Help me expand!

[soursmoker]

Ok before we can talk about how to expand, first you guys need to know what my setup is now!

right now flowering setup is as follows:
3'x1.5'x3'
150w HPS, supplemented by 4 23w CFLs
bathroom fan as exhaust
shitty louvre vent for intake
light leaks all over the place...

veg is just all the plants sitting under a 110w PLL fixture...

Biggest problems/things I want to fix:

1) Light leaks
2) More height/space
3) with more space, comes more light
4) create a somewhat stealth flower chamber
5) use old flower area as an enclosed veg area


Ok so this is where all the Pros come in and help! haha

I want atleast 3' of space for the plant to grow (Right now I have less than 2')
the area I am planning on putting the flower chamber can fit a 2 ft deep chamber at 4 ft tall. But if I make it any taller I will have to shorten the depth of the box...

My pots range from 5"-9.5" tall. So will about half a foot be enough space for everything to fit above the light?

I am thinking of have an area maybe 3.5x2x4? I am thinking of lighting this with a CMH, still undecided if I want to go with the 400w Retro Whites or some of the newer CDM's that utilize MH ballasts, idk if anyone can help with that.

I should be able to cool this area with a S&P 100 right?

One of my biggest questions is what to build it out of...

My current chamber is a disaster, it did not turn out anything like I imagined...

We used whole boards and made it into one giant box if that makes sense.

It seems that the cheaper and smarter thing to do is frame out the area and then cover the holes up...

I see some use PVC to frame and others wood, what would you reccomend?

Also I see many using panda film to make the walls but that shit is expensive!!

Would insulation board from HomeDepot work? I think this would probably end up being cheaper maybe?

Hmm this is all I can think of now, I am sure I'll be back with more ?'s later...

Any advice/criticism is welcome!

 

[soursmoker]

hmm no one has any ideas?

 

[Resistance]

3.5x2x4 Thats width, depth, height? And you want to put what in there? Your fan, scrubber, ballast, and timer in there aswell?

Sorry bro, I'd like to help but I'm having trouble picking up what your putting down. Ya dig?

 

[soursmoker]

At this point I'm trying to decide if I want go with a 4x2 or a 2.75x2.75 both 5 ft tall. You think that will help with extra room for fan,scrubber, ballast, etc?

 

[Resistance]

Well thats kinda what I'm trying to figure out with ya bro. The design I've been working on for my stealth grow is 72"W, 26"D, 30"H. It's a 6ft long dresser, and although not tall I've designated 2ft on the side to house the fan and scrubber outside/away from the flowering area. I'll try to find out more about a SP100 fan and see what I can come up with in sketchup.

 

[soursmoker]

thanks man I just mention the S&P 100 because I have heard good things about it... I have also heard good thing about the whisperline fans...

72"W is way too much for me... Really this is gonna be a somewhat temporary thing so I don't want to over do it.

 

[paperchaser825]

If you check my profile I have a small cab with stuffs in it. A bit bigger than yours, but the concept is the same I think.

 

[siftedunity]

pics would help

 

[Phillthy]

ive never built cabs but these are a must for light proof intakes

http://www.adorama.com/DKL1212.html

the 12 x 12 allow for 400cfm of intake.

 

[brotherindica]

I've never grown a space with that little height with a 400W, but sure it can be done. Never ran CMH either, always MH or T5 in veg and HPS in flower. Have seen some great results with them though.


I would be concerned about heat. The ambient temperature in the surrounding "lung room" is a factor here.

As for size, the 2'x4' offers 0.5 more cubic ft of space versus the 2.75'x2.75', but I'd expect the square space to have a more even light spread where the 2'x4' might have less intensity at the edge of the 4'.

Placing the ballast outside of the cab will greatly reduce the heat too, and offer more space.

 

[soursmoker]

If you check my profile I have a small cab with stuffs in it. A bit bigger than yours, but the concept is the same I think.

I checked it out, looks nice man, hard to fully understand everything just by pics tho, there is A LOT going on in there...

pics would help

how can I post pics of something I don't have?

I could post links to the tents I am considering buying...

Here is the 2.75x2.75x5

http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Hydropon...qid=1366885335&sr=8-1&keywords=2.75x2.75+tent

I just went looking for the 2x4 and it seems the 5ft is out of stock, they only have a 7' available now. So I guess I am going with the 2.75x2.75

Also i found out the dimensions are actually 32"x32"x60"

ive never built cabs but these are a must for light proof intakes

http://www.adorama.com/DKL1212.html

View Image

the 12 x 12 allow for 400cfm of intake.

thanks bro I have seen those before. ScrubNinja did a little DIY version of those... will keep that in mind. But for now I think I am going the quick and easy route and buying a tent. Building will come another day... Haha

I've never grown a space with that little height with a 400W, but sure it can be done. Never ran CMH either, always MH or T5 in veg and HPS in flower. Have seen some great results with them though.



I would be concerned about heat. The ambient temperature in the surrounding "lung room" is a factor here.

As for size, the 2'x4' offers 0.5 more cubic ft of space versus the 2.75'x2.75', but I'd expect the square space to have a more even light spread where the 2'x4' might have less intensity at the edge of the 4'.

Placing the ballast outside of the cab will greatly reduce the heat too, and offer more space.

I have never run CMH either but I am very interested due to the better spectrum they emit and supposedly less heat too. Heat is always a main concern but like I said hopefully the CMH will help me deal with this...

I think it has been decided, the 2.75x2.75 it is! (Actually 32"x32"x60")

Still don't know if I want to go Vert or not...

Do you think a S&P Td100 will be enough to cool this area?

I think I am going to make a DIY scrubber.

EDIT: Ballast would Ideally go outside, if not it will sit towards the top right near where the fan is sucking air from...

 

[brotherindica]

I have never run CMH either but I am very interested due to the better spectrum they emit and supposedly less heat too. Heat is always a main concern but like I said hopefully the CMH will help me deal with this...

I think it has been decided, the 2.75x2.75 it is! (Actually 32"x32"x60")

Still don't know if I want to go Vert or not...

Do you think a S&P Td100 will be enough to cool this area?

I think I am going to make a DIY scrubber.

EDIT: Ballast would Ideally go outside, if not it will sit towards the top right near where the fan is sucking air from...

I would say go horizontal versus vertical, in that space, but with a 400W you may be able to make it work. With vert you would loose roughly 8-10" for the bulb and another 4-5" on either side for cooling, so that 32" of workable space is now more like 14"-16". If I ran vert in that tent I would place the bulb in the middle, height wise. Plants would go in 'smaller pots', roughly 1 gal, around the perimeter of the tent. Then place a screen above the top of the pots to the top of the tent......basically giving you a vertical screen all the way up.

Or you could do like Marlo and screen the walls of the tent.........and weave the plants through the screen/walls. Check out his W.O.W. thread if you'd like to see pics.


This all being said.......I would start growing horizontal. At least for the first couple runs.



Can't say I've ever heard of S&P Td1000..........I've always used inline fans such as Vortex or Can.



As for the filters.....I WOULD NOT BUILD ONE. Odor prevention is incredibly important. I wouldn't trust anything but a well made carbon filter. I've seen others claim acceptable results with DIY filters, but I would NEVER skip on $$ here. Can filters, pro filters, green air, etc......bunch of them out there.....I personally like Can.

 

[soursmoker]

I would say go horizontal versus vertical, in that space, but with a 400W you may be able to make it work. With vert you would loose roughly 8-10" for the bulb and another 4-5" on either side for cooling, so that 32" of workable space is now more like 14"-16". If I ran vert in that tent I would place the bulb in the middle, height wise. Plants would go in 'smaller pots', roughly 1 gal, around the perimeter of the tent. Then place a screen above the top of the pots to the top of the tent......basically giving you a vertical screen all the way up.

Or you could do like Marlo and screen the walls of the tent.........and weave the plants through the screen/walls. Check out his W.O.W. thread if you'd like to see pics.


This all being said.......I would start growing horizontal. At least for the first couple runs.



Can't say I've ever heard of S&P Td1000..........I've always used inline fans such as Vortex or Can.



As for the filters.....I WOULD NOT BUILD ONE. Odor prevention is incredibly important. I wouldn't trust anything but a well made carbon filter. I've seen others claim acceptable results with DIY filters, but I would NEVER skip on $$ here. Can filters, pro filters, green air, etc......bunch of them out there.....I personally like Can.

Yes I am deff going horizontal first round...

I am surprised you have never heard of S&P's they are nice fans...

http://www.amazon.com/Soler-Palau-T...F8&qid=1366928028&sr=8-1&keywords=s&p+td-100x


as far as filter. I fully understand smell is #1 for security, but currently I have no filter, and my grow is in the attic (3rd floor).. where i smoke.. so it already smells up there..

I may buy a filter anyway for the future tho... they are so damn expensive tho lol. Ima cheap ass, i know..

 

[soursmoker]

Ok some more questions...

Here is a chart for S&P fans, I don't know whether to get the 100 or 100X model

Obviously the 100X is the stronger of the two but how much Static Pressure are we normally dealing with? Would I be ok to get away with the cheaper regular 100 model for a steal at $72 for a 100 CFM fan.

I am considering buying a Can 33 filter to match the S&P

Also if anyone is in the market for a 10" fan, PM me... there is a complete steal out on the web right now. and there are only 7 left. I wanna buy one myself just to resell on ebay because of how good a deal it is...

 

[dank.frank]

Rule 2. No Smell.

You don't realize it when you are around it but FRESH GREEN PLANT smells much different than the guy who just burned one. "They" are trained to hone in on such details. Never underestimate...

A 400w that vents FROM THE TOP of the hood (Radiant) is a great option when in small spaces, in my opinion, as you can pull air through side vents in your cabinet, as Phillthy showed, and direct in take up, under and through your canopy, over the bulb, and out the top THROUGH A FILTER...

dank.Frank

 

[soursmoker]

Yeah you're right, I'll go with the Can33 probably to match the S&P100.

Now I need to work on the lighting, I need to go browse the CMH thread some more...

 

[brotherindica]

Yes I am deff going horizontal first round...

I am surprised you have never heard of S&P's they are nice fans...

http://www.amazon.com/Soler-Palau-TD-100X-In-line-Exhaust/dp/B0027E3Q62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366928028&sr=8-1&keywords=s%26p+td-100x


as far as filter. I fully understand smell is #1 for security, but currently I have no filter, and my grow is in the attic (3rd floor).. where i smoke.. so it already smells up there..

I may buy a filter anyway for the future tho... they are so damn expensive tho lol. Ima cheap ass, i know..

Ok some more questions...

Here is a chart for S&P fans, I don't know whether to get the 100 or 100X model

View Image

Obviously the 100X is the stronger of the two but how much Static Pressure are we normally dealing with? Would I be ok to get away with the cheaper regular 100 model for a steal at $72 for a 100 CFM fan.

I am considering buying a Can 33 filter to match the S&P

Also if anyone is in the market for a 10" fan, PM me... there is a complete steal out on the web right now. and there are only 7 left. I wanna buy one myself just to resell on ebay because of how good a deal it is...

I would go with the 100x. I like to oversize my fan/filter combo and use a dimer to control the speed. Ultimate smell control.


You'll definitely need a filter when upgrading to the 400W. You WILL notice an increase in smell going from a 150W to 400W with a larger grow space.


Hope I'm not coming off as the bad guy. I just know what kind of smell you can get from a decent garden under a 400W when a filter fails............EASILY stink up an entire 2 floor house.........BAD.

Running that garden in an attic would concern me the smell was getting out of the house and the whole damn street stinks like skunk......but that's just me.

Safety always comes first.

Rule 2. No Smell.

 

[soursmoker]

I would go with the 100x. I like to oversize my fan/filter combo and use a dimer to control the speed. Ultimate smell control.


You'll definitely need a filter when upgrading to the 400W. You WILL notice an increase in smell going from a 150W to 400W with a larger grow space.


Hope I'm not coming off as the bad guy. I just know what kind of smell you can get from a decent garden under a 400W when a filter fails............EASILY stink up an entire 2 floor house.........BAD.

Running that garden in an attic would concern me the smell was getting out of the house and the whole damn street stinks like skunk......but that's just me.

Safety always comes first.

Your not being a bad guy at all, you are completely right! I am deff going with the 100x and the Can33 filter, and I think it is decided I am going with the 32"x32"x60" tent because the 2x4 is out of stock.

I am now deciding how to set up my light situation, there a few options now with CMHs

The smartest seems to use the bulbs that utilizes HPS ballast so that I can switch over to HPS if I ever feel like it...

Anyone know of a decent but cheap 400w light kit, bulb can be complete shit just mostly worried bout getting a S51 ballast and a socket lol

 

[paperchaser825]

I checked it out, looks nice man, hard to fully understand everything just by pics tho, there is A LOT going on in there...

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[soursmoker]

Let me know if you have any questions.

Could you just give me a rundown of your setup/equipment?

You say it's bigger? what are the dimensions?

I see a lot of switches and wiring going on, I see an inline fan connected to some ducting, what kind of fan? how many CFM? how loud is it? what kinda odor control do you use? what size bulbs are you running?

the more info the better!