First post, first grow (PC box)

Greetings everyone! I have finally decided to attempt my first grow and I'll be doing it in a PC case. My living arrangements don't allow for anything bigger. Also, I don't care about quantity, I'm doing it because I love weed and want to be able to sample exotic strains that I normally wouldn't have access to. After reading aggreenvln's excellent PC case grow journal, I'm really stoked for this project.

So I'm waiting for this PC case to arrive, and I have a few questions. Oh yea, I know I could have built one for a fraction of the cost, but I'm not at all handy, and the one I ordered was reasonably priced compared to others.

Anyway, the PC kit comes with four 23W=92W 6500K bulbs and four 23W=92W 2700K bulbs, but I'm considering substituting a 150W HPS for the flowering phase. The 150W is the lowest wattage I could find (I'm not going to try dismantling and re-wiring a 70W security light...I don't care how good the Youtube instructions are lol ).

So is this light too big for a PC case? Will cooling the extra heat be a simple matter of placing a smallish fan inside the case? Or will I burn the house down? Will the plants die?The case comes with 3 fans installed and provides over 100 CFM of cooling and air exchange (whatever that means!). Keep in mind this is one of the taller PC cases available. The dimensions are 26.5"H, 8.1"W, 18.6"D. The light I'm considering is 7.25" tall, so I think I will be left with enough room for the plants (especially since I will probably Scrog). BTW, how close can plants safely get to a 150W HPS?

I have been doing a lot of research these past couple of weeks, but I'm still a complete n00b and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Shameless bump!

waste of time with that hps get some LED bulbs or something those would kick those CFL's ass yeild wise and save you the hassle of not being able to properly vent that hps for that small of a space. Plus you use less power than the cfls as well. Or maybe you want to look at some of these some of the 23 w bulbs will be tits. just get two for flower and veg so four total. Still less money than a 150w hps and these plasma lamps put out MAD light you will have more power in there than the hps as well also uses less electricity. 2700k for flower and 5500k-6500k for veg http://www.inductionlamps.com/

Yea my first consideration was to use LEDs along with the CFLs, actually. But I'm under the impression that they are a waste of time unless you buy super expensive ones. I could be wrong, as I said I'm new at this. I'll continue to look at the LED options, thanks for your input. Lumigrow has a few that seem to be small enough (the ones with the funnel-shaped enclosure). They have 3, 2 of which have different names but appear to be exactly the same (660nm red), and the other has far red (740nm). Which wavelength am I looking for to supplement 2700k CFLs in flowering phase? Also, those lights are only 17W, would I get any significant benefit from them (they cost $165)?

DONT supplement the CFL's get rid of them they are dangerous they have mercury in them LED's are most deffinately not a waste of time HID is outdated and outmoded. HID is what is a waste of time and money and i also USE HID and i say that. I am unbiased on this matter here look at this thread and learn a lot if you want to learn more about lights talk to viagro he knows a shitload https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/240615-led-users-unite.html

I would recomend as i said getting two 630nm red spectrum LED bulbs and two blue spectrum LED bulbs you wont need the cfl's run those they will put your cfl's to shame or run two 40w induction lamps they will blow your cfls out the water. You dont understand man let me put it to you this way a 300w LED panel that is well made by a reputable company is equal to or slightly greater than a 600w HPS.... you tell me what 17w of led is going to do for you, two 17w bulbs is equal about to 150w hps and 100% of the light in the spectrum from the LED is usable where as only 20% or so for your HPS or CFL. Amount of light output is not really that important in the long run what is is the amount of light that the plant finds usable.

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/240615-led-users-unite.html

do your research man you wont be sorry just start with the cfl's they gave you and go read that thread and by the end you will end up running LED or Induction. You may want to consider a Kessil Led very small about the size of a flashlight covers a 2x2 area and is what NASA is using to grow plants with.... Im pretty sure NASA knows what the fuck is up.

The Kessil looks like it's exactly what I need, and it will easily fit in my PC case. There are 2 flowering ones, magenta and red. Am I correct in thinking magenta is a stand-alone and red is better when used with other lights? If I can only afford one, would getting the red and combining it with my 2700k CFLs be better than a single magenta? I know you don't like the CFLS, but they come with the case anyway, and isn't more light better?

Thanks for the link, reading it now to learn more...

Yes red is only for flower its a supplemental light basically the magneta is geared MOSTLY towards flowering with a little in the veg area (standalone) and the purple is all spectrum you want the magneta one. You only need the one it covers a 2x2 area more than enough space. CFL's are dangerous not worth it its going to add more heat to your box than the LED if they happen to blow on you or you drop one you or your plants could get mercury poisioning and if that happens you literally are dead man. mercury pure alone not having come into contact with anything else can touch your skin and not hurt you but it easily bonds with other compounds and when mercury mixes with anything basically it becomes insanely poisoinous it will go into your skin membrane and severly damage you. Not good. You really wont need any CFL and if you really really really wanted to use them dont use 2700k use 5500k-6500k for more blue spectrum. the kessil will provide all you need for flower.

True more light is better but i just think its overkill i mean its like running a 600w light when you dont need to just a waste of power over the 400w. Your space is so small and confined that with a little reflective material and that kessil and a scrog inside that box and you will be maxin it out hard if you know how to care for your plants.