Hello All, I"m from SYdney AUstralia. This is my first post here, was a member of oVER gROW. I've had a few successful out door grows but i have moved and am renting right now. I'm nearly at the end of designing first indoor grow. I designed a closet but it wasn't stealth enough so i've gone for a full tear down and started again. Here's where i'm at. I'll be using a 150 W HPS for 1 or 2 plants. i'm using 4 passive intakes which are also light traps. and 1 active exhaust through the top run by a 100mm fan. I'm at the stage now of cleaning up all my light leaks so i'll post some more when done. I'm going to see how the unit performs on it's first grow and then intergrate a filter of some sort when i judge how bad the smell is... I'll be starting with a soil grow, as if i get into any sort of trouble, a soil grow is alot less damaging than a hydro grow with my local laws. Let me know what you think and feel free to offer up any advice.
Forgot to mention, I'm thinking of using the 150w hPS for veg stage and then switch to a 400 W HPS in flowering stage. The 150W has good temps but the 400W is a 10 degree rise. Is there any advantage to switching to the 400W in flowering or will the 150W do...???
It's just there is such a big temp difference and the 400W really heats up the grow box. Here's a few more pics. You can see i've installed a fan to blow on the grow and i'm toying with the idea of installing another extraction fan...
Yep, I think an extractor fan would do you wonders.. have you tried to mount a 5" fan to your 6" ducting? I cant see if you have a fan there or not.. Hmm, 400watt's is alot of light.. that is a rather small grow. What size is your box? Perhaps a 250watt light would be better.. Although if you want to grow tall plants.. which it kinda looks like you do, then you will want the 400 for light penitration. I think your on the right track, and it looks great. Ever thought of useing a 6" 90degree elbow for intake? It would block the light, and allow ALOT more air than those 4 small ones.. If you are going to put in more exhaust I think you will need more passive intake. Good luck
Yeah I do have a 100MM fan in the top there sucking the hot air off the top and a 100mm fan blowing down on the grow. I decided on the four smaller intakes because the one big one wasn't going to allow for the plastic tray. I'll be fixing the light and sealing this weekend, and also start germinationg and prepare all the pots and soil. The first grow will be a test grow as this is a new unit. I'll make modifications to it after. see what it needs.
I see that your closet has a false floor, you could use that as your air intake.. Lay a black sheet of paper or cardboard underneath the whole box to stop light from bouncing around, the air would come through the front of the box where there is that 2-3" gap, and at the rear, drill some 1-2" holes. Works as a good light trap, the air goes through the front, to the back, and up. I got a pic of what I mean if you cant understand. I 'think' that you may need more intake.. Maybe you could do both, because those elbows do look pretty cool With your 400watter you will probly need a cool tube.. you can build one for around 30-50$ Get a pyrex tube from walmart or somewhere that they use for candle holders preferably 4". If you cant find one you can order one off of ebay, they are called bake-a-round. Some oldschool bread pan, basicly a 4" glass tube. Then buy some 4" ducting for 15$, only a small computer fan will fit in the ducting, but if you take a large coffee can, or bucket, place it over a larger fan, and cut a 4" hole for the ducting, it will work. I made one, they are really easy.. and help out alot with the heat. Some people say that glass absorbs up to 20% of the light, but with the 400watter you would have like.. 8000lumens bouncing around.
I'm growing once too see how much i can get out of this grow but i think i'm going to lower the shelf and install and 200mm inline fan and carbon filter..... I don't think the fan is powerful enough that i'm using now...... I don't mind your ideas and i 'm going to look up more info into making the cool tube.....and duct the inline fan to that. Thanks.
Is there any light leakage coming from your door area?If so a curtain of mylr will hep, it did for me. Nice set up
I've built out from the original frame and put a line of weather stripping around the whole inside edge and i've got some 0.38mm black mylar to cover the door crack. So it's good for now, the next grow (after i redesign) will have a full mylar inside not just the painted. It will also have a much bigger extraction fan and a cool tube around a 400W HPS. Should get a good grow this time and a *&@king awsome grow next time.
took a trip down to my local home grow shop recently and saw those cooling tubes.Very impressed.Think, well i know ill be getting one of those and somehow attach one of my reflector's to it for max light.