Recommendations / Suggestions for my 1st full size - Grow Tent 600W

[mgjscdhl]

After 3 failed attempts with a "stealth grow" I'm going to "full-scale".
I want to get a grow tent instead of building the room because a) I'm not that handy b) I may be
moving in 6-8 months. I hope to be the last thread before my next grow but will keep it updated up
until the seedlings pop…. Two variables I haven't decided on, yet, are seeds and nutrients.
I don't think I want to try organics because Its easier for me and if I run into problems I
should be able to provide ph as well as ec/tds readings.

I have two "favorite" choices for nutrients:
adv. nutrients - Sensi grow/bloom /w ph perfect
Canna grow/bloom for soil.

I have two sets of seeds I either got free from a seed bank or from the community.
If I can't get them to "pop" I intend on buying a sative/indica hybrid from a seed bank.
I'm only growing 4 plants at a time, no more than 6.

10x c99 / Cherry Bomb
10x "Mystery Seeds" (genetics unknown)


The tent I was looking at is Secret Jardin dr2 120 - 4x4'x7' tent, going by
the specs on their site I was looking at the following for hardware:

600w switchable/dimmable lumitek hps/mh digital ballast
450cfm 6' vortex fan
Air-tight, cooled 6' reflector (SilverStar / Sunbox)
Can Filter 50 - 420CFM

I will be growing in sunshine mix #4
I already have a 4x 24w t5 fluorescent lamp for seedlings
Hanna tds/ec/ph meter
… Misc pots, temp/hum, etc..

These seem to be similar design/specs as several threads I've looked at. I'll need to choose my ventilation later on, and
lighting. I saw some "controllers" at the hydroponic store today. One (grozone tv2) was a day/night temperature sensor
that looked really cool. Has anybody from here had any experience with them?

As always I'd appreciate any criticism or suggestions by the community. If I've neglected some information please ask.

Thanks for viewing
Geo

 

[DeoXy]

Grow tents are the perfect quick put up n take down grow spaces w/o having to damage the surrounding areas w/ holes and such and will last years if taken care of(15-20 min assembly, quicker if you have help).. I personally use a 600w dimmable lumatek digi HPS light system inside of a 2x4ft hydrohut silver edition tent(100watts per sq ft) w/ a 6inch inline pulling thru a carbon scrubber and exhausting /cooling thru the light hood and out a vented window(temps are steady @ 78F and RH about 50%).. and have ran SS mix #4 by itself in the past only thing I did different was used fox farms entire nutrient line and added my own selection of additives and bloom booster.. and the end result was great!..a small note tho : you might have to adjust your PH to 6.3 ish as its a soil less medium but still kinda acts like soil.. if that makes any sense to avoid any lock outs..Try and get their SS #4 custom blend mix with myco. if you can..a little better than the original.

In a 4x4x7 tent with a 600w HPS you could easily grow at least 10-12 comfortably.. anything less I would just veg them larger and take full advantage of the space/light... other than that you will be off to a good start .. look forward to a log with some pictures soon hopefully..GL!

 

[mgjscdhl]

absolutely and I might not be able to do any "additions" to the place I move to..
I was kind of lucky to find the #4. Alot of stores sell miracle grow, scotts and shultz. Thanks for the note about the ph. I was actually wondering about that but didn't want to get ahead of myself. I could probably try a few other plants but its all a personal grow.

Ty for visiting. Hopefully I can get things started pretty soon

 

[DeoXy]

no need for more plants lol (B safe!).. was just mentioning for that size of space and that type of lighting how many plants you could grow comfortably.. but just veg. the ones you have going for a little longer and you will get sim. results, not all about plant numbers unless you are doing like a SOG - smaller containers and smaller plants but a lot more of em per sqf..

6 beastie plants under a 600w would be good!.. I tend to push it usually and pack my tent wall to wall with like 8-12 plants at a time.. but that's usually b'cuz I have a lot of extra clones always sitting around for months and hate killing them off..

Ushio brand bulbs I found work the best with lumatek ballasts.. I've never once had an issue, I use their 600w Opti-red HPS bulb w/ enhanced blue spectrum was like $100~ give or take but worth it!

If you need any help or have any questions just shoot me a PM... glad to help when I can, our setups will b very sim. if you choose to go the route you planned, been using this setup for like 3+ years

 

[mgjscdhl]

Thats true. No need to push the limits, yet.. Thats good to know its been working for you.
I've been going over the specs before starting the thread to make sure. For the bulb, you found this worked well in both flowering and vegetative? $100 is nothing if I find it benefitial to the plants.

Thanks I'll definitely do that. I appreciate any help you could give and for time being I'm going to check out your journals

 

[supermanlives]

i have 1200 in a tent that size

 

[mgjscdhl]

doesn't that cause some heat issues for you?

 

[DeoXy]

Thats true. No need to push the limits, yet.. Thats good to know its been working for you.
I've been going over the specs before starting the thread to make sure. For the bulb, you found this worked well in both flowering and vegetative? $100 is nothing if I find it benefitial to the plants.

Thanks I'll definitely do that. I appreciate any help you could give and for time being I'm going to check out your journals

Yeap works great thru the whole cycle.. I start them under a bank of t5's then move them under the HPS to finish their veg.. dim it to 400w for veg and bump it up to the max - 600w for flower.. they grow very well .. can always get a fancy hortilux if ur feeling saucy but ushio is a very good brand and when coupled w/ a lumatek they work like a dream... I plan on getting one of their dual arc bulbs @ $200 a piece one of these days.. things look like the tits!

btw as supermanlives suggested.. a 1000w would compliment that size tent very well 2.. aslong as its air cooled you won't have heat issues.. if you seriously only plan to flower 6-8 @ a time a smaller 2x4x7 or even 3x3x7 tent with a 600w dimable would be your best combo/bet in terms of efficiency.

 

[mgjscdhl]

I've looked at dual-arc but haven't done the homework to tell if its a good choice.

Technically speaking the fan is oversized for the tent, I was planning on using a speed controller. I wonder if the size fan combined with a 1000w would do most of the heat exhaust? I could go with a 3x3x7 but I'd have to order it..

 

[DeoXy]

I've looked at dual-arc but haven't done the homework to tell if its a good choice.

Technically speaking the fan is oversized for the tent, I was planning on using a speed controller. I wonder if the size fan combined with a 1000w would do most of the heat exhaust? I could go with a 3x3x7 but I'd have to order it..

Yes that fan would cool a 1000w just fine or the 600w even, I use a 6in inline activair from hydrofarm and it does the job just fine in terms of cooling and air exchanges, can prob. even be lowered some..

as far as the dual arc.. from my understanding it's like the perfect combo of both main lighting types : MH and HPS all in one bulb.. I keep reading more and more about ppl who use HPS for flower and add a smaller/less watt MH/blue spec. light into the mix and get better yields/end product compared to using just each standalone... this type of bulb would do that without 2 sep. light systems.. worth looking into IMO

 

[mgjscdhl]

Completely agree. Its less fuss than changing bulbs. It can only help if the bulb/light is close to sunlight.

Have a good night!
time for sleep