HELP!! With a small grow box

[bgray3]

So I about as new as it gets to this growing thing, and I have to say its quite overwhelming, now i see why everyone isn't doing it. So I plan on growing the minimum which I found is usualy around 4 plants to increase the chances of a female. I would like to build my own box. Other than the box it self(wood, screws,some coating for the inside... all that) I plan on getting 1 600W HPS light w/ at least 45,000 lumens. I would like to use a hydro growing technique but it seems like its more costly than to just use soil.(which is one of my BIG FACTORS $$$$) I will cut a hole on the bottom of the side panel for air intake and another hole either on the top of the box or the top of the opposite side of the intake hole for the exhaust fan(any suggestions?...exhaust hole on top panel or the "top-opposite" side of the intake).

With this information I'm asking
Is my lighting plan sufficient enough for four plants in a 4x3 box.
And do I have a good intake/exhaust plan?


****And ANY other suggestions would be greatly appreciated****
I know nothing really..only what i have read here
I'm only looking to spend about 250-300 on this project

bgray3 Reviewed by bgray3 on 06-25-2008. HELP!! With a small grow box So I about as new as it gets to this growing thing, and I have to say its quite overwhelming, now i see why everyone isn't doing it. So I plan on growing the minimum which I found is usualy around 4 plants to increase the chances of a female. I would like to build my own box. Other than the box it self(wood, screws,some coating for the inside... all that) I plan on getting 1 600W HPS light w/ at least 45,000 lumens. I would like to use a hydro growing technique but it seems like its more costly Rating: 5

[hudson88]

Hey bgray welcome to cann.com, yeah it is overwhelming at first, there's almost too much information about, but don't worry you'll soon get the hang of it.

A 600hps sounds about perfect for a 4x3 box, as for the intake and exhaust either way's good, so long as you which ever place you pick you can run your ducting easily to where you need it to exhaust from. (There's a couple of different ways you can run your ventilation i have mine set up like this, carbon filter---ducting---cooltube hps---ducting-----fan but) Just plan ahead how you wanna do it, you might wanna have the ducting height adjustable so you can move it with the light and suck the hot air right from under the reflector, just depends on your setup.

If you're concerned about $$$ i'd probably say you'd be best to go the soil route, if you go hydro not only is the system gonna cost a few $'s but your gonna need to buy some other stuff too like ph meters and ph adjusters, growing in soil is probably a little easier for the beginner too, problems in hydro can happen quickly wheras soil is more forgiving.

Good luck!

[Forwhat420]

250-300? Good light cost about that much. Also hydro you have to buy nutes along with the above mentioned. Exhaust sounds good just be sure to get an inline fan strong enough to cool the 600 and the box at the same time..If you putting a carbon filter add an even stronger fan. 225 cfm may do the trick. May be wrong so dont quote me. Good 600 watt:200-300 maybe find a better deal on the internet. Good fan 100-150 again depends on area and maybe able to find a good deal on internet. mischalleneous:100-200dollars total estimated cost- 400 with some great bargaining skills $650.00 on average

[bgray3]

Thanks..just one little thing I'm confused about. With the exhaust after I cut the hole where do I put the fan at, I know it may seem like a crazy question..but do I try to find a circular fan and install it like in the side panel of the box, or do I just place it actually inside the box..I would like to use a PVC elbow. Alot of furoms don't explain how the exhaust is setup, they just a picture of it.

Well hell, starting from scratch can some explain the exhaust setup for a simple box and if anyone as any good pics describing it it would be helpful...thanks again.

And like always any tips suggestions on anything else would be great, I'm just soaking it all in right now.

[stinkyattic]

You need an exhaust, high on the upper part of your box, which should be 6 feet tall by the way. Then you need an intake, which should be low on the box, and at LEAST as large, preferably somewhat larger, than the exhaust hole.
Next, you need a good fan/blower. You can save a few bucks now by buying just a plain fan and mickeymousing it together with duct tape and baling wire, but in the long run, you WILL be buying a real blower that can move over 150CFM through 4" or 6" ducting. A good blower will run you about $150 and it is worth every penny in increased yields, fewer problems, and less hassle of setup. I resisted the blower for years and finally got one... it has changed my life! lol!
Exhaust fans run most efficiently when they are SUCKING air. Put your fan at the end of the exhaust ducting, outside the box if that is an option (the fan itself makes some heat). Then if you run a carbon filter, put it on the output side of the blower to help muffle the sound, as well as hiding the stank.

[camoxnhx]

So I about as new as it gets to this growing thing, and I have to say its quite overwhelming, now i see why everyone isn't doing it. So I plan on growing the minimum which I found is usualy around 4 plants to increase the chances of a female. I would like to build my own box. Other than the box it self(wood, screws,some coating for the inside... all that) I plan on getting 1 600W HPS light w/ at least 45,000 lumens. I would like to use a hydro growing technique but it seems like its more costly than to just use soil.(which is one of my BIG FACTORS $$$$) I will cut a hole on the bottom of the side panel for air intake and another hole either on the top of the box or the top of the opposite side of the intake hole for the exhaust fan(any suggestions?...exhaust hole on top panel or the "top-opposite" side of the intake).

With this information I'm asking
Is my lighting plan sufficient enough for four plants in a 4x3 box.
And do I have a good intake/exhaust plan?


****And ANY other suggestions would be greatly appreciated****
I know nothing really..only what i have read here
I'm only looking to spend about 250-300 on this project

Thanks..just one little thing I'm confused about. With the exhaust after I cut the hole where do I put the fan at, I know it may seem like a crazy question..but do I try to find a circular fan and install it like in the side panel of the box, or do I just place it actually inside the box..I would like to use a PVC elbow. Alot of furoms don't explain how the exhaust is setup, they just a picture of it.

Well hell, starting from scratch can some explain the exhaust setup for a simple box and if anyone as any good pics describing it it would be helpful...thanks again.

And like always any tips suggestions on anything else would be great, I'm just soaking it all in right now.

Whats up bgray3. well here are a few links to building a cheap CLF grow box. Zeb has alot of experince with CLF box grows. I am currently working on my own grow log with a box CLF grow. but ill attach some pics of what mine looks like. and taking a look at the treads links im posting might help alot too.

http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...-grow-log.html


http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...-clf-grow.html

http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-faqs...b-growbox.html

i hope they help as much as they have helped me.