**Closet/Grow Tent Set-up/Design! Pics/ looking 4 very "controlled" grow**

joebusy

Active Member
Hey everyone,

So I'm getting ready for my first indoor grow! I wanted to start off with a VERY controlled small first grow, so I could get all the rookie/amatuer mistakes out of the way, hopefully learn a LOT, nail down a good schedule/feel for the plants and decide moving forward best way to approach a second grow. So this will hopefully be very controlled. My main concerns are:

• Proper Ventilation
• Light Distance/Strength - Monitoring temps
• Watering / Nutes - Find good/correct amounts
• PH levels, CO2 levels
• Keeping plants clean/fresh/pest-free (being able to inspect closely on daily basis)

So this is where it all started:

1. Was going to build a custom-cab, have a sketch - see below:




Reason behind not going with this was because I plan on moving in December to a place where I could have a more dedicated space (hopefully a basement, if not a sealed off room), where at that point I would create a custom cab. This one just requires much finessing and after pricing it out- there's only a 20-40 dollar difference in tent to custom for my current setup/situation here.

After the custom-cab idea got throw out, I decided my space was best utilized by a grow tent. The models I was looking at were the Secret Jardin DR-40, S.J. GrowLab 60 and the HTG Supply Grow Tent (36x20x64)

All three of these fit in my space, but after weighing pluses and minuses I think the HTG Supply Grow Tent is the best fit for me.

It's semi-inexpensive, allows me to have maximum height and length in my closet, allowing the plants to spread out to the left and right as much as possible (as my closet is longer than it is deep). So that's a perfect fit!

What I am trying to accomplish is to grow just TWO-plants regular (considering LST or topping....)

So my idea of the set-up is a 400 hps/mh since I will not have seperate growing areas. I will have to go with this set-up due to space constraints at the current apartment i'm living in. Once I move out, I will have two dedicated spaces.

I plan to use this grow to really test the waters and feel out growing indoors straight from seeds. I want my first grow to be done properly so I can really see everything that could happen along the way. After the harvest and moving forward, get a better idea of how I want to approach my second grow and how legitamite I wanna make it.

I feel like the thing about growing is, there is a formula. There are steps. All you need to do is follow them properly and just learn the techniques to yield and produce the highest quality plants. If there's something wrong, then someone else has had that problem before. The information is all right here. On this forum, on one of the many other ones. You just need to do it right. This is what i'm trying to accomplish.


Okay so I decided on the tent, space. Next challenge: The Set-up:

Had a couple different "Carts" but I think right now this one is the most economical: This is pulled from my HTG Cart, so these are only the items i HAVE to order directly from HTG or is just easier too. After this I will list the other items I plan on using.::



• HTG Grow Tent - Size S 20 x 36 x 64
• GrowBright Indoor / Outdoor Thermometer with Hygrometer
• HTGSupply Ultimate 400w HPS & MH Grow Light
• CoolTube 6 Reflector
• Standard 400w HPS Bulb
• GrowBright 400 watt MH Conversion Bulb
• Sunrise Hi-Low Reflector Hangers
• Dual Outlet Mechanical Timer - Heavy Duty
• 8 Outlet Surge Protector w/ Built In Timer
• 6" Inline Duct Fan


I also plan on upgrading my fan to a better inline fan with carbon filter.

---Set-up would be standard, plants on bottom, small intake fan on bottom, cooltube/lights hang from top,
--- 6" ducting from top of tent-- into cooltube--out to inline fan---out of tent into closet(and eventually a carbon filter on the front end once I can afford it)

Things I plan on also plan on using are:


1. FFOF Soil (Also, get a small bag of some perlite and maybe bat guano to add to the mix)
2. Rock wool 3" Blocks (for seedlings until transplanted)
3. pH Test Kit (for my water - will upgrade to a nicer one eventually so I can also test the pH of the soil)
4. 1,3,5 Gallon Pots
5. FF 3-Pack of Nutes
6. Possibly CO2 or Dry Ice work around?? (just have co2 concern with the tent)
7. Smaller Fans for ventilation and circulation in the tent
8. Precise measuring glass/pitcher (test out how plants react to exact different dosing)
9. pH Balancer (to balance water to correct pH level)

Below is a picture of my closet where I will be setting up for just one harvest!! :( (which I plan on completely moving all my other crap out of, and cleaning with an organic bleach and keep it as tidy and sealed off as possible...- i REALLY want to try and clean the tent and closet it once or twice during the grow process to keep bugs to a minimum)









Anyways, would love some input the set-up and if you think this will work out alright for a good first grow?

Also - any tips on this or and heads up on 2-4 good strains that would work well in this space!! I can't decide!!

Thanks in advance everyone, and love the information here :)
 

tom__420

Well-Known Member
I would get a real inline fan bro. Those inline duct fans aren't that powerful. I used the 6" inline duct fan in my 4.5x3x2 grow box to cool my 250 watt. It didn't work even with an air cooled hood. I had to upgrade to a 6" Active Air Inline Fan
 

joebusy

Active Member
I would get a real inline fan bro. Those inline duct fans aren't that powerful. I used the 6" inline duct fan in my 4.5x3x2 grow box to cool my 250 watt. It didn't work even with an air cooled hood. I had to upgrade to a 6" Active Air Inline Fan
Yeaaaa..i know...below my list its like my FIRST immediate upgrade like ASAP, do you think it will be still not powerful enough to get me through germination and like first week or two of vegging?

I wanted to save up to get fan & carbon filter at same time, but maybe i just get fan first n wait till i can get carbon.....

in theory i would like to have everything at once so i could really test out temps and see how the environment reacts (Because it's basically an environment in there, right??)...but ...yea ...hahaha sorry brain fart...yea im going to have to wait at LEAST 1 week unless i can squeeze it into budget post-start
 

joebusy

Active Member
Yeah man I would get the better fan first. You can make your own carbon filter for a lot cheaper than those can filters.... Here is a link:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=509470

I got the same one in my cab now and it works great
Awesome.. Great to know :) - y i ask!!

edit...Carbon filter! i actually have not seen that before, but seems pretty economical! looking around $50 in parts but looks like easy build :)

Anyways, the fan issues has been like a fly on my back and for the decent inline fans i could drop 100 or less and get something really powerful sothanks for the advice!!

oh...and if anyone else in their tent uses negative air flow as exhaust or do you have a dedicated intake bringing fresh air in...getting decent fresh air into a tent is also one of my other MAJOR concerns
 
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