DIY Closet DWC Grow - First grow ever

jigfresh · #1 01-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Edit: If you are not interested in the back story here are jump ahead points: (feel free to read the whole thing, you might learn something and will probably laugh)
page 6: plants arrive
page 10: roots poke through
page 13: price list / materials list
page 16: first reservoir change
page 18: screen gets put in
page 22: 12/12 begins w/ 430w HPS

Hello everyone, This is my very first time growing. I am just in the planning stages and hoping to order some parts soon. I'll lay out the overall plan then get into specifics in case anyone is interested or has advice. So here's what I am planning:

My closet is around 3' X 2.5' X 7.5' (w/d/h). For vegin' I am planning on using a 400 w MH. For flowering a 400 w hps with a 430 w son agro bulb. I am going to purchase some clones (indica) from a collective in Hollywood. For hydro I am planning on using a homemade deep water culture setup. I am also going to try the Screen of Green technique on the plants.

What I do not know yet is if I will run both lights in the closet, having two sections for flowers/ veg. I know temperature is a big deal, from reading I believe 75 f is good for the grow room. I am going to get the room as set up as possible before I put any little plants in, that way I can check temps with lights on, off, day, night, see what happens when my home furnace turns on and heats the bedroom the closet is in. Also I'll be able to check water temps, light leaks, ventilation noise, etc. So, first when I get one light and the fans setup and run them for a day I'll be able to tell if I'll have the option of running both lights in the closet.

Like I said I'm planning on using 400w MH ballast and bulb for veg. I'm going to make my own reflectors to save money. I'm sure some may question this, but I have faith in my skills to make something better than what you can buy (we'll see though). I am using sheet metal to make a parabolic shape reflector with circular vents on each side for intake/ exhaust. I am going to buy the toughest tempered glass I can to seal the things. I am not sure if I am going to use 4 or 6 inch ducting. I will use at least 150 cfm for each lamp, or 300 split between the two.

My room is about 7 sq/ft so the lighting comes out to be 60 w/s/f. I beleive that to be about the most I should do and still see results vs increased electric bill. The space is about 58 cu/ft, so I think I need around 150 cfm to ventilate the room itself (separate from lights). Some things I read say clear the room 3 times a minute, others say once in 3 minutes. I swear, wading though masses of information recorded by potheads can be frustrating sometimes. I really shouldn't talk. At least I know you drill a hole, not a whole. Anyways, I'm beleiving the 3 times a minute thing. Now saying all this, I haven't calculated for carbon filters. I beleive it to cut efficiency by 20%+, so I'll figure that out at some point. I'm going to have the intake come from the bottom of the door (sucking bedroom air - around 65 f). The exhaust will join the light exhaust and be vented out through the roof.

One Question, light vent fan before the light or after? I have read the fan life will be greatly increase in front of the light (makes sense). But, it will create positive pressure in the light enclosure possibly pushing hot air (most likely a small amount) into the grow room. While having the fan after will create negative pressure, making any leaks in the enclosure tiny vacuums for extra hot air in the room. SO, anyone want to wager a guess as to which would be more beneficial?

As for plant/ hydro set up. I'm thinking of one 30 gal rubbermaid bin. I want one bin for ease and for a more stable ph/ ppm levels. For oxygen I am thinking of a Double XL Micro-Pore Air Diffuser with a pump that does around 100 gph. I am going to try distilled water. I will get ph, ppm meter. I'm not sure what Nutes I will be using. Any suggestions are welcome.

For my ScroG I read 1 plant per sq/ft is good. That would make 7 for my little closet. Seems ambitious, so we'll see what happens.

I have more to write but I'm tired of typing for now.

I am planning on having updated pictures throughout construction, and growing. I am also going to keep a well documented log for myself as far as what I did and such. Feel free to ask me any questions or offer any answers/ advice. I have learned alot from the folks on this site and would like to do what I can to let people learn from my experience too.

jigfresh · #2 01-14-2009, 01:05 AM

I got paid the other day so it's time to start getting supplies. I figure I'll tell everyone what I'm getting as I get it, and once all the supplies are compiled I'll make a list with costs and where I got things. So far, the sheet metal for the reflectors is cut and ready to be shaped a little. I bought a rubbermaid tub (37 gal), some 4 inch flexible ducting, a 4 inch Y coupling, rigid ducting to go through roof, an end vent, and finally flat white paint for walls.

The walls in the closet are textured and originally I thought I should smooth them out, or get mylar. But now my thinking on the walls is this, if the walls were smooth, or cotaed with mylar the angles the light hits the plant will be reduced. Does that make sense to anyone. I'm sure it doesn't make that much difference, but I thought it would be more like nature. The sun hitting outdoor plants is bouncing off everything around it to light more pieces of plant.

I've been checking temps around the closet. The air near the bottom of the door (bedroom air) is around 65 f. The closet itself, with the door closed is around 65 - 70.

I don't know if I already said it, but I'm doing this entire setup on a budget. Hopefully I can spend (including tax) less than $500. We'll see, right.

The pics are of the sheet metal for reflectors, the closet, the resivoir, and some flower pots I found lying around. Do you think these would be enough holes for the roots? I'll probably end up buying some net pots.

jigfresh · #3 01-15-2009, 08:51 AM

I bought some more stuff. I'm wrapping the rubbermaid with aluminium tape to block all light. It seems to work very well. I weather striped the closet door for light. I might cut a hole in the roof today. I decided I would get supplies for a level gauge on the resivoir. I also copied an air stone setup from a guy [http://forum.grasscity.com/general-i...step-step.html] and bought enough extra supplies to cover the setup I'm making.

I have revised my cost estimate. I would now like to get in under $800. That's still pretty cheap for the kind of setup I will end up with.

jigfresh · #4 01-19-2009, 12:05 AM

I finished taping up my resivoir and I feel like I went a bit overkill, but whatever, the tape wasn't expensive. I also put together my level guage and the hoses for the bubblers. I'm going to order 4 med. cylinder airstones to plug in.

I spent yesterday installing a floor, so I can afford to order more stuff.

jigfresh · #5 01-20-2009, 08:07 PM

I'm bad with estimations. I thought I could get away under $500, then decided $800 would be good. Well, I haven't added everything up, but the total from my order for the lights/ fans/ nutes was $800. That doesn't include the stuff I've already got, or the plants I'm going to buy. I don't really have a steady job so money now is short now. Due to my bad planning I have had to change my blueprints just a bit.

I am now (for my first grow) going to use one space and one resevoir for the entire grow. This way I can wait a couple monthes to get... MH Ballast, another power timer, clonex, rockwool, 2nd bubbler system (pump, hoses, res, water, hardware). I'm going to get a MH conversion bulb for this grow. I guess this will be good for my first time, cause I won't have to start my own moms, take clones, and root them. Unfortunately, I won't have a mother for next time, but it's cool. Just an extra trip to buy more clones, or I can try germinating some of the seeds I have.

What I did end up buying was a 400w hps ballast, 430w son agro bulb, 400w mh conversion bulb, timer, air stones, 6 in. net pots, hydroton, 38 L/min. air pump, ph up/down, 435cfm fan, fan controller, nutrients, ph/ec/tds meter. I feel bad for the UPS driver, we have 30 steps up to the front door.

I'm listening to sirius radio - hip hop nation right now and they just played "Go Hard - remix" by DJ Khaled w/ JayZ and Kanye. I'd never heard it before, but DAMN it is bomb. Don't know if any of you like that kind of music, but if you don't your missing out (go ahead make fun). Do booming subwoofers bother the plants? I bet they like it.

I'm guessing my supplies will be here by the 28th. It's gonna be on.

Thanks to all the visitors so far. Pics to come when there is anything new.

jigfresh · #6 01-21-2009, 11:18 AM

I forgot, Happy New President's Day.

Regardless your politics, you have to admit we have a better shot at getting medical marijuana federally legalized under Obama than the departing guy, or the guy that lost the vote. Then I could move out of California and still smoke & grow.

Let's keep our fingers crossed (just don't hold your breath).

jigfresh · #7 01-23-2009, 09:27 PM

UPS emailed today and told me Jan 29th should be the delivery date for all the stuff I ordered the other day. I can't wait.

I put in some boards and weather stripping at the bottom and top of my door frame so the lights don't keep me up at night.

I also went shopping again. Pics below. The store sold metal screens with the size gap I wanted, but they only sold in huge rolls. So I picked up a 'sheet' of stucco backing, it was a lot cheaper. It had the right size screen (2in x 2 in) and I'm just going to cut off the paper stuff. I also got some roof patch, thermometer/ humidity meter, metal strap for light, 2 in black pvc (2) elbows and pipe for extension, attic fan thermostat, grates for ventilation holes my closet door (to be cut soon), Target had cheap electical cords so I got an extension cord to be cut and used for my ballast, and a power bar. I also got a fan at lowes that I didn't realize until I took the picture it rotates on a 360 axis. If you look at the picture you may find it hard to believe I didn't notice the 360 action earlier. I was pretty baked and tired as well.

While in the process of typing this post I have cut the screen to fit and placed it around where it will be to look at. It isn't attached to anything yet.

I think that's it. I can't wait. Things are coming together. Thanks much to all you guys on here - Rollitup.

jigfresh · #8 01-25-2009, 10:42 AM

Since my last post I have ordered an exhaust fan for the closet. My closet is 58 cu/ft. I ordered a 27cfm fan. I figured with that blowing through some carbon it would be worth 20cfm or so. That would clear the room in less than 3 min. I don't know when this will be delivered.

I just ordered this morning from ebay: Hanna GroMeter Ph/ ppm/ ec/ temp continuous monitor. It should be delivered when the lights and nutes get here.

Also, the 360 fan I got doesn't oscillate. I guess I should have looked at the box closer. Anyhow it's too big too, so I'm going to get two smaller fans to keep things circulating.

I don't know what every ones experience is, but I'm not getting any supplements for my plants this time. Just the nutrients. Is this a mistake? We'll find out I guess.

onthedl0008 · #9 01-25-2009, 02:25 PM

Nice set-up man Good luck with ur dwc contraption.

Spittn4cash · #10 01-25-2009, 02:48 PM

holy shit, subscribed, Ur going all out for ur first grow...for my first I used a bunch of cfls

I say dont worry ab putting mylar on the walls, the white paint will be fine

yes I listen to rap and ur right the "go hard" remix does go hard

and yes it is a mistake not getting supplements...some Veg and Bloom nutrients dont have the secondary nutrients the plants need (CalMG) which will impact the buds during flowering.

If U have seeds U should practice germinating now (it is a skill that requires great patience to learn) and by the time U get the rest of the equip U will be set to go with no waiting

good luck with the DWC cant wait to see some bushes in that sweet ass setup

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