Assembling my first micro grow, really need good advice

franksacul

New Member
Hello, rollitup guys. This is my first micro grow, and also my first "real" grow. My previous experience involves throwing a 600w HPS lamp in a closet with no ventilation and then having the torched, stunted remains of my would be crop devoured by spider mites. This time I'd really like to actually grow something.

So right now I've got:

1) 4 auto seeds from Herbie's (Think Different and Heavyweight Fast & Vast)

2) 2 Rubbermaid tubs for the chamber
IMG_20140223_224045.jpg


3) A 6 inch 250 cm duct exhaust fan for ventilation (in the mail ATM)

4) An 8 bulb (23w each) contraption made with Y adapters to be hung from a extension cord.
IMG_20140223_224015.jpg



I'm going to paint the inside white and use soil. For flowering I plan on using a cheapo 150w HPS lamp with some tubing attached to the hood with a PC fan for exhaust.


Are there any major problems with this grow plan? I'm also curious if there is a good way to keep the plants short, I wasn't sure if you could do LST with autos. Also, is this setup (if taken care of correctly) likely to produce a decent yield, or at least quality buds?

I'm a complete newbie, so any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!
 

Shaded420

Well-Known Member
First off, I'm no electrician but daisy chaining those outlets together like that can't possibly be good in a space that small?

Temperatures are going to be an issue, and heat + plastic makes me cringe.
 

fanboyz1231

Active Member
alrighty...for your little lightbulb contraption,i hope you are intending on using either zipties or hang chain to help support the weigh of it,you dont want it falling on your plants.

in regards to saftey using that many y adapters,there isnt anything wrong on the electrical side,but i would go to your electrical panel and check out what size of breaker your socket is on.just make sure you dont have like your dryer or washing machine on the same circuit that could potentially trip the breaker when they are turned on.You dont want to be away for the day when someone turns on an appliance and trips the breaker,the bulbs are only 1.5A so you should be good.

just reading throught alot of the posts on this forums,alot of people are really hesitant to using plastic containters because of how soft they will get when they heat up,fire hazards,but if you are able to keep the temperature issue under control they i dont see why not.

Are you concerned about odour?Maybe pick up some ONA blocks or something like that,as your space wont allow for an inline fan,carb filter
 

franksacul

New Member
Not concerned about odor, I'm more concerned as to whether or not I have enough lighting for proper growing. The florescents don't get all that hot, and I feel confident the 240 CFM 6in duct fan can keep the heat under control in such a tiny space. Now, the 150w HPS, I don't know.

Does anyone know if I could just add 2-4 more 40w 2700k fourescents along with the 8 23w 5000k I'm using now instead and actually be able to get some decent bud?
 

ii dP ii

Member
you can absolutely get good bud from CFL only grows. but honestly I bet that fan of yours will be able to keep the 150w hps cool just fine. you could DIY a cool tube if you don't already have one. there are a few threads about it on RIU
 

franksacul

New Member
I'm looking into it, thanks for the suggestion. Seems doable, actually. Theoretically, with a DIY cool tube and cheap exhaust, I wonder if I could use one of the sub 200$ 600w HPS on amazon. The lumen density would be insane, but putting a HID in plastic tubs just seems sketchy, even if the heat could be controlled.
 

Shaded420

Well-Known Member
I'm with ya on that one dude, you don't wanna do LED?

Also, not sure on this...but with a 600 you might not even have enough distance from the plants to avoid burning them.
 

franksacul

New Member
I'm with ya on that one dude, you don't wanna do LED?

Also, not sure on this...but with a 600 you might not even have enough distance from the plants to avoid burning them.
I'm a cheapskate. I can get plenty of light for a small grow for well under 100$ with CFL and electricity costs aren't an issue to me. Also, Yeah, probably not going to use a 600, just curious if it would work with a powered exhaust vented cool tube. I don't know what the lumen density would be if you put a 600w it sub 3sqft box, but if it could be cooled you'd think it would make the plants just EXPLODE.


  • Hi I like this, it's very good​


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