Closet grow box--CFL--Lowryder #2

Burnin down and thinking about my upcoming grow. It will be my first, but I'm not a complete newb. Bare with me...
Plan
I plan to grow 4 Lowryder #2's in a 1.5'x1.5'x5' box I've built to fit snug in my closet. Four 1 gallon pots fit snug in the bottom of the box. I may chose a Lowryder hybrid similar to #2, like Blueberry or Diesel. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated for choosing which auto to go with.
Lighting
I'll be using CFL's all the way. I'm thinking 2 42 watt CFL's per plant the first 2-3 weeks. Will this be ok from the start? Then adding a 150 watt CFL for flowering and maybe some more 42 watters. However, lately I've been thinking of using a 75 or 150 watt HPS to help with the flowering. I just don't know if it will produce too much heat for my box. What do you think?
Any ideas on how to suspend the CFL's would greatly be appreciated! I have bought light sockets that convert into 2 lock sockets, I just need some device to help suspend them so they can spotlight each individual plant.
The inside of the box is lined with an emergency blanket.
Exhaust
For exhaust I am drilling a 3 1/2'' hole on the side of the box near the bottom and a 3 1/2'' hole on the opposite side near the top. Is it necessary to have a computer fan over both holes? or just the whole near the top? Also, if I am putting a The BEST DIY EZ walmart carbon filter for MICRO grows Zen style. - Marijuana Growing over a computer fan at the top, what power fan should I get and how do I connect power to it? I' no good with electricity.
I also have a desk fan for air movement in the box.
Soil/Nutrients
Planning on using miracle grow organic mix. Anything wrong with this?
Fox Farm seems to be a popular place for nutes. I know I'd want the Big Bloom but I'm not sure what else I'll need.
I have pH tests and adjusters.

If you read all of this, thanks for your time. :

If I can figure this shit out soon, I won't have to pay out the as for some funk. I plan to involve myself in the Roll it up community as much as possible, as I'm sure I will need much more help.

So my buddy gave me a 250 watt HPS today with ballast and reflector. I think 250 may be too much for my grow space but I would like to use HPS for flowering so I'm going to Lowes to look for some HPS bulbs, maybe 75 or 150 watt.

Any suggestions? Will the lower wattage bulb be fine in the 250 watt reflector and ballast?

He also gave me some nutes he used when he grew 2 years ago. He said only use a tiny bit. Does this look ok to use for flowering? I was going to use Fox Farm Big Bloom but if this is fine I may just get some Fox Farm additives with the saved money.

Is there anybody out there?

I bought a 150 watt HPS bulb today at Lowes. It fits the socket for the 250 HPS but I'm afraid to turn it on.

Will it work?

Do I need to start a new thread or something?

I am pretty sure you would need to get a 250 watt bulb.

150 watt would probably work fine with proper ventilation, and the correct ballast. maybe look into the e-conolight 150watt ballast/bulb for like $25 or whatever it is thats got the big thread on here.

250 watt could work with proper ventilation like a cooltube or tons of intake/outtake fans.

Thank you so much for replying! I thought I was all alone on here. I was hoping for lots of good advice.
You are right about the bulb though. I found out the 150 HPS would probably explode. I also found out that the 250 watt HPS bulb I already have may be fine. I'm working on how to correctly ventilate it.

Thanks again!

Mountainman86 said:

Thank you so much for replying! I thought I was all alone on here. I was hoping for lots of good advice.
You are right about the bulb though. I found out the 150 HPS would probably explode. I also found out that the 250 watt HPS bulb I already have may be fine. I'm working on how to correctly ventilate it.

Thanks again!

Click to expand...

No problem. I think maybe your thread was not controversial enough to attract "the crowd".

Looks like you're on your way now. I'm glad you didn't find out the hard way with the bulb/ballast. 250 watt isn't too hard to cool, so you should be in good shape.

Good luck with your grow!

Same here GG! That could have been bad.

So I made a trip to town today to pick up some supplies.

I grabbed many little things needed. Such as an emergency blanket to use as reflective material, a light timer, digital thermometer, and items needed to build a carbon filter. Are pH tester and adjusters from Wal-mart ok?

I also grabbed a hole saw set for my drill, a thin saw, tin snippers, and a 4 pack of 26 Watt 6700K CFLs. The hole saw sets largest hole saw is 1 1/4''. I need ~ 3 1/2'' holes but I found buying this set and a saw is cheaper than a 3 1/2'' hole saw. Like $20 cheaper. So I'll draw the right size circle, then drill a 1 1/4'' hole along the line of the drawn circle and then use the thin saw to finish it off.


Since I'm going to use my 250 watt HPS for flowering...I've had to adjust my intake/exhaust plan. I'm thinking 4 3 " holes on the bottom SIDES of the box. Two on each side. Then 2 3'' holes on the top BACK side of the box with 2 120mm 110 CFM computer fans. Each blowing out of the box through their own carbon filter. A fan will also be placed inside to blow on the plants and bulb.

What do you think? Enough? Or do I need a cool tube!

Thanks a lot guys.

Attached is a picture of some supplies I grabbed today and a picture of the box I built. It still needs a lot of love...

Nice looking cab you have there. Tbh i would definitely consider a cooltube in a space like that. If you are going to the trouble of using CPU fans an making intakes/exhaust holes u may as well just finish off the cab with a nice carbon filter/cooltube setup. The difference in temps would be huge, no heat issues, no smell issues, perfect! You would only require a single fan to circulate air across the plants. Try and get a deal from a hydro store. They will usually sell an inline fan, carbon filter and cooltube plus the ducting as a package. Well worth the money, and if you get into ur grow, as i'm sure you will, you'll probably just end up wanting to buy the kit anyways if u havent already. Gl!

wat strain do you plan on growin

mbp: Thanks! I described that exhaust system to see if I could use it in place of a cool tube. If I bought the cool tube I wouldn't get the 2 computer fans and just use the cool tube system.

DreadLock: Thanks for comin by. I'm torn between 4 Lowryder #2s or 1 indica plant (thinking Skywalker from DP).

Any electricians on board? I could use one.

I'm trying to figure out how to wire 3 of Newegg.com - Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan - Case Fans those fans to an AC outlet. Then using Zalman Adjustable Fan Speed Connector Fan Mate 2 / 3-pin -Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com that to control 2 of the fans speeds.

Any ideas!

verry nice bro , good space wish mine was taller, but hey ill see wat i can do

that cab is badass, i wish i had one like it.

Thanks guys! I actually built it last year in a grow phase but backed out. I'm back in it now and am about to start showing it some love. Painting and drilling tomorrow

Electricians?

I'll trade for knowledge

(Making use for these icons tonight)

Mountainman86 said:

Any electricians on board? I could use one.

I'm trying to figure out how to wire 3 of Newegg.com - Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan - Case Fans those fans to an AC outlet. Then using Zalman Adjustable Fan Speed Connector Fan Mate 2 / 3-pin -Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com that to control 2 of the fans speeds.

Any ideas!

Thanks guys! I actually built it last year in a grow phase but backed out. I'm back in it now and am about to start showing it some love. Painting and drilling tomorrow

Electricians?

I'll trade for knowledge

(Making use for these icons tonight)
Detox Labs

Click to expand...

One option, (I think there is a post on this site somewhere,but I'm not sure where, maybe in the growfaq, but maybe not) is to hardwire/jumpstart a computer power supply so its on, and just use a low wattage one since you're just using some of the rails. Hook up the fan/controller with the proper psu connectors like you would to a working computer. [edit] I looked at the specs closer and it seems its using the wrong kind of fan connectors to do this, sorry. [/edit]

Heres a tutorial link to hardware a psu: YouTube - How to jumpstart power supply (if you google this you'll get more options)

[edit]I thought this might work for you, but I looked closer at your specs at your stuff isn't using molex connectors. its actually the connectors to hookup to a motherboard.[/edit]

If you get fans with molex connectors you can use a 9v DC transformer easily. Find some extra molex computer wiring. (somehow I have tons of this stuff from building several machines) You can pull a couple of the wires out of a molex male side and slide the hot end into the 9v transformers center end. Than you have to take the ground side and have it wrapped around the adapters outer area. I'm talking about the part you plug into a phone. Not much power goes through here, you can do it while plugged in. Now, still, be careful its electricity and anything can happen. But don't be intimidated. You can wire it up securely. From there you'd have it powered up just like the computer power supply would, and you can connect the controller and fans just like you would normally, to the other end of the molex wires. I have several things setup this way and its nice to be able to plug in new things easily. Just make sure your transformer can handle the draw.

This might be a little too DIY, but its saves me alot of time in the long run. I use DC transformers like from a router or old something or another, instead of computer power supplies as I know it uses less power, but I believe its easier to add onto the computer power supply chain as it will keep pumping whats needed. I'm not so sure how the transformers work, if they can keep rising to the occasion of adding more and more fans without dying well before their time.

Heh. Sorry for typing so much info and making you read, as its probably not the solution you're looking for.

Thanks again for your wisdom GG.

Unfortunately, all of that kind of confused me more.

Those fans are 12volt, mains is 120v or 240v in Europe. Either get a cheap computer psu Newegg.com - $10 - $25, Power Supplies, Power Supplies, Computer Hardware
or a simple mains to 12v or 9 v psu. If you use the second option all plugs from the fans will need to be removed, then all +ve wires and all -ve wires will need to be extended and joined into a single +ve and -ve wire and joined to the psu outputs with a connector block.

all +ve wires to wall PSU + output
all -ve wires to wall PSU - output

If you are looking at 5 fans plus computer psu or wall wart, it may be better to get a cheap inline fan, 100mm or 125 mm, and a speed controller. This will be able to run a cool tube and carbon filter with no problems.

You need to match bulb to ballast so a 250w HPS bulb. They are not much and will last about a year, so maybe a new SonT or similar would be worth it.

Thanks medi!

I found out I can use 12V DC 2A Regulated CCTV Power Supply that to power all 3 fans. The fans are $8 each and then $4 chipping each and that DC adapter is $15. So $50 total.

If an inline fan will do the same thing for the same price and same dB level I'll do that.

Thanks again

That psu is fine, though you'll need to cut the plug off the end of the wire and use a connector block. I thought you were planning in using 3 input and 2 output fans, an inline fan will be about $50+ then a power controller about $25, but will be more powerful for the carbon filter.

some ebay examples http://cgi.ebay.com/Speed-Controller-control-Centrifugal-Inline-Exhaust-Fan_W0QQitemZ150301924919QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHand_Tools_Gear_Equipment?hash=item150301924919&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fantech-DBF-110-4-inline-booster-fan_W0QQitemZ120329145683QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120329145683&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318