Case Construction

Let's talk small spaces; Really, really small spaces. More specifically, let's talk about a computer case.

We've all read about the computer case grows and what not. Obviously, the yield from such a small space cannot and will not be significant. Maybe ounce, ounce and a half at best perhaps? Even so, it seems the perfect supply for medicinal purposes, does it not? Combine that with the advantage of a more stealthy operation and you have a better sounding plan to me.

With the theory in mind, here comes the foreseeable problems. Light, heat, space, smell. First, let's address light.

I would only consider trying something like this using the biggest chassis I could possibly find anywhere. Even so, installing appropriate lighting could be a potential hassle. I've read about using CFL's in grow boxes, but I was wondering if it could be possible, maybe with some minor case mods, to fit in a 150 watt HPS bulb in there while just having the cord to it and the ballast be in a nearby location? I can feel a few issues with coming about doing it, but somehow think it is possible. Advise on how to do this would be very appreciated!

Then there's heat. Obviously, the heat would be coming from the light. Temperatures in my area in general can vary very widely, so it would be difficult to assume how much of a problem heat from a 150 watt bulb would be. I'm thinking with a few extra fans in place, it won't reach a lethal level for the plants. Comments on how much of a problem this would be and possible solutions for it would be greatly appreciated!

And Space. In all honesty, it probably won't be taller than two feet if I'm lucky. Cramming the necessary parts inside with enough space for the plants and to ventilate properly would be a challenging task. Just by vague estimation, I'm thinking the chassis may be a foot and nine to eleven inches tall, seven to nine inches wide, and MAYBE two feet deep? Would it even be feasible to fit a 150 watt HPS bulb in here, without disrupting anything? Advise on this would be greatly appreciated, as well as advise on the largest computer cases to be found today.


Smell. Even if I need to do some minor case mods, I will be installing intake and outtake fans, with the outtake fan somehow being fitted with an active carbon filter of some sort. Given the already tight space, would it be feasible to do this and still retain the stealth attributes of the operation?


As far as genetics, I would only consider using Lowryder or Lowryder#2. Perhaps another Lowryder cross that does not grow tall whatsoever. I'm looking for a nice, consistant quality of final product that I'm sure the supplies I have in mind would be able to give. I realize a growing season longer than two months in unrealistic given the space limitations.

Like you probably guessed, any advise on bringing a vision like this into reality would be very very much appreciated. If all goes well, it will not end here, you will see what happens as things progress, but here is the beginning. Ideas, thoughts, critique, everything is welcome.

And if this was somewhat hard to understand, I apologize. You all know how that goes.

Would a guitar speaker cabinet be glaringly out-of-place? These are cheap, and you can eBay the individual speakers (and pretty much recoup your cost) and replace them with plywood baffles. You can mount your ducting to the baffles. All mods are reversible if desired. :thumbsup: If you leave a small speaker in there the cab can also be "functional" if that helps the stealth of the operation. :cool:

If you flower in there you need any ducts to be light traps. This subtracts from your growing space. And the more heat you've got, the bigger those ducts have got to be to move your heat out. (More lost interior area.) And with HPS, you can't let the plants get TOO close, so more lost area there.

100 watts of mixed 2' T5HO and CFL is about the most I've seen work in a really small case. Active intake and exhaust, 4" lightproof ducting. Some sativas can do surprisingly well--you can train them to grow all around your light sources.

Haven't seen it yet, but LED's would rule in these applications because of the low heat, small size, and close working distance to the lights. But I'm prejudiced! :D

Oh, yeah. With the small amount of action you've got going there, a small homemade scrubber on the outside of your cab, just nearby, should control smell problems. Least that's what I heard! :hippy:

One thing to remember is that when you purchase a large computer case, aka a full tower case most likely there will be 2-3 120mm fans. Computers run Hot and cases are designed with that in mind. The HPS shouldnt be a problem. Honestly, Line the inside of your case with foil and loose the reflector for the light and you should be able to mount it fairly easily in the top of the case.

I really like the idea of your grow and let me know if you get a grow log going

hmm... I'm not familiar with how much heat comes off a 150w hps, but its probably a lot compared to maybe 2 125w cfs... and these will take up about the same space... Another thing is the pot. Maybe get a pot that is flatter than it is deep, or make a custom pot that uses the entire surface area of the bottom of the case. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to water it every couple days, and so the pot needs to have drain holes (and maybe the computer case also???) so you can water and flush properly.

If I were to try something like this, I would do 1 plant with LST and probably even SCROG (truly the best way to control the height and shape of the plant. I am doing this now, and will have A LOT of tops). Then just use cfl's to fill up the remaining space... Bigger wattage (more lumens, actually) cfl's like the 125watters might be something to look into instead of that hps...

:twocents:

Just came to mind... I read about a Scrog method, where you have a chicken wire type screen, and you continue to tuck everything underneath the screen even once it starts flowering. The idea was to get the screen to be full of buds, instead of just the tops popping out individually, like in a typical like I'm doing.

With that way, you can put that Screen about 2 inches from those lights, and keep tucking the plant back underneath... just an idea.

I was considering SCROG, but then I would want something other than a Lowryder cross to really maximize the efficiency. Originally, I was planning on trying to place two or three Lowryder #2's in the case, and to do some work to cram or do some incognito placement of hydro supplies, since quick growth is generally preferred. I'm feeling for a more racy high this go around, maybe a single Widow plant would do alright in SCROG and if flowered early.


@DreadedHermie: No it would not, actually. I was wondering what else I could use, I considered things like server towers, sub boxes, but I think a guitar speaker cabinet would be the best alternative. I'll start looking into them and the prices, etc. I also like the idea of leaving a small speaker in there, haha.

And I'm kind of dead set on using HPS because I feel I'm more inclined to get a better yield of better quality. I'm just really biased I guess, because I've personally seen a few CFL grows that were putting on buds of fluff. Besides, I'd get enough lumens for the space out of the one 150 Watt bulb.

I'll be doing some quick research, and I'll be back with updated plans. If everything goes well, expect a small log for all you tight space growers out there. ;) I like these ideas, and if anyone has any more suggestions, I'll be glad to hear them, since I'm not familiar with micro-grows at all.

Here's a 4 x 12 cab for $200. (Plus $69 shipping, ouch). With good ventilation this could accomodate a 150 hps, especially if the ballast is outside the box (does a 150 like that exist?).

The bad thing about hps is how far it throws radiant heat. Never used a 150 myself--can you get the plants close enough to it so you don't hafta keep the plants "tied to the floor?" If they get heat stressed, they might also yield fluffy light buds. You could certainly try the 150, and if you can't control the temps switch over to CFL's. (I'm not a big fan, but in this application CFL's are well-suited.) In reality, optimizing the grow environment requires adjusting your lighting as the plants change shape.

For some reason I can't post pics right now. Could probably find some pics of a successful cab with the innards exposed. Have seen a 1-12" and 2-12". A 4-12" is about 29" x 29", 12-13" deep. Most come with casters so you can roll 'em around.


Buy Peavey Windsor 412 4x12 Speaker Cabinet | Amp Cabinets | Musician's Friend

Rock on! :hippy:

That looks like an excellent cab with an awesome amount of space. I'd love to pounce on the deal, but I'm not exactly the kind of person to have brand new speakers such as those. (I've been searching on ebay for older looking ones, which wouldn't be so suspicious for me, in that I wouldn't really be obligated to "use" them when I have company. Yeah I could fit a small speaker in there, but with a cab like that, it should sound like thunder.) I will, however, keep that link stored because I could throw one of those in my closet!


I've more or less decided on a full tower server chassis. Since I am so unfamiliar with lower wattage HID lamps, I have also decided on just using CFL's this go around, which I am not really a fan of either, but I will make it work. I'm also considering using a small homemade DWC setup as well, and I will compliment with SCROG. Instead of lowryder, I'm thinking about just having one or two Mandala White Satin's or Hashberry girls in there, with perhaps two to three weeks of veg time followed by a month and a half to two months of flowering, depending on vigor and speed of growth. I might just flower from seed, but I'm unsure as of yet, so I will be searching for as many logs as I can with these strains to get a good feel of them.

I plan on using Fox Farm's line of hydroponic nutrients as base feeding, which include GrowBig, BigBloom, and TigerBloom. I will adjust as necessary. Other products I've considered using would be the other products often used around here, like superthrive and the like. (I would name them all, but my memory has completely failed me at the moment.) I'm unsure if CalMag+ will be necessary. But, I'd like to keep it all as organic as possible. What other additives would you all recommend for this type of setup? Also, was it peat moss or rockwool that would raise the pH of your solution? (Memory is a very big problem for me now, due to the main reason I'm focusing on a stealthy, healthy grow.)


Advise is welcome and appreciated. Log coming soon!

Hydroponic PC Grow Case - Secret Herb Plant Hydro Box - (eBay.ca item 330311771104 end time 09-Mar-09 18:16:36 EDT)

Just took this from another post... but its pretty much what your talking about...

I think you could maybe yield anywhere from about 10-30 grams with this case. Might be a good idea, if I had like 3 or 4 of these, considering I go through about an ounce a month. But then again, who needs three or four brand new cpu's humming in the corner of every room in the house. For me, impractical, but If you only smoke here and there, then ok... get two!

I've seen at max 150w HPS in a PC case. The guy removed the PC power supply, walled off the area from the bottom of the power supply up with glass for the HPS to live, with a fan for intake and one for exhaust. Ballast on top of the case, external to avoid the extra heat.

Seen a grow on icmag, 22w LED yielded 38 grams - who cares if it's fluffy, 38 grams is 38 grams!

You should watch my 50w micro grow in an old 90s SGI A/V workstation. Link in my sig.