150w HPS Mini Cab Grow Journal

Built a mini cab out of b&w poly and some 2x2s (1.5"x1.5") Its dimensions are (L)1.5'x(W)2'x(H)3.5'

Total cost was about $20 because i already had the b&w poly and a few fans. But with that it would probably be under $50. Plus the light for about $75 and youve got a good runnin box for about $150.

It has a floralux 150w hps in there with the 4" flange and ducting connected to a 4" duct fan.

For intake i have a ~5" desk fan that i modified to be mounted on the side by the window to pull in fresh, cool air.

I still need another exhaust because i have too much positive pressure and if i shut the cab with the velcro it works the intake fan alot and i dont want it to burn out.

QUICK NOTE: Take your fans apart and lubricate them every 6 months or so. It will make them last forever and keep them at peak cfm.

I have one Auto Cheese by Dinafem that i started about a week ago. Popped in 2 days and was transplanted into the soil after that. I plan to let it go for 2-4 weeks then start a non-auto plant so it can veg for 2-4 weeks or so before i flip it to 12/12 so i have a nice back to back harvest for the first run. Ill post some pictures of it later.

Here are some of the cab in construction.


Frame with the top wrapped and the light mounted.



One side wrapped with the intake fan installed.



Everything but the bottom is wrapped. Before velcro and final stapling to secure the b&w poly.


Ive got a bunch of different seeds i plan to run after this auto cheese and might even try out some 12/12 from seed shit.

Feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments.

Here are some pictures of the completed box. Well, mostly completed. Im going to throw another 4 inch fan for exhaust in the hole in the ceiling of it so i can shut it fully haha.




This is as far as i can close the tent without the intake fan gettin overworked hahaha.


Now the pictures of the Auto Skunk. Day 8 since i started germinating.



Little closer...


Tryin to decide what to run next. Got a bunch of random seeds and a few 5pks and 10pks so i might do a SOG 12/12 from seed.

One of the only styles off growing i havent tried yet and since space is limited i figure its a good time to start.

budbro18 said:

Here are some pictures of the completed box. Well, mostly completed. Im going to throw another 4 inch fan for exhaust in the hole in the ceiling of it so i can shut it fully haha.

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This is as far as i can close the tent without the intake fan gettin overworked hahaha.
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Now the pictures of the Auto Skunk. Day 8 since i started germinating.

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Little closer...
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Tryin to decide what to run next. Got a bunch of random seeds and a few 5pks and 10pks so i might do a SOG 12/12 from seed.

One of the only styles off growing i havent tried yet and since space is limited i figure its a good time to start.

Click to expand...

Count me in for the ride!
Cheers

Thanks! Should be a good one. Ill have a strain list for people to weigh in opinions on what i should grow next. Especially anyone with any 12/12 from seed advice on strains. Whether sativas are better than indicas and vice versa. I think im goin with the White Siberian by Dinafem next. Should start germin it in a week or 2.

Meant to ad these the other day



They were taken around day 12 after germination. Its finally got its roots thrown down and so its startin to take off.

why not rig up the intake fan as an exhaust fan instead? then you'll have instant neg. pressure and you can close it?

The fans mounted pretty good and i dont have enough b&w poly to fix any mistakes i might make make

Also, I would still need a hole big enough to allow it to exhaust without being restricted. The negative would be the same as the positive. And its easier to throw ducting and a fan on to kill light than making a whole bigger than the 4" ducting/fan and a light trap.

subbed.... on thing i'd say is to use cfls for veg cause ur gonna get a lot of stretch with the hps

glad to have ya aboard!

I was trying to find a little desk lamp that i had lyin around to throw one in but i couldnt and didnt feel like buyin anything else really. I got the hps about 6 inches away from the top so im hopin to minimize stretch. Its an auto strain but it says it goes for like 75-80 days so im debating topping it once, and ill probably train the side branches away from the main bud.

Hopefully ill be able to grab an LED instead of the HPS for this box. Temps arent a problem with the 150w but the better spectrum of the led would def help me keep this short. Always afraid with autos cause they flower when they want and if theyre already too big when they start flowering you cant really do stuff like emergency topping and shit.

Well i dosed her with 1.5ml of dyna gro - Grow and about 3 drops of this ph up from Nectar for the Gods.

Thats my setup for in here. Dyna Gro: Grow and Bloom. With the occasional additives from the Nectar for the Gods line. Got some bloom foliar spray from them and some other little helpers and macro nutrients. All just to test out and decide what im gonna fuck with. Ive heard nothing but good about Dyna and that Grow and Bloom are the only things youll need. Hell some just use one all the way through.

So i shouldnt need anything major from the Nectar for the Gods. The little ph up to keep that in check, maybe some of the bloom shit and a splash of extra nutes like cal or mag or sulfur.

Shes about 2 weeks or so since i started germin. Finally about to blow up!

yea, definitely the led will keep temps down and minimize stretching especially in your grow cab. Hopefully you can find that fan cause they'll def need it. I waited til a few days ago (way far in my grow) to buy a fan and spent 30-45 minutes at Home depot trying to find one due to the seasonal change and nothing but heaters on shelves .
Truly recommend buying one now if you have to cause even walmart moved em off shelves!

Thanks for the tip! I actually had a couple of them lyin around so i just grabbed one of them, stripped it down, cleaned/lubricated everything and reassembled. Helps your fans last so much longer and run better.

I put the 4" fan in there yesterday and i can finally shut the cab all day without feeling like im gonna kill the intake fan.

The Auto Skunk is pickin up. Gave it a very very low dosage of nutes the other day and ill probably water with the same nutes today.

Ill post pictures shortly.

Growin bigger and bigger everyday haha.







Should start pickin up now that the roots are established and the nutes are being introduced.

Really pickin up now hahaha. Im so used to clones and how many and big the leaves are, and how theyre generally a little less vigorous than seeds.




Super close up of new growth.
Got my tele-macro lens so i can get up close and personal and still focus. Just wait until you see the trich pictures.

Theyre at that point that they look significantly different every day. Love that quick boost of veg. Roughly 3 weeks from germination. Should start seein some stretch from flower soon. Also it really didnt start doing much til week 1 after it was germinated and transplanted so we might still be in week 2 ish. But either way onwards and upwards.

just curious if you could PM what type of camera you use.. it takes great pictures!

You should see the full rez ones. When i get to harvesting/trich pictures ill throw up the bigger ones.

18.1 MP and a good tele-macro and wide angle is all you need for pictures of the kuh.

Northern Lights is a good 12/12 from bean.

Thanks for the info. NL seeds are always cheap too so i might just have to run em.

The next batch is gonna be white widow by dinafem though. Got 2 fem freebies and plan to run em in whatever size pots the cat litter containers are hahaha. That way i can do my usual of drilling holes in the top rim to LST my plants.

First signs of sex on day 21, officially 3 weeks since germination. Flower is probably just starting and theyre getting bigger by the day.



For those watching/lurking who are newer to growing, this is what a female preflower looks like




And a little bit closer



Lovin dyna gro more and more everyday. Gonna buy a quart of the grow and bloom in a few days.

This looks sweet man. I'm looking forward to the bud porn!