?? what size cab should i build

Ok here is the deal. I have the lighting i wanna use. I wanna grow 2 plants at a time. I will use same cab for both stage as i have bulbs for both stages to just switch when time comes. What size cabinet would be best to get what i need from lights. Here is what i have. The 100w will hang from top and the 3 fixtures will be on 2 sides walls and back wall or if better ideas out there please send em my way.

2 x T4/20W/64K they are 1350 lumens each at 6500k

1 x T4/24W/64K It's 2150 lumens at 6500k

and one uss100-55 it's a 100 w cfl with 6000lumens at 5500k.

Any idea's ????

If all you want to grow is 2 plants, find a cab already put together on craig's list. Save yourself the time and money. Use that money on lights and ventilation. Got my cab for 20 bux and it works for me for now.

Thank's 7th1der

Well ventilation is def not a problem that's my line of work. This is my first time and this first time will be for fun and learning. I def don't mind building what i need and would rather actually like to. I'm going to concentrate on 2 for now if all goes well maybe move to 4 or 6 later. Would rather stick with cfl's for now since i have them. Would itbe better to go with short fatty's or try something taller and just keep adjusting light height???

GanjaCarp said:

Ok here is the deal. I have the lighting i wanna use. I wanna grow 2 plants at a time. I will use same cab for both stage as i have bulbs for both stages to just switch when time comes. What size cabinet would be best to get what i need from lights. Here is what i have. The 100w will hang from top and the 3 fixtures will be on 2 sides walls and back wall or if better ideas out there please send em my way.

2 x T4/20W/64K they are 1350 lumens each at 6500k

1 x T4/24W/64K It's 2150 lumens at 6500k

and one uss100-55 it's a 100 w cfl with 6000lumens at 5500k.

Any idea's ????

Click to expand...

At the very least you should have 2000 lumens per sq ft. The lights you currently have total 10850 lumens which would be sufficient for only a 5sq ft area and thats tiny. Adding atleast 3 more of those 100w 6000lumen cfls would support a 1.5ft x 3ft x 3ft box and thats still rather small. Your search for more lumens must begin..

Thanks Syriuslydelyrius

I guess i could add a couple more 100w or 150 w bulbs if needed. I was thinking 3' x 3' x 5' tall what would be suggested for bare minimum for that size?? 18000???

GanjaCarp said:

Thanks Syriuslydelyrius

I guess i could add a couple more 100w or 150 w bulbs if needed. I was thinking 3' x 3' x 5' tall what would be suggested for bare minimum for that size?? 18000???

Click to expand...

Multiply the length, width, and hight together. 3x3x5= 45sq ft. You then multiply that 45sqft by 2000 and you get a figure of 90,000 lumens required.

Well Syriuslydelyrius ,
The reason i say 18000 for min for a 3 x 3 x 5 room was i was thinking i could lower light all the way down and raise it as plant or plants grow there by eliminating the 5 foot for initial calculations. My thought was each time i raise the plant i could add a light , you know like already have the fixture mounted on side wall and when i raise my center lamp add a bulb to side wall . I'm just brainstorming, my original idea fell through so trying to decide how im going to go about this.

Goodwill etc, garage sales, or craigslist. Don't build, he's right.

I would go for something like an upper kitchen cabinet. Size around 1'deepx3'widex4'tall.

And add more cfl's eventually replacing everything you have with cfl's. You can get a 10 pack of 26w (actual watts) cfl's for $20 or less at the big discount places, and a used batroom vanity strip or two to plug them into for a couple bucks.

GanjaCarp said:

Well Syriuslydelyrius ,
The reason i say 18000 for min for a 3 x 3 x 5 room was i was thinking i could lower light all the way down and raise it as plant or plants grow there by eliminating the 5 foot for initial calculations. My thought was each time i raise the plant i could add a light , you know like already have the fixture mounted on side wall and when i raise my center lamp add a bulb to side wall . I'm just brainstorming, my original idea fell through so trying to decide how im going to go about this.

Click to expand...

If you dont have atleast 2000 lumens per cubic foot your plants will streech/reach towards the light making the stems thin thus inhibiting growth. Yeah moveing those lamps as the plants grow is what we all do but your still going to be at the bare minum. You can start out that way but as soon as your plants are higher than 1 foot total in that 3x3 room you drop below the lumens you need. 3x3x1 is 9 sqft and at 2000lumens per sq ft the amount of lumens needed is 18,000 Yeah you can put those cfls very close to the plants and optomize the light you do have but your going to have better results the closer you stay as close as possible to that 2000 lumens per sq ft ratio.

Thanks a lot guys.
I actually have 150w and 100 w metal halide bulbs also. (1 of each). Should i not use them and stick with cfl's or mix em and use one or both of the mh and add a couple more cfl's on top of what i have?

If you can keep the area cool and still run both of the MH for veg cycle then go for it. Too bad they are MH and not HPS. The flourscent fixtures would do you good the veg area and 150w hps in the flower area.

Check out this guys grow. http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29593 I am thinking your looking to do something like this.

Yeah that's a lot like what I'm thinking. As far as hps goes that's not a problem as all the bulbs i have now are in the 5000 to 6500k range anyway was planning on swapping them when needed for 2700 to 4000k range . As far as heat goes that's not a issue i can take care of that with out any worries. Im new to this but not ventalation This is my first attempt and for this attempt i want it to be a fun learning experience and man am i glad i ran across this site alot of good info and great people. Thanks

Try this calc Carp.
Cannabis Online Sweetleaf.co.uk - Light Area Calculator
Keep in mind the "absolute minimum" lighting is 2000 lumens per sq ft and that'll get you a Charlie Brown "Christmas Tree".

NewGrow60sToker said:

Try this calc Carp.
Cannabis Online Sweetleaf.co.uk - Light Area Calculator
Keep in mind the "absolute minimum" lighting is 2000 lumens per sq ft and that'll get you a Charlie Brown "Christmas Tree".

Click to expand...

Thank's that is a pretty sweet little tool

Ok i got ahold of some kitchen cabs. Im going to do some brain storming and measuring and see what i can come up with. Thanks for the help all. I will post tomorrow or later today size and what i'm thinking with my lighting and see what kinda ideas everyone has. Thanks Again