How important is ventilation?

Again it doesn't matter what type of light heat is heat, just hps would put out less heat per watt by far at this level.

I don't know man, you might as well just leave the door open with nothing in the way and then only close it when it's time for them to sleep.

Rentals you can just temporarily remove the built in light in the top of the closet and run a 4" duct through the hole. When it's time to move, just bolt that light or a larger cheap one back in the original spot to cover the hole.

Good call actually thanks man I think you helped me decide to go with HPS you are right they are cheaper and I'm kidding myself about the heat problem.

Yeah I vent into attic through the removed existing light fixture. It works great, except when we have cold mornings and there is frost on all the roofs but mine.

You can probably manage the heat from a 150w hps with fans, or add 70 bucks to the 70 for the light and get a cool tube, and then for a bill or less you can get a blower or fan. Like OregonMeds said remove existing light fixture and vent into attic, if there is no light fixture, they are cheap buy one, trace its pattern and cut a hole, when you move out instal fixture (unwired). this might work if you do not live in a downstairs appt.

So do you filter the air that you vent into the attic or what? how does the carbon scrubber work or is it even necessary?

I am not yet...I do have a small ionizer. You would pull air from your garden through the carbon scrubber and then through light and out. This requires a little more fan though.

So just one of those wal mart air purifiers will do the trick if I decide not to set up a squirrel cage fan and air scrubber then?

koolaidflavormix said:

So just one of those wal mart air purifiers will do the trick if I decide not to set up a squirrel cage fan and air scrubber then?

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I think it would depend on the strain and the # of plants as well as other factors like how much smell can you get away with. How much the plants are disturbed, does the wind blow all the time, temperature and humidity all play a part.
For me the main part of the house does not smell, nor does it out doors (main concern for me) My brow is in a master bath in the master bedroom. My room smells a little green sometimes but not skunky. My plants do not smell much at all really unless you give the colas a little squeeze, then my fingers are deliciously pungent and too sticky for soap.

There are DIY carbon scrubber plans using the replacement carbon filled filter available at home depot or lowes (I forget the filter name). This is about a 4' x 1' or so, filter with carbon inside which is wrapped around the filter it is made for. Evidently it can be cut to fit many aplications (Keep leftovers in sealed bag to keep carbon active) If my odor increases I plan to instal a piece across the intake for my ventilation set-up. (see pic). Not very high tech, but I think it would be effective.

I doubt my little ionizer does much, but who knows.

I think to start with I'll just try and keep the door open and maybe hang something light (but not air) proof the rest of the time. Then ill just focus on sealing off the bedroom that the closet is in and put as robust an air purifier in the room as I can. I just cant see going through all the extra trouble on my first indoor grow and I can always add it later if I don't like my first results. Maybe if I'm diligent with the fizzy water itll help some of my air flow problems?

Like I said before I'm planning on 10-15 dwarfed plants (maybe only 1-3 weeks veg) under a 150-250 watt HPS (insdead of the 315 watt CFL) and just a couple standard oscillating fans. The plants will be grown in an organic soil/perlite mix and fed some light organic liquid fertilizer.

koolaidflavormix said:

Like I said before I'm planning on 10-15 dwarfed plants (maybe only 1-3 weeks veg) under a 150-250 watt HPS (insdead of the 315 watt CFL) and just a couple standard oscillating fans. The plants will be grown in an organic soil/perlite mix and fed some light organic liquid fertilizer.

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Sounds like a plan! good growing to you!

thanks for all the info guys ill post a grow journal whenever i get started
know where i can get some legit seeds!? haha