Finished building PC grow box + starting to build cabinet grow

So I just finished putting together a PC grow box that I thought I would be using.
PC Specifications
Dimensions: 22"h x 15"w x 7.5"depth
Height from base to lights is about 17"
2 120mm fans - 1 intake -1 exhaust
Lights: 3 23w(100w equiv) 2700k, 1 23w(100w equiv) 6500k
Strain: Female Seeds C99
Soil: Fox Farms Ocean Mist


But after putting it all together, nothing seems to close very well and there is some slight light leak because the PC was sitting outside for quite some time and is probably 15 years old.
What I think I'm going to do is since I have this put together, I'll use it to start off some seeds while I work on this cabinet I recently picked up from craigslist. Then try and just sell the pc to someone once it's finished.
Here are some specs and pictures of the cabinet.

Inner Demensions: 27"height x 11"depth x 23"width
Bottom drawer attachment: 14.5"height x 11"depth x 23"width




Any ideas on how I can fill those gaps so when the doors are shut it gets sealed?
Should I stick with CFL's?
I plan on attaching the bottom drawer section so I can have a greater height, or just using it to store my supplies. I'm also going to sand the inside and paint it white, and replace the back with plywood because right now it's very thin.
Any other ideas I should implement? Any help would be great.
I'll keep updating as I work on it.

You cabinet is similar to mine I just starting my first grow ever and I'm also using cfls my biggest problem is heat and ventilation

Lakerfan2420 said:

You cabinet is similar to mine I just starting my first grow ever and I'm also using cfls my biggest problem is heat and ventilation

Click to expand...

How are you venting the cabinet?

you might consider led lights a lot less issues with temps (still need ventilation though, plants need fresh air)
you can raise and lower them (provided you drilled some holes)
nice dense budz
i would read up LEDs do bring their own challenges
thanks for listening

mmmmbrownies said:

you might consider led lights a lot less issues with temps (still need ventilation though, plants need fresh air)
you can raise and lower them (provided you drilled some holes)
nice dense budz
i would read up LEDs do bring their own challenges
thanks for listening

Click to expand...

Ya I was thinking about LED lights but they are kind of out of my budge right now.
I kind of want to hang a 150 or 250w HPS down the center of the cabinet and do a mini stadium grow with 2 plants
. But I'm not sure how the temps will be or how I should even go about hanging it?

Make sure you have a good exhaust and a passive intake and your temps will be fine. Hang it by a chain or something similar so you'll be able to adjust height, otherwise you can fix it to the top and adjust the plants to the light.

bb61 said:

Make sure you have a good exhaust and a passive intake and your temps will be fine. Hang it by a chain or something similar so you'll be able to adjust height, otherwise you can fix it to the top and adjust the plants to the light.

Click to expand...

Do you think it would need a cool tube or just open air? Standar temps in my room are around 80 degrees. Also would I need to do a remote ballast?
For the cracks in the cabinet doors, what should I do to seal them better?

With the room being 80 might be a problem.

For the gaps just tack down a trim piece of wood on the inside and use som weather stripping to give it a good seal

ya can use weatherstrip for the gaps. Your temps being 80 inside your room will most likely be way too hot in your cabinet. use a couple pc fans (one in one out), or even a 6 inch fan exhausting with passive intake. You get Some heat from the CFL, not alot but defenitely enough to need ventilation.
HPS will get much hotter, even a 150w.
If it were me, to be safe, id just put in 2 pc fans and then u wont have to worry.
I have a 3x4x7 foot room with 10x23 watt cfl and its about 76-80in my room, and without ventilation, my grow gets to 88 or even over 90 degrees with the fan off (8 inch bedroom fan w passive intake. I am fixing this by adding a/c to the bedroom.
Im currently buildin a VEG box out of a dresser 2'x3'x17". It will have a 4 inch intake and a 6 inch exhaust fan, one at either end, to keep good air flow.
I got good advice given to me, it was to overkill with the lights, put as much as u can afford, and VENT VENT VENT. 72-80 is what i was told to keep the range in. I believe 72-85 is acceptable from what ive read, but i try to keep it on the lower end, i find the plants curl up and slow down when temps go over 82.
IMO LED are WAY to expensive at the moment. and unless u get top brand its hard to know what u r buying (from what ive read).
The CFL's seem to be working awsome for me (i have the bushiest plant ive ever seen), they are cheap to replace, have little heat issues, and are easily kept within a couple inches of the plant.

Tillinah said:

So I just finished putting together a PC grow box that I thought I would be using.
PC Specifications
Dimensions: 22"h x 15"w x 7.5"depth
Height from base to lights is about 17"
2 120mm fans - 1 intake -1 exhaust
Lights: 3 23w(100w equiv) 2700k, 1 23w(100w equiv) 6500k
Strain: Female Seeds C99
Soil: Fox Farms Ocean Mist
View attachment 2688609

But after putting it all together, nothing seems to close very well and there is some slight light leak because the PC was sitting outside for quite some time and is probably 15 years old.
What I think I'm going to do is since I have this put together, I'll use it to start off some seeds while I work on this cabinet I recently picked up from craigslist. Then try and just sell the pc to someone once it's finished.
Here are some specs and pictures of the cabinet.

Inner Demensions: 27"height x 11"depth x 23"width
Bottom drawer attachment: 14.5"height x 11"depth x 23"width
View attachment 2688619
View attachment 2688620
View attachment 2688621

Any ideas on how I can fill those gaps so when the doors are shut it gets sealed?
Should I stick with CFL's?
I plan on attaching the bottom drawer section so I can have a greater height, or just using it to store my supplies. I'm also going to sand the inside and paint it white, and replace the back with plywood because right now it's very thin.
Any other ideas I should implement? Any help would be great.
I'll keep updating as I work on it.

Click to expand...

You can use pretty much anything to create a light trap or something to block out light. I would get some light blocking fabric (you can get at any fabric store) and velcro that just inside the opening behind the doors.

If this is your first grow, stick to simplicity and learn the basics. CFLS are nice because they are cheap and readily available. You can pretty much set them up how you want, when you want.

Fans, don't forget your fans. You'll need one or two to exhaust across the lights and you'll also need fan intake or passive intake.
I'm pulling up a chair and watching this one.

I wish someone would show me pics of a successful grow in these PC cabinets. I don't know what people expect to get out of such a restrictive enclosure. Even using a full-tower case, you're looking at 24" from top to bottom and about 8 inches side to side. Subtract at least 4" for lights, another 6" for a container that will hold enough soil to grow a plant, and you'll end up with a 10" plant.....at best.

From that you may, if your lucky, be able to get a 1/4 ounce after 3 months. If you're using a smaller case, or your lights take up even more space, your yield will even be less.

I am truly sorry for being such a wet-blanket on someone else's labor of love. I dislike it when I read someone bashing another's grow project. If someone can show me some pictures of a grow that actually finished in a PC cabinet, I'll never write a discouraging word about this again.

I know that for many a stealth grow is important, and are restricted to what they can grow in. If it were me, I would look at one of those rubber-maid totes as a better alternative to a PC case. The big totes are wide, and at least one can do some LST to get a yield of over 1/4 a zip.

And a tote would allow you to use a 2' T5 HO florescent light which would do away with the heat issues.

lilroach said:

I wish someone would show me pics of a successful grow in these PC cabinets. I don't know what people expect to get out of such a restrictive enclosure. Even using a full-tower case, you're looking at 24" from top to bottom and about 8 inches side to side. Subtract at least 4" for lights, another 6" for a container that will hold enough soil to grow a plant, and you'll end up with a 10" plant.....at best.

From that you may, if your lucky, be able to get a 1/4 ounce after 3 months. If you're using a smaller case, or your lights take up even more space, your yield will even be less.

I am truly sorry for being such a wet-blanket on someone else's labor of love. I dislike it when I read someone bashing another's grow project. If someone can show me some pictures of a grow that actually finished in a PC cabinet, I'll never write a discouraging word about this again.

I know that for many a stealth grow is important, and are restricted to what they can grow in. If it were me, I would look at one of those rubber-maid totes as a better alternative to a PC case. The big totes are wide, and at least one can do some LST to get a yield of over 1/4 a zip.

Click to expand...

Totally agree with Lilroach. I thought that a PC grow would do it for me, but I'm quickly finding out that it's too small. They're great for starting the plants and veging for a bit, but a bigger stealth box is best. That's my project this weekend.

That cabinet that Tillinah looks like it's a nice size. I can't wait to see the finish product.

Ya for sure it sounds like what u need is just a bigger grow space. U dont have a closet not currently being used?
My fir st grow box i used a simple table frame and covered it with wood on 1 side, cardboard on top and front, and used the wall as the back and 1 side.
U can grow in pretty much anything. 1 square metre (9sq ft) is enough to do 9 plants in a SOG, and they will only get 2 feet tall or so.
Go to a moving company and buy a cardboard box, will cost around 6-10 bucks and u can do anything with it.
Im just starting out and it seems everyday i change something or figure out a better way for this or that, theres so much information on it on rollitup and on youtube as well.

I know that this won't work for everyone, but here's a picture of my veg cabinets.



The one on the left is nothing more than a locker, the one on the right is one of those plastic cabinets you can get at Home Depot. I bought both on Craigslist for a total of $40.

Now I've not attempted to flower anything in these, but feel I could if I kept the size of the plants down. Both have a locking clasp on 'em. The lights I bought new at Home Depot (online) and they were $99 each with free shipping and as you can see, they work very well.

I use two 4 inch desk fans one for intake and the other for exhaust I'm using cfls and my temp is 86 with the lights on

lilroach said:

I wish someone would show me pics of a successful grow in these PC cabinets. I don't know what people expect to get out of such a restrictive enclosure. Even using a full-tower case, you're looking at 24" from top to bottom and about 8 inches side to side. Subtract at least 4" for lights, another 6" for a container that will hold enough soil to grow a plant, and you'll end up with a 10" plant.....at best.

From that you may, if your lucky, be able to get a 1/4 ounce after 3 months. If you're using a smaller case, or your lights take up even more space, your yield will even be less.

I am truly sorry for being such a wet-blanket on someone else's labor of love. I dislike it when I read someone bashing another's grow project. If someone can show me some pictures of a grow that actually finished in a PC cabinet, I'll never write a discouraging word about this again.

I know that for many a stealth grow is important, and are restricted to what they can grow in. If it were me, I would look at one of those rubber-maid totes as a better alternative to a PC case. The big totes are wide, and at least one can do some LST to get a yield of over 1/4 a zip.

Click to expand...

A cab is definitely the ideal route to take in terms of micro grows and getting the most out of your labors, however that doesn't mean that a pc grow cannot yield decent amounts. Below are 2 pc grows that broke the mold for the micro pc growers. Their technique and yield are both incredible (one lst, the other scrog)!! They are actually where I got my inspiration for my pc grow.


Penyajos Papaya PC Grow Box

^ Penyajo grew a regular strain of Nirvana's papaya strain in a pc grow box and yielded 28g; dry. An awesome read and definitely worth the time to see an epic grow done by someone who knows their shit.


PC Grow: 1x Auto Blue Mystic - ScrOG / 250W CFL

^ Another example... idontlikesociety had followed up behind Penyajo to do a pc grow as well and grew an autoflower in a pc case and yielded some PHAT ASS dense buds giving him a total end dry weight of 14-15g. His plant was so much smaller and BARELY took up any space in his pc case, yet he was able to grow such dense monster colas.

n0tmycupoftea said:

A cab is definitely the ideal route to take in terms of micro grows and getting the most out of your labors, however that doesn't mean that a pc grow cannot yield decent amounts. Below are 2 pc grows that broke the mold for the micro pc growers. Their technique and yield are both incredible (one lst, the other scrog)!! They are actually where I got my inspiration for my pc grow.

While I

Penyajos Papaya PC Grow Box

^ Penyajo grew a regular strain of Nirvana's papaya strain in a pc grow box and yielded 28g; dry. An awesome read and definitely worth the time to see an epic grow done by someone who knows their shit.


PC Grow: 1x Auto Blue Mystic - ScrOG / 250W CFL

^ Another example... idontlikesociety had followed up behind Penyajo to do a pc grow as well and grew an autoflower in a pc case and yielded some PHAT ASS dense buds giving him a total end dry weight of 14-15g. His plant was so much smaller and BARELY took up any space in his pc case, yet he was able to grow such dense monster colas.

Click to expand...

Well.....I'll be damned. My first look at a successful PC grow. I guess I'll shut-up about PC grows from here on in. Thanks for the reference.

Ogonzo said:

You can use pretty much anything to create a light trap or something to block out light. I would get some light blocking fabric (you can get at any fabric store) and velcro that just inside the opening behind the doors.

If this is your first grow, stick to simplicity and learn the basics. CFLS are nice because they are cheap and readily available. You can pretty much set them up how you want, when you want.

Fans, don't forget your fans. You'll need one or two to exhaust across the lights and you'll also need fan intake or passive intake.
I'm pulling up a chair and watching this one.

Click to expand...

Of course, can't forget the fans

What do you think about this idea?
I might stack that bigger cab on the smaller one, which it's made to do. Drill a hole through the center of the base on the bigger cabinet so it connects to the bottom drawer area, and have another hole going through the top or upper back of the large cab. I want to make this cooltube and have it vertically in the center where the exhaust will go connect to those holes that contain fans blowing air from the bottom drawer area up through the light and out the top or back? The plants will go on each side of the light and I'll have a screen going up the left and right side where the plants will grow up along which will require some training?
I'll either have the ballast in the bottom drawer cabinet or outside the box somewhere.
Most likely a 150 watt hps.

lilroach said:

I wish someone would show me pics of a successful grow in these PC cabinets. I don't know what people expect to get out of such a restrictive enclosure. Even using a full-tower case, you're looking at 24" from top to bottom and about 8 inches side to side. Subtract at least 4" for lights, another 6" for a container that will hold enough soil to grow a plant, and you'll end up with a 10" plant.....at best.

From that you may, if your lucky, be able to get a 1/4 ounce after 3 months. If you're using a smaller case, or your lights take up even more space, your yield will even be less.

I am truly sorry for being such a wet-blanket on someone else's labor of love. I dislike it when I read someone bashing another's grow project. If someone can show me some pictures of a grow that actually finished in a PC cabinet, I'll never write a discouraging word about this again.

I know that for many a stealth grow is important, and are restricted to what they can grow in. If it were me, I would look at one of those rubber-maid totes as a better alternative to a PC case. The big totes are wide, and at least one can do some LST to get a yield of over 1/4 a zip.

Click to expand...

Ya I realized when I was finished with the pc that it really isn't that much space to grow, and I actually have a lot more room so that's why I bought that cabinet in the pictures.

Right now one seed (C99) that just sprouted is in the PC until I finish this cabinet.

I just painted all of the inside of the cabinet flat white, so tomorrow I'll be putting it back together and figuring out how I want to light it.