First Closet Grow, Bag Seeds, 400w

New grower here looking for advice. This is what I'm working with. I'd love to hear what direction any of you would take it. Almost everything still needs to be done so anything from ventaltion, fans, number of plants, pot sizes, any advice. Thanks.

CLOSET 8 ft H 4 ft W 2 ft D
HTGSupply 400w HPS /w 400w MH conversion
I have both bulbs already. I ran the MH for a bit and felt the heat.
(Planning on removing the shelf and hanging chains, zipped tied the light just to have the pics for some ideas.)
Many reg and mid seeds sitting around waiting on the project to start.

I started mine like this (400w bagseed in closet) - my closet doors weren't vented like yours and I had problems with high temps with 1 small fan... Also, it wasn't very light proof or stealthy because it shined sooo bright at night through the cracks along the doors. I imagine yours will be brighter. I could keep the temps good if I cracked the doors but then it wasn't light proof at all or stealthy. Anyway my basement is open so I just moved them all downstairs which has been great... Good luck though I'm interested to see this since mine started exactly the same!

Are you using soil? I'd also suggest some way to raise and lower your lights. I find I can keep my 400w within 9inches of the foliage safely

i see 2 problems 1 your light can't be lowered or raised. your gonna need to do that to not get stretching
and 2 thos door's are anything but light proof..wil probably be fine for veggin but flowering you want NO LIGHT what so ever when you go 12/12

i see you said you just ziped it there for pics but wanted to make sure you know..

https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/247213-cheap-easy-zero-mod-closet.html

Hang your reflector with chain. Find a ceiling stud and drive an eye bolt, loop the chains through it. I grew in a closet similar to you once upon a time, I think the link above will be really helpful. At least it'll stop looking like you have the archangel gabriel hiding in your closet. Your space looks big enough to justify a true in-line fan instead of a bathroom fan.

no need to do all that the shelf there is not solid it's sloted easy to loop it threw there. hang a tiny little pulley off it.

Thanks for the quick replies! I think chains from the ceiling are the way to go, but the shelf is well mounted so yes I could do a pulley from it. If I were to keep the shelf I could possibly modify it and use the top for seedlings/ clones area maybe with a T5 floro bulb. Or go further with dividing the closet space into two areas for different plant stages and rotate?

The vented doors can be replaced or maybe the insides cover in panda film/ mylar when it comes flowering time. With good ventilation (exhaust /w carbon filter into the attic?) I shouldn't need the vent holes to help with heat I don't believe.

My first grow will be soil. Trying to figure out what the optimal space for plants will be in this closet.
Figuring the ballast will be safe outside of the closet and running hooks to hold the cord along the wall.
Should the MH bulb when running give off a sort of burning smell? Never used any HID lights so I'm not sure if this is normal.

Heat is going to be your biggest issue here. You need a vented hood, carbon scrubber and an inline fan.

Here is a quick visual of what I would do. Cover the front of the flower cab with panda plastic, duct tape and velcro.

I am using the same setup as well. I live in Colorado and can grow it by law as use for medical purposes. I have coverd my windows with black plastic so that light does not show. I have a side window that is not viewable by neighbors, etc. that I open for air. I have a small fan inside my closet and another outside my closet door to circulate air. When I flower I will cover the door when the light goes out so that light does not go in. I keep my doors open because of the heat. You can also use a green light in the room at night and it will not affect the flowering plants. Here is my link....https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/331890-first-indoor-medical-marijuana-grow.html

Thanks for the pic Bonzi. It helps alot to have a visual.

The light in the pic is 5 1/2 ft up in the closet and the ceiling is 8 ft. It probably would be best to have the HID bulbs hanging from the ceiling so its close to vent and the heat will rise out fast. Guess I could mount a wall fan in the upper section as well. Anyone know about the burny smell from a MH bulb normal?

I have a closet grow and this is how I hang my chains.

Looks good. I'll get some chains and see what kind of pulley I can rig for mine.

Should I run 2 ft/ 2 tube T5 fixture or CFL 125w day with reflector (around the same price range) for my beginning vegging stages? How long until I should put them under MH and would getting a ceramic MH bulb help heat for during veg stage? Thanks. I'll have pics/ updates of my set up this weekend.

1fi3nd8 said:

Should I run 2 ft/ 2 tube T5 fixture or CFL 125w day with reflector (around the same price range) for my beginning vegging stages?.

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I would use the T5's since you have the space.

1fi3nd8 said:

How long until I should put them under MH and would getting a ceramic MH bulb help heat for during veg stage? Thanks. I'll have pics/ updates of my set up this weekend.

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Veg until they are about 1/3 the height of your available flower height.

Here is a T5/HPS perp grow:

Once again a great visual for me bonzi, thanks a bunch. Wondering what I can do to keep the shelf from interfering with the air flow in my closet. Since the flower area will be on a solid shelf and surrounded by blackout material. While the bottom veg area will be open other than the closet doors so they intake fresh air.

1fi3nd8 said:

Once again a great visual for me bonzi, thanks a bunch. Wondering what I can do to keep the shelf from interfering with the air flow in my closet. Since the flower area will be on a solid shelf and surrounded by blackout material. While the bottom veg area will be open other than the closet doors so they intake fresh air.

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Make a light trap vent shelf. Blue area is open to the bottom (Veg Area), Red is open to the upper (Flower Area). Brown diagonals are the actual shelf and pink diagonals are panda on the bottom of the shelf (roof of the veg area).


Here is an up close from the grow above: