FIRST GROW BOYS!!! i could really use some help

Hello everyone ! I'm new to the forum here but i have been lurking around and have gotten a bunch of good information. I have decided to give it a try and do my very first grow so any help would be nice . I decided to go with DWC w/ 4 plants inside a grow tent. I'm going to get some clones from my local MM clinic or from a trusted friend of mine.

As for supplies, Here's a list of what I plan on using

*4 Black buckets w/ 6 inch lid pots
*A 400w or 600w MH/HPS setup that i found on Amazon Amazon.com: 400 Watt Super HPS MH Grow Light System Digital Dimmable Hydroponic 400w hps mh grow light set kit. 400w ballast, Super High Pressure Sodium bulb, Metal Halide bulb, 19" Wing Reflector and pair of yoyo. Comparable to Hydrofarm and Sun Lig. I haven't decided how many watts due to heat issues.
*Secret Jardin DarkroomII 36x36x72
*EC/TDS Meter
*PH Meter
*6 Inch 240CFM Inline air duct fan
*10 Liter bag of Hydroton (2 bags)
*60 Gal Tetra air whisper air pumps (2 pumps for 4 buckets. May need to add more?)
*GH pH up & pH down
*GH Micro,grow, and bloom (any info on nutrients would help)
* Grodan 4x4x2 Rockwool Cubes
*2 Humidity monitors and 2 timers

I have two fans I plan on using. One being a 5ft oscillating fan combined with an oscillating floor fan.

Please, pleaseeeee let me know what you think of my setup so far and if i need to add or remove anything. Everyone seems sooo friendly here so i decided to use this forum. Thank you lots in advanced
!


 

mikmike

Well-Known Member
would personally do 400 watt perfect for 4 plants and will be easy to cool with your inline fan, if u go 600 u will need a bigger fan. but i dont like that it is a wing reflector, try get a cool tube much better idea
 
Hi Mike! thanks for the advice :). I plan on doing a bigger grow in the future, I'm just doing 4 plants as a trial run. Do you think i should invest in a 600W light with a cool air tube? or just stick with 400w for now since i'm using a tent? along with the inline air duct fan i'm going to be using a tower fan and a floor fan do you think that will help much? ughhh, There's so many little things to this it's crazy :dunce:! i'm glad they're nice people here on the forum willing to help :)
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
if you do go 400W, tryand get some of the "new" 400W ceramic metal halide jobbies...
 

MonkE

Member
Go with a 600 and an adjustable reflector. It's not that much more.

Then when you go bigger you can get a 400 to run a MH off of to broaden your spectrum.
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Don't forget odor control. A 440CFM can fan, one of those nice Gotham carbon filters; all sized to a 6" outlet size, couple of bungee cords, some light chain and some 6" metallic dryer venting should be able to be sourced for around $200.

Please realize the bulbs for a 600 are 3X the cost of a 400 or 1000 watt bulb. Get a 1000W. Go big or go home. Cool tubes in the 6" variety will work inline with your fan and filter too. Cooltubes are cool.
 

bazookajoe

Well-Known Member
Do urself a favor when it comes to the cooltube.. make sure its the 19" model.. I fucked up when orderin n ordered the 27" and I gotta have it diagonal in my cab bc with the flex ducting and 6"-4" reducers attached its to long to fit in my 40"x32".. good luck
 

problemsolver

Active Member
If you're doing the Lucas formula, just buy the Micro for now. If you use my formula for DIY GH FloraBloom, the first correct DIY formula for GH FloraBloom in human history (I challenge anybody to challenge that claim), the Bloom component of the Lucas formula will cost you only $4 per gallon tops if you buy the salts in 50 gallon pails. At most , the initial outlay will be $300 with shipping but you will have a lifetime supply.
The formula is as follows: 385.71 grams Epsom salt
381.12 grams MKP (0-52-34 on the label)
35.66 grams Potassium Sulfate
2977.51 mL of warm pure water
Add a solid, shake, repeat three times. Make sure it is dissolved and dose as you normally would the GH FloraBloom as per Lucas ratio or whatever excites you. I'll tell you how to make FloraMicro next month. Cheers.
 

Yow420

Member
also paint ur buckets white. no one mentioned this. helps reflect heat from ur water. instead of bucket absorbing it.. will save many root problems down the road also u cud use coolers which is even better than painting.
 
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