Attic (3x3x5) Tent Grow - need advice/feedback

Mikesu58

Member
Hello, I plan to start growing very soon in my Attic. I have set up a 3x3x5 Gorilla Grow Shorty Tent already, and am just waiting for the rest of my equipment to arrive, and set it up before I start the grow op. I used Styrofoam 1" reflective insulation to create a room in my attic, separate from the rest of it.. sealed up with duct tape in the crevices & cracks. Here is the equipment list of what I will be using, I would greatly appreciate any/all advice or critique on my set-up by experienced growers

-Gorilla Grow Tent Shorty (3x3x5 ft)
-Yield Lab 400w HPS+MH Air Cool Hood Reflector Grow Light Kit
-Eye Hortilux Blue 400w MH bulb
-Eye Hortilux Red 400w HPS bulb
-Four 6" Oscillating fans
-Ipower 6Inch High CFM Inline Exhausting Fan & Carbon Air Filter
-25 ft Ducting
-Two VenTech 6" Duct Fans, 240 CFM
-Three Fan speed controllers for the ventilation fans
-Kilawatt Power meter
-Ph meter (water)
-TDS meter (water)
-3 in 1 Ph/PPM/moisture meter (Soil)
-Five 5 gallon Smart Pots
-38.6 quart bag of Fox Farms Ocean Forest soil
-8 quart bag of organic Vermiculite
-16 quart bag of organic Perlite
-Fox Farm Trio Liquid Nutes solution
-General Hydroponics Ph UP & Ph Down
-General Hydroponics Ph calibration solution(s)
-Botanicare Cal-Mag
-Botanicare Silica Blast
-Dehumidifier
-Oil Radiating Heater
-Auto Flowering Feminized Northern Lights Seeds (Cropkingseeds.com)

I will be using heavy duty extension cords, power strips, to power all the equipment, on separate breakers throughout the house. **(No actual outlets in the attic)**

Thank you for reading my thread, and again any feedback or advice on how to make my set-up better, or just opinions on what I plan on doing are appreciated! I plan on starting my operation by the end of this month! Thoughts?
 

visajoe1

Well-Known Member
I dont think you need these items:
-Kilawatt Power meter
-3 in 1 Ph/PPM/moisture meter (Soil)
-8 quart bag of organic Vermiculite
-16 quart bag of organic Perlite

And 5 gallon bags are too large for that space, 3g max. That FF soil has everything you need in it.

Be careful with your extension cords! Long power cords to high draw devices (power strips!) are red flags. Count your amperage and do not go above 10 amps per line. Cut and remove excess power cord, keep it as short as possible.

Better yet, have an electrician run a couple plugs to your attic, much much safer. You've spent this much so far, whats another couple/few hundred to ensure you dont burn your house down?
 

Mikesu58

Member
In the future having an electrician run some plugs to my attic would definitely be possible, but I don't want to do that until I've atleast had 2 successful grows. I have a circuit in the room that is connected to the attic (same floor level, just finished room), and can run some the stuff off that, then I would just drill a hole through the floor into the downstairs rooms i'd use other circuits (if necessary), so the extension cords would all be below 20 ft or below. Also I could convert a light that is in the attic into a plug.
 

Final Phase

Well-Known Member
Agree with visajoe1... That's a bit much on the perilite, but it won't go bad or spoil - good stuff for mixing up soil.
Guessing you will need at least 25 foot cords - Go with at least 12 gauge - no smaller and cut length down as mentioned if possible.

I don't see any equipment for cooling the air? Attic grows can get hotter than hell due to heat rising... If you live in cold climate a lot of the year it can be done without AC... If not, the high intensity bulbs with make it real hard keeping the plants from frying... Good luck - Hope you make it to the finish line!
 

Mikesu58

Member
Yea I was looking into portable AC's but I don't believe I will need one right now. I live in New England and it has long winters, shorter summers. The temp here will not go above 60 degrees for 4 months
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
make sure you have a heat source for when the lights go out, they'll keep that tent pretty warm when they're on, but temps drop quick when they go out
 

Mikesu58

Member
I have read up on Autos, and I know they do 18/6 light schedule, can't handle nutes aswell so give like 1/4 of doses & work way up watching how they react, and you aren't supposed to top them, etc along with all the regular marijuana knowledge
 

Mikesu58

Member
I added a 5 gallon bucket to the grow room which my tent is in, with a bubbling air stone in it to oxidize water
 
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