CGE (Closed growing environment) (sealed)

[Don Piano]

Ok. So I did realize that there would be wasted light with the size of my chamber being larger than the grow area, to house the extra equipment. I cant curtain it off because I need it for circulation of my AC. I was thinking of going with a 600watt when I switch to HPS in there to overcome this. But then I discovered this....

While I was taking apart some things from my old cab in the basement closet (not all of it yet because I still have my tomato plants and cooking herbs in there), I had the closet door open (as I have to to keep heat and humidity down, the reason why I am constructing this attic cab) and I was removing a roll of aluminum screen from my cold room, and noticed how nicely it reflected a bit of light from my Halide. I unrolled it in front of the door and it does reflect pretty well, so I doubled it up, Now were talkin! it reflects at least half the light (maybe more) back and still allows air circulation!

Now I am not saying that I am the first person to discover this, because I may or may not be.
But what I am saying is that people have cabs that have extra space to house fans and AC's and such, and if they want to utilize more of the light they currently have, and still allow plenty of cirulation within the entire cab, divide the space with a double up of aluminum screen. I am doing this for sure!

[JuicyJBB]

You should grow Cinderella 99.

[Don Piano]

well ive been trying to post more pics but it is not working for me at all.

[Don Piano]

pics

1 is of my CO2 tank
2 is the co2 regulator
3 is my fert lineup
4 is a pic of my original cab(currently operational for my tomatos and basil, until the attic cab is done)

[Don Piano]

Ok I am going to change a few things....


I am not going to plastic off the inside of the cab (only the floor) or even mylar the walls, not even paint them with fungicide paint. Nope.

I am going to use elastomeric white roofing sealer!! Will make it air tight, has over 90% light reflection,, will not need to caulk, mildew and mold resistant, and it is able to expand and contract from heating and cooling. Love this Idea. I bought some mylar lastnight (never used it, only white paint and the IR block) What garbage that shit is to work with (and no it was not 1mil)

I am also ditching my reflector that I made. It sits atop my old cab and would have done the same on my new cab, but I decided to make a cool tube. This will make things much easier. but more expensive being that I have to put more money into my setup. But as I have said before, "Make what you can (within your means, not rigged), buy what you can't, don't let money be an issue, it all pays for itself in the end."

[Don Piano]

gotta love 40's houses. Asbestos is fun! Not the insulation, but the plaster contains asbestos. I acually live in a military prototype. Whole house is solid 5"x6" timberes stacked up like a log house (the main floor wiring is run in channels cut into the timbers), and then sided to appear normal, and plastered all over inside. The second floor is not built like that, normal studs and shit. The things you find out by knocking out a few holes (or in the case of the main floor, not being able to)

[Don Piano]

here are some more of the wiring pics. Here I had knocked holes in the plaster, drilled through the studs and run the wire from an outlet that has its own 15amp breaker that was put in place for a window air conditioner by the original owner.

It is run into a closet that shares a wall with the attic. You see where the wire comes out (pic 3) it will be run through conduit on the rear bottom of the closet and into the attic. This will power my light, fans and controller, along with the co2.

[Don Piano]

OHH DON PIANO!!!! Fixing those holes is going to be alot of fun!!!

[Don Piano]

another pic. Plaster repair time. first coat done



Mountain Dew, Fuel of Champions

[Headless Hornet]

I was a little worried you were going to leave the holes just covered up with packing tap. I was starting to lose faith...

...but then the plaster repair came out. whew...faith restored.

You are doing an excellent job and I can't wait to see the results. Very Impressive.

The fuckin' cat video that is your namesake made me laugh for ten minutes straight the first time I saw it. My secret shame is watching AFV. Oh Long Johnson!

[Don Piano]

I love that cat!!! I watch that video everyday in the morning!!! The fat guy in my avitar, His Real name is Don Piano.

You really thought i was going to do the packing tape huh???? Was wondering if anyone thought that. haha

It was just a precaution, just in case we had a hibernating mouse in the walls or somthing, that way if there was one and it decided to go past the tape, I would at least know about it and could send my cat on the hunt!!

Thank you for the great laugh and your support

[kangbee]

2 pics per 2 batteries? I say get a new camera, it will be cheaper in the long run. So far your set up looks great, that paint looks like the right stuff. I am wondering what sort of yeild you are going to get. Exciting stuff. Hopefully you have a good air filter if you kicked up any asbestos it will linger in the air for a while. Austin Air has a great one.

[Don Piano]

I actually used a water mister and a mask. We have a great cold air return with a good hepa filter on our furnace. So hopefully that will take care of anything that got away. I took care of the remaining dust with my shopvac (also has hepa filter)

Yeah, my camera need to be replaced (But I'd rather sink another $400 into my grow). I did find my charger and rechargable batts, and am able to get 5 pics now per battery change.

[Don Piano]

Got some more framing done, could not get the camera to work so here is the drawing on an old pic

[Don Piano]

more plaster work. My wife did this second coat!