8kw Grow - Would apreciate a bit of advice :)

[514-Represent]

Hello ICers... I've been reading this site for awhile now and have learnt a lot about the art of growing from you all. A big kudos to this forum and to the contributors.

I have a few questions that I'm hoping you could help me with....

1) Grow mediums? I'm looking into an Ebb & Flo system and was wondering what sort of yield to expect. I've grown in soil up to this point but I think a 8kw SOIL garden would drain my ailing body too much.

2) How many plants per light would be recommended? Maximum yield is the priority.

3) How many BTUs would you recommend with a room this size?

4) C02... on an operation this big... is it worth the added investment?

6) Is it better to do a "flip box" and split the room into two? If so, how would the light be positioned over the plants?

7) Furthermore, if I were to go with one LARGE 8kw room, how would the lights be positioned in order to obtain maximum efficiency?

8) What is the most efficient style of growing in order to obtain a maximum yield? Tree style? Medium size plants? Sea of green?

I thank you in advance and hope you guys can answer a few of my questions. Keep up the good work!

 

[TGT]

Hello and good luck on your extra large grow! I disagree with you that a soil garden is a lot of work. I have a 4 - 1000 watt perpetual grow and I find it very easy to take care of. Mind you it isn't an 8 - 1000 watt grow, but close. It would be only twice as much labour and this I would still find acceptable.

With mine all the work comes into play when transplanting. Once all the clones are transplanted into their final pots it's just a matter of watering, fertilizing and a little time to trim dead leaves, clean and a few other menial tasks. Usually one hour a night is all I need. Sometimes I have to postition and this takes quite a while, but this is only done once a week or so in bud.

I have not done hydro on a large scale, so I couldn't tell you which is easier, but I can say soil isn't much work for the final outcome.

I grow using vertical lighting and place my plants around each light. I like to keep the light at a 45 degree angle from the plant tops. I find this yeilds the best with a 50/50 indica/sativa hybrid. Stretch is a good thing. My plants are usually 2 feet tall when triggered and this usually takes about 4 weeks of veg. I use about 6 plants around each 1000 watt, and then fill in the space between lights with extra plants. I have grown numerous amounts of plants and find 6 to 8 under each 1000 vegged for 1 month gives me the greatest yeilds. It does depend on strain though. Any plant that grows like an AK47 or similar should do well.

Anyways, I am sure others will give you good advice also so I would suggest soaking it all in and pick the way you feel most comfortable with. A lot of research will pay off with such a large job. Good luck and keep us posted on how your grow goes!

TGT

 

[Guest]

One nice attribute of soil is: That shit doesn't spring a leak and flood the whole damned grow area (read house), and yes I have run hydro grows. Maybe just my bad.

Happy Growing and Peace

 

[MID TOWN]

If you go hydro I'd run some kind of bucket set up(KFB,DWC, or Ebb n Grow).

You may be able to yield higher with a SOG but with that big of a grow that equals a shit load of work and plants.

you could run like 30+ plants and horizontal lights with a couple weeks veg or you could run like 8 trees with verticals and a 1 month+ veg.

Or you could go with soil like the others said but I'd personally still go with trees and verticles.

hydro grows much faster though so that could be a factor you?


Probably your best bet is an ebb n grow system with trees. they bassically run themselves so if your semi new to hydro and want great results with a fool proof system then it would be perfect.

 

[pico]

Not to discourage you at all, but some of these questions you should be able to answer yourself if you plan on going this big. An 8k grow is nothing to sneeze at. I could be wrong, but I think you will find yourself in over your head. 8k is something to build up to, not bang out right away. Start with a couple of lights and work your way up.

How much money do you have anyways? Most people have no idea the ammount of money it takes to do something this size. Shit, buying the 8 lights is the cheap part and even those are going to cost you a few grand. I think I spent over 6 grand doing a basic 4k setup for a friend.

Like I said, don't want to discourage you, but realize that it isn't as easy as it looks and deffinately will cost double what you think it will. Plus you won't yield anywhere near where you think you will and you will inevitable encounter many problems along the way.

If I am totally off base and you have been banging out 2k grows with your eyes closed then tell me to **** off. I just see a lot of people start out with this type of question, buy some equipment, get in over their heads and lose their shorts. I mean hell you need at least 10-15 grand extra in the bank after supplies to pay rent/utils. If you are in Cali you will probably be spending 1000 a month on electric.

 

[Guest]

514-Represent:

About the heat, 8K will generate approximately 28,000btu of heat, that is just the light system.

The smell that many plants will generate will need some serious odor control/scrubbers.

Add CO2, more big bucks for generator or tanks, CAP controller and Air controller,

and the $$$$$$$$ continue to stack up.

Happy Growing and Peace

 

[Mr Celsius]

1) Grow mediums? I'm looking into an Ebb & Flo system and was wondering what sort of yield to expect. I've grown in soil up to this point but I think a 8kw SOIL garden would drain my ailing body too much.

I personally would go with organics and a drip system... no back pain.

2) How many plants per light would be recommended? Maximum yield is the priority.

From a strictly efficiency standpoint... 1 plant per sq foot with a 2 week veg. So 16 plants a light.

3) How many BTUs would you recommend with a room this size?

Well 8000x4000btu = 32000 btu's, I would go air cooled to reduce your electrical costs.

4) C02... on an operation this big... is it worth the added investment?

Well, if you are going to be using co2 then thats extra heat to deal with. I would say yes, if you can handle the heat.

6) Is it better to do a "flip box" and split the room into two? If so, how would the light be positioned over the plants?

If you don't want to buy extra ballasts, then yes... also easier to deal with heat. Center the bulb in the middle of the plants.

7) Furthermore, if I were to go with one LARGE 8kw room, how would the lights be positioned in order to obtain maximum efficiency?

Just put the plants in rows and space the hoods appropriately, the extra light from each hood overlap with the others.

8) What is the most efficient style of growing in order to obtain a maximum yield? Tree style? Medium size plants? Sea of green?

SOG is probably the most efficient, but if you veg longer then you'll probably have just as much of a harvest. There's no way to cheat into maximum yield.

 

[anonymiss12345]

I'm getting the same vibe as Pico is on this one.
I could elaborate on a very simple and quick 8K setup.
But if you are just asking for the sake of conversation and 'what if'...save my time ok
If you are for real doing this within the next 3mths and have $15grand in your pocket....well pardon me and maybe we'll elaborate :smile:

 

[Mr Celsius]

Don't let this guys discourage you. If you have the resources (e.g. $$, time & labor) then do it. If you fail, do it again and again. My first larger run (6k) pulled 7lbs... not great, but good for urkel. I had grown a couple times outdoors and helped a friend grow 4 plants in a closet, but that was it. I just read, read, read and read some more and was able to apply that knowledge into what I needed to do.

 

[pico]

If you fail and don't have any more money you are ****ed. There is no second chances when you **** up a harvest and rent is due and you don't have any money. This is why I say you need extra money in the bank just in case.

I do agree that it is totally possible. The read read read and read some more thing is what you need to do. Problem is that you should be able to answer all of these questions after read read, and if you read read read some more then you deffinately shouldn't be asking these questions. I mean **** how many threads are dedicated to these questions above.

But hey, if you are serious then I know I will help you and a lot of other people will be there to help as well. Sometimes I just feel like a reality check is needed. Going big is harder than it looks. Going big changes your life in good ways and bad. Don't let my grows fool you, I have lights well in to the double digits. No need to share everything with the world.

 

[Blunted22]

Hey man if you have everythign go for it im setting my 7000w house up as we speak. Ive gotten a couple 2000w grow under my belt and i was going ebb and flo like you want to.

I say go trees man. The mother and cutting upkeep for just one 4x8 ebb and flo is redicoulouse and that just 2000w so you got another 3 tables to go. i say go trees blazeone ups or big tokes


i got to go to work ill try to answer mrope questions later.

 

[TGT]

I like to keep the total watt consumption under 6000 in a residential dwelling. 4 - 1000 watt HPS, fans, air conditioning, dehumidifier and carbon scrubber make about 6000. It's not too bad when the lights are on only 12 hours a day. I think I pay about $500.00 every 2 months, so it shouldn't raise any suspicion. Anymore and I would be concerned. What was my point...... oh ya, I just wanted to say be careful with your hydro consumption. I hope this makes sense, I am too stoned right now to type. Good luck!

TGT

 

[514-Represent]

Hello all!

I appreciate your responses and let me assure you that I am very serious about this project. This isn't just a query thread... it's a plea for recommendations so I can do this grow the best I can. So please, take this thread seriously.

pico: This isn't a starting point for me. I would never begin with a grow this large. I have been growing smaller operations (2-3k) but when aspiring to something like 8ks I want some advice from the pros. I'm budgeting the project at 8,000$ so I want the best bang for my bucks. Don't worry about the expenses, it isn't a problem.

Ty: How much more $$$ does C02 add to the system on a monthly basis?

Anonymiss: I am very serious about this grow, please elaborate further. You sound like you may have some good ideas!!

Celcuis: 6k for 7p... that's a great number. What were you growing on? Medium? Nutes? Sealed room?

Blunted: Will I get extra yield off the "tree" style or is a SOG approach more efficient? I don't mind that extra month of veg but as long as the output makes up for it.

Thank you all very much for your responses. Like I said, I've researched this type of grow before posting this thread but there were some custom made questions I needed answered by the pros. Keep it up guys, I appreciate it!

 

[Guest]

I'll hip you to some co2 facts,its taken me some time to see an actual 25% increase in weight but that is the outcome,heavy plants wanting to fall all over themselves.First don't use a portable AC in your operation,single or dual hose stay away from them.Second if you use a generator and I recommend it,don't use a "cyclestat timer" as a means to enrich the room,a controller like the cap PPM-3 is a must!You dont want more than around a 200PPM fluctuation in the room during those 12 hours the lights are on and it takes a controller,the cyclestat timer just doesnt get it.Keep canopy temps at around 85 degrees and set dehumidifier for 50%-60% during the stretch of 12/12 lowering it to 30-40% during flowering.Get a lazer thermometer to check canopy temps.I've done experiments lowering temps and co2 during ripening the last couple weeks of 12/12 since they really dont utilize the excess co2 but only coloring was affected,I suggest keeping co2 and 85 degree temps until harvest.You'll have to with a perpetual.

 

[MID TOWN]

Your not going to get a larger harvest by doing trees over SOG. but you WILL save yourself ALOT of work and of course you wont be putting yourself in federal risk.

I would want multiple partners IF I were doing that many tables to help me with all the work. but I DON'T want partners so If it were me I'd do trees, all the way.

If you can cool a sealed room with that many watts then CO2 is probably the best thing that you can add to your room. And like AMERICAN said you NEED to use a controller. It's too hard to try and dose it yourself.

 

[514-Represent]

American: Thanks for the information man. I will definitely use your advice.

Midtown: How much more of a yield would be generated with tables (SOG) over trees? How many plants would be placed under each light?

 

[_Dude]

1) Grow mediums? I'm looking into an Ebb & Flo system and was wondering what sort of yield to expect. I've grown in soil up to this point but I think a 8kw SOIL garden would drain my ailing body too much.

Expanded clay, coco coir, and rockwool all seem popular. I use Hydroton (I'm rooting clones for my first Ebb & Flow setup right now).

2) How many plants per light would be recommended? Maximum yield is the priority.

If you get any kind of useful answer to this question, I'd probably die of a heart attack.

I'm going with 16 plants under 1K in my 4x4 tub.

3) How many BTUs would you recommend with a room this size?

There's a guide on this somewhere - try eBay or Amazon.com, I think one of those sites has one. Btw...a room WHAT size?

4) C02... on an operation this big... is it worth the added investment?

I don't see why not.

6) Is it better to do a "flip box" and split the room into two? If so, how would the light be positioned over the plants?

I don't understand the question - how does a flip box have anything to do with light positioning?

7) Furthermore, if I were to go with one LARGE 8kw room, how would the lights be positioned in order to obtain maximum efficiency?

That question is just begging to be answered with other questions. Without knowing your setup, the obvious answer seems to be to put them next to each other so the light coverages overlap slightly, keeping in mind how far you can reach into a dense canopy.

8) What is the most efficient style of growing in order to obtain a maximum yield? Tree style? Medium size plants? Sea of green?

From what I keep reading, lots of small plants is the way to go, but you'll be ****ed at sentencing.

 

[_Dude]

If you fail and don't have any more money you are ****ed. There is no second chances when you **** up a harvest and rent is due and you don't have any money. This is why I say you need extra money in the bank just in case.

Unless one engages in a revolutionary new concept in getting the bills paid...it's this thing called a job...

 

[_Dude]

One nice attribute of soil is: That shit doesn't spring a leak and flood the whole damned grow area (read house), and yes I have run hydro grows. Maybe just my bad.

Happy Growing and Peace

There are some easy ways to avoid flooding, even for renters (though renters who grow have screws loose IMO). Just make a square around your setup out of 2x4s or whatever and throw a tarp over the area. If you own, do the same and install a sump pump.

 

[Mr Celsius]

There are some easy ways to avoid flooding, even for renters (though renters who grow have screws loose IMO). Just make a square around your setup out of 2x4s or whatever and throw a tarp over the area. If you own, do the same and install a sump pump.

If you read my sig, I'm going against it (the stuff in red).

Man, what an arrogant statement.