Computer case ScrOG, *FIRST GROW*

[zalzal010]

Ok, I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I'm just too excited about getting this thing going.

I have a 100w hps + ballast kit coming in the mail, along with my digital pH meter. Light timer is also en route. Also got me an empty server case. dimensions are about 8"x26"x18". Also got some mylar to line the inside with. and, I bought a few case fans, still working on my airflow. I'm thinking about 1 down low, blowing across the scrog, then another at the top to exhaust the hot air from the lamp.

STILL looking for something rectangular to use as a pot. The guy I'm inspired from had some kinda short rectangular bucket that fit perfectly inside his case, and I wish I could find the same thing. PLUS - A carbon filter is a must. I'm going to walk around home depot to see what I can do. I want some kind of elbow over the exhaust fan, and I'll figure out a way to get the air going through some carbon.

I'm going to go down to this plant shop down the road some time soon to grab some soil + some good ferts, and some 5ish inch pots to get my plants started in.

the plan:
Grow 1 female with a scrog. I'm thinking I'll germinate and grow out 3 seeds, should get at least 1 lady. I'll FIM as needed, and keep 'em down with some LST until I can sex 'em. I really want to avoid a dramatically early flower time. Due to obvious size constraints, it will have to be somewhat early, but I want them to get as mature as I possibly can, in a computer case. If I can get them to show sex before the switch to flowering, I'll be a happy camper.
Once I have my female singled out, I'll install the scrog, and proceed as normal.

I'm looking to order a pack of Nirvana AK-48 seeds, probably tomarrow. They have a good quick flower time, and I know that the ak-47 I've had was very very nice.

I'm trying to get a digital camera, I know pictures will help a hell of a lot more than my words when I will inevitably need some assistance with something.

SO - if anyone has any thoughts/comments/questions/suggestions, PLEASE post.

[br3ad_]

Picturresss :P

[zalzal010]

digital camera soon.

For now, an update:

3 AK-48 seeds germinated, and were planted monday morning . Still waiting on sprouts to show their faces. I actually had forgot to put baggies over the top of the pots to keep in moisture, so I gave a very light dribble of water over the center, and covered 'em all yesterday. I have the light on 24hrs, to keep temperatures around 75-80. If light goes off, temps in the box can drop to 65 or less, as its kinda cold these days.

a note on stealth - The thing is not light tight. Light shines from almost every crack, but when people ever walk in my room (which happens once on a blue moon), they first see my desktop glowing bright blue, so when they see the other case on the floor glowing orange, they don't think much of it. They'd have to jump on my bed to see the top of the carbon scrubber sticking out from behind the case.

[flex40]

did you include the myler around the entire inside...including all edges? this was a big issue with my stealth and the only thing that corrected it was to put myler or foil around the entire box.

oh, where did you get the 100watt hps??? (store name/city/website) and how big are the dimensions

Keep us (me) posted... i want to see how this thing works

Good Luck!

FLEX

[zalzal010]

before answering questions, I'd like to say one thing...

SPROUTAGE! I see 2 heads poking outa the ground, and 1 already standing up straight, leaves unfolded. theres a chunk of seed shell stuck to him, but I'll just let it fall off when its ready to fall off. So WOOO

Mylar - no. I just spray painted a bunch of cardboard pieces gloss white, and put a piece on the inside of each wall.

hps - from lightingcloseout.com
you can buy a whole kit - bulb, ballast, and socket. All you need to do buy an extension cord that you can cut up and splice with the ballast to provide power. I mistakingly bought the kit that just has bulb + ballast, and didn't realize that I had to also buy a socket. but, they're available at home depot or lowes for less than $2. They threw in an extra bulb for free, so you should consider that as well.

If anyone buys a low-wattage hps kit from them, send me a PM and I'll give ya the wiring instructions. Most of the guides and diagrams available on the internet (even on overgrow) dont seem to be compatable with the brand of ballast that these people sell.

If you're asking for dimensions of the case, its 8"x26"x18".

If you're asking about the light/ballast - well hmm. The ballast is just the igniter and the transformer, each of 'em are relatively same size, no more than 3" on any side. Bulb is like, 4 inches long. I have the ballast all fastened down inside of a Radio Shack project box. One of these days I'm gonna have to cut a hole in the box and install a fan. Because of a mistake I made in wire length, I have to position the box in a way that has the transfomrmer hanging upside down from screws that are drilled into the plastic wall of the box. The thing is getting so got that the plastic is very slightly warping, and im afraid that one of these days the screws are gonna slip out and the thing is just gonna bounce around inside possibly fucking up my wiring.

[AstralSativa]

Are you planning on using that 100 watt HPS in the computer case?

If so, expect crispy dried up plants .

Either that or major air cooling is going to be needed...thus taking up even MORE space.

[zalzal010]

grow is already going, if you didn't realize. And my cooling solution is more than adequate. Note that the height of the case is 26 inches. With a double-fan exhaust and another fan blowing across the dirt surface, temps don't go over 80, and thats during the warmth of the day. Nighttime temps are no more than 75

[flex40]

hey, could you maybe draw out (in paint or something cause you dont have a digital) how this is setup.. I am starting to consider doing a similar setup. As for the light leakage comment, you need to cover every surface with the Mylar or Tinfoil to prevent light leakage. If any crack isnt covered, you are going to see light.

How is the noise produced by the setup? I would imagine it would be similar to that of a normal computer... am i correct?

Best of Luck

FLEX

[zalzal010]

eh.. Like I said before, im not too concerned about the light leaks. Having to explain that theres an orange cathode inside the case is easier than putting up $30 for a whole roll of mylar, that I'll only use about 5 feet of.

My desktop computer glows red and blue, and my laptop glows blue - seeing the growbox with orange light coming out when youre in my room isn't very unusual.

So you want a drawing, eh....

aah I havn't smoked in 4 months, and I'm still too fuckin lazy for that work.

But, I'll give ya a link to the grows that inspired me. My setup differs in the mounting of the light, the inner lining, and the pots. Just gotta shop around, use some creativity, and do the best you can with the limited space.

http://www.overgrow.com/edge/showthr...hreadid=675455


http://www.overgrow.com/edge/showthr...hreadid=605619

[flex40]

ok, i need to aquire the wiring setup for the computer case fans. Right now in my setup i have a grow lamp but its too fucking hot. The box is overheating and i dont want to loose my plants over this. I need some adverse changes now. How did you wire in your PC fans?

FLEX

[zalzal010]

I scoured my house for 12v AC adapters. Needed one more, so I bought it at Radio Shack for like $10. They'll also run on a 9v, but more slowly (and more quiet, if the humming bothers you)

To wire it - cut off the plug on the end of the wire, then seperate the 2 wires so you get about 2 inches of slack on each one. Do the same to the end of the wire on your computer case fan, then strip about a half-inch off the tip of each wire. In my experience, there's no definite way to tell which wire from the adapter connects to which wire from the fan, since all my adapter wires are black with no labeling. So, just twist together the wires, 1 from the adapter with one from the fan, then the other 2 together, and plug the thing in. If the fan doesn't run when you do it, just reverse the wires.

I would HIGHLY suggest that you run by radio shack (or home depot/lowes if its more convenient) and pick up some wire nuts/caps (they look like this). Make sure your wires are twisted clockwise, and the wire nut will thread on and screw down, if you get some small ones. Secure it to the wire with some electrical tape, and youre good to go.

[zalzal010]

update on the camera: As soon as my tax return comes in, I'm buying a brand new Minolta Dimage z5. 5 megapixels for aweome bud macros.

Update on the sprouts: The one still hasn't grown at all - the other 2 are doing great. First set of leaves are each about an inch long - second set is coming in, a bit over a quarter of an inch each. I can see those little fingers on the sides - the classic bud leaf look. Exciting shit.

[zalzal010]

I just want to say:

GOD DAMN do they smell good. Its not at the point where it fills the air, but if I touch the leaves, my fingers smell of heavenly buddha. ILUVIT

[Lucian]

This is certainly an interesting tale. I love journals that unfold like an experiment in development and I definitely admire your enthusiasm for a stealth grow. It sounds like you are having sucess so far. One thing I would keep in mind as I don't know the details of your strain, is how much they stretch during flower. Some will grow 3x the size they are now which could be disaterous for you. I have no need for stealth growing so don't have any practice with it but it seems common from reading about them that they put their plants into flower very early to keep the size down. I would suggest going into flower after two weeks of growing to try and keep the plant size down. Even with LST you might just wind up with too much bush inside your case. Just a suggestion/opinion on my part to consider as even without a stealth grow, I have had plants overwhelm my growing space which does suck. Good look tho! I want to see a success story here

[DierWolf]

I dont read if i dont see pics