Building cabinet for growing....advice?

[seventynine]

Ok so I'm about to start my first grow. I already have 10 seeds sprouting under a single 2' T5 in a cardboard box until I have my cabinet set up.

I have a 250 watt MH light with ballast and reflector. Here's my basic plan.

Build a cabinet that is 48" W 30" D 62" H. I plan to divide the closet for a veg chamber, flowering chamber, and small clone box. I plan to place a wall vertically to separate the main area into two chambers and then put another shelf horizontally to create two small compartments on the top.

I would plan to put the shelves in such a way that I have two sections that are 2' W x 2.5" D x 4' H. There would then be two other sections at the very top of the cabinet that would be 2' W X 2.5' D X 12" H (assuming I'll lose a couple inches due to shelf.

I would like to eventually set up 2 V-SCROG chambers one of which would veg and the other would be to flower. I would put all my ballasts and electronics in one of the upper compartments and I would do my clones under a T5 in the other upper compartment.

I've read some tutorials on how to set up a grow cabinet, but here are some of my issues.

a) the heat put out by the MH.
b) ventilation
c) odor control
d) do I have enough electricity to just run this from a wall outlet in my kitchen?

My plan was to put a vent on the bottom of the box and a bathroom ventilation fan at the top that would pull air through a carbon scrubber. However, since my cabinet will be arranged into 2 large compartments and 2 small compartments will I need to put a fan/vent/carbon scrubber in each compartment?

Would this setup provide enough space for V-SCROGing 6 plants?

Thanks.

 

[seventynine]

What does it take to get a response around here? I've posted a few questions since I've been here and never gotten a single response. Should I be adding more information or what?

 

[DOT5262]

1# = know what your doin be4 you start.. cut the peices to the right size ...

2# = make it lightproof ... light will come out between the cracks of peices nailed or screwed together.

3# = DOORs Are a BITCH put a lock on it and make sure its lightproof

4# = paint inside white and put hangers on the top to hold your light cords/strings

5# = venting and odor control. cut 3 holes 2 exaust 1 intake put some tubing up and rig it to a carbon filter ( ozone generator carbon sock types of gels also work for odor elimination) you prolly wont need vent in clone/mother area cuz they wont stink and they like humidity so you prolly wont need ventalation

6# = you have enought power just make sure your amp's dont exceed your breakers limit..... it shouldent unless you have like 6 big screen tv's on the same part of the house

7# = heat will be an issue... try to make the cabinet as tall as possible. 4 ft might not be optimal for HID lighting . 10 inches for pot. 7 for lighting and 8-12 for space between lights and your alredi down a foot or 2 so your left with only 2 ft for the actual plant. so make it as big as you can

 

[seventynine]

Thanks for the response. After thinking it over I just ended up buying a set from Home Depot. I still put it together myself. It took about 2.5 hours and I still haven't done all my modifications yet.

Here's what I got. If I can find my digital camera I'll put up some pics.

I got a cabinet that has outside dimensions of 30" X 20" X 72". There is one shelf on the top right now giving me room to put my propogation dome and a few inches above that for a t5.

I put it all together, caulked the seems, and put on a lock I bought at HD (it looks pretty conspicuous with the lock unfortunately.) Right now light is showing through the door, but I did run some 3/8" foam door sealant on part of the door and that part is not showing any light. I will finish doing that tommorow.

I got a vent for the bottom of the cabinet, but haven't yet picked up an exaust fan. The ones I was seeing at HD were either too expensive or they were square (can I connect ducting and a homemade carbon filter onto a square fan somehow?)

My biggest question at the moment is how to keep the light from coming between the two doors where they come together. I am able to put weather stripping on the other parts of the doors to keep the light out.

Thanks.

 

[InvaderMark]

hey buddy,, i want eventually do the same thing.. please put up pics!!! and can i ask how much it costs and such...

 

[seventynine]

It's definitely been costing me more than I was hoping to begin with. I'll tell you what I paid for everything.

250 watt MH ballast, reflector, 2 bulbs (used) $100
2' t5 $35
Propogation dome/nutes/superthrive, potting soil, etc. $50

30" X 20" X 72" white storage cabinet from HD - $90
Lock - $6.50
Air Vent- $5
Vent Fan (haven't got one yet but I'm thinking about $25...gonna check walmart)
Carton of activated Carbon from pet shop - $12
PVC pipe/ mesh screen / pantyhose / ducting to make filter (guessing about $15)

Medical Marijuana Recomendation - Priceless (I wish....it was really $175.)

Damn I had hoped to block that hemhorage of money from my mind. Guess it ran me about $350 plus the medical rec.

 

[InvaderMark]

ahhh. i c i c.. please do post stuff about it when its built!! excited to hear about it. thanks!

 

[LoudBlunts]

nice.... i wanna see some pictures


i saw a nice ass storage cabinet the other day at a furniture store...its almost a shame when you see a nice wardrobe/ armoir(however you spell it) or a filing cabinent you automatically think GROW CAB!!!!

it was perfect tho.... one big 8-9' chamber for flowering, sectioned off the to right was 4 big slots, could take out a self and use the top for clones and use the bottom for mothers...then under that were drawers...use that shit for ya supplies. ideal setup... im thinking my own version of the super closet... either that or i was really high in that furniture store....it was $250

i still might go get it!

 

[InvaderMark]

LOUDBLUNTS! i say do it man. it does sound perfect.

 

[LoudBlunts]

the best part is that i have to assemble it myself...so i can go head and add the mods while putting it together...


and post pics 79!!

 

[FebreezeIt]

nice.... i wanna see some pictures


i saw a nice ass storage cabinet the other day at a furniture store...its almost a shame when you see a nice wardrobe/ armoir(however you spell it) or a filing cabinent you automatically think GROW CAB!!!!

quote]

Hahahaha, YESSSSSS!!! I totally feel the same way! In my mind I'm automatically running calculations, lights, ballast... I have this little built in closet thing in my apartment. Its not a closet but a entertainment center type thing. I'd need to seal off the back though, put up my own false wall and just simply vent out the back, and you wouldn't even see it. Locks do kind of look conspicuous but I had a great idea that would work just as well I think. I have a little engineering background so I'm sure I could rig something up. The lock would be hidden on the inside, the only way it could be opened would be with a magnet sliding at precisely the right spot. I COULD go out and build a growcab but I wanna get going and stop beating around the bush. I don't exactly have access to powersaws and the like. How well does that little carbon filter from the pet store work? If that would take care of a couple smelly plants that would totally fucking kick ass.

 

[Pullin' weeds]

My best advice is -- to grow.

you'll learn so much in the first grow. and the second. and the third....

i'm going on six years - at least one new plant per month.

Still learning.

 

[Pullin' weeds]

Sorry - sounds like a nice set up.
booming now

 

[beennoobed]

my flowering area is 27''wx14''dx55''T and 250w-hps, gonna run a dwc i made, really nice setup im makin btw, gonna post alot of pics as soon as i can find my f-in cable...

 

[beennoobed]

still cant find that darn cable......