Newbie Lighting & Ventilation Help Please

[Fluffy Haze]

Hi everyone

I have been reading here for a long time, and have tried to make sure I researched before I asked questions. Please forgive me if I have missed something obvious, not intentional!

I'm having to do a teeny weeny grow and it is my first grow so if you guys could please help me with my calculations I would be most grateful. The space is all I have available so just need to make the most of it. I'm also a bit of a dimwit when it comes to maths ( I was always an English nerd) so even if it is simple I am likely to cock it up!

Grow box size

60cm wide (as looking at front of it left to right), 38cm deep and 107cm tall.

I make this 0.24 cubic metres

Ventilation

If the air needs to be circulated 3-5 times per minute I would be looking at ventilation equipment giving equivalent to 1.25 cubic metres per minute.

In this space would a tower fan in a central position be better? (I will be having a passive intake slightly larger than the exhaust hole which will have a fan in it).

Lighting

This is where I get extremely confused. I will be using CFLs for so many reasons. I understand that when looking at bulbs the wattage displayed isn't necessarily the actual wattage. For example, I saw one bulb saying 18W equivalent 100W.

• Could you please tell me which of the two I base my calculations on?
• Do CFLs specific for plant growing, which are advertised as 125w, actually that wattage or lower?

Obviously because I don't know these I can't accurately calculate my requirements. Everything I could find was based on wattage per square foot so I converted my measurements. I make it that I need 390 watts...but I'm not entirely sure what that should be made out of!

Thank you so much in advance for your help, I hope one day I will be able to return the favour when I actually know a little about what I am doing!

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Help is much needed and would be much appreciated

 

[Smokemupm8]

Hi fluff.. Well that space isnt that large but will still be able to grow a small bush. You need a few cfl's id say. i made a box setup with 5 cfl's , 1 on each wall and one up top that i could raise and lower.. But you can just setup a few cfls overhead, or a hi output one for growing, theyre fairly cheap on internet for sale..You want 6500 K cfl's,that's Kelvins - a light measurement-mainly bright white light for vegging, and the 2500 k's are more amber and suited for flowering more, but a combination works well.. Hope this helps you a little. Goodluk and Happy Harvesting

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Hi fluff.. Well that space isnt that large but will still be able to grow a small bush. You need a few cfl's id say. i made a box setup with 5 cfl's , 1 on each wall and one up top that i could raise and lower.. But you can just setup a few cfls overhead, or a hi output one for growing, theyre fairly cheap on internet for sale..You want 6500 K cfl's,that's Kelvins - a light measurement-mainly bright white light for vegging, and the 2500 k's are more amber and suited for flowering more, but a combination works well.. Hope this helps you a little. Goodluk and Happy Harvesting

Thank you very much Smokemup! This really does help. I am hoping I might be able to make it a little larger but this gives me a good base to work from. And I appreciate your encouragement despite my lack of space available!

May you have a relaxed and happy day

 

[Smokemupm8]

No probs Fluff Im no expert, just have few grows under my belt but im still learning too, there's always some one trying something different and sometimes things just work out and ya have a killa grow. And places like this forum are good to see what ppl have tried and had success with. Youll be right, just stick to the K.I.S.S method ( Keep It Simple Stupid!) when ur starting you really only need the basic knowledge of how MJ plants grow and you can have good results. When ur full hydro thats when you NEED to know the more intricate things. Goodluk and Happy Harvesting

 

[Fluffy Haze]

I like the fact there is a lot to learn, but of course we desperately need even our first grows to be some good!

Ive managed to get the space a bit bigger now (72cm x 50cm x 150cm) and have looked at so much I think I am going to go bog eyed so I am just going to go for it! I decided in the end to just go for one x 600watt HPS at 90K lumens for simplicity, and a 42l storage tub for 2/3 plants to go in a bubbler system (black of course - don't want algae!).

I'm trying to keep it cheap but I'm thinking am going to need some sort of extractor fan for ventilation and heat reduction...but we shall see when I have totted everything up...I want to get this going!

Thanks so much for your help

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

You may well suffer with heat issues with a 600w hps in a 72cm by 50 cm by 150 cm area... gonna be temps well over 30c/85f

To get away with that size bulb may well require an air cooled reflector if it will fit in that space ? a cool tube springs to mind at the moment tho plus addittional ventillation.

An average range of watts per square foot is 50w, a 600w bulb will give you 150w per square foot thats a easy 100% greater than optimal wattage required !


I myself would be more inclined for 250w hps in the area decribed, it will average 62.5 watts per square foot & considor pretty optimal plus you will have better heat control over enviroment.

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

The thing about excessive heat...

May well cause retarded growth by heating growing medium beyond a comfortable temperature for nutrient absorbation by root system this may cause defeciencys/lock outs.

In flowering may cause slow growth & poor bud formation.

Will cause evapouration of water from soil which may lead to extra watering & if inclined to use nutrients with every watering may well induce nutrient burn, salt build ups if chemical synthetic nutrients are used creating potential nutrient toxicity/lock out problems etc etc


Ideal growing temps are around 24c/75f going beyond 29c/85f may well create problems.

 

[Smokemupm8]

Yeah keep an eye on the temps... I used a 400w MH/and a hps for flower and i was ok, i had 3 desk fans setup to dipense air around and draw air from bottom to top as fresh air comes in at bottom for me.. Temps rarely got over 30 celcius, if they were close id just open the door for few mins.. Just dont want lights too close as stated too.. Goodluk and Happy Harvesting

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Thanks guys!!!!

Fuzzy (what a coooool name!!)...I am so glad you raised that with me, very very grateful! I guess my calculations went a little awry along the way lol. Maths never was my strong point!

I've now adjusted my design and will go with what you have suggested.

Thanks for popping in again Smokem, I've been looking at your pics this morning....lovely!

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Have you decided on methods of ventillation yet ?


4 inch inline fan is an option with carbon scubber/filter but thats extra cost tho...


Still may require two passive vents one at base of growing area & one at the top... hot air rise's after all, you can use a 1 or 2 small 6 inch clip on fans or desk top type fans also to improve air circulation.

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Bless ya Fuzzy, thank you for stopping by.

I've bought a wardrobe! It's basically the same measurements as before but taller. However I have plans for that section at the top.

Have listened to your advice and will be going with the lower wattage bulb.

I have 2 passive inlets at the bottom, well however many are required really. Will make these slightly larger than the outlets to improve airflow. I'm planning a separate compartment at the top of the wardrobe. In the shelf between the grow area and this section I'm going to have two extract fans, now whether they are going to be passive fans or powered I'm not sure yet...as I don't really know what I'm going to need. In the section at the top, with two further large passive outlets just so it's not a hotbox I am going to do a homemade carbon scrubber based on a design I saw on another website (I don't think I am allowed to link to it here but I will take a pic of it when I do it).

(Now I did do a quick sketch as I wasn't sure if I had described it very well! But for love nor money I can't work out what I'm supposed to do to put it in here and I really do need to get to work! I struggle very much with mornings and the smoke I had this morning was erm, a little stronger than intended! Thankfully my "boss" is also my best mate.)

In the main area itself I will put two wall mounted oscillating fans, whether 6in or 8in not sure, but am thinking 8in. My house isn't in a hot climate at all, but it is slightly damp so I do need to make sure there is plenty of air circulating. I'm going to buy a humidity detector because I understand the problems this could cause, and the wardrobe will actually be right next to the dehumidifier anyway so I'm sure I will be able to control that.

How does this sound? I've worked really hard trying to make sure this is as good as possible for the money I have available. Might as well do it right the first time so all you have to do is tweak as you go along. So hopefully I can give myself a twinkly star?

I'm still really struggling on deciding whether to do a DIY DWC bubbler (I've planned it all out really carefully, black box to discourage light to roots and water (algae prevention etc), the air pump and air stone, transplant methods etc) or just go for two plants in soil. I have selected Indica strains which are shorter and fast growing/flowering because I do need to get a couple of shorter harvests in so I can become self sufficient, and then I can look at other options. I really like the cleanliness and simplicity of DWC, but at the same time am thinking it might just be a bit more expensive than I need to make it this time round?

Thank you Fuzzy, it's so nice to be able to chat about my little project. Hope you have a wonderful chilled out Friday

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Always good to have a chin wag about things

I would choose an active extraction fan, a 4" inline fan should be fine for the job with this placed at the top of growing area will pull sufficent air throught the passive vents at the base of tent, you can use a fine wire mesh as a dust/bug screen on passive vents.

Using a couple of 6 inch oscillating fans to improve air flow around canopy of the plants is a fine idea, this will help prevent powdery mildew taking a foot hold if humidity is high/problematic.

A note on humidity.

High humidity 80% or more may cause problems as for mold & some insects if i remember correctly.

Please bear in mind that seedlings/cuttings prefer high humidity tho which can be controlled in a propergator tray/misting etc

In veg a humidity of 50% to 70% is quite fine.

In flowering humidity of 30% to 50% is good also.

I keep mine around 50% humidity as best as i can through all stages of growth, also worth of note is that many growers live in different enviroments from one to another & ambient humidity may varie !

Some use addittional equipement such as dehumidifiers/humidifiers to improve growing conditions tho depending on circumstances !

DWC/NFT or hydro grows are not as forgiving if ya cock up you also have to considor PH value of nutrient solution, ec/ppm depending on stage of growth & related equipment.

Whilst soil can be more forgiving for the first time grower.


Indica strain is wise choice to grow

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Once again Fuzzy, thank you!

I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye on the humidity, my house does have a problem with damp. But having said that, I'm well versed in dealing with it so at least I know what to do (got pretty much all the gadgets for it already). I really appreciate the little guide to which stages need how much humidity, I've got something to follow now

I think if I knew more about growing plants in general I could probably give the bubbler a whirl for the first go, but I have been thinking along the same lines as you Fuzzy. I'll go for soil, and as that's cheaper I'll look to get the Canna stuff to help it along. Got plenty of time to get to my already designed bubbler.

And you are an absolute treasure for the ventilation help Fuzzy. I do try to be "engineering" minded but I'm naturally the arty side of the spectrum! Makes my noggin hurt, and if I've been smoking, well not a hope in hell! I've just found a perfectly priced one, and it looks dead easy to fit. This is where my other half will be making himself useful just so I don't blow us up by mistake! For some reason I, errr....erm.... thought an inline fan was a tower fan because that's like a line..... *blush* !!

I went with Indica for several reasons. The quick growing and shorter strains were indica, plus I find the kind of effect indica strains have is by far the most preferable and beneficial for me. I do also rather like feeling like I've been hit with a sledgehammer so I was rather happy looking at the THC content in the Indicas I chose lol.

Out of interest, which is your all time favourite strain Fuzzy?

 

[Fluffy Haze]

P.S. I really want to get started, but finances are tricky so just having to get bits and pieces as and when I can, difficult managing while still having to buy....grrrrrrrrr......

Patience...patience....

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Sound like its all coming together nicely

I like soil tho, its easy & pretty simple to get on with but with a preference to the organic side of things as best as i can get... theirs to sides to nutrients being synthetic & organic based... buts thats another story i'll explain a tad later.

A decent brand of pre mixed compost/soil should have the value of PH written on the bag it self, this normally being PH 6.6

100% Peat based compost are of an mild acidic nature tho some where around PH 5.5 to 5.8 i also believe you may find coco of around the same PH value also.


I normally go for indica dominate strains myself also mainly due to the shorter flowering time, its cost effective in the long run

Always worth paying attention to height of plant - short can mean 4 foot to 6 foot plant...

Their are ways of controlling height tho.



I'm quite like the AK strains, mainly AK 48 & Northern Lights

 

[Fluffy Haze]

Thank you for this Fuzzy. I will go for soil, and I was going to look into organic so I can cut down as much crap in my wonderful green gold as possible. I may not be "strictly" organic first few times as I am simply trying to make sure I can grow something useful, then I will hone the process.

I am definitely going to rig up some homemade carbon filters, I was fortunate enough to get some Blue Cheese to smoke and my goodness, just that little bag was rather pong whiffy so I am going to go all out for odour control lol.

I am hoping that with the wardrobe set up if I have a tall "short" plant I won't have to look at scrogging etc, my poor brain can't cope!

I've got a couple of Northern Lights feminised seeds to see if I can germinate....ooh how exciting! It's been a very long time since I've had any so am rather looking forward to it.

You are welcome to come by and share when it is ready Fuzzy!

I'm thinking to perhaps start a journal now I'm kinda ready to go...just waiting on getting finances together. Might help me keep it planned properly as well. What do you reckon?

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Sounds all pretty good to me, take it steady & progress at a pace you feel comfortable with


Journals are pretty good way of keeping track of things & a way of referencing past mistakes, think of it as a diary... also great way to pick up tips 'n' advice from other growers who may share a similar grow style.

Not every bodys cup of tea tho

 

[Fluffy Haze]

I might just well give it a go and see how we get on. In the chaos that is my life a little bit of calm order would be soooooooooooo welcome so a nice little diary will keep me occupied (in theory lol).