TheDude4552s' stealth rubbermaid gr(L)ow box

Alright guys, here's my design for a Rubbermaid container grow. I put a lot of thought into the design and tried to accommodate all the conditions I felt the plants would require in such a confined space.

Pic one

The top container. Inside are one tabletop fan for circulation on the lights and eventually the plants! There is a velcro strip running down the side for adjusting the height of the fan. All around the edge of the inside are cord protectors which will keep the cords safe and out of the way of the burgeoning growth.Along with the tabletop fan there are also two 12V computer fans exhausting air through the 4" duct and out the back of the container. I wired the fans myself, simple job (just bought a couple of pre-spliced lamp cords, twisted, capped and taped.)

I cut holes in the container for the fans and added weatherstripping to make it airtight. I also weatherstripped the lip of the bottom container for a lightproof and airtight seal.


Pic 2
The light is a wide powerstrip with 3 outlet sockets, 3 y-splitters and 6 23w 6500K CFL's for vegging and 6 23w 2700k CFL's for flowering. I will be upgrading to 8 CFL's (2 more 23w mixed spectrum) in this particular fixture. I used stretch cords to hang the lights and epoxy and duct tape to keep everything bonded and tight.


Pic 3
As you can see on this picture of the back of the container, I have a passive intake collecting air from the area and into the container. Now I am not entirely happy with this intake design so I will most likely add a 10" fan to suck air in. The lights are suspended and I have a series of hooks at different lengths along the container for adjusting the height of the lights, allowing for maximum light penetration.


Pic Four
This is the front of the container. All of the wiring for the box is contained within it with the exception of one wire from the main powerstrip. Now lets look at the bottom of the box...


Pic 5
Three powerstrips are fasted to the container with velcro. The main power bar (the one sans CFL) powers the top and bottom circulation fans (they are on opposite sides so air is pushed in both directions and to cool the temps. It also powers the second powerbar which contains one 40w 2700k CFL (on a timer) and one 13w green cfl (not pictured). The third powerstrip (not pictured) is plugged into a digital timer and mounted with velcro on the side of the container. It is a smaller 3-outlet plug which houses the plug for the main light along with thee plugs from the two exhaust fans. I also included a temp/humidity meter (with velcro).

I'll take this time to include that I covered the entire inside with mylar and used relflective duct tape for most of the taping. I also made sure I purchased powerbars with surge protectors, just in case.

Pic 6, 7
I also included a wireless thermometer/hygrometer so I can check on the temps and humidity without having to open the box to peek at the meter inside. It also helps give me a second opinion in case one particular meter is off.



So this is how it all looks when everything is set up.

Now it wouldnt be stealth unless there was some kind of odour control, so I worked on that too.

Pic 11, 12
Thanks to Wolfman Zen for that ingenious idea. I went to wal-mart for the small cups but unfortunately no large ones! No problems, however as my local Staples business depot had EXTRA large ones so I created a couple of XL carbon filters for my two exhausts. I decided not to mount these until the smell becomes a concern.

Pic 13
But thats not all! I also purchased a Febreze carbon filter with built-in fan for 10 bucks! might pick up another one too!

I also purchased some airwick gel fresheners, some febreze pet odour spray, some arm & hammer mountable fridge filters and some ozium.
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So what am I growing? Well I'm on a mission to create my own strain. Right now I want to cross Jack Herer with Nebula and see where it takes me. So I've been shopping for some feminized Jack Herer and the Doc seems to be the cheapest and most reliable (?!?) source for those particular seeds.

Oh, and heres a quick look at where the container will be going...


Pic 14
In the basement of my house I have a little lounge area where I like to kick back after work, get stoned and do any number of things: Listen to some vinyl, read, play guitar/bass/drums, record said instruments, etc. I prefer smoking in the basement to avoid arousing suspicion when my folks come to visit, and I am really getting tired of paying for something that can be grown for free with the right care, attention and effort. So, I moved the bookcases from the wall roughly 30" or so...


Pic 15
The container fits perfectly and stealthy too. The only way to see it is to climb over the guitar amp and walk in behind the bookcases...


So, now that I have briefed you all on my setup, perhaps you could offer some comments and/or suggestions or answer a couple of questions of my own:

Am I better set up for a 12-16 plant SOG or would I be better of sticking to 6 or 8 plants in the larger containers I have now? I'm debating whether to veg for two weeks or a month as height is a concern (although width not so much, which is why I want to see if anyone recommends some LST for later on)

Is there a cheaper and more reliable site to order those Jack Herer seeds? I dont want the package to get "lost in transit" or become one of the users with a "dont shop with the Doc!" thread.

In my recent viewing of the new seemorebuds video, the perfect garden, he mentions how one of the growers uses green light to look at and work on his plants during lights off because plants do not respond to green light? Do you think this green CFL will have the same effect?

What do you think of the intake? How well could it work without a fan?

Thanks for reading guys, and please feel free to leave comments/suggestions (except to get a HPS...)

This looks great, im willing to try the same setup you did. Can you tell me exactly what was used and how much did everything come out too? i wonder why no one has gave you a compliment or advice but free bump...

nicely done.

You could have made a larger grow area that you could have put behind your book case, but each to their own

what design should have he gone for ? If you have a link or any suggestion please tell.

i think you have a great idea goin nice set up. bigger is better of course but i like this set up.
how do you keep the top secured to the bottom?
i think the passive intake will work fine.
i like to do this for clones or a mother and be able to keep it in flower room. i only have 1 room so its hard to keep it going without downtime.

Well, I did all the shopping at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, the source (formerly radioshack) and Petsmart. I spend roughly $250.00 as I was starting from scratch.

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Wal-Mart

2 Rubbermaid containers (biggest size they have)
2 small pencil cups (carbon filters)
1 pack Queen Latifah brand stockings (XL stockings for XL filter lol)
2 arm & hammer fridge deodorizers
2 small clip-on desk fans
2 rolls reflective duct tape
1 roll regular duct tape
1 roll double-sided mounting tape
1 febreze carbon odor neutralizer
1 temp/hum meter (inside)
1 wireless temp/hum meter (outside)
1 wide powerstrip (w/surge protector)
2 mylar emergency blankets
1 pack rubber stretch cords
1 pack sponges (cleaning off bugs [worst case scenario])
1 box disposable vinyl gardening gloves
20 pairs fabric gloves
1 40W CFL 2700k
1 13W CFL (unknown kelvins, but its green)

Canadian Tire

1 roll weatherstripping
1 4" x 8' ducting
2 digital timers
1 roll twine
1 pack razorblades
1 wire stripper
1 pack superglue
1 tape measure
1 pack velcro strips
2 airwick air fresheners
3 powerbars (2 long, 1 short) (w/ surge protectors)
2 packs of stick-on hooks (one pack metal, one plastic)
1 container 5-minute dry epoxy
1 pack "cordmate" plastic cord protectors
2 metal rope clips (for keeping the cord from the light against the side)
8 planters with drip trays
1 roll plastic non-skid dish dryer (to rest the planters on)
1 container rooting gel

Home Depot

3 packs (x2) 23w CFLs 6500k
3 socket y-splitters
3 plug-in sockets
1 pack wire connectors (little orange caps)
1 PVC straight T (intake) pipe

The source

2 12V computer fans

Staples

2 XL pencil cup holders (for the carbon filter)

Petsmart

1 Large container FLUVAL activated carbon (carbon filter)
2 pH test kits (vial & solution, not the crappy strips I tried on previous grows)
1 large bottle pH up
1 large bottle pH down

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I paid for EVERYTHING cash and I purchased everything over the course of three weeks. Twice a week I would pick a store, bring my list, and cross a few items off (I have a pile of receipts in my basement). As you can see, I included everything you need to replicate my box.

*note: The wattages of the CFL's are ACTUAL not equivilant.

So, to avoid double-posting I will paste the questions from my last post with the hopes I could receive a bit more feedback...

Am I better set up for a 12-16 plant SOG or would I be better of sticking to 6 or 8 plants in the larger planters I have now?
I'm debating whether to veg for two weeks or a month as height is a concern
(although width not so much, which is why I want to see if anyone recommends some LST for later on)

Is there a cheaper and more reliable site to order those Jack Herer seeds?
I dont want the package to get "lost in transit" or become one of the users with a "dont shop with the Doc!" thread.

In my recent viewing of the new seemorebuds video, the perfect garden,
he mentions how one of the growers uses green light to look at and work on his plants during
lights off because plants do not respond to green light? Do you think this green CFL will have the same effect?

What do you think of the intake? How well could it work without a fan?
How much more effective do you think a 4" AC fan (also from the source) would be to help bring fresh air into the container?

***EDIT*** Smoke and Coke, I placed weatherstripping around the entire lip of the bottom container, fastened with electrical tape,
and then black duct tape. When placing the top lid, I line up the two lids and put some pressure on the sides
(from the top) to make an airtight seal for the two containers. I know its tight because of the sucking noise
I hear when I remove the top container.

not sure how many plant in that small area. but i would think 6 or 8 depends on strain.
check attitude for prices i dont shop at docs.
never tried green light but hear it works. you shouldnt have to tend them when lights off tho.
passive intake should be fine.

how do you secure the 2 together or do they just sit on top of each other?

how do you power your 12 volt fans?

Oh, they aren't fastened together because I need to be able to get inside to tend to them.
They sit on top of each other, but I seal it so no air or light can escape without being vented.

I'll check out attitude though, thanks man.

My goal is to harvest enough bud every two months to last two months. So I would be aiming for a half ounce per plant.

Thats why I'm wondering if SOG would be the best method as I wouldn't have to veg too long to get plants mature enough
to produce a half o of bud, and still be short enough to utilize all the lumens the CFL's have to offer.

***edit*** Smoke & Coke, the PC fans are powered via the power bars inside the container. I wired them myself to a pre-spliced lamp cord, and plugged the cords into the powerbar.

ok didnt realize you had a 12 volt powerbar. ill have to check on that. ive got a couple of pc fans but they are 12 dc. i can run them off a motocycle battery trickle charger

It looks nice but if you do not mind, would you mind resizing your pictures?


-Thanks.

Fixed the pic size, just follow the corresponding number to the attached image.

you should have took pictures of the setup while it was being made i myself am a noob and this setup is perfect for me it would have been cool if it was written in your journal with details for the newbies.

Yeah, I was going to leave out box construction in my journal simply because the materials were purchased bit by bit and constructed that day. It would have been very tedious to stop and photograph everything.

Dont take the rest of this site for granted, however. Just search for Rubbermaid under the tags portion of the search option at the top of the page or click on the rubbermaid tag at the bottom of this page. It will provide you with the DIY instructions for containers like mine. Hell I got most of my ideas from the other users' and other microgrows on this site.

Thanks for resizing the pictures, There is a ton of detail I missed that I did not see before.

Hey guys, just an update I've decided to put the strain creation on hold and use the Rubbermaid container gr(l)ow box to grow some G13xBuddah seeds.

I received the seeds as a portion of my reward for helping a first-time grower with his outdoor project (telling him the difference between male and female being the most important) .

Along with an ounce of bud I also received the roughly fifty seeds from one of the females who was pollinated before I could advise the grower to remove his male plants.

So I have taken to germination six of said seeds and have begun my grow journal for winter '08. Check it out if you want in the grow journal forums.

smoke and coke said:

ok didnt realize you had a 12 volt powerbar. ill have to check on that. ive got a couple of pc fans but they are 12 dc. i can run them off a motocycle battery trickle charger

Click to expand...

I wouldn't use any battery charger for a supply, it's not a steady source, more of a pulse and have a lot of noise, get a PC power supply, depending on how many watts you can use a wall transformer. Especially if you are just running a couple 12vdc pc fans, just wire them up to a wall transformer.

nope no pulse voltmeter steady all protected by inline fuse. was only temporary not needed now.

hey man im not trying to knock on you or be a dick, but the rubbermaid doesnt work, or atleast how I had it. it would always get to hott so I learned to keep the top off alittle bit because I had the fan blowing and it would work, but it got stinky. but if you can get it to work more power to you.

I welcome your criticism but if temperature becomes a real issue I will install some additional fans. However, right now I have:

2 fans for circulation (one on bottom for blowing on the stem and foliage, one on top for blowing on the lights and top of plants

2 fans for exhaust to catch hot air as it rises and sucks it out of the chamber into two carbon filters.

Your comment does make me want to re-think my intake idea however. Having one good 12cm fan at the bottom container to suck cool air into the chamber may end up being essential, but not at the moment.