Shipping Container Grow Room

So this is my first thread ever so here it goes. Im just looking for any advice/guidance on how to build an amazing grow room shipping container. I have a 20' shipping container that I'm still contemplating on how to deck out, maybe you all could help me figure it out?? I would like to possibly have 60 plants going... 4 rows with 15 plants on each. I was planning on each row to be 15-16 Ft in length and 1ft wide. My method of watering will be to flow water through each row and have it recollect at the end to be re-circulated. For exhaust I was thinking maybe an 8in inline fan that can do 745 cfm. The box dimensions are 8x8x20. So that may not be enough outtake or even the right size fan?? I don't know what kind of lights I will be using yet.. I could maybe do x6 600watt and have 2 rows of 3 or was thinking about linear fluorescents but don't think I can acquire the necessary lumens for the amount of plants I want from what I can figure.. so that's a big question. I am also unsure of how I am going to cool my lighting system along with the box itself. I will also be using co2. I'm sure I forgot to mention a few things... but just let me know what you think and what you would do. Appreciate all the help! Thanks in advance

Have you looked into vert? If I could I would love to get into it. https://www.rollitup.org/vertical-growing/485864-club-vert-600-a.html

I've looked into it a little bit but didn't really take a liking. I've always just liked hydroponic rows and feel it is the best way to max yields... but then again I really don't know. how many plants would be optimal for each light? I could do the hydroponic buckets with the drip system..? I also am not a big fan of soil. If I did this method I would also like to do the double layer with 2 lights. I could possibly do 4 rows of 15 plants still and have 3 rows of 3 lights (each light having one on top so total of 18 lights) in between and kinda circle the end plants in (hopefully that description is understandable). So basically the two center rows would get a ton of light.

check this out dude in sac is selling them http://chico.craigslist.org/grd/4085115075.html

Use light movers and 4ft tables down the middle so you can work on both sides....if money is no option I would use indagro lights...lest you need more heat for winter afforded by hps.

I think I would probably want 3ft tables on each side with 2ft of working room in the middle. And have 6 lights, 3 on each side. And I would make the tables short to grow the plants taller. I have the plan down I just need to know what exactly I need.

newbie4life said:

I have the plan down I just need to know what exactly I need.

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If you "have the plan down" then you would know what you need. From reading your first post you haven't a clue what you are really doing, then dismiss the first two people who offer suggestions.

745 would do, imo. I would go with 2 rows.. both against the wall so you can work in the center and use reflected light/film.

I would say 5 lights per 600w hps... If you can keep the res outside the container, like in a little shed, then I would do 6 lights per row...

run a trellis down each row...leaving 2 ft of space to service the garden. tuck any growth inside the 3 ft rows and out of your 2 ft of work space..

I would split your exhaust off with a y and put 2 750 cfm carbon filters.. each about 7 ft from the end of the container.. Then split your intake into 3... one at each end of the container and one in the dead center of the container. Circ fans suspended upside down or wall mounted from a post... keep them up high where you can duck under them to service the garden..

Have you ran large hydro tables/gutters before? I would cringe every time I had to change a res..

I would go soilless..drain to waste with not much waste.. build a simple irrigation manifold with two baskets going to each plant.

not another co2 constant exhaust post

For aircool.. it totally depends on climate..

i don't know what kind of experience you have, but, you definitely want to bring in outside air to cool your lights and send it directly outdoors..
You said you wanna use co2.. if you are not that experiencedi would skip the co2 for now..

jijiandfarmgang said:

not another co2 constant exhaust post

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I'm suggesting he let go of that idea.. rest your head buddy. that wall can't feel good.

even with co2, you will prbly want some kind of exhaust on a timer..

Sealed grows would require full climate control... OP doesn't sound like he knows what he was saying.

If you wanna bury the container (what I would look into), you might have better luck running something sealed 24/7.. in that case.. we are having a whole different conversation. I would just drop co2 all together..

There are enough pieces missing from this plan that I am guessing OP might need to rethink some parts that he has laid out for us..

Great post though, thanks..

AimAim I Was not dismissing the first two, I actually came up with a modified plan that goes with the suggestion of vert...... I was really looking for a response HeartlandHank provided. Great info btw. So your saying use 5 600w hps lights for each row, so a total of 10 lights, correct? And my air that I intake will probably be on the warmer side will this be a problem?

newbie4life said:

AimAim I Was not dismissing the first two, I actually came up with a modified plan that goes with the suggestion of vert...... I was really looking for a response HeartlandHank provided. Great info btw. So your saying use 5 600w hps lights for each row, so a total of 10 lights, correct? And my air that I intake will probably be on the warmer side will this be a problem?

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warm air intake is a problem when your using 10 600w lamps...

look ok into a "wall of weed" ,coco hmpy buckets feeding kiss style and vertical growing. I'm giving it a shot myself. May be hard in that shipping container though.

The container will also be underground.. so I'll drop the co2! I've only done small grows so I really don't know what I'm saying as you can all tell..

Thanks fir3dragon, I'll look into that.

Warm air doesnt cool down a bunch of hps lights. With 6000 watts going plus a dehumidifier youll need the temp outside to be at least below 65f if you want to use that air to cool the hoods and exchange the room air. Otherwise youll need some air conditioning.

burying shipping containers is a horrible idea. they are designed to take a shit load of weight on the edges of the top and bottom. you can stack the shit out of them.
they ARE NOT designed to have the pressure of the earth pushing in from all sides. Dont build yourself a coffin.

I thought burying a shipping container/underground bunker was a pretty common method to have a stealthy big grow where it is undetectable from walking around the property? I have seen numerous containers buried underground. If I re enforce the walls with concrete would this be more acceptable plan? And cooling the air will most definitely need to be done. I plan to have 6 600watt lights going and maybe some leds on the sides... I was suggested to use 3 air intakes(one at both ends and one in middle) which I plan to do. How would I go about rigging an a/c unit up to them? I've never had to cool this large of a grow with this much heat output.