About to start my first grow. Here is what I have.

[GreenLiberty]

Going to give this a shot. Looking to grow 2 small medicinals (scrog). Let me start with my supply list.

1. Aviditi tent 36" x 20" x 63"
2. 2' florescent 2 bulb fixture (for seedlings.)
3. 150 watt Sun System HPS light (I will run this in conjunction with the 2' florescent during veg and flower state.)
4. Light timer.
5. Ventech 4" 190cfm inline duct fan
6. Variable fan speed controller
7. General Organics Go Box
8. PH test kit.
9. 20lb bag of Bush Doctor Coco Loco
10. Temp/humidity gauge.

I have a nice variety seed bank that was provided by a friend. I've selected five C99 seeds and five Strawberry Cough x Sweet Tooth #4 to germ. I'm hoping to get one strong female of each.

This will be a closet grow. The closet is very small, the tent will take up half of it.

I plan on cutting a 4" hole in the ceiling to remove/exhaust the hot air from the tent. I'm not sure if I should put the fan in the attic then run the ducting to the top of the tent from the ceiling, or, mount the fan to the top of the tent and then run the ducting to the ceiling from the fan. The attic seems like a good place for the fan due to noise reasons. My roof has a ridge vent that runs the whole length of the house, so putting the hot exhausted air into the attic will not be problematic. Please, do educate me if I am wrong. That is why I'm here! I'm all for suggestions and constructive criticism. I really want to have a successful first grow and I'm eager to learn.

I live in the south where daytime temps outside reach 100 degrees in the summer. Indoor temps hover around 77-78 degrees. Fortunately, the hot part of the year is behind us now. So I think the timing of my first grow couldn't be better. I will be keeping the closet door open (during light cycle) with a Vornado small room circulator fan, pushing cool air, pointed at the open closet door. I'm not very concerned with the temps during the lights off period, but I am concerned with heat build up in the closet during "lights on". Exhausting the hot, used air into the attic seems like the logical thing to do.

Any feedback and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FromHolland]

I would use a fan with a higher cap to deal with the heat during the summer days and you also need to take care of the distance between the tent and the attic. For every bend you make in the tube the suction of the fan will be decreased with a couple percent.

Just install everything and do a test run before you actually put your plants in it. See how high the temps get etc.

I think you need a filter to deal with the odor. Good luck.

 

[GreenLiberty]

Yeah. I will get a carbon filter soon. As for the ducting, it will be a straight shot to the ceiling from the top of the tent. No bend.

 

[vostok]

150w hps is more heat than light, I'd go as a minimum 250w hps, but by far the best would be 400w mh/hps digital, you get M/h or hps at the flick of a switch, this light is best in a 1x meter or 3'x3' tent, that way you can get 9 plants in 3 us gallon pots, to 3 ft high in 3 months, guaranteed to put a smile on your face, at each watering ....lol

the 2 foot T5 is junk and ok for germing and early veg, support it by adding another to get you up to week 3-4 late veg, then to the hps, or better flick to the 400w digital,
lots of options here, let your experience be the guide ...pics please ...lol

 

[PinkFan]

All The Best With Your Grow....

 

[Granger2]

Get a 400w adjustable digital ballast. You can run it at 2 lower wattage settings or the full 400, depending on heat, plant stage, etc. Use straight metal duct pipe where possible. Looks like you've got 5 sq ft. Good luck. -granger

 

[GreenLiberty]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am on a very limited budget...as in, I have no expendable income. And I won't likely be able to upgrade until after the end of the year. Will what I have now work for two small plants?

 

[GreenLiberty]

I'm going to proceed with what I have now, but I know that I am definitely going to need a cool tube light come next spring. Anyone use these? The reviews on amazon seem quite positive.

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Hortic...413344322&sr=8-5&keywords=400w+mh/hps+digital

 

[FromHolland]

Just an another note about safety, you should use a relay box + timer to switch the bulbs. Never connect a bulb directly on the timer.