grow cabinet help

Ok, so I'm new to growing as well as this site.
My plan is to use a pre-built cabinet with the dimensions of approximately: h-6ft w-2ft d-1.5ft.
it has 2 shelves, one of which i will be removing, about 1.5 ft from the top and bottom.
I will be covering the whole inside with mylar. and maybe some sort of waterproofing?
What i need help with is where to place fans, lights, etc and also which ones to buy. I have a budget of somewhere around $300? I also have access to commercial carbon filters if need be.
I want to make it light proof and smell proof, as much as possible.
I wont be able to start on the cabinet until about 2 weeks from now, but the ideas will be much appreciated.

 

Sorry about the pics guys, I had to use the laptop webcam. Also was too lazy to clear out the cabinet.

 

People will probably want more information, like, are you running hydroponics or soil? Because that could change what you need to fit into the closet.

Clean out your shit, the lights go at the top

 

its not very deep, but you should be able to squeeze a 400watt HID in there.. plants need air, so you may have to figure out a way to get air in there..

look for hydroponic supplies in your area on the internet. for instance.
hydroponics/ city you live in.

 

I'm planning on putting an inline fan and an exhaust fan in. more than 1 if necessary.
As for growing style, I hear that soil is best for beginners, but i would be up for trying hydroponic.
I think i might leave the top shelf for flowering, if you think its big enough.

 

if you got skills, you can get some low riders. http://www.canaseed.com/SeedsPriceCompare.aspx?p=1992 they would fit nicely in there. You dont wanna grow a strain that known for its bushiness.. Read the seed strain guides cause they are accurate in some degree...

If this is your own home , with no security issues, a lil hydofarm http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=2157 im sure there are other thing.. but Im a ghetto grower, so im not much in for investing stuff. Lamps, rocks, dirt and seed is all I need to grow fine weed..

 

its an appartment.

 

Agree its not really deep enough for anything other then 1 or 2 plants. Since you plan on keeping one shelve you could always mount extraction fan in that along with a carbon filter on top. As for light proof extend the door seals or stops on the inside so they form a large lip that the door butts up against and line with a few rows of draft excluder.
Making it light proof will also make it as good as air tight as ya could get so you will need air intakes

 

Alright, so I now have a more experienced grower helping me. I was just wondering what kind of fan to put in. I need something relatively quiet, I'm thinking of going 4 in.

Will post pics.

 

If you have Cool tube lamps , http://www.hydroasis.com/hy/product...ystem-with-xtrasun-ballast-and-powerload-bulb. your fans will not need be that strong. just enough to keep air moving in and out.
sometimes with tight spaces like that Co2 injections would be effective since there isnt much space for the gas to escape. (just a suggestion/ note you dont want to smoother them in Co2..

A small squirrel fan.. . 4in is enough imo.

 

What would be cheaper in terms of electricity. A few well placed CFL's, or one 400w HPS?

 

What would cost more in electricity, a few CFL's or one 400w HPS?

 

A 400 watt hps will use around 450 watts cos its transformed so will tubes. Watt for watt the hps is the more effective light system for growing. If your worried about the electric cost why not start up under say 200 watts and for bloom or bulking up late veg bump it up to 300-400 with another hps or a few cfl's or tubes. I'm not really worried about noise and just use standard bathroom extraction fans as there cheap but quiet version of them tend to cost an arm and a leg. If you've got a strong 12v transformer you could use quiet computer fans if there of a decent enough size.

 

if you have any energy concerns working with things under 1200Watts. There is no point in growing cannabis..

What we need to consider is the owner wondering where the power is going, whether you pay for it or not. 1200watts is a high hair dryer, electric heater, air conditioner size appliance..
500watts , Is like have 5X100watt light bulbs in every room on/18hrs a day.. do the math. What do you operate in your home that consumes energy .. and what could you subtract from use in order to consume energy for cannabis.


Would your landowner be curious why you may be leaving light on/ or running a heater to keep warm when its not cold, and there is sufficient heating in the apt.
The 400watt MH/HPS lamp will not consume huge amounts of energy, 4 or them tied together =1600watt moderate size grow op and still not on the overhead of energy consumption - Figuring lower lighting for veg/ and pulling more energy during flowering - Your energy bill will be very small even with 1600watts. As long as you not wasting to much Veg time, You can cut back on lighting midday when Vegging , Because HOURS are what counts here. Even Dim lighting will grow a Cannabis plant...

Its what you flower it with that matters.

With that being said. you can place small CFL- Flouro tube in for Veg- Not even consume a desk lamps worth of energy. And Flower it under 400watts/600watt cool tube /12hours of lighting and still not consume any energy at all.. The lamp is only on for 12 hours..


Was that helpful any?...

 

Good point though if you grow or not always worth turning things off when ya dont need them or even just being careful about what you use can save just enough to make a modest grow possible without it cost anymore on ya bill.
watts used x hours of use / 1000 x cost per unit/kwh = cost. Lol hope I got that right.

 

I've got 2 of these...

http://htgsupply.com/Product-4in-Inline-Duct-Fan.asp

They're quiet, and move plenty of air.

Just my $.02 on your other questions...

If you're exchanging your air at least once every five mins, then your fine for the needs of the plants. Your cab would be 18 cu feet. One of those fans pushes 80 cfm. The rest depends on temps. MJ does best between high 60s to high 80's with light, high 60's and below lights off. You'll have to judge for yourself how much cooling you'll need. Try a cheapy dig. thermometer from radio shack.

I would hazard to guess that a 400 watt hps might be a bit much in there. Not just in light, but, they put out alot of heat. In addition to the cost of the ballast, ventilated hood and cooling will be needed for that.

But people do wonders with cfls and t-5 floros.. They run a bit cooler overall but also dont get the light/watt efficency. Read up on color temps of florescents.

If you are just planning to grow a lil bud for yourself, I would recommend going the florescent route. It's cheaper, easier to manage, and gives good results.

I'd highly recommend an MJ specific site like
https://www.icmag.com/

Working with $300 is tough, and that wont do it for an HPS setup. I don't know if you started already, but, take a few evenings and do some reading. In the long run you'll save yourself some time and money.

Good luck, and peace. :sunny:

 

On a seperate topic, my girlfriends grandma found my bubbler and cleaned it out with bleach. She didn't know what it was and "it smelled funny".
What can I do so that it's safe to use again?

 

Bleach is actually safe and sterilizes lovely. I use it to cleans my pot and stuff just rise and scrub till you cant smell it more.

 

I cant scrub the inside...

 

Let it soak for a day or two with fresh water. The bleach will be for all intents, gone.
People water all sorts of plants with city supplied water every day. It either has clorine, or cloramine in it and it doesnt kill plants.