Good starting point?

Hi all,
1st off im well chuffed to no1 have found this place, loads of invaluable info, and 2nd to start my 1st ever grow. I just wanted to know if this would be a good place to start.

Its supposed to be a clandestine grow, so i have built a 100x50x40cm box to go in my wardbrobe. Its being coated with mylar, also i have a 300w cfl dual spectrum light on route as are the carbon filter / ducting which i will couple up with a 120mm pc silent fan (i know the sizes dont match but im a good bodger ;].

I have some WW coming and plan to grow in compost with perlite and sand.
Just a couple of questions also:
when growing this way (compost) do i leave nutes until a week or start straight away?
How effective are these active carbon filters? The setup is in my wardrobe with my clothes in will they smell? should i invest in boxes of deodrant to keep me stinkin fresh.......
Cheers for any help / advice / hints tips
Pob

You won't need any nutrients for at least a few weeks, and the carbon filters do a great job, especially in one your size.

Usually you don't give them nutes until their cotyledon's fall off. With compost I would say wait until the leaves start to yellow at the bottom. You'll probably be taken through veg with the compost at least though. I hear they're very effective with the right inline fan. I had one off ebay that was home made and it worked but not very well. I hear the real ones are packed tightly and are more effective.

Got the smallest size carbon filter (real one) in 4'x4', the exhaust smells of nothing..they're great.

make sure your fan is strong enough to give you decent air exchange, otherwise that carbon filter won't be doing much of anything.

IslandDelight said:

make sure your fan is strong enough to give you decent air exchange, otherwise that carbon filter won't be doing much of anything.

Click to expand...

Yup, more air out than in. (Shit, I'm worried I've got that the wrong way around all this time now oops

LOL @ Sworth. You were right dude, more air out than in gives negative pressure meaning smells should not escape unless it is through where the fan pushes it.

@ Poblet, your space it 0.2M3 (1/5th cubic meter) or 7 cubic ft. You need to exhaust this volume of air between 4x per min and up to every 5 mins (I usually target 3x per min) so your fan needs to be a 7cfm (12m3/h) fan. Add 1/3 for the carbon filter and 15% for any bends in the ducting.

Nusky gave you some advice about feeding. I wouldnt wait until the lower leaves yellow, by this time, I feel this stresses the plant more than needed. I usually start 1/4 strength feed when the cotyledons (false leaves) start to yellow slightly/go paler. This is just opinion/preference of course.
Regarding smell, try to find some stuff called ONA (odour neutralising agent) It comes in a "linen" aroma and is great for masking smells for small areas. In small grows, I usually place it in front of a small oscillating fan and give it a stir every 2 or 3 days.
W

Many thanks all, especially on clarifying the filter for me it puts my and more importantly "her indoors" mind at rest. The only problem is like you say the fan exchanging enough air.
As per a tutorial i found im coupling an old phone charger and 12v pc fan together. the charger is rated at 5v and the fan 12v so im taking this to mean it will run just under half speed (500rpm) and therefore half the rated air flow(18cfm). This im hoping will give me enough airflow and neg pressure (just a small gap in the bottom of the doors) to achieve the desired results.

Cheers woodydude for the maths (not my stongest subject), so with 18cfm airflow would this be to much? is there such a thing as to much?