I'VE BEEN READING,RESEARCHING AND SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS THINKING ABOUT THIS BUILD. NOW I'M READY TO START. I'VE HELPED WITH A FEW GROWS,I HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH SEEDLINGS AND A FEW OUTDOOR PLANTS.BUT I AM STILL A NOVICE. I AM GOING STEALTH DO TO THE FACT FLORIDA HAS NOT PASSED LEGAL MEDICAL YET ,BUT WILL PROBABLY PASS THIS YEAR. I NOTICED THE PROPOSED LAW STATES WE CAN'T GROW OUR OWN MEDICINE !! TOTAL BULLSHIT.......ITS AN F'IN PLANT !! SO FOR STEALTH I'M BUILDING A FRIDGE. I AM POSTING THIS JOURNAL STYLE AND ANY INPUT,TIPS OR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME. MY PLAN IS TO GO ORGANIC SOIL FOR THE GROW. THE STRAIN WILL BE NIRVANA NORTHERN LIGHTS FEMINIZED. I PLAN ON USING 240W TO 400W FULL SPECTRUM LED LIGHTING FOR ALL STAGES MAYBE ADDING XTRA REDS FOR BLOOMING. I DO HAVE A 250 HPS JUST IN CASE.JUST DONT WANT THE HEAT. I THINK I WILL TEST AND DIAL IN WITH VEGGIES BEFORE PUTTING ANY CANNABIS IN IT. THIS WILL BE IN MY GARAGE WHERE TEMPS DURING THE SUMMER STILL GET UP 90 EASY. MY FRIDGE WILL BE NEXT TO MY AC AIR HANDLER WHICH I CAN PLUMB INTO FOR COOL ,DRY AND FILTERED AIR. JUST WANT TO GET THE TEMPS,AIRFLOW AND HUMIDITY CONSISTENT BEFORE THE "MAIN EVENT". EARLY THIS WEEK I STARTED LOOKING FOR THE FRIDGE,POSTING ON CRAIGSLIST AND FACEBOOK .I JUST SAID I NEEDED A CHEAP USED SIDE BY SIDE FRIDGE(STEALTH) NO REPLIES SO YESTERDAY I WENT BY A LOCAL APPLIANCE REPAIR SHOP,ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY THEY WERE GETTING RID OF. THEY HAD A FEW AND I FOUND MY FRIDGE. THE SALESPERSON SAID THEY NEEDED TO REMOVE THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND FREON THAN I COULD PICK IT UP IF I WANT IT FOR $10................."SOLD" AFTER WORK THEY LOADED IT UP AND HOME I WENT. I BEGAN TEAR DOWN. DAY 1 FIRST WAS THE PUMP AND WIRING. "OOPS" THEY DIDN'T REMOVE THE FREON AND WHAT A MESS !! I THAN REMOVED ALL THE REAR GUTS EXCEPT FOR THE CONDENSER FAN.MIGHT NEED IT FOR FRESH INTAKE LATER OR NOT. THAN I REMOVED THE INNER DOOR HUMP FOR ICE DISPENSER TO GIVE MORE ROOM. I REMOVED ALL WIRING,LIGHTS AND SHELVING. NEXT WAS CUTTING OUT CENTER DIVIDER, I LEFT THE FRONT POST FOR NOW SO THE DOORS WOULD SEAL. \nINTERNAL USABLE MEASUREMENTS 2'4" DEEP X 2'10" WIDE X 4'5" TALL I CLEANED AND SCRUBBED WITH SIMPLE GREEN AND AGAIN WITH BLEACH TIL IT WAS CLEAN. OPENED IT UP TO DRY OUT BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. TOMORROW I'LL SEAL THE CUT EXPOSED FOAM WITH AC DUCT WORK TAPE. I MAY REMOVE THE FRONT ICE DISPENSER AND MAKE IT REMOVABLE AND INSTALL A LEXAN WINDOW TO PEAK IN ,OR JUST LEAVE IT. I NEED TO PLAN OUT WHERE TO PUT FRESH AIR INTAKE VENTS AND FILTERS AND HOW BIG THEY SHOULD BE. I'M GUESSING LARGER AREA THAN THE 6" FAN, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I THINK ONE 6" FAN AND AS FOR POTTING, 3 GALLON OR 5 GALLON ?BAGS OR POTS WHICH DO YOU GUYS USE ? \nhttp://find.grasscity.com/search?w=carbon%20filter" href="http://find.grasscity.com/search?w=carbon%20filter" class="skimwords-link" target="_blank" data-skimwords-id="2001515" data-skimlinks-editor="0" data-skimwords-word="carbon%20filter" data-group-id="0" data-skim-creative="302008" data-skim-product="2001515" title="Shopping Link Added by SkimWords" occurrence="1" data-skim-node-id="59:ITHINKONE6" fanandcar_1"="" style="color: rgb(68, 119, 171); text-decoration: none;">
DAY 2 \nDID SOME MORE TRIMMING INSIDE THE BOX TO OPEN UP THE INSIDE USABLE FOOTPRINT TO 2' X 3' WITH ABOUT 5'4" FROM SEALING TO PLANTER BASE. HOPEFULLY ENOUGH ROOM FOR 4 PLANTS FLOWERING .I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH HEIGHT. LED'S WILL GET ME A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE LIGHTS . THAT'S IT FOR TODAY.
DAY 3 GOT A BIT ACCOMPLISHED TODAY CLEANED UP THE CUTS LEVELED OF THE FLOOR CUT FUTURE VENT HOLES USED EPOXY RESIN TO SEAL ALL EXPOSED FOAM STARTED CONSTRUCTION ON BRACES FOR RAISED INTERIOR FLOOR THE RESIN WAS USED MAINLY TO SEAL THE FOAM FROM AIR AND MOISTURE,THIS WILL STOP THE FOAM FROM GETTING WET AND PRODUCING MOLD. I WILL COAT EXPOSED FOAM/RESIN WITH AC DUCT WORK TAPE. THE EPOXY RESIN WONT REACT CHEMICALLY WITH THE PLASTIC AND DOESN'T PRODUCE FUMES WHEN CURED.EVEN AT HIGHER TEMPS (WHICH I HOPE WON'T BE A PROBLEM) BUDDY OF MINE SCORED ME A BRAND NEW 4" CARBON SEWER VENT FILTER FOR FREE!!!! \nCOST OF BUILD SO FAR $10 FOR THE FRIDGE EPOXY I ALREADY HAD,AND IS EXPENSIVE. I USED ABOUT 13 GRAMS .WE'LL SAY $15 \nTIME SPENT ABOUT 9 HOURS
DAY 4 JUST FINISHING UP THE SEALING OF ALL CUT AND REMOVED SECTIONS. I APPLIED A LAYER OF NON SILICONE CAULK OVER ALL EXPOSED ,ALREADY EPOXY COATED, FOAM JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE. WILL APPLY METAL TAPE AFTER IT ALL DRIES. THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY
DAY 5 GOT SOME GOOD WORK DONE,ALMOST FINISHED WITH MODS AND SEALING. I DECIDED TO REMOVE ALL THE FACTORY TRAY BUMP/SLOTS TO FLATTEN THE SIDE WALLS FOR CLEARANCE AND TO KEEP REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AS FLAT AS I CAN. GOT THE MYLAR IN THE MAIL TODAY. I GOT SOME OTHER GOODIES FROM A BUDDY WHO WAS MAKING ROOM IN HIS JOBS STORE ROOMS. 2 ALMOST BRAND NEW T5 HIGH OUTPUT WITH BALLASTS AND 6 3500K HO BULBS IN EACH \tFBF654HO-UNV-1/42-EB 6LAMP HI-BAY CAN'T USE THEM IN THE FRIDGE BUT WILL WORK IN THE FUTURE ROOM 2 T8 4 BULB FIXTURES WITH BALLAST AND BULBS 4 XTRA T5 BALLASTS BRAND NEW 2 T8 BALLASTS BRAND NEW DIMMER AND A 1970'S METAL ORIGINAL SHOP VAC WITH AWESOME 70'S PAINT SCHEME,USED IT TO CLEAN THE FRIDGE ! OK ,BACK TO THE BUILD. EPOXY COATED THE FOAM FINISHED AND SEALED RAISED FLOOR BRACES. ALMOST READY FOR THE MYLAR. I PUT 1 T5 FIXTURE IN THE FRIDGE,WIRED IT UP AND BLOCKED OF VENTS TO SEE HOW HOT IT GETS IN THERE,AND TO FIRE OFF THE EPOXY. BEEN ON AN HOUR AND IS SITTING AT 91.7 F (1.5 FT FROM FIXTURE) NOT BAD FOR NO VENT JUST A 4" HOLE AT THE FLOOR THAT'S IT FOR TODAY.
DAY 6 GOING BACKWARDS I GRABBED THE POLY RESIN INSTEAD OF THE EPOXY YESTERDAY,MIXED IT WITH THE EPOXY HARDENER . THIS WAS A STUPID MISTAKE.THEY DON'T WORK. SO THIS MORNING I HAD TO WIPE AS MUCH AWAY WITH ACETONE AND REMOVE THE GOOEY MESS TO ONLY LEAVE CLEAN FOAM. I WANT NO RESIN CHEMICALS LEFT BEHIND,SO I HAD TO REMOVE A TON OF FOAM. TOMORROW I WILL REPLACE THE FOAM AND RE-SEAL. ON A SIDE NOTE. THE TEMPS WITH 300W T5 FIXTURE EVENTUALLY GOT UP TO 130F WITH NO VENTILATION EXCEPT 4" HOLE IN BOTTOM REAR WALL. . OUTSIDE TEMPS ON THE FRIDGE WERE NEAR AMBIENT (85F)
NOTHING YET , I BLOCKED OFF THE VENTS FOR THIS . THAT WAS KIND OF A TEST OF PEAK TEMP AND OUTSIDE RADIANT HEAT READING. I WILL LIKELY BE USING A 4" FAN WITH SPEED CONTROL THROUGH SCRUBBER. INTAKE IS 4" WHICH I MAY PLUMB INTO THE RETURN OF MY HOUSE AIR HANDLER FOR COOL ,DRY, "USED" AIR.
still in the air ! so many different opinions ,everywhere ! I did just buy a LED panel today . A used Dormgrow G8LED 240 Watt . I am also toying with the idea of making my own 10 or 12 bulb 24" x 21" T5 HO fixture (12 would be 288 Watts)
DAY 7 FIXED ALL THE SCREW UPS. STARTED ON THE REFLECTIVE PANELS. THIS IS THE CRAPPY MYLAR I BOUGHT ,WHICH IS THIN AND TRANSPARENT. \t2Pcs 82"x47" Hydroponic Highly Reflective Mylar Film Plants Garden Wall Covering Sheets Emergency Blankets I MOUNTED IT TO 3 THERMA BOARD PANELS. DOUBLE LAYERED IT, JUST IN CASE. THEN PUT THOSE PANELS ON BACK AND SIDES. LOOKS ALRIGHT. IT DOES REFLECT,BUT IT RESEMBLES 90% WINDOW FILM. SO I PURCHASED A BARELY USED 240 Watt Full Spectrum G8LED Grow Light ON EBAY FOR $150 I WILL USE THIS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHT FROM A FEW T5 'S ON TOP AND RUNNING VERTICAL ONES ON THE WALLS DURING FLOWERING. THAT'S THE PLAN FOR NOW. NEXT STEP IS VENTILATION.
Yes,organic soil and nutes i am trying to keep it simple.I am not really concerned about high yields on my first attempt .I just want healthy growth and quality buds. I hate it when i get a fresh sack of some stinky,sticky,sweet smelling nuggets , take that first hit and it burns all the way from your mouth to your ass ,tasting like a structure fire !!!! Just want to dial the rig in and than after a few grows,try to get more yield.
DAY 8 GL8 WILL BE HERE JULY 1ST THAT I GOT FOR $150 ON EBAY SO I DECIDED TO ENGINEER A SYSTEM FOR RAISING THE LED PANEL. 2 PIECES OF PVC PIPE AT THE TOP THAT FREE SPIN. I WILL ATTACH THE FOUR MOUNTING CABLES TO THE ROLLERS AND USE 1 CORD TO MOVE THEM ALL AT ONCE. WE'LL SEE ANYWAY. BOUGHT A HYDROFARM 6" INLINE FAN IN GREAT CONDITION FOR $60 ON EBAY AND A Active Air Duct Fan Speed Controller - Hydrofarm Inline FOR $23 ON EBAY AS WELL THESE WERE THE HIGH DOLLAR ITEMS SO FAR ,BUT I'M STILL LOW BUDGET(UNDER $300)......I LOVE TO SAVE A BUCK ! THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY
DAY 9 GOT MY LIGHT TODAY, .RIGGED UP MY PROTOTYPE RAISING AND LOWERING SYS. THOUGHT I'D CHECK OUT TEMPS WITH PASSIVE COOLING JUST TO SEE BEEN ON AN HOUR AMBIENT IS 91F OUTSIDE TEMP IN THE GARAGE IS 98.1F 105F IN THE FRIDGE FAN SHOULD BE HERE TOMORROW. ALMOST THERE !!!! SO I OPENED THE DOORS, PUT A BOX FAN BLOWING IN AND CHECKED TEMPS WITH IR GUN AT THE SHELF AREA.. THE BOX WILL STAY AROUND 98F (.GONNA NEED SOME COOLING FOR SURE)THE GARAGE IS HOT AS HELL !! DAY 10 8:00AM LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 6AM GARAGE IS DOWN TO 88.1F,FRIDGE IS ABOUT THE SAME SO I WILL PLUMB INTO THE RETURN SIDE OF MY HOME AC HANDLER FOR MY FRESH AIR INTAKE AND SEE WHERE THAT GETS ME