TnS's CFL PC Lowryder Grow

[Tokensmoke10]

Hello all! And welcome to my first grow journal. Since I have never done one of these before (only read them please bear with me through this, I know it'll be a learning process for me. Now lets get into a little background.

I've done one other grow with bagseed, 2 plants both turned out male (bad luck huh editThe previous grow box was a DIY rubbermaid tub that really didn't have enough time and effort put into it. I'm hoping this grow WILL be different as I've put over 3 weeks into building this PC grow box.

I started off by buying a full tower off ebay for 60 bucks and it all started from there. I can already hear you asking, "why would you want to grow in such a small space?" The answer to that question is personal choice, straight up. I probably do have room for a bigger space to grow but this is only for personal use plus the thought of a PC being turned into a grow box intrigued me.

Well let's see some pictures of the progress shall we, keep in mind I'm still not completely finished but will be very soon!

The first one is just a side view of the PC and you can see the 2 exhaust fans on top. The second is a front view of the intake fan. Third is just a top view of the exhaust fans again.

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Got some more pictures for ya guys.

The first pic is just a back view without it being covered up so there are still open areas but as you will see in a second it's now covered up nicely. The second and third pictures are when the fans are on and running. There really is no way to disconnect the LED's without shutting off the fans, trust me I've tried . But after getting several answers, the LED's are so weak that it shouldn't disrupt the night cycle. If you think otherwise, I'd love to hear why because honestly, I hope what was told to me was right and it won't interrupt my girls' sleepy time.

 

[ozzydiodude]

Good luck with the experment

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Finally, the final 2 pics I have so far.

An inside look at the PC box without being sealed much or having any mylar in it but as you can see in the second pic I bound and secured any loose wire and covered the inside in mylar. (It's like a freakin mirrior! :holysheep Also, don't mind my cats getting into the picture checking out my work :ccc:

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Thank you Ozzy, I hope all goes well and turns into a hobby I can really get into!

 

[ozzydiodude]

Its a addiction that grows on you :aok:

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Update!

Went to the local hydro store today and spent 120 bucks! :holysheep:
My shopping list:

• 125 watt warm CFL
• Fox Farm Ocean Forest
• Bag of Perlite
• Fox Farm Big Bloom nute
• mogul socket for the light
• Ona gel - must have
• and 4 pots ( 2 of 2 kinds, Im going to put up pictures later of each and tell me what ones would work best)

 

[the chef]

Sweet i've been interested in building one . I'm in!

 

[Tokensmoke10]

So while out shopping I got my 125 watt CFL!

It's huge, almost didnt fit in the case long wise! But I think I could guide a ship in fog to shore with its brightnes

It took me a little bit of trial and error on how to mount the light and ended up going with the acronym K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) and help it up with zip ties (after testing to make sure they wouldn't melt against the bulb of coarse)

Stupid me forgot to get AAA batteries for the therm/hydrometer today when I was out shopping so I won't be able to find out the max/min of temp and humidity, but tomorrow that won't be a problem.

Also, on the thing I said earlier, there are also the pictures of the 2 types of pots I'm trying to decide to use

Solid Pot

Pros
-No mess for soil or roots to escape = less messy

Cons
- about 1.5 in. taller = less height for plants to grow

Mesh Pot

Pros
-Shorter = more height for plants to grow
- Wider = more space for plants to grow

Cons
- All the holes can let soil and/or roots out

Anyone have any ideas on what to use? On the bottom of the PC box I have about a 16in x 6.5in area to grow with.

Any input would be great!

 

[HippyInEngland]

Anyone have any ideas on what to use? On the bottom of the PC box I have about a 16in x 6.5in area to grow with.

Hello Tokensmoke10

Is that H x W?

Nice set up you have :aok:

eace:

 

[OldSkool]

Well, you should have PLENTY of air movement!
You growin' midgit auto's?

 

[OldSkool]

Use the mesh pot.

 

[Parcero]

Cool small growbox, I like that. Your entire system is smaller than one of my pots.
Good luck.

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Hello Tokensmoke10

Is that H x W?

Nice set up you have :aok:

eace:

Thank you ! And the entire space I have to grow is in the area of 16"L x 6.5"W x 18"H (because of the light) without the pots.

Well, you should have PLENTY of air movement!
You growin' midgit auto's?

I sure hope so, I still have a 120mm fan still waiting to be installed in the back for a little more intake, but I think exhaust is perfect!

And yes! I do plan on growing Lowryder or a cross of it.

And and thank you for the input on which pot to use, could you give a couple reasons why the mesh pot is better?! I'm curious and wouldn't you agree that soil and roots would work their way out?

Cool small growbox, I like that. Your entire system is smaller than one of my pots.
Good luck.

:rofl: I cant imagine growing in a PC box any smaller than my full tower one! It looked huge as first but after putting all the stuff in it it sizes it down a little!

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Finally got around to finding out the highs and low temps in my growbox.

As you can see it gets up to 87 degrees right next to the light and gets down to about 75 or so lights off. So do you goes think 87 degrees is too hot? Since I am growing with CFL I'm going to need to keep the plants close to the light.

Again, any tips or comments are always appreciated

I was also told by a fellow grower that if I order seeds online, do it by money order and get a PO Box from the post office under a different name. Is it really necessary to take that many precautions?

Thank guys!!

 

[Tokensmoke10]

I've decided that I'm going to order the seeds here very soon and as my precaution I'll just send in a money order, ya it will take longer but better safe than sorry.

I'm also heading out shopping today for probably the last time for a while (I hope

)
Shopping list:
- 125 watt daylight CFL bulb ( I plan on growing my lowryders on 6500k until it shows its sex then switch over to the 2700k bulb.)
- 4x4 blocks from homedepot so I can raise my pots to get close to the light (I can't lower the light)

I think that's it, so I'll update this later tonight!

Have a good day everyone!

 

[Tokensmoke10]

After a suggestion from another poster, I've decided to simply go to walmart and buy a visa gift card. Since those cards act just like credit/debit cards I can use it to order the seeds online. Plus if I pay with cash to get the visa gift card, theres no way to trace it back to me at all! Finally, it's faster than a money order so I can get to germing those beans sooner for you guys to watch!

I'll have more updates later.

 

[zipflip]

hey just remember tho taht them walmart visa gift cards dont allow transactions to soem other countries for some stupid reason idk why either. i just know every time i try buyin somethin off ebay from another country it always says my card wont allow transactio to this country.
i saw last time at wal-mart they also have a mastercard version of the prepaid debit card too but was in the checkout aisle by the same wal mart visa cards. idk if their policy is diff but i'd liek to know the same .
i also know taht it doesnt say anywhere in the walmart cards policy of any transactions to any certain countries not bein allowed either so :confused2:

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Well I hope it works because in all my giddiness I quickly went out and got a 100 giftcard. I guess if it doesn't work I have a 100 dollar gift to myself ha

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Update!

Ordered my seeds today from Dr Chronic, I went with Lowryder 2. Some one please give me some green mojo that customs doesn't take em! Since I got busy the other day and didn't get to my shopping list, I'll go tomorrow and let ya guys know what I got along with pics.

:48: