loft build questions

[Mysteri0n]

hi guys and gals,

ive decided to upscale my stealth cupboard and try hydro for the first time.

currently i have a bedside cabinet with a 125w red cfl, 1 intake and 1 exhaust fan and lined with diamond mylar. i have one plant in there on a 12/12 cycle and she is doing great.

i have a small loft space(about 2mtrs long, about 3/4 of a metre deep, and 2mtrs high).im going to be using the gt205 nft hydro systemhttp://root2success.co.uk/index.php?...oducts_id=1766, with 2 possibly 3 auto's as i already have the seeds.

just a couple of questions.
enviroment
should i build myself a grow box to combat heat and smell from giving me away?, or do i invest in a grow tent? or final option pimp out one of thoes linen wardrobe thingys?

next question..
lighting..
i am using currently cfl's but was thinking i have a cooltube spare from a previous grow should i use that and a 250w hps? but where would i duct the heat to because i dont really want ducting coming from my loft hatch. could i just duct it through a load of ducting and it would cool that way?
or do i just stick with 2x 250w cfl's?

one last one
heating
the uk is not the most warmest country in the world and even in summer loft spaces will get cold. should i also invest in some sort of heater?
are there any pc programmes or apps that can control and monitor temps and humidity remotely?

ill be starting a build and grow diary soon so all will be thanked.

also any tips on growing in lofts and/or building such things, let me know
(this was posted in the stealth and small grow section so if a mod could delete that one please )

[Grandad]

tent, hps with venting outside(or you'll get moisture build up in ur loft) and yes you'll need heating at night/lights off. if your running hydro you'll be adding water every day so won't need the computer programs to do stuff remotely as you'll be up there.

[Mr Gumby]

Hey mate, I've been asking myself those very questions lately as I'm about to set up a loft groom, first time at this whole malarkey.

Got a small Budbox (75x75x100), and on advice over the phone from Greens, who have been really helpful, went for the newish 150w minimax digital light with a dual spec lamp and mini-8 reflector. Passive intake from an unused bathroom vent and exhausting through the roof with 4" Rhino filter and Ruck fan combo into acoustic ducting. Got 3 feminised Joint Doctor Lowryder #2 seeds from Herbies which sound forgiving for the newbie, I'll be growing in soil but reckon I should have enough headroom for them.

You're right on the temperature issue, my loft can get really hot on a clear sunny day and go down to single figure temps on a cold one so to solve that problem I've decided to grow the Lowryders on a 24/0 photoperiod. My light and fan will be running constantly, which I hope will create a very stable environment regardless of the ambient temp, which will also (again I can only hope) encourage good lateral growth and discourage stretching. I actually e-mailed the Minimax people and got a reply from Richard, the guy who invented it, who said they have had the ballast running 24/7 for 3 months, which reassured me as obviously I won't be able to keep a constant eye on it. All the same I'm getting a smoke alarm up there. I got all the kit delivered today in fact, gonna get it assembled over the next week or so.

It's been costly, but I feel pretty confident it should work well. Thinking of a diary myself if I can be arsed, if only to put the Minimax to the test since there seems to be quite a scepticism about them. I've calculated the electricity cost on my tariff, including the fan, at £4.27 a week, better than paying for a temp control fan and all that jazz. Don't even need a timer or light controller.

[HighFlyerFlyingHigh]

A tent would be the quickest, easiest option in the longrun mate, as long john said youl need to vent out the hot air and can intake from the house

[Forest]

tent biggest you can fit in there (you always want more space)tents dont radiate heat ) to fit the space 5inch fan filter set 400w light( doubt you will need a cool tube until the summer) and then maybe not , and duct to the sofit board most are vented or put a vent in or the best way chop in to chimney if you have one , two foot tube heater or run light in the night and day temps will soon be good enough for a few mths and a good fan controller sth like a smsmcom to control your environment

a 205 is a great little set up and you can fit 4 autos in them no problem (add a air stone a pump to go with the 205)

ive had 4 normal plants in a 205 and scroged them and pulled 10/ 12 oz both times easily in a small space
110cm x 70 x 120cm tall with a 600 in a cool tube with a 6inch fan filter summer temps 28c under the glass

look for grobot or growbot for a app i think its called there is another but cant think if name sorry