Where to start?!?!

[DarkLotus215]

Howdy!
I'm moving back to Nor Cal in a couple of months. I am going to be getting a card and have a simple six plant set up.I last had a script when I lived in the bay area a decade ago and am looking forward to returning to my home state.
I am on quite a budget but am hoping to go with hydro so I can have time for other things like a 9-5 job. I am sure I will post here with many questions as my journey continues I a lm thinking I would ike to start out with 'water farm' type buckets but DIY so they can be larger. I'm not sure what the best set up for my first run would be. Will two lights be sufficient for 6 buckets? I am most likely going to be ending up in a town not a rural area nor a city so I am curious about security and smells and what not. Is a carbon filter necessary when living in a 215 friendly community? I'm hoping to only invest 2.5-3k but don't want to cut corners and have a flop for a first run!
One question that I have been having a hard time wrapping my mind around the answer is if someone has six NFT tubes and the roots ball together inside the tube so each of the six tubes has a giant root mass, is each tube considered one plant? Or is each opening in the tube with a stem emerging from it considered a plant? If it is only considered 6 plants then I might try nft because it seems pretty cool!
Blessings

 

[Buddy Holly]

e&f ftw. kiss. 2 lights for 6 depends how big each plant is. get em big to make use of all that juice and itll be worth it. yes on carbon filter. you wanna advertise you're growin dank?

 

[Guest 263194]

soil is your best bet. my first run was with coco, fuked up too much. get a 600w hps n a suitable tent, 6inch carbon/filter. always make it simple, best wishes.

 

[DarkLotus215]

Why soil? I am thinking that soil would be more prone to root rot or mold than hydro? I was thinking of going with the dog kibble looking stuff (hydroton?) instead of coco because I like the idea of a reusable medium. And I'll have a tough enough time carrying the bulky bags once yet alone a second time when they have some moisture adding to the mass.
How come 600 is better than 1000? Is it less noticeable to use two 600w than the thowies?
I'm hoping to start with clones then vege 6-8 weeks but I'm not sure, it depends on the height of my future ceilings...
By ftw I'm assuming you don't mean fuck the world???
Okay so I'm adding a carbon filter to my list o gear to get
Is there any way to avoid having to get both a dehumidifier and an AC? If not are therey any inexpensive yet reliable brands?
Thanks folks'

 

[Meraxes]

coco's the easiest, DTF just fucked it up. go to HTG supply or wherever- get like 5 coco coir bricks(only a couple bucks each), GH micro and bloom, some calmag or epsom salt, ph meter, ec/ppm meter(amazon has good cheap digital ones), ph up and down kit, beer cups, 1 gal pots and you'll have trees in 3 mo. all that for 6, 400-600 MH/HPS is fine. tent if you want. my 1st grow had just duct fans and reg fans. my 2nd grow (current) has the inline fan combo which is great for hot days and smell. check out my 1st grow basic setup, i yielded 5oz with 2 girls. ?'s just ask in my thread and welcome to icmag