Need Advice For Next Grow

[NorCalFor20]

For my next grow I want to use 3 more 400w cmh and use a hydroponic setup. I am also going to use a 5k btu window unit I bought and make a box for it hopefully if by gods grace I can manage to do it. I am not a diy'er at all. I am going to grow using feminized grape ape seeds possibly if I can get them.If not some type of feminized seed. I am not sure how many plants would be appropriate under 1600w or if 1600 is over kill?

I already have 400w of cmh and I would like to and could afford to do 3 more but im not sure I wanna have that kind of power drain it might be a bit suspcious. I know people out there are running way bigger setups but I just don't have the nuts to do it. 400w, or 800w is not suspicious IMO because I have a computer that has a 800w power supply, and a television that is 675w.

Not sure if I want to do soil again or invest in a hydro setup. I've already got enough nutes to use for a few more grows and some tomatoes and carrots while im at it.

When I do this next one I'm going to be moving into a new house so im not sure yet what my area will be but if neccassary I can use a spare bedroom. So space is not a concern, I have this Idea of getting 2 4 x 4 darkroom tents in a spare bedroom running the tents with carbon filters and an extra carbon filter in spare bedroom so I can smoke in there and contain all my smell in one room, throw a tv, couch , computer in there make it my smoking/growing room so the rest of my house is spotless.

So what would be a good feminized seed bank to use? I don't want hermi's I know some feminized seeds result in hermis but don't certin seed banks have special methods for feminizing seeds to prevent hermies? I would think serious or sensi seedbanks feminized seeds would be ok since they are reputable seedbanks but I am not sure.

Also how many plants should I grow under 1600w and how long should I veg?

 

[impeachme2]

-You should do a lot more planning before spending money.
-You don't need a veg tent as big as your flower tent, so go for a smaller one.
-I would recommend running a sealed system if you want to run an A/C, so you don't exhaust cold air. That requires CO2 which you can setup for ~$200-$250.
-If your ambient air temps are warmer than the temps you want to run your grow, I wouldn't do tents.
-Try this instead of making a box... http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=94357
-Switching from dirt to hydro can cost a good amount of money, especially if you want it easy to maintain.

 

[toodles]

You need to think about electrical power issues too. Get some advice from the electrical guys on here.

IMO you're gonna have problems getting 1600watts with all the stuff that goes with it PLUS a 5000 BTU A/C, PLUS your TV stereo and whatever else is going in there. Normally a bedroom has only one 15 amp branch circuit supplied to it. You can't run all that on 15 amps. But better you get some electrical advice from the real electricians here.

Toodles

 

[NorCalFor20]

Ok this is what i was thinking about.Since my veg tent dosn't need to be as big as my flowering tent , im thinking, I should get a dr120 for veg and a 150 for flower. I am confused as to what lights i should use in there. I am thinking for the dr120 veg tent use 2x 400w cmh and for the flower tent use a 1kw metal sodium hybrid bulb or would hps be better? what about a 600w hps and 2 400w CMHs? thats brings my total to 2k watts..... may be over kill but who knows. I def want 50w/per sq ft so i have max lighting. i think ill stick with soil and use more grow bags.

Also for power issues, I can just upgrade my service to 30 amp service right?

What about 8 400w CMH bulbs in a DR 300 and grow from start to finish in there?

 

[toodles]

Ok this is what i was thinking about.Since my veg tent dosn't need to be as big as my flowering tent , im thinking, I should get a dr120 for veg and a 150 for flower. I am confused as to what lights i should use in there. I am thinking for the dr120 veg tent use 2x 400w cmh and for the flower tent use a 1kw metal sodium hybrid bulb or would hps be better? what about a 600w hps and 2 400w CMHs? thats brings my total to 2k watts..... may be over kill but who knows. I def want 50w/per sq ft so i have max lighting. i think ill stick with soil and use more grow bags.

Also for power issues, I can just upgrade my service to 30 amp service right?

What about 8 400w CMH bulbs in a DR 300 and grow from start to finish in there?

As I hope the electrical guys will explain better, your problem isn't your service; it's a distribution issue. In most homes I'm familiar with, bedrooms are supplied from just one branch/breaker in the panel. Usually 15 amps but somes 20amp(? for electricians). All the outlets in the room are on the same 15/20 amp breaker. One 15/20 amp breaker will not supply anywhere near what you need for what you're planning....at least IMO it won't. There are ways to solve that problem, but I'd rather let competent electricians speak to that. OK?

You do not need a tent or HID lighting for vegging/moms/clones IMO. I have a dirt simple setup of track shelving, 2 each 16"x48" plywood shelves with 2 each 4 bulb 48" T-8 fixtures. Bulbs are 32W each so thats about 250 watts for 10 square feet of growing area (16"x96") I can veg 6 plants per shelf and grow them to 18" if I need to. Or I could have several mothers and a shitload of clones in the same space....for a 250Watts of lighting that is MUCH cooler than HID lighting. I don't need fans or blowers. And so far odor hasn't been a problem vegging the half dozen strains I've grown so far. I admit that could be a problem depending on strains chosen. Some stink while vegging; some do not.


You really do need some good advice from the electrical guys before going any further though.

Toodles

Here's one shelf/light of mine. Those are 1/2+ gallon pots. 6 fit easily.

 

[PharmaCan]

You really do need some good advice from the electrical guys before going any further though.

I don't know why, you're doing a very competent job of explaining this yourself!

In any event, NorCal is all over the place with his ideas at this point and needs to make some decisions about the grow room set-up to determine his power consumption to determine his wiring needs.

PC

 

[yamaha_1fan]

PC is right, Norcal needs to narrow down his plans. We could explain every possibility and that would confuse him.

NC, just plan on doing some wiring when you move. You cant just switch a breaker though. Theres more to it then that. If it makes you nervous, getting an electrician to do it before you setup would be great. Tons of reasons why you would need extra circuits.

 

[NorCalFor20]

Good words Yamaha fan, also glad to see your still here after your scare- stay safe man!

I have pretty much narrowed it down about to a pin. Without further adue....

NorCalFor20's Next Grow Plan

1 equipped dr 120 with fans,filter,hangers,ducting ect Running 2 x 600w

then maybe another one just like it. or maybe just one dr 300 with 8 600w

going to run CH9's Feminized Green Bud or Fem. Hash Plant. 10 plants under each 1200w's for a total of 20 plants under 2400w. I figure if I have a 3 bedroom, 1 bedroom I will sleep in, the other 2 will have 1 tent in each room to stretch out my power service and reduce load on breakers.Sounds like a plan?

When I say equipped I meana 4" vortec fan, for my lights, another 4" vortech for the tent itself/filter per tent and a DFS2 Dutch Breeze Carbon Filter, per tent 8 feet of 4" flex duct per tent....hose clamps, light hangers.

thats if i do 2 120's but i might just run one dr 300

what would you guys suggest?

Any flaws in my plan?

 

[toodles]

"then maybe another one just like it. or maybe just one dr 300 with 8 600w"

Have you been paying attention? You cannot run 4800 watts of lights plus all the other stuff in one fucking bedroom without some serious rewiring, etc. Do you understand that?


Toodles

 

[impeachme2]

Isn't that too much lighting in those tents? 2 600w's in a 4x4 area?

 

[NorCalFor20]

"then maybe another one just like it. or maybe just one dr 300 with 8 600w"

Have you been paying attention? You cannot run 4800 watts of lights plus all the other stuff in one fucking bedroom without some serious rewiring, etc. Do you understand that?


Toodles

Already solved that little problem, thanks to the real gurus here on ic. no need to be a dick.

 

[toodles]

I'm not trying to be a dick, but you're still so far from having a workable plan that it's kinda sad.

Good luck

Toodles

PS
EDIT: I had some other stuff to say but withdrew it. I doubt you would have approved