First Time Grower Tent Setup

I am no expert , but use led lights ( blurples) for my seedlings. It's light, can choose blue diode settings. Many people do use t5s for seedlings,veg but you need to be careful you don't over load them with light.( from my understanding)

That being said I would think the 1000 would be too much for seedlings/clones.

I currently have a 5x5 , 1000w with a 450cfm 6" fan. Clears my tent with ease. Just to give my pennies worth of a response for above questions.

tonedub said:

Last question guys. I am very thankful for tips and suggestions. Here is final set-up.
1x4x8 IPower tent
1x1000w iPower hps/MH digital air cooled reflector hood
1xiPower 1000w digital ballast
1xGeneral Hydroponics up/down oH
1xAcurite Thermo/Hum Meter
1xTitan Ballast Timer
1xHM Digital ph-80
1xHydroplanet 8" inline fanCfm800 w/built in controller & Carbon Filter
2xFox Farm fx14000
4x10gal fabric pots (2xWonder Woman,2xSomango XXL) both demonized from Nirvana Seeds

My final question is what light would be suggested for propagation?/seedling? And another fan for tent temperatures? Paper towel method for propagation? Or will propagation be necessary for feminized seeds?

Or could the iPower 1000 be used from seedling until final plant?

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looks great

i would skip the ph pen (those are bunk) and just get the color changing drops they are much more reliable and cheaper

for propogation you could get a cheap t5 light, some propogation trays/domes come with them, like this one
https://www.bghydro.com/everything-else/propagation/super-sprouter-deluxe-propagation-kit.html

i recommend using the rapid rooter method over paper towel method. its outlined here
https://www.growweedeasy.com/germinate/

if you dont want to buy a flourescent you could dim your ballast as low as it goes and hang your fixture it as high as you can, would be a similar effect

pulpoinspace said:

looks great

i would skip the ph pen (those are bunk) and just get the color changing drops they are much more reliable and cheaper

for propogation you could get a cheap t5 light, some propogation trays/domes come with them, like this one
https://www.bghydro.com/everything-else/propagation/super-sprouter-deluxe-propagation-kit.html

i recommend using the rapid rooter method over paper towel method. its outlined here
https://www.growweedeasy.com/germinate/

if you dont want to buy a flourescent you could dim your ballast as low as it goes and hang your fixture it as high as you can, would be a similar effect

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So if I got the prop kit would the router method be necessary or would i pop seeds in prop kit and wait?

And do you have a link/web site for color drops? Can't find them

https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Test-Kit-1-Ounce/dp/B000BT32UA/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1541869580&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=ph+test+kit+drops

also kits that come with pH up, down, and this little kit

yes if you got the prop kit you would still need the rapid rooters. you would place them in the tray under the dome.

DC Seed exchange is by far the best seed bank in the USA. Cannaventure seeds is having a 50% discount (need to sign up to their news letter to get the discount code) at their website. By far the best deal out right now. If you buy one pack, just one pack, youll get another random pack for FREE!

How can humidity be controlled/manipulated?

tonedub said:

How can humidity be controlled/manipulated?

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If your humidity is high, your gonna want to get a dehumidifier, if it is low you can hang a damp towel in your tent, or spray mist the walls to add humidity. The number of plants can affect the humidity, I usually run 4 plants in 4x8 under scrog, and 2 630w cmh lights, average about 3 lbs, every 2 months. I also have the same fan as you ( 240cfm) and I think it is way under power for the tent. Good luck with your grow.

The way I use to raise humidity is a banana stand with a small towel hanging off it into a bowl of water, then a fan pointed at the towel, it will wick up the water into the towel for better dispersal

tonedub said:

This is my first attempt at growing and am not going small. Or small to some but not a first timer small. I have an idea of how much I want to grow and tent and equipment, but need some assistance in what y'all would apply and wouldn't apply. Any suggestions very much appreciated

96x48x78 iPower Tent
2x iPower 600w hps MH digital air cooled hood reflector set
1x iPower 6inch 442 cfm inline fan
1x iPower Carbon Filter
25 feet ducting combo with variable speed controller and rope hanger
1x water meter ppm tester
3x fox farm fx14000
1x iPower 3n1 test kit
1x Floraseries Performance Pack
1x iPower 6inch 240 cfm inline fan duct vent blower
1x thermopro hydrometer
1x General Hydroponics ph control kit

Is this everything I would need to complete a grow and sufficiently ventilate grow the plants? Or is there something I am missing? I know co2 helps but I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Of course I need pots but i don't know what size. I want to grow 8 plants, all indica strains and going for maximum yield. Any suggestions on what I should add or deduct from set-up? Any Advice is good advice

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I use those plastic 5 gal buckets I get at Wally for a couple dollars. They make great pots with holes drilled in the bottom and half full of good soil for mature seedlings or clones. You can also push them closer together cause they dont flare out at the top like pots and you still wont stifle any growth.
Metal Halide's lights are hot hot hot, big energy consumption=big power bill and major exhaust system system needed on 24/7. Consider LED's they are low energy cheap to run and dont create near the heat. I am going to use one 2000 watt Led light and a 6 inch inline exhaust sized for 400 cfm in a 5 X 5 grow. Your grow is similar to mine except I am using an old chicken coop on my property that is private and that I have insulated, sealed, paneled and painted, all I need is warmer weather and some seeds! If you have access to compost you might think about watering your babies with compost tea. I started a compost a few months ago and am now going to purchase a compost tumbler, maybe even two. Let me know how things work out for you and good luck!

tonedub said:

Any certain 1000w lights you would suggest?

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I would stay away from magnetic ballast because they don't last that long. I've been buying used Lumatek 1000w dimmable and I haven't had problems with the 3 of them that I bought. Actually, I'm about to replace my last magnetic with a used Lumatek. My oldest used Lumatek is over 3yrs old and my magnetic ballast didn't last that long new! Plus, buying used they are usually less than $120 and they are 120/220v HPS/MH all in one and dimmable. Thunder up!!!

tonedub said:

How can humidity be controlled/manipulated?

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Fresh air from outside. Cold air is dry unless it's raining/snowing. Sometimes just good air circulation is good enough. I never used a hydrometer, pointless...

tonedub said:

I live in a state where medicinal is legal and not recreational. I am not a cardholder

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"Why not"... I'm assuming your a Westbrook fan. I've been illegal for 8yrs and it was not fun and I felt like I had to hide myself away with constant paranoia. I would wake up to helicopters flying over my house and I would break out in a sweat and running out to look at it... I have old friends that got their cards and they are still talking about guerrilla style growing in connexes. I'm over here happy that I finally get to look at greenhouses!

Organic Rich said:

I use those plastic 5 gal buckets I get at Wally for a couple dollars. They make great pots with holes drilled in the bottom and half full of good soil for mature seedlings or clones. You can also push them closer together cause they dont flare out at the top like pots and you still wont stifle any growth.
Metal Halide's lights are hot hot hot, big energy consumption=big power bill and major exhaust system system needed on 24/7. Consider LED's they are low energy cheap to run and dont create near the heat. I am going to use one 2000 watt Led light and a 6 inch inline exhaust sized for 400 cfm in a 5 X 5 grow. Your grow is similar to mine except I am using an old chicken coop on my property that is private and that I have insulated, sealed, paneled and painted, all I need is warmer weather and some seeds! If you have access to compost you might think about watering your babies with compost tea. I started a compost a few months ago and am now going to purchase a compost tumbler, maybe even two. Let me know how things work out for you and good luck!

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I was using rabbit and chicken manure in my compost and it never really worked out well for me and I didn't understand why. Recently, I came across Alan Adkisson(Founder of Grokashi) and he was raised on a dairy farm. He said that there were manure lagoons that were always void of life and most likely toxic to an extent. He said that they had fermented silage that was treated with Lacto B(LABS) and the run-off was going into the manure lagoons. He said that the lagoons went from lifeless to ducks and frogs and the pasture run-off was no longer harmful to fresh water creeks/rivers/lakes. Very interesting stuff for sure! The cherry on top was he addresses "High Brix" also and he amends his 'kashi with azomite, youngevity, and organic beet juice. I'm all in on it now. Here is my first batch of grokashi. Bokashi/Grokashi make manure less toxic!!!


My plants looked like shit and then I treated them with grokashi and fermented plant juice(FPJ). I'm learning how to spend less and get more. In the future, I'm going to be buying less meal amendments and making my own ferments instead. It took a week and a half for these to go from looking like hell to being somewhat impressive. Can you see the difference in the new/old growth? They were thirsty in this pic and I should get a more recent pic.

Anyone using manure compost, this is a game changer!!
https://www.shapingfire.com/podcast-feed/episode-15-open-source-probiotic-cannabis-with-guest-alan-adkisson

Kis organics is a good source for entry level.
https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/podcast

tonedub said:

So if I got the prop kit would the router method be necessary or would i pop seeds in prop kit and wait?

And do you have a link/web site for color drops? Can't find them

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Seeds just need to stay warm! This is the time of year where I would pop a seed pack and get horrible germination rates and didnt understand why. They just need warmth. Also, I use FoxFarm's LightWarrior for seed starting. It's one of the few products that I still buy and OKC Organics usually has the best smelling bags, buying online has been a bust for me. The soil will come dry and void of life. You want it to be moist.

So how do you like your tent? I'm thinking of getting the same one. Any complaints? How sturdy is it?

MustangStudFarm said:

"Why not"... I'm assuming your a Westbrook fan. I've been illegal for 8yrs and it was not fun and I felt like I had to hide myself away with constant paranoia. I would wake up to helicopters flying over my house and I would break out in a sweat and running out to look at it... I have old friends that got their cards and they are still talking about guerrilla style growing in connexes. I'm over here happy that I finally get to look at greenhouses!
View attachment 4239328

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I do feel better now that it's legal to grow in Missouri, but I was planning to grow anyway even if it didn't pass this year. Put me on the most wanted list I don't care! If the card was free I would get one but being an old disabled vet on fixed income those expenses (doc exam, state bs) seem wasteful and I have already made a considerable investment in my grow space. There is little chance of anyone finding my "chicken coop" buried in the woods of my 4 acres. I am no farmer, just a guy that moved from the big city to a place not too far out but peaceful and private. I think those choppers got better places to hover over than my little grow but I can see how you would get paranoid if you did it in your house or yard in the city. Too many noses around. Good luck!

Organic Rich said:

disabled vet on fixed income

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I'm with you on that, I was 70% for the longest time but I recently got a 100% rating permanent and total. I have 2 1/2 acres but I still have too many neighbors! I bought my house in the summer, so the trees still had leaves. When the leaves fell, I could see 3-4 neighbors through my back yard. I didn't move far enough out! Anyways, I don't think that there is any real threat of being caught. I've ordered seeds from Attitude seed bank and had customs seize them several times and I even had to go to the post office and sign for a confiscated package because I needed it so Attitude would send a replacement. I think that I ended up on some sort of "Watch List" but the only thing that I noticed was someone cut into my coco coir(brick) and Alfalfa meal. Really, I think that they are looking for people shipping finished product and they are not worried about grow equipment etc. I was growing for 8yrs before I got my license. The helicopters, I think that they were just on their normal flight path and I was just paranoid. Helicopters don't bother me anymore!

firsttimeARE said:

So how do you like your tent? I'm thinking of getting the same one. Any complaints? How sturdy is it?

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Even though I built my grow room, I set up my old 4'x8' tent for the cold months as a veg room. That way, I am able to use my built veg room as a flower room. I am using "Sun Hut" and they really didn't get very good reviews on Amazon. The zipper tore and the tent ripped. If you are running a 4'x4' flood table, you will want the inner dimensions to able to support it. Some Chinese brands measure the outer dimensions and a flood table won't fit.

https://www.amazon.com/SunHut-Big-Easy-285-9-4-4-7/dp/B00F2QLD2G/ref=asc_df_B00F2QLD2G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242015693684&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1223811121811644144&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010322&hvtargid=pla-439746170053&psc=1#customerReviews

Organic Rich said:

I do feel better now that it's legal to grow in Missouri, but I was planning to grow anyway even if it didn't pass this year. Put me on the most wanted list I don't care! If the card was free I would get one but being an old disabled vet on fixed income those expenses (doc exam, state bs) seem wasteful and I have already made a considerable investment in my grow space. There is little chance of anyone finding my "chicken coop" buried in the woods of my 4 acres. I am no farmer, just a guy that moved from the big city to a place not too far out but peaceful and private. I think those choppers got better places to hover over than my little grow but I can see how you would get paranoid if you did it in your house or yard in the city. Too many noses around. Good luck!

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I wish that I had more guidance when I first started! I over-spent on hydro equipment and I ended up going full organic and never looked back. Like I said before, manure compost can be toxic but you can treat it with home-made bokashi/grokashi. I'm actually about to put about 5gal of grokashi wheat bran into my worm bin. I've been waiting about a year for the leaves in my worm bin to break down and bokashi is supposed to be a compost accelerator. I'm new to it but I think that it is going to be a game changer!

This is how I built my worm bin. My neighbor had some plastic pallets and I traded him some weed for a few. So, this worm bin was minimal cost. The screen between each section was not needed and it seems to get in the way more than anything. The worms showed up on their own, super reds and red wigglers. The blue tarp in the back is where I recycle my soil. It always has native worms in it also. Between composting grass clippings/leaves and Korean Natural Farming, I don't spend much on amendments.