Log in

View Full Version : Grow Box is Awesome!


buckeye5755
01-03-2010, 12:59 AM
Well, I wasn't having much luck with my plants indoors in the garage. I was running an electric heater 24/7 in order to heat the garage, even after insulating the whole space. The max temperature was only reaching 65 degrees, and getting into the mid 50's at night. Lower leaves started shriveling up and dying, possibly mites, temperature, or lack of light (600 Watt HPS), and I saw no noticeable growth at all.

So I built this grow box! It is 4 ft wide, by 8 ft deep, 8 ft tall on edges coming to a peak at 10 in the middle. I have lined the whole interior in Mylar, though not as smooth as I would like. Overall, this is awesome though! I have already seen noticeable growth in 3 of my 4 plants, and can heat the room from 55 to 90 in less than 20 minutes!(Not that I am keeping it that warm) The only concern I have now is keeping the humidity up. I am using a Humidifier, and spraying the plants often, so hopefully they keep growing for me.
:woohoonaner:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28499&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28499&ppuser=5490)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28500&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28500&ppuser=5490)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=28498&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28498&ppuser=5490)

Abnshrek
01-03-2010, 02:01 AM
Looks like in Creative Banana Spaces #101 :^) you get an A+

enigma99a
01-03-2010, 02:37 AM
that's hardcore man. good work

Worm_Farmer
01-03-2010, 09:37 AM
I like! I have never used Mylar just walls painted Flat white. Lucky for me I dont have to run a heater, I just run the lights from 7pm - 7am and use the light as the room heater. Seems to be working good so far. It was 38 last night outside my window and 75 in the room. I think a 600watt HPS would make even more heat.

Real good job with the project.

buckeye5755
01-03-2010, 01:00 PM
Yea, the 600 watt hps is putting out a lot of heat. I just have to fix a few heat leaking spots here and there which should improve the efficiency. I wanted to get one of those grow tents pre made to avoid the heat loss, but they didn't have one tall enough for banana plants. I'm glad didn't either, because those run about $250 for one with my size of floorplace, and I spent just $175 to make mine, which allowed more room up top for the plants.

LilRaverBoi
01-03-2010, 04:08 PM
That IS pretty darn hardcore! I hope you don't get busted by the cops...that looks pretty 'legit' if ya know what I mean.

buckeye5755
01-03-2010, 04:35 PM
Haha, I am more worried about the building inspector! Not sure of the rules for building structures inside your garage with all of the building codes these days. I think it would be quite funny if the cops showed up wondering what it was! I think they would be leaving with a smirk on their face. ;):ha:

Bob
01-03-2010, 05:23 PM
Wow Man! I thought I was hardcore. One thing you could try for humidity that would be fairly low maintenance is a small (plastic/ rubbermaid) container with an inexpensive aquarium heater. You would only have to keep the water leverl up and might be less work than a room humidifier. Keep us posted. Well Done!:woohoonaner:

Worm_Farmer
01-03-2010, 06:27 PM
Wow Man! I thought I was hardcore. One thing you could try for humidity that would be fairly low maintenance is a small (plastic/ rubbermaid) container with an inexpensive aquarium heater. You would only have to keep the water leverl up and might be less work than a room humidifier. Keep us posted. Well Done!:woohoonaner:

Thats a great tip, I'm totally going to try this when I need to up humidity.

jwmahloch
01-04-2010, 09:54 AM
Awsome grow box. You might try insulating the panels with bubble wrap. I used bubble wrap to insulate the inside of my greenhouse and it really makes a difference. I used the large bubble kind and used clear duck tape to put it up.

guerich
01-04-2010, 03:47 PM
Nice job. I've got my mylar rolls, still deciding where to put it.

serial_killer
01-25-2010, 09:13 AM
Awesome, did you get your cool tube from ebay? It looks to be the exact one I have, same clip on reflector and all.

One thing, it is really not good to run cool tubes without active cooling, the tube traps the heat inside and cooks the bulb. You can pick up a cheap 6" "duct booster" fan at lowes for about $30 and get some 6" flexi ducting. Another advantage of this is that you can direct the heat coming off it to where ever you want.

My 600W HPS in my cool tube is in a different room, my hydro banana and my hydro lettuce setups are in a room heated ONLY by the air coming off the 600w light (well and the heat from the un-cooled 400W they sit under) I have mine intake cold air from my garage, usually about 50*, run threw the light and then out into my other grow room where it exits at 90*. The room stays at 72 with the heater vent closed off.

If you didnt want all the ventilation tubes running everywhere you could set it up without an intake, just leave the one end open, run a short piece of ducting down to the floor and set the fan on the ground, since heat rises having it come out at the floor is preferred anyway.

Actually I see your local, I just replaced my 6" duct fan I mentioned with a lot larger fan to act as room ventilation too. I would sell it to you for $20 if your interested. Its only about 2 months old.

Oh one more thing, dont forget the inverse square law- LOWER THAT LIGHT!