My girlfriend's cab... need suggestions!!

[realistik]

Ever since I built my PC grow box.. my girlfriend has dealt with my obsession.. I really think she gets jealous with me spending so much time and effort on my project. I finally just told her she needs to have her own grow, so she can have a hobby of her own. She immediately agreed and bought a cabinet. Now we're at square one and need to get this thing producing some herb.. with that being said, I'd love some insight on design.

I need your suggestions on ventilation, lighting, growing techniques, etc..

The cabinet is already separated down the middle, which is appealing.. considering we are interested in having one side for vegging and the other for flowering..

The inside of the cabinet (each grow area) is 22" 3/4 high, 13" wide, and 13" 1/2 deep.






My first thoughts are to raise it up with feet (or wheels) and install a 120mm intake on each side.. to bring air in from the bottom.. and a 120mm for exhaust out the back on each side as well (with light traps & carbon scrubber(s))..

Also we're interested in being able to raise and lower the lighting according to the plants.. versus raising/lowering the plants..

Fire away..

realistik

 

[Hella THC]

Hey real, here's my thoughts:

First off, I'd opt for passive intakes. From what you stated in the post, you're talking about having two 120mm fans for intake, and two 120mm fans for exhaust. I really don't think you need active intakes in such a small area. You have the right idea when you talk about putting it on casters or elevating it somehow. Casters would be a good idea for mobility purposes (if that is a factor).

Lighting is going to be your biggest battle I think. You don't have a ton of room to hang lights. For your veg chamber, compact CFLs are going to be an obvious choice. I'm not sure about the length of PL-Ls, but if they are within your measurements, those would be perfect. Small height profile, low temps, and can be remote ballasted! Check out the PL-L thread for more info... or just wait for ScrubNinja to poke in here and solve all your problems He loves the PL-Ls.

For flowering, its tough to say. What are ambient temps like? Maybe a 70w HPS? You could easily rig one in there, and hang it on chains or pulleys for raising/lowering the light. If heat is a concern, floros are going to be your best bet again. There are so many varieties you can play with.

Have you thought about having your ventilation pass through both chambers as opposed to venting each one separately? A lot of people like to do that, and it would eliminate the number of fans and electrical shit you would need. Look at the NGB style boxes for ideas on that. They utilize a lot of what you are looking at doing.

As for growing tech, well that one's up to you. Her being a beginner, my vote goes to a soil grow, with heavy training. If you're comfortable with trying a scrog, this would be perfect for it. Other wise topping and LST should do you well.

That's all I got for ya at the moment. Good luck to you moving forward!

- Hella

 

[realistik]

Passive intakes are a good idea. I'll have those in the floor. As far as venting both chambers, versus doing them seperately.. what is a common way of doing this?

I'm definitely interested in a 70w HPS.. and rigging up a cooltube and what not. Lighting the veg chamber with PL-L's would be ideal. What if I mounted them vertically? lol. And have the plant surrounded by PL-L's.. just an idea. I just need to go ahead and get a final design done.. so I can start ordering supplies..

She's definitely doing soil, since I just bought another bag of Fox Farm Ocean Forest..

 

[Hella THC]

Right on dude.

As far as venting both chambers, versus doing them seperately.. what is a common way of doing this?

You do this by making light traps with PVC pipe or using darkroom louvers (recommended) between the veg and the flower room to allow air-flow, but no "light flow". It's a very popular method that's practiced by those who do the NGB style cabs. Here's the link to that thread:

http://icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29593

Have your passive intakes come into the flowering chamber and flow through to the veg, or vis versa.

I bought this darkroom louver (http://www.adorama.com/DKL8.html) and I love it. Totally light proof. Might be too big for your needs, although I'm not sure. I'm still slightly inexperienced. To figure out airflow though, check out this great thread. Its info heavy, but be patient and read through it and you will soon be the master of ventilation: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112862

Lighting the veg chamber with PL-L's would be ideal. What if I mounted them vertically? lol. And have the plant surrounded by PL-L's.. just an idea.

Ding ding, that's the right idea. There's no problem at all with vertically mounted PL-Ls. Would work just fine, and you wouldn't have to worry about light height.

 

[lordbudly]

dude that cab is the perfect height for vertical p-ll's, if you evenly spaced them around the walls, then 70w hps horizontal cooltube on top you'd have thick, full colas, no popcorn

 

[grouchy]

Do you want the responses here or in the thread in the Grow Room section?

 

[realistik]

I'm diggin that louver. It will fit perfectly in between the two chambers. I was thinking drilling round holes about 2" thick in the floor in the corners in the flower chamber. Would this be adequate enough, or do I need passive intake holes in both? I guess with the louver.. one would probably suffice.

I was thinking about the vertical PL-Ls in the veg chamber, and the 70w HPS in the flower.. would PL-L's in the flower area along with that HPS be that beneficial? (I could have vert PL-Ls in each, and the HPS in the flower area.. at a fixed spot.. I wonder if I wouldn't have to raise/lower the HPS at that point? since I'd have the PL-Ls around the walls..)

 

[realistik]

Do you want the responses here or in the thread in the Grow Room section?

I'm sorry dude, I'd like them here.. I don't know why I posted it in both places.. anyway to delete the other?? haha..

 

[grouchy]

Does she want a hobby grow or maximum yield? That space could rock two vertical scrogs with a 70w hps on each side. They could be run on different schedules so that it would be perpetual. May not be as entertaining as growing normal plants but it would put out some bud.

 

[realistik]

grouchy, that sounds badass. She actually (for now) is interested in a hobby grow.. The idea of having one cab for simultaneous vegging/flowering is appealing to her.. I don't believe I have ever seen a real vertical scrog.. that could be an idea for the flower chamber, with a 70w hps...

 

[lordbudly]

well imagine this, a dr bud style grow, with bonsai mothers in one area, and then 12 inch or so lollipops of straight bud, in 16 oz containers, producing like an 2 grams ( good lower benchmark for a first time go around) you flower clones around 3-5 inchs ( sweet spot to account for total stretch in flower to a lollipop of bud 12-16 inchs tall, with a 70w hps up top you'd get those hps nugs, with the efficient p-lls rocking you hardcore filling in all over, excuse me, i just had a grow gasm

 

[Hella THC]

Does she want a hobby grow or maximum yield? That space could rock two vertical scrogs with a 70w hps on each side. They could be run on different schedules so that it would be perpetual. May not be as entertaining as growing normal plants but it would put out some bud.

Wouldn't really recommend a vertical scrog for beginners, but its an idea you can play with if you want. Like you said though, I think setting up a perpetual grow would be better for your and her needs.

Yes, you could add vert PL-Ls to the flowering room. Weather its beneficial or not, I can't say for sure. It probably wouldn't hurt, but may not help enough to actually implement. The results will speak for themselves.

 

[mrred]

2 70w digital hps

 

[Hella THC]

well imagine this, a dr bud style grow, with bonsai mothers in one area, and then 12 inch or so lollipops of straight bud, in 16 oz containers, producing like an 2 grams ( good lower benchmark for a first time go around) you flower clones around 3-5 inchs ( sweet spot to account for total stretch in flower to a lollipop of bud 12-16 inchs tall, with a 70w hps up top you'd get those hps nugs, with the efficient p-lls rocking you hardcore filling in all over, excuse me, i just had a grow gasm

This is a good idea too, but again, we are talking about a beginning grower. The Dr. Bud method is a lot to keep track of, and is highly dependent on a strain that you're used to that can preform under those conditions.

Didn't want to kill your grow gasm though, lol. I'm just trying to be realistic on what would be the best method. Ease of use would be very important to you and your girl, am I right real?

 

[realistik]

If I mounted a PL-L fixture on the 4 walls.. the outside wall, the back wall, the divider, and the ceiling.. how concerned should I be about light distance.. would I still need to prop my plants/seedlings up really close to the ceiling PL-L?

 

[realistik]

Hella-THC thanks for being realistic for realistik.. lol

 

[grouchy]

Wouldn't really recommend a vertical scrog for beginners, but its an idea you can play with if you want.

This is a good idea too, but again, we are talking about a beginning grower.

Damn, just because she's a beginner don't mean she can't grow. I am gonna laugh my ass off when she comes in here and blows you away.

 

[realistik]

haha grouchy. I hope you're right man!!

 

[disfunktional]

hey realistik if you're looking for an adjustable light mover take a look at these. the drylin W would be a good option imo. check it out and see what you think. peace.

 

[realistik]

hey realistik if you're looking for an adjustable light mover take a look at these. the drylin W would be a good option imo. check it out and see what you think. peace.

Thanks for for that man. Definitely going to look into those! Do you have an idea how much the DrylinW's run?

Question pertaining to PL-L's ..

If I am running 4 bulbs (not sure on wattage yet).. One workhorse 7 (or 8) ballast will power them all, right?