Sterilite Cabinet

dontexist21

dontexist21

Well-Known Member
So after 3 failed attempts at growing, I think I am going to start over again. The 400W that I was using was not allowing me to be as stealth as I wanted and allowing me to cool my closet properly. I am ordering things in two days so I wanted to get my plans hammered down before then.

Cabinet:
Sterilite Cabinet
25.63 x 18.88 x 35.63

Ventilation:
TD-100X with diy zen carbon filter

Lighting:
~300W cfl

Will then switch to a 250 W hps on a cool tube half way through the grow.

Method:

Hempy buckets using Lucas formula.

What do you guys think?
 
I've done hempy with Lucas formula. I prefer Dyna-Gro Grow & Bloom. One bottle for veg, one bottle for flower, better quality, better yield.

Also, I use a 250w HPS in a space with similar dimensions as yours. Good call on the cool tube with the HPS. You'll get the same amount of heat as with 300w CFL, but because it's concentrated into one burning hot bulb, you'll need that extra control over the air flow.

I have my HPS hooked up with an independent fan and an isolated air space, air comes in flows over the bulb and out without mixing with the air the plants use, so it requires no filter, cools much more efficiently. I have a smaller fan with a filter that exchanges air in the space for the plants' respiration. The plants don't need to breath nearly as much as that bulb needs to be cooled.

Also, don't be afraid to skip the CFLs entirely. The 250w HPS will veg the plants better then 300w of CFL anyway.
 
Thanks for the reply man +rep, question, I have a 6in cool tube from my 400w do you think i can use it in my space. Or should I get a bake around and make a diy one. I want to avoid the later through. My nutes are going to be stupid simple, I am going to be using GH Dry Nutrients, with epsom salt. throughout the grow.

Edit: Forgot to add that the only reason I am starting with CFL is because of budget constraints, having two failed grows kinda hurts the pocket. Gotta make sure I am doing it right first before I expand.
 
I think a 6 in cool tube should work fine, as long as you have some kind of heat shield, it's all in the air flow.

I understand the need to start cheap. My first grow was with CFL.

When you get your HPS set up, you can use the CFLs for supplemental lighting. Another 100w of CFL distributed throughout the corners works nicely with my 250w HPS. :)
 
Thanks man, another question, I want to cool the 250 with a 105cfm computer fan. Do you think this would work. The cab as to completely stealth so the only thing that can be out of the cab is the power wires and the ballast when it gets installed.
 
I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe someone else can say otherwise, but it's been my experience with radial PC fans they don't pull through carbon filters well at all, which is definitely a requirement for you if you're going for stealth.
 
Do you think a Dayton axial fan will do the trick, I rather use the TD-100X on just the carbon filter. I want the light to have it's own intake and exhaust. I could get a TD-125 but the only problem is that I have a limited amount of space, and a TD-125 would require duct reducers.

Edit: I reread your last post and I think you mistunderstood me. I will have a TD-100X inline fan with a zen carbon filter removing air for the entire cab. But a pc fan with it's own exhaust and intake would move hot air from the light.
 
Yeah, I did misunderstand.

In that case, if you can run independent air flow, like my rig, a high power PC fan (on a full 12v power supply) might do the trick.

If it doesn't work out, swap the two fans, run the PC fan with the carbon scrubber for the girls and do the inline on the HPS+tube. Even if PC fan + carbon scrubber is slow as fuck, the plants won't need as much air exchange as the PC fan should provide.
 
I am going to order my cabinet tomorrow, I am going to make a diagram tomorrow to show how I plan to rig it. How thick are the walls to the cab. Do you think a box cutter will do the trick to make the holes for intakes and exhaust?
 
Box cutter will do, but it will be a pain....use a dremel, it'll make it easier to cut and less time consuming. Also for the walls, they are pretty thin, light will shine through them if you don't paint the insides, or put mylar.
 
Thanks man, I have already figured out my light problem. I have a bunch and black and white poly, covering up everything thing with it. My only problem is that I don't have access to a lot of tools. Anyone have an idea for something between a box cutter and dremal that will cut the walls.

As people can see I want to get every last thing figured out, I want to build this in a day, and have beans germed same day. It is ridiculous how many things there are to work out at the last minute.
 
If you're on a budget, and you're near an art supply store, you can pick up some pretty nifty little x-acto saw blades. Just ask where their wood carving stuff is at, and you should find some x-acto knifes and some saw blades for it.

I've never seen the kinds of saw blades I'm talking about anywhere else, not even online. Needs to be an art store supply for artists, not one of those big brand name places for kids.

I'd go for a dremel if you can manage it though, will come in handy for all kinds of things later on. :)
 
Thanks man, think I am going to try the power tools free approach for now. Tomorrow I am getting all of my stuff, and I have my inline on the way. I got my inspiration for the cab from this guy. It also seems that I have to build a cool tube my current tube is way to big to be reasonable. I am going to build one out of hurricane glass, since bake around are kinda expensive now. Any one know where I can get a straight glass tube, I can only find the curved ones, not that they will not work.

Edit: Never mind I am just going to get the bake a round, since it allows for the cleanest cool tube design.
 
I acquired most of my supplies, instead of the sterilite cabinet I got a work force cabinet which is almost the same dimensions. But it also has the luxury of having a lock on the doors. Also think I figured out how to make it work for me without the need to drill any large holes. Keep an eye open for my grow journal coming soon.
 
dontexist21 said:
I acquired most of my supplies, instead of the sterilite cabinet I got a work force cabinet which is almost the same dimensions. But it also has the luxury of having a lock on the doors. Also think I figured out how to make it work for me without the need to drill any large holes. Keep an eye open for my grow journal coming soon.
Click to expand...

Post the link here when you do, so we're sure to find ya. ;)
 
So I was putting my cabinet together when I realisms one crucial problem. The shelf needs to be assembled with the cabinet. There is just no way around it. So I have to cut out the shelf which is not connected to the cabinet or get a new cabinet. This is going to delay my plans a bit...damn it.
 
no you don't? I put it together with out it on??

Edit: I didn't see you switched over to another cab.. but the sterllite cab had holes on the door so you could put a lock.
 
When I went to home depot I didn't find the sterilite. Now I am really regretting not going to target and getting it there. I am just going to hack saw the shelf instead, I doubt plastic would be that hard to cut through.
 
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