Noob First Closet Grow... Any suggestions?

aetneerg · #1 11-25-2009, 10:09 PM

This is our first grow.. going alright so far except for the temperature (running at about 88-90 according to our digital thermometer, but with the breeze in there it feels cooler... not sure if windchill does much for plants though

), so any ideas on how to help bring that down some more would be appreciated. We'll be adding another exhaust fan next week which should help, and getting a better fan for inside.

Right now we have one bathroom fan blowing exhaust, and two duct style fans blowing air in, one with some ducting running under the bed to get the coldest air (about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house).

The closet space is 4'W*3'H*2'D and we're running a 400w HPS. (When ordering it was only $4 more than the 250w... we underestimated the heat output... like the total n00bs we are.)

We got the light from High Tech Garden Supply. (Great Service, got our light a week after we ordered it, nothing broken, works great!)

The seeds are Feminized Autoflower Buddha White dwarfs that we ordered from The Attitude (also great service, seeds showed up in a week, very stealthy) We also ordered some AK47 Lowrider Autoflowers which we'll start in another week or so.

We're using Foxfarm ocean forest soil and two gallon bags. We put the seeds in the bags as soon as they cracked... will use smaller starter pots next time with the Lowryders.

Anyways we germed the seeds 5 days ago and already have three tiny plants, so props again to the Attitude and Buddha seeds.

and here are some pics.... like I said any suggestions or tips are greatly appreciated!!

Drella · #2 11-26-2009, 12:13 AM

if the tops of the plants feel cool, then don't pay attention to the temp.

JimiHendrix · #3 11-26-2009, 12:16 AM

Nice man, its looking good so far. I like the setup ya got.

Drella · #4 11-26-2009, 12:17 AM

damn 400w hps for veg? you can get 2', 3', or 4' t-5's at home depot for under $50 ballast included, work just as good, research it, it'll bring your temps down 100% + rep if this helps, scribed for sure, im here to help! check out my grow if you get a chance!

aetneerg · #5 11-26-2009, 12:46 AM

Actually we've got the MH conversion in there for veg. We can't really afford any more lights right now (blew the budget on the other one :P) But thanks for the suggestion! We've been cracking the door once in awhile during the day (20 hours light, 4 dark) and the temp is down to around 80... so hopefully when we get the other exhaust in there it will be okay.

Nice closet by the way, we got ours on a budget at Lowes... next time hopefully we'll have a garage to work with... build our own!

aetneerg · #6 11-28-2009, 03:40 PM

So we germed these last Saturday, I can't be sure but they look like they're doing okay, except for #1, it's looking a bit punky compared to the others, but maybe she'll catch up here soon?

Drella · #7 11-28-2009, 03:43 PM

fancy pots!

OpTikPhiber · #8 11-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Let me see if I can help a little. One great looking setup!! Love it. There are couple easy things to do here...

Move the thermometer to the top of the plants or at least down near the pots. You are measuring the hot air up by the light.

@ Drella - Mentioning the color temp/kind of light...don't think that matters too much for this setup since he has all auto-flowering strains.

Is that fan in the top left of the box bringing fresh air in? If so switch it around, make it suck out the hot air. Get one more fan just like that one and mount it on the opposite side/bottom of the box with fresh air coming in at the bottom.

One last thing that will help cool the lights. Some how get that black fan you have there pointed at the lights blowing over them. Either mount it up top or hang it there...ect. The fan in that small box doesn't need to be point right at the plants. The extra wind from the fan uptop blowing on the light will be plenty of air to just barley see all of your plants moving a little. Thats all they need in this small environment.

In retrospect I would have got that 400 watt for budding BUT probably should have gotten one that was sealed in with glass.

Also, moving fwd, once you "outgrow" that small grow box and want a bigger budding box, that thing will be great for hold many moms and making clones.

I hope this info helps some.

OpTikPhiber · #9 11-28-2009, 04:25 PM

Oh shot...now I see you do have to fans for in and out air...my bad.

You might be able to rig up something to suck the heat off of the light. I'm thinking a 4" duct tube with a 4" to 6"+ converter left open so it has a widemouth pointed at the light pulling the heat off. Somehow get the heat off the light because that is the only thing making heat in there.

Honestly when I first made my setup I got two of the those duct fans you are using and was so excited about them. Turns out they didn't move nearly as much air as I wanted. I swear come big PC fans move more air than those things and cost less.

Good luck cooling off.

aetneerg · #10 11-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Thanks for the tips! You can't see it but above the black fan is a duct fan sucking in cold air, and another one right behind the fan. The one in the top right is pulling air out through a little homemade carbon filter. This Friday (payday lol) we'll be adding another exhaust. That's a great idea about hanging the other fan though. Also we'll be getting a cool tube reflector for this light in a few weeks... whenever we can afford it. I'm going to go move the thermometer now though, hadn't thought it would matter much in such a small area but I bet you're right. Thanks again!

@ Drella: boyfriend wanted to try the grow bags... I wanted square white pots but the greenhouse here isn't stocking them yet, just has them on display. :P

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