PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begins :)

[k1net1k]

Hi guys, looking at growing 1 plant in a stealth pc case operation

Thankyou to the following people for the inspiration.
greenblood : computer-case-setup-progress
stratlogic : grow-box-construction
mean bean : urban-growing-hydro-led-cabinet

Thought I would post my thoughts and plans before I leap in and ruin it without thinking. Here is my intended design.

A couple of things I am thinking about:

Strain
Unknown bagseed, 3 different sources. First run is purely for testing my setup. If it turns out well, then great

I have seen a lot of people here using Lowryder varieties. Can I get away with using a different strain. hell im not even sure if I can import seeds legally here (australia). Maybe if this one works, I can spend some time trying to get a dedicated strain for micro-grows.

Lighting
Will be some sort of CFL - due to heat and space. In Australia, summertime coming, heat is a major concern.

Heat:
Temps here can get to 40-45 degrees C (100 F) for you americans. Inside my house will probably not get below 25 deg C (77F) overnight

Soil/Hydro etc?
Any thoughts. I'm thinking of just hand watering (this time) with maybe some perlite/soil mixture ?

Airflow
PC case fans are only for circulation. The real airflow will be an inline fan just beyond the carbon filter. Any suggestion from you guys as to what size fan would be needed for this size environment?

Glass/perspex
Thinking of separating the lighting section from the growing area to isolate heat. Will perspex/glass reduce light penetration much ?

Movable lighting
In a small scale setup like this, would it be wise to have the lighting assembly lower during initial stages, then move it up to its final position over time ?

Novelty:
Being a computer geek, I am thinking of streaming a webcam inside the case. or at least a time lapse if nothing else :0

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case grow. Diagram attached. Your Thoughts ?

well someone at least comment on my pictures. Spent ages doing those while stoned. 3Dimensions was pretty awesome. Google Sketch Up if any one is interested

 

[ItsChrome]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

I am impressed with your sketch up skills, very nice and clean. Do you plan on using a full size ATX tower? nothing else seems like it would be worth it. I have thought of doing this before as well, just for the novelty of it. dont really see it being worth it in the long run really. ESP if you dont have a full size tower just laying around wasting space,. also the amount of dremel work required seems like a real pain in the butt.. but if you have the time, supplies and gumption. why not?

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

Im a PC tech, case modding enthusiast

I will most likely use some type of server case. Im going looking today.

The reason for using a PC case rather than a wooden box (for example), is for stealth reasons.

Ultimately if this works, i would like to combine both loves computers and cannabis. My next plan would be an operational PC in once case, immediately side by side with another identical case with goodies inside. Imaging what looked like a monster PC with water cooling etc, only to open it up and see something more exiting the other half

 

[ItsChrome]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

that would have to be one HUGE case. unless you where using a sever rack. I dont think a sever case would be much use for growing in. unless you get a huge one. they are longer than they are tall. your best bet would be a full size ATX. a good three plus feet tall 7 inches wide. cant go wrong.

I work in IT (well i am unemployed ATM) and have long been a case moder. In dremel we trust! haha. To grow in one you'r gonna have to gut it. remove all driver mounts, the motherboard mount, all of it. lots of cutting in tight places... have band aides on hand cause your hand will need them. haha. too bad i just throw out an old full sized case, i totally would have donated it.. it was massive. 4 1/2 feet tall 9 inches wide. it was old like 15 years old. i always wanted to grow in it.

 

[ItsChrome]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

you need some thing like this ATX AT 9 BAY FULL TOWER ATX SERVER PC CASE NEW COMPUTER.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

itsChrome, thanks for your input. yeah i will probably use a tall ATX style case. It just needs to 'look' like a PC from the outside. It will sit alongside my real PC

I know i will have to make a lot of modifications, but it will be no worse than a case mod I made for a friend where he had a remote automation system and a coffee perculator inside his PC He would switch it on via sending it an email from his blackberry !

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

I just went to the hardware store and found the prices (and availability) of most of the parts I need. The local hydro store has also been very helpful with advice.

Should I make a new thread as a grow journal ? I think I will

On another note, how do you talk to a hydro store person without mentioning what you are growing ? Is there some standard terminology ? It was funny because in the store there were a couple of older guys who seemed to be actually buying stuff for growing spinach etc.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

you need some thing like this

Yeah pretty much what im looking at, I have seen some with the same dimensions except they are 2 inches wider. I think the width would be a huge benefit to have in such a small space.

 

[ItsChrome]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

yeah but even with 7.5 you'll be able to work with it. and for $30 you cant really go wrong. once you remove bays and that mid support you'll have a good space to work with. naturally you'll be working your plants to spread out as long as you can to fill from side to side. given the planter height and bulb dept you'll have a good 18 to 19 inches of vertical grow. But yeah an additional 2 inches width would be nice. the down side is cases like this beast are increasingly harder to find. as is this looks like something some one found in a ware house lost and forgetten since the mid to late 90's.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

the down side is cases like this beast are increasingly harder to find. as is this looks like something some one found in a ware house lost and forgetten since the mid to late 90's.

Luckily (or not) I have many of these dinosaur cases at hand (friends/IT colleagues etc). Some of them need old tape drives and disk drives removed and hopefully only have small families of spiders living in them.

 

[k1net1k]

PC case microgrow discussion

I have just been testing with a CFL in a carboard box. They hardly even get warm at all. I think I will be able to forget about the perspex in my design

 

[Keith Lake]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

What do you have in mind for the carbon filter?

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

What do you have in mind for the carbon filter?

I am going to make something custom. I don't think anyone makes a small filter like I am trying for.

Im looking at making my own based on a few tutorials I have seen. Will most likely consist of chicken wire, aquarium charcoal, charcoal filter pads in layers.

If my girl can smell it then it fails the test. lol she doesn't know im doing this, so it will be a real test.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

Looking at fans. Just found this. Clipsal is one of our "local' brands. It got bought out by Schneider (a bigger german company i think) a few years back.

It has some very nice diagrams and tables for people trying to work out ventilation related stuff
https://www.clipsal.com.au/homeowner/__data/page/81/A0000046.pdf

 

[Keith Lake]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

That's prett trick - hope you post the pictures when you execute the plan

 

[Tokensmoke10]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

On another note, how do you talk to a hydro store person without mentioning what you are growing ? Is there some standard terminology ? It was funny because in the store there were a couple of older guys who seemed to be actually buying stuff for growing spinach etc.

If they ask, youre growing tomatoes. That's why when you usually go into a hydro store they are growing tomatoes of their own, that's because tomatoes and MJ require similar conditions.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

tomatoes and MJ require similar conditions.

Awesome

 

[ItsChrome]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

looks like your coming along nicely with your plans.. kepp up the good work.

 

[k1net1k]

Re: PC case microgrow. Pretty diagram. Looking for feedback before construction begin

Yeah, I am doing lots of research, and not a lot of action at the moment.

Trying to find a nice soil to use. I would like to use Fox Farms to keep everyone here happy, but I just can't find it anywhere in australia.

And it would be pretty funny importing soil.

I am also still trying to find the perfect PC case. There are a few I can get but I am looking for lack of features on the interior to make as little mods to the case as needed.