Input for pc grow needed.

[goRrILa]

Hello fellow members of the forums. My nickname is Gorrila and im going to attempt to live up to it by making a succesful grow. I am known as the most ungreen thumb in the universe. So I am inquiring to those with vast knowledge on a basic grow setup. Specs are 20 inch tall by 1.5 foot wide by 2 foot long server case.The exhaust will be on the top by the lights and intake on the bottom of the back of the case. I will be using comp fans of course. What size fan and or is recommended for this size grow? I will be going with 3-26 watt daylight cfl which will average out to 300 watts and approx 5000 Lumens. It will be a organic soil setup from bagseed with a Scrog or LST setup. Bagseed is wack i know but i want to practice before i spend money on good seed. They will be on a 24 hour veg until the babies are big enough to flower, then a 12/12 cycle. For nutes im not sure yet. There will be pics in the near future. What is recommended for a simple organic grow for nutes and or ferts? Can I use the same CFL'S for veg and flowering stage? I probably will add 1 more CFL bulb just maybe if i can fit in in there. The watering will be done by a reptile drip system which can hold enough for one to 2 days of slow release drip watering by gravity feed. Ok finally I would like to make a mini carbon scrubber for the magic time. Is there a good site or link where I can get a good idea how to make one. Thank you all for your time and Input.

P.S. Buying squashed regs is killing me slowly....literally. HELP!

 

[goRrILa]

Another question I failed to ask is what is the veg time recommended for this size grow? Should I try an 18/6 cycle instead of a 24 to limit height? Does that matter if i can control height with bending. Ok nuff said. To all those with knowledge please share. Tank yoos!

 

[teerull]

hey Gorilla!

I'm also growing in a pc case (not nearly as big as yours though) and I'm using 2x23W CFL bulbs for now (2700K). I think yours will be able to use a few more (or with higher wattages). I think you should have a mix of 2 warm white and 1 cold white bulb for the best results.
I would recommend going to 12/12 straight from seed, since you're really height limited like me. you can check out this thread for more information.
I would also go with SCROG since that's what they recommended me, and it seems pretty logical to go this route.

I don't know about the watering though.. I wouldn't really use the system you want to use since MJ generally likes to be wet and then dry out almost completely... at least that's what I've noticed. I'm sure someone will be able to give you better information on this.

for carbon filters you can visit this thread. lots of great designs there!


hope I was able to help,
peace.

 

[goRrILa]

Right on thnks Teerull i will getting the warm and cold bulb mix on it soon and i am germing the bean croosing my fingers. I thank you for all the INPUT! peace!

 

[Octothorp]

From what I have read the best CFLs for vegging are blue spectrum (5000k+). The best for flowering is red spectrum (2700k). Hope this information is correct and in some way useful.

 

[goRrILa]

Thank Octothorp that is definatly good info as i was going to attempt veg and flower with one type of bulb. Hopefully both types of bulbs will help me yield a bit more. All input is good input!

 

[goRrILa]

I have purchased my bulbs 2 sylvania -23 watt soft white cfl 2700k @1640 lumens each and 2 bright effects 23 watt daylight cfl 6500k @ 1600 lumens each. So to sum it up thats about 6000 lumens and 400 watt of cfl. I think this should suffice in the pc grow. pics coming soon. Does strain matter people if I can lst the plant? Well off to make a co2 gen with bakers yeast and sugar water in a 20 oz soda bottle with an aquarium hose for stuck through the lid. Im broke so i gotta do the poor mans setup lol.

 

[mikasa]

sounds like you have a plan. run with it...

before throwing stuff in, test your box out and verify temps. might need to do 2 of the 6500k and 1 of the 2500k in veg. move to all 2500k for flower.

i'm running 3x26w 6500k and temps between 76-81 with adequate air movement. took a few days to get it dialed though.

good luck.

e

 

[goRrILa]

Mikasa i do have a plan a very naughty plan MUAHAHAHAHAHAH! Anyhow are you running pc fans to get that stable temp? Just curious im trying to absorb as much info as possble. Thanks.

 

[mikasa]

goRrILa...
My room temps run around 70 degrees, give or a few. With lights and fans I can raise inside temps 10 degrees, again, give or take a few.

Before anything went in the pc case, I tested the 3x26 setup, no fans. Temps got way too high. No air was circulating, just a strait oven. Needed a fan or 2.

Then did 2x26w, no fans. Temps still got too high. Added a 40cfm 80mm fan to the case, near the top, directly on the tiny holes for a fan, blowing out. Temps still got high, but few degrees less. Not sure the little holes were helping. (I should cut them out perhaps, just leave the 4 holes for fan screws.)

Then...added a second identical fan, right below, no holes, just pulling air directly out non-restricted. Both fans run at same time, rigged to a pc power supply. Temps were nice and steady around 75-78, but only 2x26. Finally took the plunge last week and added complete 3x26 setup, both fans on. Temps never jump over 82degrees.

It takes some time and some messing around to get the factory dialed in. Play around, try things out, change fan positions, number of fans, size of fans. The 2 fans worked best for me.

Currently putting together a veg/flower box and purchased 120mm fan hoping that alone should do, 4x23w 2700K. We'll see...

hope this helps.

mikasa

 

[rave420]

Mikasa i do have a plan a very naughty plan MUAHAHAHAHAHAH! Anyhow are you running pc fans to get that stable temp? Just curious im trying to absorb as much info as possble. Thanks.

Hey gorilla,
i think i have a solution for your fan-needs.
I am in a similar situation like you and here is what i did.
I bought a bathroom ceiling fan, wich is essentially a squirrel cage fan with a box shape. I installed a plug, and i put a dimmer switch for fans on the black line. You can now regulate the speed/air movement as you please.

The fan cost me 20$, the dimmer switch 6$, and i bought both parts at my local hardware store.

You also have the posibility to attach tubing and scrub / alter your airflow! Pretty decent i'd say. It was not hard to do at all, and maybe took me 15 minutes.

Hope i could help!

 

[mikasa]

Interesting you mention that. was walking local hardware store and saw one of those. looked interesting.
thanks for mentioning it though.
im thinking eventually i'll want to move away from pc fans, as i need to rig a power supply to get it running. might be better all from an outlet and better if i can adjust speed to get temps 100% dialed in.

working on making a bonsai mum/mom to keep in pc case and then put clones in the other cabinet bought yesterday.

might go with that ceiling fan for this next clone/flower setup if pc fan and temps prove problematic. 4x23w 2500k might not run that hot i think. might not need too much fan.

thanks for help.

 

[goRrILa]

Thats a badass fan!

Thats a badass fan!

I went to the lowes and looked at the fan in question and it will work like a champ! I was going to run some large pc fans however I like the schematic you shared rave420. Thanks to you and the other peeps that replied my plan is coming together. One more week and all the parts will be secured and then its pic time. Allrite men off to stars we go!

 

[mikasa]

also went to have a look at store, and that fan is HUGE.
where are you placing it? pls post pics when you can.
currently going to rig a server fan 120v with said dimmer you mentioned, should help with sound.

~m