Hey Everyone,
I'm still in the build stage of my cabinet, but need some assistance before I can go ahead and make the rest of my purchases. I'd appreciate anything you offer.
First let me explain the set-up and my intentions.
First time grower, limited living area equals limited grow area. I wanted everything to be self-contained and stealth. Incase anyone looks around, all they would see is my white cabinet without odor (wishful thinking).
Attachment 2249610 It's only for me, so I figured I'd only grow two plants, Indica and Sativa. My cabinet dimensions are H70"xW48"xD20". Trying to continue the theme of stealth, I had to think about exhaust and odor. So what I decided, was that I would have a separate chamber on the top (inside) to section off the whole exhaust system, to then be sound-proofed. I purchased Vortex 4" 177CFM in-line fan that will be pulling through a carbon filter.
Attachment 2249662 You'll have to excuse the crude photoshop skills, but you get the idea. Now, my chosen method considering my limited space and plants, I decided to SCRoG, Top the plants, Soil, 400w (eventually throw in some CFL's to the corners). Unfortunately, given the size of the cabinet, I can't keep a perpetual grow going.
My in-take will also be another chamber on the bottom that will serve as a shelf for the pots and SCRoG set-up. The shelf will have holes cut in it for the pots (think cup holders) the supports for the SCRoG screen are on the shelf as well. The Idea is to make the shelf slide out for easy cleaning.
Attachment 2249681 Back to the In-take, I tried showing the approximate set-up with what I have now, as you can see from the photo. Imagine the bottom being the chamber for in-take, the flow works like this --- port holes in back=>air enters chamber=>three computer fans (variable speeds) suck the fresh air through the bottom and force it up through the canopy. The three fans will be mounted on the board of the shelf much like the flowering pots. I have to make sure to leave enough room on the power cables for the whole shelf to be pulled out.
Attachment 2249708I am still considering buying a small clip on fan for the top of the canopy.
Ok, you know the set-up, here are my problems and questions.
The problem I see my self facing is height problems and possibly some heat issues.
Attachment 2249734Sorry if this is confusing. From the bottom up, -The soil pots height is the height of the In-take chamber(12") because the pots rest IN the shelf along with the three computer fans.
-The top board represents the height of the start of the canopy(12" from the pots).
-Totaling my height at 24" so far.
-As you can see in the photo I only have 18" from the beginning of my canopy to the glass on my light. This would be my problem and question.
**Is 18" from the SCRoG screen, to the glass of the light, enough room for good growth and enough safe distance from the light, without burning my plants? Or do I have to reconsider my situation.
My possible solutions for those problems have been...
-To have shallower soil pots that are wide (not sure what it does for my roots). I was hoping optimistically for 6"H pots, which would give me 24" from the screen to my glass, but I haven't found anything yet.
-Have a smaller under growth area perhaps 6" as well, giving me the same height as shallower pots.
-Or maybe I could tie my plants down onto the screen and hope it helps restrict the growth height.
-Or the more difficult fix is to remove the whole entire exhaust chamber and then mount equipment to the walls and ceiling(which makes it harder to soundproof). That would give me 30" from SCRoG screen to glass. Which seems like it would be enough room to not have to worry really, but it gets rid of my exhaust chamber and the cab is already crowded.
Also, since I've never grown in this scenario before or at all, I do not know how much space I should have between the tips of my plants, to the glass. **I've been thinking, if I can make it work within 18" it would have to be around 10" from tips of plants to glass, but I really don't know. Plus, that only leaves me with 8" of growth for my canopy. Not sure if that's realistic.
Ok, to wrap it up. My question, Is 18" from the SCRoG screen, to the glass of the light, enough room for good growth and enough safe distance from the light, without burning my plants?
Let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or commentary.
Thanks,
Freshn'Green
