First growsetup

[different_trip]

Hi.

After longing for quiet a while, I finally got space to setup a grow, however I have a few questions.

What Im gonna do is get a 3x3x6,5 tent. Probably a DR90 or similiar.
The tent is going to be setup inside a closet and there will be some space over around it, but no "walk in". I live in an apartment

Next up is lightning. Ive thought alot about a 400w HID with a cooltube, but since I will vent in the same "champer" I will have the intake I dont know if temps will be a problem? I can open the closet door from time to time, but if it smells alot during flowering its not really an option.

Its an apartment made with concrete walls, drilling thru this and that is not really an option and as far as I know, there is no exhaust in the closet.

This got me thinking of buying a LED-panel instead, even if they are pricy but still I havent really found an answer to how they perform against a HID. How much power would you get to match a 400w?

Lets say I decide to grow 4 plants, would additional CO2 be a "must" if I cant vent with the door?
What is the expected yield in a tent like that with a light of 400w hps?

Ive heard numbers around "0,5g/w" but thats 200g dried and thats shitload for me who are only cultivating for personal use. However a yield like that would make me only to grow once or tops twice per year, which would eliminate the lower energy-use from a LED.

My biggest concern is the heat from a HID since its a "closed closet", how much does your lamps heat up the tent? Lets say its around 70F, is it possible it would venture all the way up to 80F?

If you got a good LED-panel from ebay, that comes with a decent pricetag and is pretty much pair with a 400w HID, hit me up with a link.

Best regards and sorry about the messy text.

 

[juuri]

Hey Different Trip!

I haven't grown my self but I'm planning a grow. And i have similar situation.. Closet in the closet...But I have done some digging in the forums.

400w HID would make your closet heat up, and if the intake comes from the closet your hot air circulates around...
LED is quite pricey for sure and if u do 1-2 grows per year is a waste of money IMO.
Have you considered fluorescent lamps..? They dont heat up that much...
Or can you change ur closet doors for something this.. Air can escape through the wooden ribs...

-->

I'm sure there are much more educated ppl around here on the subject...
Best of luck!

Juuri.

 

[rangergord]

I have been in your situation before. Good LED's are not common or cheap. They have not fully arrived in terms of performance and cost effectiveness. That will eventually change but as a newbie you would best stay away. As Juuri suggests above florescent lighting would be better. Less expensive on a light output basis, much less heat and that will be a problem for you otherwise. I used floros with passive ventilation for a number of years. Did it in rented apartments without hacking holes in the place. T5's and CFL's are good choices. Even the old T12 tubes work fine. Lots of people here to learn these lights from.

 

[dickcorn]

Cfls! I run around 400 watts cfl in 3x1x5 cabinet and it's overkill but temps stay very reasonable without a whole lot of ventilation. My best results have been with mixed spectrum mostly blue 42 and 26 watters. I used 5$ shop lights from Walmart with y light adapters so I could plug 2 per. They last way longer then hps bulbs and are easy to replace. The only downside is you must recycle them at an ewaste facility cause they contain a little mercury. I've pulled close to 8 ozs in autos doing this and about halfway through my first photo strain grow in it. I know yield can be improved in it as well.

 

[klemer13]

I have just set up my DR90 yesterday with a 600w MH with air cooled hood.
best bet is to have a fan hooked up to a hood sucking all the warm air out., with 2 passive intakes that will do wonders with all of that negative preasure. Tent is currently at 26º C been running night.
If you are really worried about temperatures get a small HID, 150-250 watts, then add some CFLs, T5's have worked great for me.

 

[aridbud]

I concur with rangergord, dickcorn, juuri....cfl or fluorescent is the best way to go for small closet or grow tent. I used T5 and T8's before with great success. No heat build up, no bright as the sun glow coming from your closet with HHPS/MH. Electric bills will be a nominal increase.

I like using LEDs...have several, but yes, they are pricey. However, you can run them 50,000-100,000 hrs before replacement (as long as you don't drop it!)

Once you use the cfl's then maybe expand to something more. These contributors have had great luck w/ both cfl/fluorescent.

GROW ON!!

 

[al70]

my first grow was in a closet (airing closet) right next to the bathroom, theres a small exhaust fan in most bathrooms, I just went into the attic and moved the fan over a couple o feet into the closet, so when I switch the light on in the bathroom my exhaust ran, your situation might be different though, goodluck.

 

[deadkndys]

air cooled hood FTW

 

[second time]

i saw some co2 packs online once you basically fill it with water shake it and leave it in the grow room its some sort of fungus that releases co2 for 24 hours constant cost like 2quid for 12 or something like that happy searching

 

[supermanlives]

most weed smells during flowering . smell control should be a main concern for ya . keeping door shut wont contain smell for long.my friend reeked up entire apartment building once as all air was connected. he didn't listen to me. smell control is very important if you like staying free and safe from rippers and cops. if ya aint medical this could be your first and last grow if pigs show up

 

[RonSmooth]

CFL's are not a good idea for a 3X3X6 grow tent. CFL's are poor grow lights. They waste a lot of light distribution in their design. A T5 or PLL fixture would be better but IMO you would be a lot better off getting an HID. CFL's and other fluorescents will do if HID's are not an option in very small grows but IMO 9 sq ft is not a "micro" grow.

If youre going to be putting the $, effort and potentially freedom on the line to do something, you want to get the most out of it. HID's will produce better plants in all respects and are not as scary as some might lead you to believe.

Heat can be controlled with a good intake & exhaust system & air cooled hoods. Find a way to make it work. Where there is a will there is a way. The closet is concrete on 3 walls and the ceiling? Is it a basement apt? Are they foundation walls?

You could remove the closet door and install something that you can rig to provide intake and exhaust. Maybe a header with a 6" hole for exhaust and 6" hole in the footer for intake. You could cover the remaining opening with B&W poly stapled to the header and secured with sticky back velcro around the sides and bottom. Might have to duck to get in and out but it would give you a nice ventilation setup to work with.

I would recommend getting a 600w dimmable/switchable ballast. You can run MH bulbs for veg and HPS for flowering. If you had too, you could dial it down to 400w as well.

 

[rangergord]

The guy says he has no way to ventilate and you tell him to stick a 600 watt HID with a complex ventilation system in anyways! Makes no sense. 250 watt electronic dimmable ballast with no other ventilation, is about as far as I would push it.

 

[RonSmooth]

The guy says he has no way to ventilate and you tell him to stick a 600 watt HID with a complex ventilation system in anyways! Makes no sense. 250 watt electronic dimmable ballast with no other ventilation, is about as far as I would push it.

A 250w would effectively cover an area half the size he wants to use. Whats the point of using the space if youre not going to use the space?


If removing a closet door is beyond someones mechanical skills, they have no business growing anything. Not to mention, In a closet with concrete walls and no windows, there will have to be some intake and exhaust regardless of lighting. He isnt running a sealed room.

You choose the right gear for the space you have. If you cant make it work, don't half ass it, find another space where you can.

 

[al70]

Hi DT, exhaust is essential no matter what lighting you use,, goodluck

 

[newtothiscoco]

hey man if i was you i would go out and buy a wooden plate and make a new dore to the closet so you so you do not ruin the closet door and just drill a hole so you can get a vent up good luck with the grow a wooden plate is cheaper then a new closet