Grow Wardrobe - Fans needed?

[piglish]

Just setting up a wardrobe for the first time, its a fairly solid one 180h x 90w x 50deep with white laminate on the inside.

 

I will be picking up some lights tomorrw, probably 600wHPS, and basically hanging it from the top of the wardrobe.

 

Not using Hyrdo, just soil, and starting off with clones that have recently grown some root system.

 

These clones are said to be very good, so i'm not too keen on killing them with my lack of growing knowledge, so I thought best to throw over to you guys for some advice?

 

Do I need a fan for circulation, does this setup sound ok, and also what sort of soil mix do you recommend?

 

Cheers

[Dave The Nefarious]

just in regards to fans, hell yeah you need them, even in winter. HID lights like the 600w HPS youre considering generate a lot of heat, and in an enclosed environment like a grow chamber theres nowhere for that heat to go. Ideally youd have an exhaust fan just above the light to suck out all the hot air, and at the floor you have another fan that sucks in cool air. It's not just about temperature control either - theyll grow better in circulating air than stale air, and a bit of breeze will help strengthen their stems

Have fun!

Edited April 3, 2007 by Dave The Nefarious

[jimbojones5678]

You will need inlet holes, an exhaust fan (centrifugal is doable) and a small oscillating fan to create air movement.

 

Jimbo

[nugget]

I grow in a wardrobe which is similar in size to this one, a little bigger actually as it's about 1200mm wide. With a 400w HPS and just using a small 120mm 'sunon' brand fan in one of the sides + a small oscillating one I have some heat problems on the warmer days, and I live in a pretty cold place too

 

IMO either make sure you have great ventilation, cool tubes or an air cooled shade would definitely help, but failing that, maybe look at getting a 400w light instead of 600w.

 

Another thing you may like to watch out for is make sure the ballast isn't attached to the actual light + shade, I know someone who tried growing in a white laminate/MDF cabinet and the roof collapsed because it was too heavy, ruining the plants the light fell on as well

 

My 2c anyways, may be something to think over

 

 

[piglish]

appreciate the help guys thanks, I'd like to give the first crop the best chance of success!!!

 

So as far as fans go, would a PC fan be ok, or would a KMART job or Specific Hyrdo Shop fan be better?

[pipeman]

I agree with nuggest I think a 400 would be more realistic for that space.

[silent-toker]

go the 400w in that space mate, youll get a decent yield with less probs.

when buying a fan consider how much duct you want to pull through and how noisy it will be -you get what you pay for here

have you considered using coco or perlite as a medium? both can be hand watered like soil yet are inert and more compatible with common hydro nutes

imo soil is not always so straight forward, ph can be tricky, its easy to get nutrient deficiencies and also easy to overfert which can lead to problems if ure inexperienced and dont read the signs.

a good simple routine can overcome this though and soil works well for many growers. most mix with some perlite for drainage

up to you

[jimbojones5678]

Well the PC fan won't cut it exhaust wise...so it's either the standard bathroom exhaust fan (at least get a ball bearing one) or a decent hydro shop centrifugal. You can often get them cheap online - try shopping on eBay - worked for me.

 

Jimbo

[Luke Skywalker]

Don't get a bathroom fan, they suck. Get a good inline or centrifugal fan. The $ you save and spend now will pay you back a hundredfold if you get a good fan over a shitty pc fan which moves bugger all.

 

No such thing as too much ventilation. Vent vent vent!

 

Something like a quality 150mm inline fan would be find for a 600w wardrobe, (hope it's big) although you'd be better off with a centrifugal.

[jimbojones5678]

I totally agree with you Luke as I followed your advice and went a 250mm centrifugal with a 400/1000 carbon filter and it does the job very well.

 

Jimbo