6x4 Grow box - 1000W MH

About to start my first grow...Trying the NY Power Diesel (though im skeptical is it just regular diesel) from Nirvana, seeds in shipping as we type. Got some nutes, Fox soil, Light, pH, and moisture meter, pulverized limestone (not hydrated), and have a 1000W HPS on the way (planning to switch to dual arc). It is in a basement whose temperature stays extremely consistent in the High 60's (the light brings it into the 70's in the grow box (even with the fan). Test ran the light in that setup for a couple of hours and the heat seemed very manageable, and most importantly not dangerous. Room is a touch damp, but I'm bringing in a dehumidifier to manage that. There is a hose in the basement for water (well water). I have no neighbors for over 2000 feet either direction, with no line of sight from them or the road. Not to mention that room is entirely underground.

The box itself is elevated 8" off the ground (by wood) and the reflective walls are 4'x8' sheets of 1" thick styrofoam with relfective mylar glued to it (12 bucks a sheet at Lowe's). Reinforced with a wood frame.

Please if anyone has suggestions, recommendations, questions, comments, concerns, fears or problems,please let me know. Any feedback would be great.

PS Though I have never grown weed before, I have 300 sqft veggie garden, and have nothing but luck with that. Not that I am an expert, but I am not plant illiterate.

I live in South East of NY if that makes a difference.

Thank you

hell yea man. welcome

Looks like your off to a good start! I have to wonder if your grow box has 4 walls? If it does I have doubts about keeping temp in the 70's. I have 1000 watt hps in 5 x5 corner of 11x11 room. Home temp 65. Have 4" exaust fan with passive vents in floor(outside temps 30-60). My temp runs 82-86 degrees. I'm fine with these temps as I use CO2 injection(and wouldn't grow indoors without it!) and the plants are more efficent at these temps with the added CO2. I will just increase ventalation last half ouf flowering to lower temp to 76 or so to perserve potency.
Hers a pic of current grow. These plant's seeds were paced in paper towels to germinate Sept. 1 and the pic was taken on Sept. 28th. The pots are 7 gallon and 14 inches across. Top Skunk, G-Force and Motivation.

welcome to RIU, happy growing my friend if u need anything just ask ..

Nice something similar to the same materials i used to make my box and @ 1/6th of what the local hydro store wanted for one of a similar size. The only thing I want to add is you got a 1000w hps ballast and bulb. Man I would kill for that big of a lighting system. Rite now im running a 600w HPS/MH system and its in a 4.5'x4.5'x7' box and the 6 plants I put under it fill the box up. So if I had a 1000w system I would def. make a box big enough that my plants could get at least 4' tall before I cut them back to flower. So a box like yours except instead of having a 4'x8' side, Id put on sheet on top of the other and make the box's side 8'x8'. Just my two cents, looks good keep up the good work

76 or so to perserve potency. Never heard of that> I've heard and experienced that 75deg is perfect for fast growing. Not potency

NateDizity1420 said:

Nice something similar to the same materials i used to make my box and @ 1/6th of what the local hydro store wanted for one of a similar size. The only thing I want to add is you got a 1000w hps ballast and bulb. Man I would kill for that big of a lighting system. Rite now im running a 600w HPS/MH system and its in a 4.5'x4.5'x7' box and the 6 plants I put under it fill the box up. So if I had a 1000w system I would def. make a box big enough that my plants could get at least 4' tall before I cut them back to flower. So a box like yours except instead of having a 4'x8' side, Id put on sheet on top of the other and make the box's side 8'x8'. Just my two cents, looks good keep up the good work

Click to expand...

So True about cost effectiveness. 40 Bucks alone for that much mylar, let alone anything to hold it up.

Thanks to all for the responses, The temperature will have to be monitored when first start this up, especially for the 24 hour lighting period for the first two weeks. The only thing I have running for me is that the air in the room is cooler than the air in the box (as the basement is 200 years old and underground). Just to sound overly progressive, i'll say it has a geothermal cooling system. Overall, im not expecting much for my first grow, if I keep the plants alive for 4 months, ill be excited. Then I'll start working on fine tuning everything from there. These responses are very helpful, once again, thank you...