small cabinet, dwc, scrog, hps

Posting up my setup. Have a few questions. Here's what I have so far.


2'x2'x3'6" grow box
light proof intake and exhaust setup
dwc buckets - (4) 2 Gal buckets, 5" net pots, 6" airstone, dual outlet air pump
humboldt nutrients - grow micro bloom
seed starter plugs
bubblicious autoflowering seeds from nirvana

Still need - 400 watt hps, netting for SCROG, ph/tds tester

Now for the questions,
will a 400 watt hps light be sufficient for my grow box dimensions?
Should I add another air pump because I have a dual outlet split into 4?
How high does the netting have to be above the dwc buckets?

Anyone with suggestions/advice?

im going to have a box about the same size, i still need to buy everything tho. already have the box
im going to use a 250w so i think 400w should be plenty if not excessive, might get a little bit hot
and i think that might be a little bit tight for the plants, maybe run a little less
and your running hydro right? im in soil

more air pumps/stones = better, but not necessary
and 400w will be perfect for that setup.. its usually good for 2-4 plants.
try to get an air cooled hood for that space.. might get pretty hot.
and thats a nice setup.

are those white buckets light proof?

Yes the 400 if controlled will be alot for that space.You will need proper ventilation to control heat.

Schotzky said:

im going to have a box about the same size, i still need to buy everything tho. already have the box
im going to use a 250w so i think 400w should be plenty if not excessive, might get a little bit hot
and i think that might be a little bit tight for the plants, maybe run a little less
and your running hydro right? im in soil

Click to expand...

Yea, DWC setup with four 2 gallon buckets. I plan on making a scrog and using tie downs to control the plants growth.

blazeddd said:

more air pumps/stones = better, but not necessary
and 400w will be perfect for that setup.. its usually good for 2-4 plants.
try to get an air cooled hood for that space.. might get pretty hot.
and thats a nice setup.

are those white buckets light proof?

Click to expand...

I figured a 400 watt hps puts out 55,000 lumens, so a 2'2 floor space makes 4 total square feet. Plants in flowering need roughly 10,000 lumens/sq ft so a 400 watt should be perfect if not a little excessive. I already have 2 intake and 2 exhaust fans with filter rated @ 110cfm. I want to either make this https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/161300-batwing-reflector-cool-tube-40-a.html or get a 6" cool tube. And no, the buckets are not light proof (yet), just need to get the foil tape.

Who thinks a 250 Watt HPS with the addition of a few CFL's sounds better than a single 400 Watt HPS?

I'm literally doing a project almostnodentical to this and am doing one with a 75, HPS, a 150 and 2 CFL's is more than enough given the reflectivity of the inside of that thing (props BTW), $150 and you can have that set up.

I'm starting to lean towards the 250 watt hps w/cfl's. Better decide soon figuring I'm ordering the rest of the supplies Friday.

PancakeFace124 said:

I'm starting to lean towards the 250 watt hps w/cfl's. Better decide soon figuring I'm ordering the rest of the supplies Friday.

Click to expand...

In that space i would go with the 250 and few cfls.It will be easier to controll the heat and you can have the cfls closer to the plants to help with the lower branches.

Okay, it's official. 250 HPS + CFLs Thank you everyone for the input. I'll keep posted on the progress with the build and eventually start a grow journal.

PancakeFace124 said:

Okay, it's official. 250 HPS + CFLs Thank you everyone for the input. I'll keep posted on the progress with the build and eventually start a grow journal.

Click to expand...

Dont forget and good luck.

I know, right. My last journal didn't get very far. Mostly because I didn't have a camera at the time, but now I do so I'll update frequently.

*Update*

Got the 250watt lumatek hps. The bulbs are in the mail now. Recieved my digital ph tester. Light-proofed the dwc buckets.

Getting close to that time, just need to get the last few things on my list before I start my 2nd grow.
1. tds tester
2. ph up&down
3. fabricate a reflector
4. root stimulator
5. lamp cord

PancakeFace124 said:

*Update*

Got the 250watt lumatek hps. The bulbs are in the mail now. Recieved my digital ph tester. Light-proofed the dwc buckets.
View attachment 1166032
Getting close to that time, just need to get the last few things on my list before I start my 2nd grow.
1. tds tester
2. ph up&down
3. fabricate a reflector
4. root stimulator
5. lamp cord

Click to expand...

I need a tds tester and a better ph meter(im using the drops and the strips) also a better thermometer/hygrometer.I lost my digital hygrometer its somewhere in here but i cant find it right now and ive looked everywhere.

I plan on getting the Primo TDS tester from HTGSupply, it may not be top of the line but it's suitable for what I need now. I'm going to have to get a thermo/hygro meter sometime shortly. I'll have to take a look around and research a bit.

**Updated Pics**

PancakeFace124 said:

View attachment 1166726View attachment 1166727

I plan on getting the Primo TDS tester from HTGSupply, it may not be top of the line but it's suitable for what I need now. I'm going to have to get a thermo/hygro meter sometime shortly. I'll have to take a look around and research a bit.

Click to expand...

Htg has one for like 20 bucks.