Closetmaid cabinet dual chamber idea

Hello fellow tokers, I' am trying to build a dual veg. and flower grow box using a ClosetMaid cabinet. It measures 48''w, 71 3/4"H, and 20 1/2"D. I plan on using bubbleponics to grow six plants after reading Roseman's tutorial

For the veg side 2'wx4'Hx20 1/2D I plan on drilling 4x4" passive intake holes on the bottom of the cabinet. And have two 120mm pc fans sucking out hot air mounted on the top shelf, as well as a rotating fan circulating air. For lighting on the veg side I plan on using 4 23w 6500k and 2 2700k CFL lights mounted on an adjustable home made reflector.

On the flower side of the cabinet,2'wx4'Hx20 1/2D, I plan on drilling 6x4" holes on the bottom for passive intake. For exhaust plan on mounting a 6" vortex fan rated at 449cfm on the middle shelf connected to a carbon scrubber on one end and a 6" duct, sucking hot air from a hole drilled into the top shelf. I also plan having two 120mm pc fans sucking out air from the cab connected to my scrubber. For lighting I have a Hydrofarm Sunburst 400w HPS system, only problem is it has a built in ballast, and I hear they get hot.

On the top of the cab I plan on cutting 2' passive exhaust and have two 120mm pc fans sucking air out. I also plan on sealing all the components that fit together with weather striping to make sure everything is light and smell proof. Then the whole inside I' am going to line with mylar.

What do how all think of my design do you think I have sufficient cooling, like I said I hear those built in ballast get hot and it is a small grow space. Another option I thought about was have my 6" vortex connected to the fan cooling option on the side of the hps and then to the scrubber. Also do you all think I have enough cfl lighting in my veg. chamber? This is my rough design any comments, or input is gladly welcomed. Thanks guy's and light one up .

The way you have your drawing it appears as though you are scrubbing the recirculated air of the flowering chamber, but not the exhaust from the cabinet itself.

Now some of the things I'm going to suggest are baised, because I drink from the "new-tech" cool-aid bowl.

I think using the CFL's in the veg area is a great idea, but I like HID more, so personally I would look at using a 100w-150w CMH from Philips, and the appropriate ballast from Philips/Advance. For the flowering side I would use a 400w magnetic HPS ballast and a 400w CMH bulb. This gives me a nice wide spectrum of light, more than enough red, and UVb. Right now I'm vegging my plants under my 400w CMH and they are nice and short, with even spacing between the branches, thick healthy green growth and noticeable growth every day. The crisp clean 4000k white light is makes it extremely comfortable to inspect plants for issues, where with the HPS the lighting could make it difficult to identify problems. This is mostly due to my lack of experience growing, but every little bit helps.

Under the 400w CMH, I have noticed significant reduction in closet temperature, but because I do not have a thermometer I cannot give you an accurate difference. But I can *safely* touch the outer bulb glass with my bare fingers without getting an immediate burn like I did to myself so many other times with the HPS. I think there is still some of my skin on the old bulb...

The 250w(cdm350s50/hor/o/4k) and 400w(cdm400s51/hor/o/4k) CMH lamps from philips run on magnetic HPS ballasts almost exclusively. A digital ballast will cause the CMH lamp to fail if it does not list compatibility by part number. If I remember correctly the 250w and 400w'ers are mounting specific, either horizontal +-15 degrees or vertical +- 15 degrees, replace hor with V. 150w and lower run on pulse start metal halide ballasts.

I do not sell these lamps nore do I represent anyone that does. Honestly the horizontals were a total pain in my ass to source in my area, but after experimenting with a vertical I'm totally hooked on the CMH and I believe it is the next lighting step for growing until sulfur plasma becomes affordable. Now that I have found a supplier of horizontal lamps even if they take a month to get, I just need to keep one or two in my stock to cycle out at the end of their "useful" lifespan. I paid $64 for a vertical, but I think the horizontal is going to be around $84.

Using the part numbers I've provided you can easily order these lamps online and have them mailed to you and cheaper than I paid, I just like supporting my local economy.

If you are mechanically and electronically inclined it likely wouldn't be overly difficult to convert your fixture to a remote ballast using most of the parts already in your ballast. Depends on how nicely it all comes apart.

that box is going to be hot as shit man, even with an exhaust system. I think you risk burning your plants. Esp when they start flowering, they're gonna be right up in the bulb w/o much space. Maybe consider growing low-rider? I do like the design though. My advice is to set it all up. Run both veg/flower chambers together for a week in the manner in which you would use for real growing. Take note of the temperatures and conditions and work out the kinks before you put life in there. Good luck brudda

You can cut a 4" hole on the top, run 4" flex to the hood and connect to a tee on the inlet of the fan. I would use 4" rather than 6" so you can maintain good velocity through your scrubber.

The six inch vortex along with the two pc fan's where going to pull the hot air from the flower cab to the scrubber and then the heat was going to be exhausted with the help of the two foot hole in the center and the two pc fan's on top. All the stuff I named in my post is what I have to work with, so a different ballast or something is not an option. I'm not to worried about the flower chamber since I think two pc fans will be enough to keep it cool, and I don't have to worry about scrubbing that air.

The other thing I was thinking was keeping the bottom passive intake the same, but removing the middle shelf and just seal it up in two parts. I would then use 4 pc fan's to suck air out, tow each chamber. And then run a 6" duct to the hps, then to the fan and scrubber. I would gain about 2 feet in clearance and then the vortex would directly pulll the air from the ballest/light combo instead of all the flower cabin air.

I saw someone on another form using the same cab and he did ok temp wise. Of course he was using a remote ballast which is easier to cool. He also used a Panasonic Whisperline 240cfm inline fan. My vortex is supposed to be rated at 449cfm. Now that I'm thinking the height might be an issue clearance is 4 feet figure buckets already 1 foot high so I'm thinking doing away with the top shelf and just hooking the fans on the top might be the way to go. What do you guy's think? I was going to do bubbleponics trimming them to around three feet and bushy.

I got you, I think you'll be ok with that, most people that use the scrubbers put them on the fan inlet, the arrow depicting the scrubber made me think it was the air flow, that's why I suggested the other way. GL on the project, post some pics when done.

ballasts do get warm but i think with your fan you should be fine. i dont get your drawing though. the ventilation at least. if your hood is vented connect your fan to that, if not just hang the fan in the flower chamber by the light and exhaust it through the scrubber out of the cab. im not sure what all you got goin on. The less bs u have in your vent line the better ventilation you will have, try to make it as strait forward as possible. less is more

If I were you I'd use something compact like the PC fans but with a lot more cfm.

Try this in the flowering http://www.iaqsource.com/product.php?p=suncourt_db6gtp&product=111119&category=2160

and this in the veg http://www.iaqsource.com/product.php?p=suncourt_db204p&product=111114

Hopefully it doesnt get too warm for your plants in there

I know this thread is long dead and old but that's not gonna stop me. The problem with removing the top shelf is that the cabinet is likely to collapse. The shelf is for structural support and removing it would be a bad idea. I just bought he exact same cabinet and will be setting it up as I get all my needed equipment and supplies. This will be my second cabinet. I ordered an Apollo 600 Watt Dimmable Digital/Electronic Ballast which you can use both MH & HPS. I intend on getting another fan and filter to exhaust & clean the air.