Looking for some input/advice....

[Petch]

Whats up all...

This is my first attempt at growing, and I am using some random seeds I had laying around from the last few batches I picked up. I am looking for some input on my grow setup/plans...

I have been reading forums, watching movies, and reading books on growing for sometime and finally got my ass in gear to get this shit started. I am fairly broke right now (fuckin student loans), but I am still looking to get a decent setup going, but I cant buy it all at once. I planned on setting up my room to get me started (pics to follow later), and a decent flowering light.

For the time being, I was looking at getting a 600w HPS system, and looking to grow 6-9 plants at a time. I was checking out this Valubrite Wing 600 watt HPS system with Xtrasun ballast and 600 Standard HPS bulb. I was trying to figure out how to get hooked up with a cheap system from e-conolight.com, but I cant figure out what I need or how to rig it... If someone could point me in the right direction that would be stellar.

Also, I can't splurge for the mylar or heavy white reflective material right now, but I plan on purchasing some in the near future. I think if I can find it, I have some white gloss paint that I can cover the brick/wood with, just to get me by for right now.

The grow room measures 70 in. L X 48 in. W X 75in H... If I did my math right, I should only need roughly two PC Fans (about 100 CFM each), one for drawing air into the room and one for pulling it out.

There was a bunch of clay soil that I had to dig out to clean this space up...

Hanging some of the framing to hang the mylar from...

I plan to mount these fans inside the existing vents....
To get air in and out of the space, I am going to attempt to use my ventalation that is currently in place, I removed one piece of piping and that gave me my intake and output for my air.

For the smell factor, I have been tossing around two ideas: 1) Follow videos similar to this or this, and attempt to build my own Carbon Filter. or 2) Try this "Perfect Odor Neutrilizer".

I already have the lights and fans on timers and have the following equipment or its in the mail:

pH Soil Tester
pH Water Tester
Day/Night Thermometer (with highs/lows)
Hygrometer
Osolating Fan
And various other basics...

I am looking for inputs on how to improve on what I am planning on doing/buying or currently doing or anyway to cheaply improve my grow.

I have more information posted in the Canabis Infermery about my grow and soil mix, because I think I am currently having some issues with my girls.


Later

 

[B420]

Instead of using the mylar you said you would use gloss white paint. I would actually suggest using flat white paint instead. I think you could get a few grows in without using any of the mylar or panda film. And I am no expert on PC fans but I am not sure that they would be enough to cool that room. And I would also suggest having only a powered exhaust, so that you can accomplish negative pressure to contain the smell.

 

[Petch]

Ill check into getting just the exhaust fan setup and see how that works.

Given that this is in the basement, and its going to be cold here for the next few months, even if the fans were slightly lackluster that it wouldnt hurt the temp in here. I am thinking that if I were to add a carbon filter on, then I would need a stronger fan....

B420: What Carbon Filter are you using?

 

[Che]

For that space, you'll want a decent fan. Get something that runs on 120v so you can just tape it onto your ducting and blow clean air out of the room in style. At least 250CFM would be good, get a real ball bearing inline fan, like a Vortex or Can, or a knockoff of those.. use the matched carbon filter for the fan you buy. A fan speed controller can help you adjust so in the cold months you can turn it down and keep the ladies happy. In summer you can blast it...

You've got a nice light picked out, 600s have lots of out put. You might be able to get away with a 1000 or 2 600s in that space..

 

[Petch]

For that space, you'll want a decent fan. Get something that runs on 120v so you can just tape it onto your ducting and blow clean air out of the room in style. At least 250CFM would be good, get a real ball bearing inline fan, like a Vortex or Can, or a knockoff of those.. use the matched carbon filter for the fan you buy. A fan speed controller can help you adjust so in the cold months you can turn it down and keep the ladies happy. In summer you can blast it...

You've got a nice light picked out, 600s have lots of out put. You might be able to get away with a 1000 or 2 600s in that space..

Thanks for the input, do you have any (somewhat cheap) Fan/Carbon Filters that you could suggest?

As for the light, I am going to try to keep it to a single light for the time due to cost. After looking around I found that the 600w setup I mentioned above was the best cost to watt that I could afford to get. I am only looking to do 6-9 plants under the light, but I do understand the more light that I can get the bigger my yield will be.

 

[Che]

Depending on where you live there will be different options available to you. You can get a 6" Cap inline for discount hydroponics for about $120.. add and active air 33 and a flange and you're at about $240.. if you use the 6" fan you might want a fan speed controller, as they can be loud and move a suprising amount of air.

 

[Petch]

Depending on where you live there will be different options available to you. You can get a 6" Cap inline for discount hydroponics for about $120.. add and active air 33 and a flange and you're at about $240.. if you use the 6" fan you might want a fan speed controller, as they can be loud and move a suprising amount of air.

I think that would be an ideal setup, but I am looking to do this on a much cheaper scale if possible. I really don't have $240 to drop on a fan/carbon filter for right now.

Any cheaper suggestions?

 

[Che]

Yes, just build a DIY carbon scrubber. Can you afford just the fan, a flange, and some aluminum tape as well as the DIY supplies to make the scrubber?? Also there are going to be slightly cheaper fans that you can get away with, although that is a good price.

Follow this link
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29402

 

[Petch]

Yes, just build a DIY carbon scrubber. Can you afford just the fan, a flange, and some aluminum tape as well as the DIY supplies to make the scrubber?? Also there are going to be slightly cheaper fans that you can get away with, although that is a good price.

Follow this link
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29402

I think I can manage getting this DIY setup... I had that thread pulled up before and closed it without bookmarking it!

I am going to look around for a good fan/flange like you mentioned, but if it came down to it and I didn't have the cash, I know I could rig something up that pushes more than 150 CFM with no problem.

 

[o0th3d4nk0o]

such a perfect space!!!!
where does the one vent go?

and is there a second vent opening I see in one of those pictures?

if so where does it go.
ahhh. rig it up make some scrilla
and then upgrade the whole set up!!!



personally I think those walls are a little haggard so I would definitely frame your ceiling and walls. stuff some insulation between the drywall and the brick foundation.

Best of luck

 

[o0th3d4nk0o]

 

[Petch]

such a perfect space!!!!
where does the one vent go?

and is there a second vent opening I see in one of those pictures?

if so where does it go.
ahhh. rig it up make some scrilla
and then upgrade the whole set up!!!



personally I think those walls are a little haggard so I would definitely frame your ceiling and walls. stuff some insulation between the drywall and the brick foundation.

Best of luck

There are 2 vents in the picture. The vents that are open went to the laundry room, so my air would come from the HVAC system and then exhaust to the laundry room. The other vent goes to my computer room, so I cant sacrifice that in the summer, if I do my systems will over heat and I'll have issues.

What do you mean rig up a scrilla?

As for the walls, I have thought about covering them in drywall but funding is going to limit what I am going to do right now. For the time being I think Im going to paint the walls with a flat white paint, and then later upgrade to Panda Film and cover them. After a few grows, I may consider going back and covering the walls.

 

[Petch]

I think I finally found all the parts for my lighting system. Instead of going with that pre-made 600w HPS system, I started looking at how I could build a system myself to save some cash. What I came up with is below, and I upgraded to building a 1000w Switchable system.

My 1000w Switchable (HPS/MH) System:

XTRASUN II Aluminum Wing Reflector - $19.98

Xtrasun 1000 watt Halide/Sodium Convertible Ballast - $128.98

All System Cord Set - w/15' Cord - $29.95

1000 Watt Eiko Sodium Bulb - $35.98



Is there anything I'm missing? This gives me a complete 1000w Switchable system for ~$215 + Shipping. I'll have to pickup a MH bulb before my next grow and use that for my vegatitive grow.

 

[Petch]

Yes, just build a DIY carbon scrubber. Can you afford just the fan, a flange, and some aluminum tape as well as the DIY supplies to make the scrubber?? Also there are going to be slightly cheaper fans that you can get away with, although that is a good price.

Follow this link
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29402

Do you think a modified version of this (http://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=1806343&postcount=45) would work for my fan? I could get similar flanges/ducting like the guy did on that post and hook it up to my existing vents.

 

[Che]

^^Yup.. if you can find a stanley

 

[Petch]

^^Yup.. if you can find a stanley

I think I have one in storage right now... Ill have to look around. Thanks again for your input.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I think I finally found all the parts for my lighting system. Instead of going with that pre-made 600w HPS system, I started looking at how I could build a system myself to save some cash. What I came up with is below, and I upgraded to building a 1000w Switchable system.

My 1000w Switchable (HPS/MH) System:

XTRASUN II Aluminum Wing Reflector - $19.98

Xtrasun 1000 watt Halide/Sodium Convertible Ballast - $128.98

All System Cord Set - w/15' Cord - $29.95

1000 Watt Eiko Sodium Bulb - $35.98



Is there anything I'm missing? This gives me a complete 1000w Switchable system for ~$215 + Shipping. I'll have to pickup a MH bulb before my next grow and use that for my vegatitive grow.

I started with 1000W switchable and I'd like to give you advice from my experience. During this first grow you'll be learning a lot about a whole bunch of different subjects the whole time and only having a few plants that first time will be a significant reduction on your stress levels.

I usually suggest folks start with a 400w CMH lamp for their first grow. (You can build the same switchable ballast only 400w) It'll be even less expensive and will leave you with additional funds for other stuff you're going to need.
Once you finish your first grow you'll have a much better understanding of what's going on, how the plant grows, how it feeds and how it matures.

If you want to go with a 1000w lamp at that point you already have a bitchin Mum/Clone 400w CMH ready to pump things up. Your 1000w will never lack for healthy clones to flower out.

Starting with only 400w has several other advantages. It allows you to keep everything small and manageable if things go wrong. Fixing a 400w grow odor problem can be several hundred dollars less expensive than a 1000w odor problem.

Likewise the heat production is less and fans are about half the price than for venting a 1000w.

The feeding costs less and the amount of water you'll go through with a hydro setup is less than half. (a 4x4 foot scrog under a 1000w HPS will use up to 5gal a day during peak growth during flower)

If you're concerned about yield, don't be. You're not getting into this for one grow are you? You're not some kid that can be peer pressured into doing a 'Macho' grow instead of a well planned and executed learning grow, right?

You've got a great space there. I'm looking forward to seeing how you fill it.

 

[Petch]

I started with 1000W switchable and I'd like to give you advice from my experience. During this first grow you'll be learning a lot about a whole bunch of different subjects the whole time and only having a few plants that first time will be a significant reduction on your stress levels.

I usually suggest folks start with a 400w CMH lamp for their first grow. (You can build the same switchable ballast only 400w) It'll be even less expensive and will leave you with additional funds for other stuff you're going to need.
Once you finish your first grow you'll have a much better understanding of what's going on, how the plant grows, how it feeds and how it matures.

If you want to go with a 1000w lamp at that point you already have a bitchin Mum/Clone 400w CMH ready to pump things up. Your 1000w will never lack for healthy clones to flower out.

Starting with only 400w has several other advantages. It allows you to keep everything small and manageable if things go wrong. Fixing a 400w grow odor problem can be several hundred dollars less expensive than a 1000w odor problem.

Likewise the heat production is less and fans are about half the price than for venting a 1000w.

The feeding costs less and the amount of water you'll go through with a hydro setup is less than half. (a 4x4 foot scrog under a 1000w HPS will use up to 5gal a day during peak growth during flower)

If you're concerned about yield, don't be. You're not getting into this for one grow are you? You're not some kid that can be peer pressured into doing a 'Macho' grow instead of a well planned and executed learning grow, right?

You've got a great space there. I'm looking forward to seeing how you fill it.

Thanks for you input Hydro.

This is not going to be a once and done deal, but the reason I was looking to go with the biggest lamp that I could right now was due to costs. Right now I am looking at spending $200-250 on my light setup, if I go with a 1000w system. I haven't researched 400w systems, but the 600w systems that I did check out were only $30-40 cheaper than what I am looking at right now. Would it really be worth going back to buy this all over again?

I don't believe that I will have enough cash for awhile to go out and buy another light setup, so my thought behind doing this was that I could "grow" into my light setup. At first I will most likely only have 2-3 plants going, but after the first grow that should expand to 6-9 plants. I was going to plan on using clones, under some CF lights (to keep costs down), in-lieu of keeping a mother plant around, but I am open to suggestions on that topic.

Could I use the same 1000w Ballast, and just use a 400w or 600w bulb? Then when the time comes I can just upgrade the bulb and the rest of my setup is good to go.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Thanks for you input Hydro.

This is not going to be a once and done deal, but the reason I was looking to go with the biggest lamp that I could right now was due to costs. Right now I am looking at spending $200-250 on my light setup, if I go with a 1000w system. I haven't researched 400w systems, but the 600w systems that I did check out were only $30-40 cheaper than what I am looking at right now. Would it really be worth going back to buy this all over again?

I don't believe that I will have enough cash for awhile to go out and buy another light setup, so my thought behind doing this was that I could "grow" into my light setup. At first I will most likely only have 2-3 plants going, but after the first grow that should expand to 6-9 plants. I was going to plan on using clones, under some CF lights (to keep costs down), in-lieu of keeping a mother plant around, but I am open to suggestions on that topic.

Could I use the same 1000w Ballast, and just use a 400w or 600w bulb? Then when the time comes I can just upgrade the bulb and the rest of my setup is good to go.

I was in your same boat. I opted for the 1000w.

You actually have plenty of time and 2-3 plants will be great under a 400w. You can easily yield a half pound from a 400w light so don't worry about 'not having enough'.

As for 'purchasing equipment again' just get over that right now. You're going to be buying growing equipment for life.

Start small, learn well and then expand to the level that's most comfortable and right for you personally. I had to sit on my 1000w packed away for over 5 years at one point. If I'd had picked up a 400w originally, I would have been able to grow quite a few times I didn't due to space, money and ventilation constraints that come with a 1000w.

Be a man, get the smaller light. You'll be very happy.

No, you can't plug a 400 or 600 into a 1000w ballast without blowing the bulb up either immediately or eventually. Sorry.