First grow cab/mantle - need opinions please

Hey guys, so I finally have found my somewhat cabinet that I am going to use. I will be updating this as I build, might be slow updates but any ideas would really help. I figure I will start smaller then I was thinking as its only my first time, I can always make a nicer bigger stealth cab later. I am going to be growing soil and would like to fit in as many plants as possible.

First things first, the dimensions
30'' W, 42'' H, 12'' D


Sorry for the bad picture, my phones camera was the only downside of buying it

So I was thinking of using a 150 HPS for this, not sure which one exactly. Deciding on the sun systems, mini florux?, or the HTG one which claims its better than the others, is this true? Also will the 150 be too big and/or too hot for this kind of space?

Ventilation - So I was thinking a fan in the floor and a fan in the back. Does this sound like enough or no? How do I control intake and outake? What else would I need?

The very top (not included in my dimensions) has a sort of indent, so there is the option to raise the roof. I will probably level the bottom and remove that shelf, I will be adding a panel on the front and make that or the back able to open. I know its more like a stealth mantle or something, but family decided to help and thought of using this since its free.

What do you guys think? Any ideas? Or do i need to develop more of a plan before I post here?

8.75sq ft will be easy to vent. I would use computer fans wired to a 12v DC converter from radio shack or something.

With a 150w HPS (or any light) height will be a problem. You will have to train your plants.
I don't think heat from the HPS will be a huge issue as its a small space to vent.

I would put 3 plants in there, but you could fit more if you flowered from seed/cutting. for bigger plants give them at least 10"x10" for each, if you plan to grow more small plants then you could get by with 6"x6". Ether way you will need to do a lot of training to keep them in line.

And I would go with soil because of your limited space, with hydro you usually want a res below the plants, with height being so limited that would be an issue for you.

Looks like a nice project though, good luck with it!

kno said:

8.75sq ft will be easy to vent. I would use computer fans wired to a 12v DC converter from radio shack or something.

With a 150w HPS (or any light) height will be a problem. You will have to train your plants.
I don't think heat from the HPS will be a huge issue as its a small space to vent.

I would put 3 plants in there, but you could fit more if you flowered from seed/cutting. for bigger plants give them at least 10"x10" for each, if you plan to grow more small plants then you could get by with 6"x6". Ether way you will need to do a lot of training to keep them in line.

And I would go with soil because of your limited space, with hydro you usually want a res below the plants, with height being so limited that would be an issue for you.

Looks like a nice project though, good luck with it!

Click to expand...

Hey thanks for the info. I didnt think the 150 would really get TOO hot. Can I just use two computer fans, one on the bottom and one on the back somewhere? Is placement of the fans important?

Also what would you suggest for a first timer, I really didnt want to do much training this time but I will if I have too.
(When I say timer I don't mean mechanical or electrical btw haha... I mean for a first time grower, should I get something bigger so my size is not odd? Or stick to this for a harvest or two then upgrade?
Thanks again

If I where you I'd grow 3 plants in one container, ideally a 12"x30"x4" tub or as close as I could get, this will give the roots the most space they can get.
I would for sure go with soil on your first time, it will save you a lot of trouble and money.
I wouldn't veg my plants at all, straight to flower. I would do my best to get a plant that wont end up tall.
I would have 1 intake PC fan (at least 70CFM) and I would try and point it at the 150w HPS to take care of its heat.
I would have my intake near the light for that reason. For the exhaust I would just have a hole in the bottom for air to leave the space. If you needed more air flow due to heat then you can always put another fan in the exhaust.

As for training, search these forums for 'Super-cropping' and 'LST' threads. You should learn all you need to know.

kno said:

If I where you I'd grow 3 plants in one container, ideally a 12"x30"x4" tub or as close as I could get, this will give the roots the most space they can get.
I would for sure go with soil on your first time, it will save you a lot of trouble and money.
I would have 1 intake PC fan (at least 70CFM) and I would try and point it at the 150w HPS to take care of its heat.
I would have my intake near the light for that reason. For the exhaust I would just have a hole in the bottom for air to leave the space. If you needed more air flow due to heat then you can always put another fan in the exhaust.

As for training, search these forums for 'Super-cropping' and 'LST' threads. You should learn all you need to know.

Click to expand...

Alright so I'll stick with my plan as of now. I'm still having trouble understanding intake and exhaust, well not as much exhaust. When you say intake do you mean something like a clip fan, thats aiming directly at the light, or put a hole in the back toppish area and get a fan in there? And for exhaust just to clarify, how big of a hole should the bottom have? Could this be on the back panel but close to the bottom?

And your saying 3 seeds in one container, how does that help? I feel like the plants would just bunch together and the lower parts wouldn't get nearly as much light, unless you train them, I guess thats where it comes in. Also are those measurements for the tub you suggest right? Your just talking about a big pot right?

Thanks again man, you've been real helpful

Beastman420 said:

Alright so I'll stick with my plan as of now. I'm still having trouble understanding intake and exhaust, well not as much exhaust. When you say intake do you mean something like a clip fan, thats aiming directly at the light, or put a hole in the back toppish area and get a fan in there? And for exhaust just to clarify, how big of a hole should the bottom have? Could this be on the back panel but close to the bottom?

And your saying 3 seeds in one container, how does that help? I feel like the plants would just bunch together and the lower parts wouldn't get nearly as much light, unless you train them, I guess thats where it comes in. Also are those measurements for the tub you suggest right? Your just talking about a big pot right?

Thanks again man, you've been real helpful

Click to expand...

Ventilation:
1 120mm (4") PC fan (70CFM) mounted in front of an appropriately sized hole. Fans:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090573 1372726538&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE
Plants:
Yes a big pot, one big pot is better than 3 because you will have more space filled with dirt, you want as much space for the roots as possible.
Put the 3 plants in the container _evenly_ spaced. Yes the roots will tangle up. No they shouldn't bunch up, they will grow evenly from the plants.

Check out the pick I've posted along with this to see what I mean by root space. The cab in the pic has the same dimensions that you supplied in your first post.

kno said:

Ventilation:
1 120mm (4") PC fan (70CFM) mounted in front of an appropriately sized hole. Fans:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090573 1372726538&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE
Plants:
Yes a big pot, one big pot is better than 3 because you will have more space filled with dirt, you want as much space for the roots as possible.
Put the 3 plants in the container _evenly_ spaced. Yes the roots will tangle up. No they shouldn't bunch up, they will grow evenly from the plants.

Check out the pick I've posted along with this to see what I mean by root space. The cab in the pic has the same dimensions that you supplied in your first post.

Click to expand...

O ok now I see what your saying about the big pot. For some reason I had a circular pot stuck in my mind, that might clear up why I was thinking they would get tangled. I still want to start the seeds in smaller cups though correct, and then just do ONE transplant to the biggest pot after the sprouting when the vegging starts? I'm thinking I will just put two fans in for the hell of it, one about mid way and one closer to the top. To control intake and... outake?/exhaust do you just have to turn the fan one way? If I wanted a fan blowing air out how would I control that?

Thanks man!!! gave you rep btw!

Thanks for the rep, Yes the PC fans are directional, just turn em around to reverse air flow. There is even a little arrow on the side of most PC fans that tell you which way the air will go (always toward the fan grill BTW).

I wouldn't transplant at all, I would stick the seeds in the pot and grow! People transplant because of space issues and because they grow in more than one area, you won't have to worry about it.

kno said:

Thanks for the rep, Yes the PC fans are directional, just turn em around to reverse air flow. There is even a little arrow on the side of most PC fans that tell you which way the air will go (always toward the fan grill BTW).

I wouldn't transplant at all, I would stick the seeds in the pot and grow! People transplant because of space issues and because they grow in more than one area, you won't have to worry about it.

Click to expand...

I thought I read somewhere that people start in small cups because the roots stretch and use up all the nutrients possible. Also if I'm using fox farms soil in such a big pot will I even need nutes? Also, like you said going from germination to seedling and start right on with 12/12 for flowering, is that going to decrease yield or anything? I figure I will veg for at least a few days, get em 6 inches or so and then flower... Or does it not work like that?

Plants can quadruple in size when they flower. I grow mine to about 6" then flower, they end up being 25"-45" tall depending on the strain. This would be too high for you unless you knew the end height. Then again I don't train my plants, if your willing to train them short then you can veg for a few weeks and not worry about them running into your light,

Don't worry about using up the nutes in the soil, unless you have poor soil it won't happen in just one grow cycle. And no you don't need any nutes at all in soil, though that doesn't stop people from adding them, just be careful not to over-do it if you do add nutes.
As for the roots growing faster in a small cup, that is totally false, roots don't know how big there container is.

Veg time = yield, flowering from seed WILL cut yield down, but then again you can't fit a lot of yield in that space to begin with. Vegging is up to you, but I don't like to do a lot of training to my plants, I'm too lazy, so If that where my grow op I wouldn't veg for that reason.

Check this out for more training info: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=2214345#post2214345

Haha so yet again, thanks for all this info. I learned a lot tonight. I don't remember where it was but the guy was pretty sure about the small cups and transplanting. So generally keep them in small cups first cause they have less space? Interestingg... I might try training I might not, I have 15 seeds in the mail, 5 of which are female, so I might just put 3 straight into flower and see how it turns out... Maybe make another box to get the other seeds going. I think the feminized are snow white and the 10 other are white rhino. Just curious, could you guess how much yield... possible... no, on average you could get from my size if done with 12/12 from seed and no training.

Haha so yet again, thanks for all this info. I learned a lot tonight. I don't remember where it was but the guy was pretty sure about the small cups and transplanting. So generally keep them in small cups first cause they have less space for their sprouting seeds? Wait so a lot of people have separate veg and flower boxes or rooms or w/e, do those first few days of sprouting get their own space? Interestingg... I might try training I might not, I have 15 seeds in the mail, 5 of which are female, so I might just put 3 straight into flower and see how it turns out... Maybe make another box to get the other seeds going. I think the feminized are snow white and the 10 other are white rhino. Just curious, could you guess how much yield... possible... no, on average you could get from my size if done with 12/12 from seed and no training.

Beastman420 said:

Haha so yet again, thanks for all this info. I learned a lot tonight. I don't remember where it was but the guy was pretty sure about the small cups and transplanting. So generally keep them in small cups first cause they have less space for their sprouting seeds? Wait so a lot of people have separate veg and flower boxes or rooms or w/e, do those first few days of sprouting get their own space? Interestingg... I might try training I might not, I have 15 seeds in the mail, 5 of which are female, so I might just put 3 straight into flower and see how it turns out... Maybe make another box to get the other seeds going. I think the feminized are snow white and the 10 other are white rhino. Just curious, could you guess how much yield... possible... no, on average you could get from my size if done with 12/12 from seed and no training.

Click to expand...

If you do well you could get a half ounce per plant if you flower from seed. with 150w HPS your yields wont be anything incredible.
More light = more yield
More veg time = more yield
A lot of people have a space for flowering and a space for vegging + clone/seeds. They give there seeds/clones there own space to make it more convenient to use different light cycles, a humidity dome or separate ferts/nutes.

I would at least look into training before you decide whether or not you'd like to try it

If you do well this grow I'd look into a bigger space and a bigger light to increase yields. You could convert this space into a veg chamber and turn a closet into your flowering space.

Also you can edit your posts so you don't have to double post next time

I'm gonna get a little sleep for now so if you have more questions I can answer in about 8 hours if no one gets to it first.

Peace

Damn I slept in late today. My b bout the double post, did not even notice, musta been tired and not clicked on the edit. So I figure I will use the 150 HPS for sure, I would like to veg for at least a day or two haha. Flowering from seed just seems, I dont know. I'll look into training. Also I was thinking of getting a fluro for the sides or maybe CFLs. I read that the HPS from seed can tend to stretch the plant. I know someone that used fluro tubes on the sides of his box, I personally don't see how that works, wouldn't the plants grow big enough and touch the light at some point? Only going to use fluros if I decide to train, otherwise theres no point really right?

CFLs cost more per watt
CFLs produce more heat per watt
CFLs has less light penetration
CFLs use more power per watt

Yes HPS will stretch your plants. Spend $15 on a MH conversion bulb and rid yourself of that problem. You can use a MH bulb for the first 2 weeks of flower and not get stretchy plants.

People use CFLs because they can buy them in town
People use CFLs because they don't have money for anything else
People use CFLs because they don't have room for HPS/MH
People use CFLs because they don't take the time to weigh the pros and cons of different lighting systems.

But for additional lighting CFLs are perfect because of the above reasons (aside from ignorance) For your primary light, I would NEVER use CFLs alone. To me that's a waist of money.

CFL side lighting will help your plants, and if they grow into the CFL lights, that's OK as, individually, they are not very hot.

As for vegging, if your concerned with yield, then veg your girls a while, look into training. Worst case is your plants outgrow your box and you have to improvise, You will have a month to figure out a new space to fit them if you see that they will be too big.

I'll look into the MH conversion bulb, I heard these were more expensive than 15 dollars but I'll double check. I'll be going to one of the HTG stores next week but I only have about 150 to spend this time around so I'm trying to decide what to get. As HPS can be a better source for the full grow, how do you use HPS and not get them to stretch? Would that be where supplemental CFLs come in?

Also now I'm thinking of vegging in that chamber, and WHILE they are doing that I might make a flower chamber if I can come up with the money, this is doubtful though.

Beastman OUTT

Edittt... SOmething hit my head while I was sleeping and this thought came to mind, if I were to end up making a flowering cab, how do I move the plants there if all the roots are going to be tangled. Or ideally I would just have to move the whole pot and always move them at the same time.