Converting Wardrobe Into Grow Room for My First Grow! Have 5 questions!

So why are you even thinking about useing LEDs from all the grow logs that have used led light say its not worth it. I am using the same worddrobe closet that you are. I have two lighting meathods the first one is when i was low on money, it was a bathroom light fixture i wired up with an old extintion cord and srewed it to one of the ajustable shelves and I had 4 places to srew in some cfls and when i went into flowering I put a spliter on each and then i had 8. But now i have money i just bought the 150 hps on ebay and put hooks on a shelve and it works. My temps are 78 to 83 it just depends on the temp in the apartment. You can check out my grow log i have pictures of how it looks.

Yes. First hand experience. Those LED panels SUCK...i had 4 of the 225 LED blue and red panels ($250 i'll never get back...)

You are much better off getting a 70, 150, or 250w HPS. You can get the 150w for $70 on HTG.

Also, check out the 150w club on icmag forums. LOTS of good info in that thread.

CFLs would also do the trick but i would rather just use a HPS. 1 HPS bulb vs. at least 6 CFLs...

Nice cab by the way. I have a 5'x8' grow room (Veg & Bloom) but have been thinking about a stealthy cab that could give me some high yield with a smaller footprint and much smaller electric bill...not to mention less maintenance and materials!

good luck. you have a nice start.

Skeet.

PS - I dunno where you are keeping that cabinet, but that lock just screams "what's inside?" I understand security, but someone may never even give the cabinet a second thought if it doesn't look out of place.

Thanx, I decided to take your advice, seeing as everywhere I look it's "yea.. LED lights suck!" lol. I thaught I might as well get a light that millions of people know works for defo.

However it was'nt just the lights I decided to change, I just had a fairly major change of plan altogether. I've been researching things, looking at things, comparing prices, etc etc etc.. and came to the conclusion that if I just buy a full growing kit, with a 250w HPS and loads of neutrients and other bits and bobs, it turns out cheaper and saves alot of time.. I will still need a few things though, like anti-detection foil, now that I have decided to use this light and some ventilation. The kit is here;

http://www.growell.co.uk/index.php?f...etl.php&p=1538

I don't know if it's the right decision or not, but I don't think it's a bad one.. however, I still have a problem..

My ventilation, will CPU fans be adequate or do I need to splash out on a pricy ventilation system? also, I've been struggling to find a thermostat that fits my budget too, and you mentioned;

Quote:

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I have a 5'x8' grow room

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Presuming you use HPS lights, don't they create un-nessasary heat? especially in a room as small as mine..

for example;

Quote:

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My temps are 78 to 83 it just depends on the temp in the apartment.

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Thats quite hot for cannabis, considering the reccomended temps are like 20-25ºC, I'm no expert or anything, but from other threads I've read, those temps should be making the leaves wilt. But I don't know.. I'll try this kit and see if it's any good.

If I get the ventilation sorted, I'll get some good pic's of the finished article.. with a digital camera, instead of a webcam which does'nt reach the cupboard, lmao!
:hippy:

I do use HPS lights. i have 2 400watters. They do put off some heat but they have air cooled hoods and it's under control. The heat is actually very welcome this time of year.

I say you'll be good with that kit you linked to. The 250w HPS will do you just fine and it really won't throw too much heat, nothing a good exchange of air can't handle. and 78-83 is not bad at all. I've seen some rooms that get over 100 and still do "OK". 65-85 is a pretty acceptable range, 72 is ideal.

I'd say if you have 2 of your PC fans suckin' air out the top and a passive intake on the bottom you'll be pretty good (no promises though, do a dry run before you put plants in there.) keep an oscillating fan in the cab and you should have plenty of air moving.

I've never done NFT, but it looks like that kit will make it pretty easy. And don't worry about anti-detection foil. 1 250w light won't be putting out that much heat.

keep us posted!
Skeet.

Whalla!! My paycheck came through, so I just bought all my stuff..

They should all arrive by friday, I'll rig everything up and see how it goes, then I'll post loads of pics to show you all what it's like!..

.. and thanx for all your help!
:thumbsup:

haha. that's the best/worst feeling in the world. Knowing you've got cool new toys coming your way but having no control over when they arrive. I remember waiting for my first 400w HPS to come in. ah. the good ol' days.

Skeet.

LMAO, yea! and I have to wait 8-9 weeks and 12 days for the whole harvest before I can smoke any! lol

Hey, just reading through the thread again. Everything we've talked about so far sounds great for flowering...

But what about the veg cycle?

are you starting from seed or can you get clones?

Are you going to do it in the same cabinet and just change the light cycle when it comes time to bloom? You could use the HPS for both stages, but a Metal Halide or some Fluorescents would be more appropriate.

I would suggest another area dedicated to veg and just leave this wardrobe for flowering. if you are only doing 3 plants you wouldn't need much space to veg.

We'll wait to hear your initial thoughts on Vegging, then we'll discuss it further.

Skeet.

Yea, I thaught of that, this is what I did..

I did'nt get the grow kit afterall, I had a look around that site and got loads of bits and bobs instead (which is what is coming through the post), and it happened to work out a little cheaper, (I've always been one to jump to conclusions), anyway, when it came to the lights, I bought the reflector and bulb seperately (this also worked out cheaper).. I decided to get a 600w instead of a 250w, in the hopes of a better yeild, anyway, the bulb is made by Grolux, (you may of heard of them), Grolux lamps apparently do well in both stages of growing, so I thaught I'd try it out.. have a read through the description..

http://www.growell.co.uk/p/0152/Grolux-Lamps.html

It's quite good value aswell by my reckoning if it does what it sais on the tin.. (or in this case box)

Anyway, tell me what you think..

Hmmm.

I'm gonna have to say that a 600 is a bit overkill for your cab dimensions.
They get VERY hot and will likely cause serious heat issues. You've got just about 10.5 cubic feet.

I'm slightly confused...what ballast did you buy? i'm skeptical that a 600w ballast came out cheaper than a 250w.

If you already bought the lamp, i would consider moving up to an actual closet with head room, or building a 5'x5'x8' tent in a basement or something. Even then you'll probably need a cool tube or some sort of air cooled hood. You could then use the cabinet for a veg area.

If you haven't already bought the lamp, i would strongly recommend no higher than a 250w for your cabinet.

Just my thoughts. hopefully someone else will come through and give their 2 cents.

Skeet.