T5's don't take up a lot of room, so might be possible.
Design is hard!

A lot easier to see problems after you build it.

Design by evolution.

Hey Tacman7,

Yeah, it was trial and error for me. In hind site, I think I over did the light by going with a 600w system.. In a box now, I'd opt for an LED or go with a cooled 400w system. T-5's seem to be the wrong dimension, and IMHO the other CFLs are just too weak. Hope the pics helped you out. I also have some of the frame if your interested..

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[Farmer Rich]

had to tear everything down today. I give up.

Hey Jpond,

Don't let it get to you. Just rethink your approach and adjust.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[jpond83]

everything was growing great. my wife didn't like them smelling up the house. i will wait until summer and do it outside. gave the plants to a friend

[tacman7]

Well that's a shame.

I think it makes the house smell good.

I have a friend who clones indoors and plants them in his yard in the summer, works good, you can do that in the garage in a box, or buy a clone tray and dome.

[Farmer Rich]

The wife card generally trumps all! :jointsmile:

[tacman7]

Hey Tacman7,

Yeah, it was trial and error for me. In hind site, I think I over did the light by going with a 600w system.. In a box now, I'd opt for an LED or go with a cooled 400w system. T-5's seem to be the wrong dimension, and IMHO the other CFLs are just too weak. Hope the pics helped you out. I also have some of the frame if your interested..

Peace,

Farmer Rich


Yes I'm looking at a larger cabinet with substantial framing like you have, looks like 2x6's.

The whole top of my bloom box is an 8 bulb T5 HO light. I built the box to fit the light. All the inside is reflective material the way it came.

I think with the high reflectivity and if I keep the buds up within 6 inches of the light it can have decent results. Takes work but I find it entertaining.

It's like having a technical hobby like an aquarium or something.

I like putting it on wheels. It looks like your other rolling boxes are in a big light room, looks good.

I don't know if I'll run lights in the summer, might do all outdoor grow.

I keep thinking about floor space and I'd like to design a bloom and grow box in one.

Things start out simple but can get very complex.

Yes I'd like to see your framing or any lessons you've learned that I might want to avoid.

I'm going to have an intake and exhaust fan in each section.

I use 12v computer fans running on 5v or 6v power supplies, that way they're pretty mellow and not screaming.

Thanks for the help!

[Farmer Rich]

Hey Tacman7,

You're welcome!

Here's some of the frame pictures for you. The idea was to overlapping joints to prevent light leaks. all 2 x 4s, 3/4 plywood for horizontal surfaces, 1/2 plywood on back, sides and doors (everything vertical). I used outdoor deck screws to fasten it together.. If I were doing it again, I'd size it for an 8 tube t-5 like your using. Less heat and your right, you can put them right on top of the plants.. Not sure where you live, me in the Pacific NW.. The first year with the box, I ended up shutting down for about 6 weeks in the summer and restarted in the fall.. but it is a lot easier up here with cooling since it normally doesn't get hot very long in the summer. Also, since I lived rurally I was able to vent my box through the garage wall by putting in another dryer vent.

Farmer

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[tacman7]

Thanks, looks nice, Heavy Duty!

Yea my 8 bulb fixture gets pretty warm, I put heat sinks on it to keep it cool, so it could be on the very top open to the air.

The 4 bulb unit is cooler and could sit under a shelf with some air space around it for a grow section.

Well I'm getting antsy now. Want to get building. I hurt my foot so I'm taking it easy until it heals, that's the only way I get a vacation is injury.

Gets pretty hot here in SoCal, I was wondering why they called it a desert.

Actually we change the climate. When I helped my uncle move to Mira Loma it was like dirt, rocks and hot. Then over the decades there was so much building and agro growing around him it because humid there.

And there's climate shift.

It's actually been berry good to me. A lot more really mild weather when it used to be 110 for weeks and weeks, now we just get a few hot days here and there.

I'm just waiting for when half of California falls in the ocean and I have my beach front property.





Thanks

[Farmer Rich]

I feel you on the heat in the Inland Empire.. I used to live in Chino Hills. Where do you put your box, inside or garage?

[tacman7]

Sorry didn't see this post!

Yes I have two boxes in the garage. I went with lights on from 7 at night until 7 in the morning so the lights could provide a little warmth during the cold nights. We were down into freezing a few times.
I'm going to put everybody out in the sun tomorrow after a double darkness period.

We're supposed to be in the 80's for a week or so starting tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to growing in the summer.

I built a tiki hut for some plants I'm growing outside. Just some 2x4's thrown together to make a frame to hold shade cloth on it. Also put tarps on it at night.

That might be good for summer grow too. I need to make them big enough and put shade cloth on the sides too, I think that would keep small animals out of there. It might be less noticeable also.

Stealth for security if not legalities.

[Poncho 'Milla]

Greetings, Tacman

I was wondering if you'd drawn up any plans for your 2- level grow box yet. I happen to have the same ballasts and was just discussing such a box with a friend of mine who is a bit more crafty than myself. He said he could do it but examples are always helpful. Many thanks