Originally Posted by Rau

my first grow project! growin in dirt first might move to hydro later.

I've built a 4x4x7 foot box out of 2x4s got me a brand spankin new 400w hps a/c light, fan that pulls 240 cfms (off some fishing website) for like 25 bucks, 6 mil plastic, 5 gal. bucket for filter (punched holes and lined it on the inside with the cheapest filters found at crap depot and then filled it with kittie litter non dust kind)

not sure about mylar though. dude at the hydro shop told me, and I quoteth with the fingers "it bleaches with wate when you wipe it" which I believe he said this so I would buy the new fancy crap he was pushin. question everything! anyone got any suggestions? anything better than mylar?, cheaper? is this bleaching thing true?.

1. No, mylar is like 96ish relfective, that or reflectix or white paint are your best options for light reflectiveness.

I haven't worked on a veg room yet cuz not sure what the minimum higth might be. Im gonna crack open the canabible I bought cuz Im not even sure how many plants I can fit in a 4x4 which I believe can determine the size of the veg box. Im leaning towards those t5 lights but don't have the cash. any ideas on lighting please help.

2. veg room doesnt need much light, actually you want jsut enough light to sustain new growth, if you have to much growth you will run out of room and need to start a new mother. t5's and floros are great options for this, will also keep the heat down and remove the need for much intake exhaust action.

oh I have an Idea to have the air intake for both rooms starting through veg room and pulling through filter, then through light too cool it off. will this work?

3. best option imo is to have the two rooms as isolated as possible, no light leaks etc. I see what your idea is tho, and only thing I see with that is ur going to need a higher powered fan then if you isolated the two, one fan for exhaust of veg room ,and a seperate blower for cooling the 400 watt hps bulbs. What I am doing is using a fan to blow air out of the mother with a carbon screen, plants are most stinky during flower . And then have a blower for the cool tube and another fan in flower with a carbon screen for smell.


if anyone knows of any hydro supply stores out here in San Diego besides the sd hydroponics and organics please let me know.