Need Some Suggestions on Set-Up (Thanks)

I have been reading over the forums for a couple of weeks now and have decided to get started on my first grow(in a long time). I did grow about 3 years ago and then things came up and have not been able to since. When I grew before i started out with 5, 3 where female, and 1 turned hermi on me due to light leaks . I got 32 grams dried from the remaining 2 plants. That grow I used 8 25w daytime bulbs 18-6 for veg and 8 25w soft-white bulbs 12-12 for flowering and 2 gal pots with Miracle Grow moisture control potting soil. Looked for the pictures on old desktop but couldn't find them.

This time I have about $500 that I am willing to spend on equipment(Gave away all my other equipment). I also have the added convenience of 2 local grow shops that have great selections but am willing to purchase over the net for better deals. Here is where I just cant decide on what to do from here. I have a closet that is 2 ft deep by 12ft wide by 5.5ft tall. I know I want to purchase I grow tent this time to eliminate the light leak issue. I have ordered the following:
(All 5-packs)
2x Auto Pounder - Feminized
2x Trans Siberian Automatic - Feminized
2x Auto Northern Lights - Feminized
2x Critical Auto - Feminized
1x Blue Mystic Auto - Feminized
1x Short Rider Auto - Feminized

Now, other than the tent I need suggestions. I really want to stick away from the CFL's this time as I want to get a-lot of yield. I am wanting to do 3 plants at a time and will most likely be using a 2X3X5 tent. Is it possible to do a grow with HID and cfl's as a side complement or would they just be a waste? With a $500 budget what should I shoot for (I can go over a bit if needed)? I GREATLY appreciate the help and will be doing a thread for this grow so you can see your suggestions in action. I cant wait to get started and know with the advice of the pro's around here I can get it done right!

Are you planning on growing in soil or hydro? If soil I would suggest getting the highest quality soil you can find and adding what the plant will need directly to the soil. IE: blood meal, bone meal, worm castings, dolomite lime, epsom salt, perlite, azomite (if you can find it), then just let them grow to about 3 weeks into the flowering cycle, then start adding a bloom fertilizer at about 1/2 strength for the first couple weeks and slowly up the dose to close to full strength toward week 5-6 and then back it off to 1/4 approaching week 7-8 and just give them water into week 8-9 (assuming they are 8-9 week plants). Giving them some molasses isn't a bad idea either up to about week 5 of flower at 1 Tbs/ gallon every 3rd watering.

Not rocket science IMO, but don't expect great yields from Autos. If you want yield I would go with a high quality photo strain of your choice. It will be better smoke as well.

If you are takin the price of the tent out of that it will leave about 350 for everything else give or take so i think I would go with a 400 with a dimable ballast(I use gallaxy)and cool tube type fixture with a blower to keep light cool and a small circulating fan and you should be good to grow.I 'm pretty sure you can get that for about 500 as I only paid 775 for my complete 5 x 5 set up that included dirt,nutes,timers(2),duct work,blower fan, cool tube fixture, hose clamps,wings for the cool tube and light hangers. so if all you need is the grow set up you should get it for 500 no problem.Check out htg grow suply web site I think they have some good deals on complete set ups.

mudhead31 said:

If you are takin the price of the tent out of that it will leave about 350 for everything else give or take so i think I would go with a 400 with a dimable ballast(I use gallaxy)and cool tube type fixture with a blower to keep light cool and a small circulating fan and you should be good to grow.I 'm pretty sure you can get that for about 500 as I only paid 775 for my complete 5 x 5 set up that included dirt,nutes,timers(2),duct work,blower fan, cool tube fixture, hose clamps,wings for the cool tube and light hangers. so if all you need is the grow set up you should get it for 500 no problem.Check out htg grow suply web site I think they have some good deals on complete set ups.

Click to expand...

Man, I was just about to say lol.

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-600w-Grow-Kit#

Just so you know things like this exist! Lol

I got a 600W MH/HPS with air cooled hood for 250$ , an 8" inline fan for 35$(for heat extraction/cooling bulb), 8" to 6" reducer for 10$(air cooled hood is 6") then a 6" flexible duct for 12$. One end of the duct connected to the light's hood in the tent, the other end connected to the inline fan in the attic(for quiet air extraction). Works very well with a 4x4 grow tent. I didn't try connecting a carbon filter to the line yet, I think that might reduce air flow since i'm only using an inline(booster) fan and not those turbo(centrifuge) ones.

DonScroggin said:

Man, I was just about to say lol.

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-600w-Grow-Kit#

Just so you know things like this exist! Lol

Click to expand...

I could have bought one of their set ups when I purchased mine and saved a buck or two but when my ballast blew after only 5 months I was glad I shopped local same goes for when my bulb went at 8 months but yes they do exist

Cascadian said:

Are you planning on growing in soil or hydro? If soil I would suggest getting the highest quality soil you can find and adding what the plant will need directly to the soil. IE: blood meal, bone meal, worm castings, dolomite lime, epsom salt, perlite, azomite (if you can find it), then just let them grow to about 3 weeks into the flowering cycle, then start adding a bloom fertilizer at about 1/2 strength for the first couple weeks and slowly up the dose to close to full strength toward week 5-6 and then back it off to 1/4 approaching week 7-8 and just give them water into week 8-9 (assuming they are 8-9 week plants). Giving them some molasses isn't a bad idea either up to about week 5 of flower at 1 Tbs/ gallon every 3rd watering.

Not rocket science IMO, but don't expect great yields from Autos. If you want yield I would go with a high quality photo strain of your choice. It will be better smoke as well.

Click to expand...

Hey this is bigbris...I finally got my old account back from my first grow.... So I will be using it now. Thanks for the response. I will be growing in soil. I think im going to stick with the FoxFarm... What is suggested as far as the different types... Do i need to get one type for seedlings,one for veg, and one for flowering?? The local shop has all the nutes but is there a preferred one? Local shop has a big variety. and just checked today and have all the ingredients you listed above except dolomite.

mudhead31 said:

If you are takin the price of the tent out of that it will leave about 350 for everything else give or take so i think I would go with a 400 with a dimable ballast(I use gallaxy)and cool tube type fixture with a blower to keep light cool and a small circulating fan and you should be good to grow.I 'm pretty sure you can get that for about 500 as I only paid 775 for my complete 5 x 5 set up that included dirt,nutes,timers(2),duct work,blower fan, cool tube fixture, hose clamps,wings for the cool tube and light hangers. so if all you need is the grow set up you should get it for 500 no problem.Check out htg grow suply web site I think they have some good deals on complete set ups.

Click to expand...

Well I have the tent so leaves me with a little over 500 for the rest. Why would the dimmable be preferred as the ballast type? Thanks for the advice!

DonScroggin said:

Man, I was just about to say lol.

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTG-600w-Grow-Kit#

Just looked at what they have on their website. Has anyone ordered from this place before? They do have some great deals there. Thanks for the link!

Smootherpete said:

I got a 600W MH/HPS with air cooled hood for 250$ , an 8" inline fan for 35$(for heat extraction/cooling bulb), 8" to 6" reducer for 10$(air cooled hood is 6") then a 6" flexible duct for 12$. One end of the duct connected to the light's hood in the tent, the other end connected to the inline fan in the attic(for quiet air extraction). Works very well with a 4x4 grow tent. I didn't try connecting a carbon filter to the line yet, I think that might reduce air flow since i'm only using an inline(booster) fan and not those turbo(centrifuge) ones.

Click to expand...

Just so you know things like this exist! Lol

Click to expand...

I do live in an apartment so I will definitely need a filter. So would probably need a centrifuge to get enough airflow through a filter? I am going to get a light filter and use some dryer sheets over the exhuast which will help a bit as well... I wanted to get an in-line because they are much cheaper. I was also kinda scared about the wiring process for an inline fan because I know absolutely NOTHING about how to wire those guys. lol. Thanks for the info bro.


Thanks all to responding and since I found this account thought that I would include a link to my first grow I did....Enjoy
https://www.rollitup.org/t/first-time-cfl-grow-how-do-they-look.402935/

How much was the final dry weight of that CFL grow bro?

It was around 20g total if I recall corectly... That was just my first grow but I ended up screwing up a lot of the bud in the curing process. It had a weird moldy smell but none visible. I don't know how I screwed it up but this time i am going to be doing a lot of researching on how to properly cure.

Since I recently finished building a grow room this is all still on my mind. With 12ft wide and only 2 ft deep space, I would definitely be thinking about using 4ft long fluoro tubes. you could fit 2 or possibly 3 units across. That would eliminate the heat issue. OR divide the space and use 4ft wide with fluro tube for veg and clones then make a flower room with a 400w HPS. I think better than 600W in a 2ft space. White paint and tape is much cheaper than a tent. Put a complete second set of doors inside the outer doors of the cupboard and completely eliminate light problems. You need a charcoal filter, insulated ducting, inline fan, fan controller.

The only reason to go dimable is that you can run it on 400 but have the option to flick a switch and give it 600 some of them even have three settings( 250,400,600).I started with a 600 dimable and wish I had gone a 1000 because 600 is ok but I think I could handle more light now but would have to but all new instead of just hitting the switch.

CFLGREENTHUMB said:

Hey this is bigbris...I finally got my old account back from my first grow.... So I will be using it now. Thanks for the response. I will be growing in soil. I think im going to stick with the FoxFarm... What is suggested as far as the different types... Do i need to get one type for seedlings,one for veg, and one for flowering?? The local shop has all the nutes but is there a preferred one? Local shop has a big variety. and just checked today and have all the ingredients you listed above except dolomite.


Well I have the tent so leaves me with a little over 500 for the rest. Why would the dimmable be preferred as the ballast type? Thanks for the advice!


I do live in an apartment so I will definitely need a filter. So would probably need a centrifuge to get enough airflow through a filter? I am going to get a light filter and use some dryer sheets over the exhuast which will help a bit as well... I wanted to get an in-line because they are much cheaper. I was also kinda scared about the wiring process for an inline fan because I know absolutely NOTHING about how to wire those guys. lol. Thanks for the info bro.


Thanks all to responding and since I found this account thought that I would include a link to my first grow I did....Enjoy
https://www.rollitup.org/t/first-time-cfl-grow-how-do-they-look.402935/

Click to expand...

What ever fan you get, look up reviews first, you will need something quiet if you live in an apartment.

Dolomite lime can be purchased at any lumber yard. If the ph of the soil is already where it should be don't add any.
I use this type of lime in my hydro as a ph down.

Well I got brave this morning and decided to take on a little diy project. Only thing i messed up on is i should have spray painted the board before I hooked up the cfl's. Other than that I am pretty happy with what I got done.. im going to do one more board but this one will only have 2 bases which will = 4 more lights. Its a combo in total 10 cfl's 4:23w 5000k 3:26w 6500k and 3:13w 6500k. These 2 boards will be the only thing I use in veg (unless someone tells me thats a bad idea) but I will be getting a 600w dimmable just like you suggested and will turn it on as well once flowering time rolls around. What you think?

Yes you can use cfls as side lighting, im sure theyll help out, idk by how much but as far as i know the more light the better, just wait till ur plants are somewhat mature before u slam them with thousands and thousands of lumens, its rather easy to fry a little seedling, especially if ur using an mh or hps. And cflgreenthumb, good job man u should be fine with that for veg, thats a cool fixture u chef'd up. Big ups.

Im the same guy as the OP (bigbris) just took me a while to find my old account (this one). So i just kept it in this thread instead of making a new one...Here is the second one....Looks a little cleaner

Craigs list my friend I got a 2 tent set up lights ebb and flo table fans every thing for 500 just make sure to wash every thing with a mild bleach solution

I did some looking on craigslist and found nothing in my area...been looking around at ebay as well but it makes me a bit nervous not knowing if it works or not from there. I kinda thinking about going the led route. But haven't found much on the net about the best systems to use. Anyone know anything about some good led systems? I know I will be going over budget with one of those but if it cuts electricity use in half and provides better yields then i am all for it.

Ebays been good to me so far

I have been looking everywhere for the best 400 or 600w hps system that money can buy or a top rated cheaper one but everyone seems to do better with different ones. guess itll come down to me buying a system and learning the best way to grow with it.