First Grow - Homemade Box + CFLs

**johnnybt** · 03-12-2009, 10:53 PM

This is my first attempt at growing. Still in the preparation stages, but here is what I've got:

2'x2'x4.5' Box

Homemade PVC light fixture, currently setup for 8 CFL bulbs

4" Fan to help airflow sitting on the floor of the box

Remote weather sensor - it will give me the hi and lo temps for each 24 cycle so I can see how hot and cool I get, although I think I messed up and got one without a humidity sensor

Exhaust is one 80mm PC Fan rated at 25CFM located towards the top of the box

Intake is currently one 90 degree 1" PVC elbow located at the bottom of the box

On order are the following lights:
8 - 42W 6500k for veg
8 - 42W 2700k for flower

I will be purchasing a Botanical Brothers bucket system from my local dispensary

The first go-round I am going to use one plant (probably a hybrid or indica) and was thinking I would do a SCROG grow to increase the yield.

Some of my questions:

Is 8 CFLs for one plant in this amount of space overkill? Will it cause heat problems? Do I need more?

Do I need to fashion together a reflector to put above the lights? Individual ones won't work I think b/c the bulbs will be so close together. I figured it'd be better to have more lights and forego reflectors, but I could make something to go over all the lights if it's necessary. Airflow should be better if I don't need it though.

Do I need to get a weather sensor that will measure humidity or will I be ok?

This growing bucket system is a hydro-ish system that also uses some soil. You water down a tube on the side instead of on the soil itself. I am going to mix half FoxFarm with half of the CocoLoco mix they provide. Should I get the FoxFarm nutes or do I need something different since this is not a pure soil medium system?

Do I need to get a ph measuring system for my water?

Is a SCROG grow a good idea with my setup?

Any other pieces of advice? I've spent a lot of time (and money!) on building this box, but have not researched the nute/watering side of things.

I will be updating this as I go. I plan on getting the bucket soon and waiting for the lights and then getting started.

**needhelp** · 03-12-2009, 11:46 PM

haha... whats crazy is that i have the same thing you have... but i have it going sideways... so i can have an sog setup...if done right, can have like 14 plants going at the same time... and have another one slightly larger... one for veg and one for flowering... looking at yours.. i'm like "damn... good idea"... like how you made the light fixture... looks good

i noticed only one fan... if you're gonna use that many bulbs... i suggest getting 2 fans for exhaust and don't forget another one for intake... it does get warm in there

i don't think its overkill... some people do use 600w-1000w

6 inch fan would be cool...

you don't need a reflector with the walls being so close and being white... they're already reflecting...

but if you want a reflector anyway... make one out of an aluminum container... you know.. foil pans... just make it to fit OVER your light fixture so it won't have light leakage going upward

**pureTHC** · 03-12-2009, 11:57 PM

i agree it loks very good you should put up a tut on how to make one of those lol im using racks in my closet like 2levels each 4 feet apart but i wouldnt mind using somin like that lol

**HerbieSmith** · 03-13-2009, 12:48 AM

neat idea with light fixture. yes i have about this amount of spaec with four 18 inch cfls and it gets 83F pluss!!! with only one exhaust currently.. would agree to use less light or more air flow.

**floridasucks** · 03-13-2009, 12:55 AM

very nice idea with the lights..... +rep

**johnnybt** · 03-13-2009, 11:34 AM

Thanks for the replies. I have another fan from an old PC that I may put in there as well. Going to wait to get the bulbs and let it run a few days without a plant to judge temperature swings. I imagine it will be different with a plant in there but this can at least give me some sort of idea.

Oh, and from reading around I have learned that I did mess up one thing...I put the exhaust fan in the middle of the panel. This causes the box to act as a drum, increasing the noise. It is better to place your fans in corners. I will not make that mistake again! It's not super loud as it is, and I'm not worried about getting found out due to the fan noise (and hell, I'm a MMJ patient anyway), but I do like learning more and more.

Anyone ever use the Botanical Brothers buckets?

pureTHC - my original plan was to take a LOT of pictures and really post some detailed instructions. However, my board cuts did not fit together perfectly, which pissed me off, and so I just said f-it and built the thing!

Oh and I cannot take full credit for the PVC light harness. I got the idea from another forum, and I got the box plans (or at least a rough idea) from another forum as well. But hey, that's what the internet is for, right?

**floridasucks** · 03-13-2009, 11:59 AM

i never knew that about the fan in the middle. great info. any idea what strain you will be growing?

**johnnybt** · 03-13-2009, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by floridasucks

i never knew that about the fan in the middle. great info. any idea what strain you will be growing?

Not sure yet, but will probably be going by my local dispensary today to look at their list of available clones. Will likely stick to an indica or hybrid to keep it shorter, but am going to talk to them about what would work best in my situation.

**inquisitivesob** · 06-03-2009, 12:42 PM

johnny..
great setup man!
i'm about to make a setup pretty much exactly life yours.

quick question:
can you let me know the details of your PVC pipe lamp setup? piping diameter, how many inches x inches?
looks like you got the perfect size....

thanks!

**Greenthumb4life** · 11-03-2009, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by inquisitivesob

johnny..
great setup man!
i'm about to make a setup pretty much exactly life yours.

quick question:
can you let me know the details of your PVC pipe lamp setup? piping diameter, how many inches x inches?
looks like you got the perfect size....

thanks!

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