My First Closet Grow (CFL / AutoFlowering Strains)...

Thank you. I have been pondering about the lights for some time. I have one 300watt 2700k and one 300watt 6500k I plan to switch them around for veg/flower cycle, the room temperature is 75-80 in the evening, throughout the day it can hit the 90's (we've got a heatwave at the moment so i put this down to that, its usually 83 in the day) so I doubt I can have both 300watts running at the same time due to heat. How much does your 250watt heat up your room? I am having seriously trouble keeping it under 90 and I Have 2 fans, and exhaust/intake system, I think that bulb I have gives off some heat.. I was thinking about getting 4 105watts or 85watts in the red spectrum (2700k) as if they don't produce any heat i can have them dangling around in the canopy.. I don't know yet what the best solution is because i need more light like you say but how can i put it in there with the temps as they are. I can't afford a LED light either..

Do you know how much heat the lower watts give out? if any? it be great if i can find a compromise e.g. lower watt, but no heat and I'll just get a load of them?

What would you do in this situation? How are you keeping your grow cool?

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Originally Posted by RickyNewman

Do you know how much heat the lower watts give out? if any? it be great if i can find a compromise e.g. lower watt, but no heat and I'll just get a load of them?

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I don't know about the heat differences between different types and makes of flourescent lighting, this is something worth investigating, it may be worth asking a question in the lighting section. What I do know is that 2x125 will put out the same heat as 1x250, but the 125's can get closer to the plant because the heat is more spread out.

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Originally Posted by RickyNewman

What would you do in this situation? How are you keeping your grow cool?

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My first grows used 2x125w CFL's for flower, all I needed for extraction was a few CPU fans (I used one for extract, one for intake and a couple of small ones to move air around inside the closet.

For my current grow I am using a proper extraction fan and carbon filter (the smell when I stepped up to 2x250 increased to the point where I had to go this route) the fan moves 175m3/hour. On warm days my temps hit 85-90. If I could go back in time, I would have bought the next size up which moves 250m3/hour.

If I were you and I wanted to add more light, I would get proper extraction and a filter. Or go with what you have and see how things work out. If you get poor results, next time start with less plants or invest in some lighting and extraction, depending on your available budget.

Thanks for the advice PhatJay. It's all a learning experience after all ;-)

So, I have an update with some pics:

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0671-jpg.jpg

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0672-jpg.jpg

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0673-jpg.jpg

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http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0675-jpg.jpg

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0676-jpg.jpg

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http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...g-0680-jpg.jpg

3 didn't sprout, they were 2 x Afghan Kush Ryder and 1 x Pineapple Express, so down to five now. Which leaves me with a problem - I want to fill the space back up with 2/3 plants, I have a choice between autoflower strains or maybe a indica strain and train it in there.. thing is I want to plant them mid way through this grow. However I had planned to do the stress ripen technique at the end of the first autoflower grow - where by I leave them in constant darkness for 3 days. Allowing lots more crystals to form and it to dry out a bit, so this would screw up any other plants I have in there at the time that are not ready for harvest... so I don't know whether to just hold back and plant the rest after these five are done.. we shall see...

Any thoughts, opinions or comments? :)

Hey,

So I have placed the 400watt HPS pointing into the grow tent as you can see in the picture.. i plan to do this for around 8 hours a day, just to help it along :-)

I seem to be able to keep the temperature under control with the way its placed and the big fan on top, so lets hope it adds a little to the yield :)

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/r...e278917-be.jpg

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Originally Posted by RickyNewman

So I have placed the 400watt HPS pointing into the grow tent as you can see in the picture.. i plan to do this for around 8 hours a day, just to help it along :-)

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That HPS will be just the job once they get bigger, but it is overkill at the moment. Your CFL will be more than enough until they get bigger. If you had planted them in tiny pots to start, a 24w CFL would keep them very happy through the seedling stage.

I would go with just the 5 plants, rather than add more.

keep them pics coming newman

PhatJay, thanks for the advice. Let's see how it all pans out :-) I can't wait, getting excited now they're starting to grow.. :-)

JungleJam, Will do, for now check out my "Experimental" outdoor plant: Here

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Originally Posted by RickyNewman

PhatJay, thanks for the advice. Let's see how it all pans out :-) I can't wait, getting excited now they're starting to grow.. :-)

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No problem. I am a bit embarrased that I managed to completely miss the fact that you already have a proper fan and filter, I can't even blame it on being stoned, as I have smoked all my last crop and I am waiting for the next one.

Do you know how much air that fan moves? You are having a heatwave in the UK atm, high temps shouldn't be much of an issue with your setup under normal UK weather.

Nice looking setup :)

Hey,

Thanks PhatJay :-)

Well the intake will push 130m'3/hr at 2800rpm and the exhaust is 115 CFM, but has a carbon filter on the end so this probably looses a few CFM because of that. I kinda overlooked this part of the grow setup as I should of got a more powerful exhaust, possibly around 200+ CFM. As I can't really feel much of a pull of air from the carbon filter..

Yeah we are having a bit of a heatwave, looks cooler today though, temps still around 91 in the tent. I am leaving the cupboard doors open with the tent doors zipped up, this seems to bring it down to the mid 80's but i have to shut the cupboard door when I sleep as I can't stand the noise lol. However the lights go off for a period of 6 hjours from 11pm - 5am to let the tent cool down more than anything so the temps should drop then to around 70's.

@smoketoker thanks :-)