Shipping container

[tstone1776]

Hey all
I own a 20 ft shipping container. The ones used on ships for cargo.

I want to build a grow room out of it. Any suggestions, thoughts?

I don't have to worry about hiding it from family but do worry about Da Man.

Ciao

[Zandor]

They do work but radiant heat is a problem in the sun. They get very hot inside during the summer heat. You can build a roof over them to provide shade and use AC to keep things cool. I hope you installed a regular door so you don't need to open and close the big door at the end that would suck if you are trying to hide the inside. You could divide up the inside into 2 or 3 rooms so you have veg/clone/mothers area and flower rooms so you can cycle grow to suit your needs.

[turtle420]

tstone,

Wow! A full container!

Why don't you set it up like an office. I've seen those around a lot. It's a container, that you mount on two foundations (like 2 feet high), and you build wooden steps towards the door(s). Make it look like an office. Then you wouldn't have to worry about electricity bills... air conditioner units protruding from the container... etc.

As to what Zandor said about the containers getting hot... Fuck yeah! Those things can get over 120 degrees F inside!!!

Overall, I think you've got huge posibilities on your hands.

Keep this updated to see how we may help you out with ideas and suggestions...

Best,
-turtle420 :cool:

[tstone1776]

Thanks for the input guys
I own a construction co so I have access to everything i need to build it.

Zandor i am thinking about 2 rooms. I am going to leave the big swinging door but build a wall just inside with a regular walk through door.

Insulate the inside with a layer of this http://www.insulation4less.com/highr_FBF.asp
and a layer of ridged foam. That should give me a good thermal break so heat will not transfer.

I may paint the top white. Not sure.

I think my first concern would be ventilation. This thing is pretty tight. I think I have the AC and heating part figured out.
I am sure I can control the temp and humidity pretty well but fresh air may be an issue.

I am thinking two 1000 watt on light rail. I own one now so I would just have to buy or build another light set up.

All the electric and water lines will go under ground and up through the floor so no one will see them.

Turtle i thought about doing just what you said but then i would need windows and people would be walking up to it and knocking etc. so i decided to leave it looking like a storage unit.


Any other suggestions?? I am still troubled by the ventilation issue.......

[turtle420]

Ventilation issue:::

You might be able to ventilate towards the floor... from the bottom of the container, air flowing into/outoff the space between the ground and the bottom of the container.

If the container is sitting solidly on top of the ground... hmmm... do some air openings to the top/top-sides of the container... then, those bix square holes, cover them up with "security"... Metal mesh... the floor made for catwalks inside factories... diamond-patterned...

I saw the link you provided for the insulation... looks good. Quite honestly, I'm not an expert nor do I have experience on insulation matters... But, so far, so good.

It's sounding good man!

Behind this 'metal mesh', you place your in/out air ducts, a/c condensers (hot side), fresh air intake... etc.

????

You own a construction company? Dude, you're set. :)

[Joel]

Welcome to the boards tstone.

For your ventalation issue, turtles idea is marvilous. You could easily add a grate to your floor with 3-4 fans running in there. Either that or have you thought about drilling about 30-35 little holes using a 1" bit and using that black textile square shit they use for screens on a house, not sure of the name right now ... too high.

If you own a construction company, I would say that you could typically become one of the noblest growers on these boards using that container. BTW , If you run into problems with it, ship the container to me and Ill fix it:D. LOL jkn.

Anyways man, good luck with your grow. Can you get any pictures of your container, would help alot for some good desiging as most people on here have very unique/creative minds.

[Zandor]

Well I would take advantage of the sealed room and add CO². If you have AC and can control the heat then why not take full advantage of the room? You would need exhaust for the Co² to clear the air and fans moving the air around. Using cooled hoods is almost a must so you will need an exhaust fan to pull air in from the outside through the lights and back out the other side. Did you say how you are going to grow them? Hydro, dirt farming or what?

[Tranoble]

I would definatly think about the sealed room. With an A/C you can cool your room with out intaking air from outside and exausting air outside. Keep all the air and smell contained in the container. No smell outside and no bug problems. The sealed room allso produces anywhere from 2-3 lbs a 1000w light. Good Luck!

[tstone1776]

Great suggestions all.
I had not considered keeping it sealed. The reason I was thinking I need ventilation is so the heater (it gets cold here) can function properly. I would think it would use up the available oxygen during combustion.
What if I install the intakes for the cooled hoods in the floor. Let them suck the air from under the container which will always be cool and then let that exhaust inside the container.

Then there would be a steady supply of fresh air and the AC would keep it cool and control humidity during the summer. During the winter the heat from the lights would be supplemental heat for the heater.

If its sealed though I wonder how efficient the hood fans would be. No place for the air to go. Hmm....
Would a CO2 system be functional with ventilation?

This is the AC I plan to use:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?xi=xi&ItemId=1613553432&ccitem=
This unit needs to exhaust the warm air outside in order to function. Perhaps this is the answer to air exchange?
Again the question "would CO2 system be efficient with this?"

This is the heater I plan to use: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?xi=xi&ItemId=1613541187&ccitem=

Zandor I plan on a dirt grow. Not very familiar with hydro. Read a lot about it but never tried it.
You mentioned earlier about 2 or 3 rooms. What would you recommend? I had figured on keeping mom and her clones together and moving the clones into the flower room as they mature. To make 3 rooms would be easy.

Thanks for all the good suggestions. I am thrilled with the response!

Joel I will see about getting some pics. I will definitely take pics of the build out and the grow.

Ciao

[Zandor]

Well CO² really needs to reach about 1800 ppm and then you hold it there for hours if you can. Then you exhaust the room and start all over again. Sure a fan can move the air around even if your room is sealed. It's not like you have a lot of air pressure building up. The plants make oxygen as a byproduct of the chlorophyll process so that is not a problem.

You could use tank CO² and save the heat. Gas heaters put out carbon dioxide so be careful with that.
For dirt farming make sure you have drainage of the runoff water from the buckets.

3 rooms
1 - mother/clone room
2 - Veg room 18/6 or 24/7 your choice
3 - flower always 12/12

An old mobile home is better choice (if you have not purchased the container yet) only because of the insulation and easy construction on the inside. FYI.

[tstone1776]

So OK 3 rooms it is. Makes sense.

Do you think the lighting alone will be enough to keep the temp in the high 70's? I can always add the heater later if need be.

I do like the idea of keeping the container sealed. I already own the container and its sitting in my back yard with some junk that needs throwing out inside.

Thanks for your help and input!

[Joel]

I really dont know if 2 1000w lights would keep your whole container heated. Also for your 3 rooms, I think your gonna need more than just 2 1000watts lights. Unless of that matter you arent making the walls to the cielling and are hanging the lights over the walls, wich is a bad idea in my opinion because you're losing so much light to the wall.

[Toker4LifeVT]

Interesting grow idea. Keep us posted!

[tstone1776]

I really dont know if 2 1000w lights would keep your whole container heated. Also for your 3 rooms, I think your gonna need more than just 2 1000watts lights. Unless of that matter you arent making the walls to the cielling and are hanging the lights over the walls, wich is a bad idea in my opinion because you're losing so much light to the wall.

I think you are correct on the heat issue. Going to be to cold i think. I know they will throw some heat as I have 400watt setup over my reef aquarium. The 400 heats up my living room but not enough that I don't have to run my heat in the house.

I am building the walls all the way up.
I am going to use the two 1000w for flowering. For the clones and mother CPF or T-5. I also have some 250w MH from my reef aquarium stuff that i could use.

Do you think I am OK with two 1000w on a light rail for the flowering? The container is 8 ft wide. Run the rail up the middle.

Toker4LifeVT if the VT stands for Vermont we are not far from each other. I think its a good idea and viable if I can work out as many kinks as i can before I start.

ciao

[Joel]

Im confused on what you're doing here tstone.

Would you be kind enough to tell me on wich lights you plan to use for your Mothers / clones.

I wouldnt suggest flowering your mothers , for you could keep them for a longgg time getting clones off that slut, unless you get tired of the same strain.

You could also grow 3-4 mothers that are different strains in 1 room.

Edit : You would need to label due to each plants specifications & needs.

[tstone1776]

sorry joel
Compact fluorescent or T-5 fluorescent or 250 watt MH for the clone/mother.

1000watt for flower.

speakin of strains, any suggstions??

[Joel]

Hey tstone.

No need to be sorry for that was only a question.

Anyways, how many clones do you plan on taking?

I would suggest Bubbleicious & MrNice G13 Hashlpant as it is highly rezinous & THC producing plant. Bubbleicious is verrry nice in the THC content.

Haha, one you get those walls setup , and your grow room setup , you should show some pictures.

I wish I owned one of those containers, for I could do amazing things with it :D

[69NovAss]

hey tst, I've always thought of using a shipping container,
or better yet, a semi trailer.
To eliminate the outside temp., being a factor for heat,
I would bury the container and that would keep it nice and cool.

Of course not everyone can accomplish this due to lack of space &
equipment, to get the job done. I did just want to throw that out
there because it can also help your police issue too, and its way way
more stealthy than somthing that sticks out like a sore thumb, which you'll
have to go in there multiple times a week. you don't want to look too
obvious. Good luck.

[Zandor]

You will need 3 1000w HPS on light movers for flower to cover the area properly. Another 2 1000w MH on light movers for veg. A few 400w MH for mothers and the T5's for clones and seedlings.

What about the heat of the summer cooking the inside of the container?

Donâ??t forget you will need a dehumidifier as well for the flower room anyway