Newbie Growers First try

well Ive decided to go hydro and Im a complete noob at this. so Im going to need your guys' help. Ive read on this site and I think I might be ready.
well I purchased a miny grow cab from a friend and I will modify it to my likings
it measures in at 36x26x18
here are some pix of it.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3000/dsc02096fr0.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3479/dsc02098ux6.jpg

ImageShack - Hosting :: dsc02104ho3.jpg

Im planing on germinating the seed in a few day I just need to fix this cabinet up.
I was wondering what kind of nutes would I be needing. ( im planing on having this grow auto flower) so Im assuming its going to be a 24/7 light on.

if you guys want feel free to post pix and/or info on your stealth grow.

Thanks.

I just bought the Aero garden and I am probably the biggest NOOB every. I read the Aero threads and I still have some questions hopefully someone can please help me......

so far I just planeted some Haze seeds and put the Bio domes on filled it up with Purifiied water and added 1 of the Nute tabs. I also wraped it in tinfoil around the bottom and all around the sides....

Here are my Q's

1)How do I monitor the timing I have it on "tomatoes"
and i set it up at 9:30est so what do i do?

2)I been reading that 24 hour strait light is good is this true, and when should I change the cycle?

3)What is the significance of PH testing and is it that necessary?

4)Is it a fire hazard if I ahve it in a closet wraped in Tin Foil next to Hanging Clothes?

sorry but I have no Idea I heard the aerogarden sucks for bud.

But yea so I had a little Idea of what Im going to do to the cabinet.
heres a shitty pic of my idea.

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/8798/lightideapl1.jpg

and I dont know what to do about the fan isue since its installed above to where the lights are going to be.
I was thinking about hanging up a piece of wood and make it adjustable so I can move the lights up and down depending on plant size. Im going to get a good size piece of wood so I can install 2 light fixtures so I can use 2x 125W cfls. well let me know what You guys think....

thanks.

Murdsta21 said:

I just bought the Aero garden and I am probably the biggest NOOB every. I read the Aero threads and I still have some questions hopefully someone can please help me......

so far I just planeted some Haze seeds and put the Bio domes on filled it up with Purifiied water and added 1 of the Nute tabs. I also wraped it in tinfoil around the bottom and all around the sides....

Here are my Q's

1)How do I monitor the timing I have it on "tomatoes"
and i set it up at 9:30est so what do i do?

2)I been reading that 24 hour strait light is good is this true, and when should I change the cycle?

3)What is the significance of PH testing and is it that necessary?

4)Is it a fire hazard if I ahve it in a closet wraped in Tin Foil next to Hanging Clothes?

Click to expand...

I am going to answer these for you, but please learn to use the search feature there is a TON of info on here about the AG, but I dont want you hijacking anymore threads with your questions

1 you need a seperate plug and timer for the light assembly

2 everyone has an opinion about this go with what works for you but 24 or 18/6 are highly recomended

3 it is absolutely without a question one of the most important factors in any hydro/aero grows, get a test kit from walmart or a pet supply store only $5

4 Never use foil!!!!!!!

now do some reading and good luck......

bigd921 said:

I am going to answer these for you, but please learn to use the search feature there is a TON of info on here about the AG, but I dont want you hijacking anymore threads with your questions

1 you need a seperate plug and timer for the light assembly

2 everyone has an opinion about this go with what works for you but 24 or 18/6 are highly recomended

3 it is absolutely without a question one of the most important factors in any hydro/aero grows, get a test kit from walmart or a pet supply store only $5

4 Never use foil!!!!!!!

now do some reading and good luck......

Click to expand...

Agreed but idd go with 24 for the 1st week or 2 then 18\6 until you want to flower (2-3 weeks)

and let me jsut say it for good measure... Never use foil!!!!!!! it absorbs something like 60% of the light go out and buy a roll or mylar... or et alot of potato chips

aero isnt to bad ... if you know what your doing. i would only suggest aero for an experienced grower

heh heh ok back to the topic. how does 2x 125W cfls sound?

2x 125w CFLs will be good, or about 8 or 9 26w 6500K CFL's. Can you post a picture of the lights you plan on buying? What K are they also? Are you planning on flowering with CFLs or HPS?

getting some mylar will make a difference

MMAstoner said:

getting some mylar will make a difference

Click to expand...

Good advice. If you can't find mylar, go to your local Wal-mart and buy an emergency blanket for 1.27. They are huge, just buy like 3 and you'll be set!

toolage said:

2x 125w CFLs will be good, or about 8 or 9 26w 6500K CFL's. Can you post a picture of the lights you plan on buying? What K are they also? Are you planning on flowering with CFLs or HPS?

Click to expand...

heres the link to my light that I currently have and im getting one more of the same.
ValuTek Compact Fluorescent Light 125W

and yes I plan on flowering with the same 2 cfl's aswell because I have a 150W hps but last Time I tried growing with it I had MASSIVE heat issues and I want to try with cfl's.
anyways it does not say how much K they are .
well I went to a local hardware store today and I was wondering what was the difference between my light and a 300W cfl because its more than twice the wattage and less than half the price

thanks for any replies

I'm not to sure about your hardware store adventure but the 125w will work fine, i'd recommend getting 2 of them. What kind of ventiliation/exhaust are you using for your grow op? I've come to find most manufatures dont put the Kelvin scale on their packaging for some reason, which is frustrating. GE is one of the brands that Iv'e found that will put the K right on the front of the box in big bold letters. I dont grow my plants under the type of CFLs your using. I use 5 26 6500K Helical CFLs, 2 32w 4100K Helical CFLs, 1 42w 2700K Helical CFL. All in all it cost me $28.

heh thanks for the info. also I was wonderign what kind of nutes should I get. ill search around the site and see what I come up with but any suggestions?

oh and about the ventilation is still a thinker. I can use 2x computer fans on the back of the grow box along with the fan I have inside of it or I can make just one exhaust and attach aducting with an inline fan, but then I wouldent have any fresh air comming in... damn lol. what would you suggest?

so i am noob.

anyhoo, i tried pc fans. they ok but spin real fast, and are noisy. i switched to 2 - 4 inch inline fans from home repot. easy to install and hook right up with 4 inch dryer vent hose and 4 inch c-clamps. cheap stuff.


i run extra long dryer hose and loop it a few times to eliminate light out or in.

my grow box is 3ftwide 2ft deep and 3.5 ft high. just a hair more bigger than yours. using aerogarden too. stay away from tinfioil. mylar is cheap.

also if using areogarden, cut light cord and get extension from home repot with cheap timer. splice extension into light cord and use it with timer. leave AG pump on it own. (p.s. NOT an regular extension cord. they sell one with one end cut with wires bare and the other end has a plug.)

personally i just had a spare cord hanging around from and old power tool that i raped, cut and spliced.

do research on lights from this website and you will find out the difference on 125w cfls and the lower wattage cfls.

oh and from what i read, not nutes for first week or so of seeds. they have enuff food; after that if using AG nutes only use 1/4 to 1/2 strength of recommended strength. other nutes follow directions and use 1/2 concentration

wow My home depot doesent sell inlines got any links to the inline fans I should be looking for?

and yes foil is a dumb way to go even for a noob Im going to order a few things and Im going to get a nice roll of mylar.

and I was actually planing on having the lights on 24 because Im trying to go auto flower.

and with the nutes is it any one I find or do they differ between strains??

Thanks alot.

well I just got done putting the "light holder" on I will add some pix tomorrow

sawbuckz said:

heh thanks for the info. also I was wonderign what kind of nutes should I get. ill search around the site and see what I come up with but any suggestions?

oh and about the ventilation is still a thinker. I can use 2x computer fans on the back of the grow box along with the fan I have inside of it or I can make just one exhaust and attach aducting with an inline fan, but then I wouldent have any fresh air comming in... damn lol. what would you suggest?

Click to expand...

Ok so ill break your nutes down for ya (what u need to use at what time)

You want to use a 15-0-1 or 15-0-0 (something with b1 in it i like dutchmasters lines of nutes for this stage) from day 1 until you are about 2 days before you are gonna flower, then your gonna want to flush your system and go with something that isnt high in Nitrogen i use supernatural's line I have tried may many lines on nutes and by far ive the best results the nutes are specificly made for "tomatos" (WEED) sooo back on track, you should flash your system and using something with high P-K supernatural bud blasters! (1-36-1 you are gonna want to have some h2o2 in there unless u are oxing some other way. you can use the bud blaster type nute throughout the rest of your grow, some growers like to boost the P more but isnt really needed.
as for vent and fans just go to home depot and get a 6 inch table fan and mouth it on a wall having the front crank air through our vent hosing
let me knwo if i missed anything

as for light timing, if ur starting from a seed then i would go 24\0 for th 1st 2 weeks then go 18/6 until u flower, if u go 24\0 to 12-12 you could shock your babies, plus once u cut to 18\6 you can start feeding them of efficently by spraying them with a folier about 5 min before bedtime, i would suggest a b1 foiler for that

wow thanks alot you really did answer some good questions... im still going to work with the vent system im going to have air in and air out just gotta figure out how lol..
and about the nutes I should get dutchmasters seedling nutes and use that for about 2 weeks? and for flowering use supernaturals bud blaster? let me know if I got this right..

and also do you have any legit sites where I can get these nutes from??

Thanks.

You could do go with dutchmater foilers but i suggest using super natural entire line for hydropontic nutes, so it owuld be fine to use a dutchmaster foiler not sure there would be much of a difference betweed any b1 folier at that stage or any foiler for that fact. As for sites i would suggest going to a hydro store near you, if you dont know where one is go to Google Maps and search!! if u would rather buy them off line then go here Hydroponics systems, gardening equipment, grow lights and plant nutrients at 4 Hydroponics.com by Growco Indoor Gardening Supply in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Just so you know venting really isnt really as hard as it sounds. what size room are u using? what kind of lights are u using how many? let me knwo so i can get an idea of how much heat u are producing. i can give u a better idea of what u need to do without spending a shit load of cash