getting ready to start...finally.

hello again everyone! so ive finally got my nutrients and lighting system. i went ahead and went with the organic stuff...biobizz's biogrow and biobloom. im wanting to go with organic soil as well, but still tossing the idea of a soil less mix around. instead of getting the 400w HPS lighting system i went head and picked up a 250w HPS lighting system. ive decided on a strain as well. here she is, a bc skunk and northern lights cross.

https://www.bcbudonline.com/seed_packs.php?seedID=66&category=Feminized

im in the process of assembling the growroom and the last thing ill be getting is the seeds themself. im just wanting to have everything ready and prepared by the time seeds arrive and are germinated.

i have a couple of questions regarding the light. after germination and the little seedlings sprout up from the dirt, i was wondering if its ok to use an aquarium light for the seedlings? i have an old 29 gallon hood just laying around, the bulb still works. ive looked on the bulb to see what watt it is and i cant find one...it does say on it: ECLIPSE F18T8 NATURAL DAYLIGHT. ive googled that and still cannot find how many watts it is.

so is it ok to use on my seedlings? how long for? and how close to keep it to the plants?

with the HPS lighting system, what would you guys suggest for how close to keep it to my plants after the seedling stage? i would like to prevent stretching.

now with nutes...say if using organic soil, when giving the ladies their first does of nutes about 3 to 4 weeks after they have sprouted...it was brought to my attention to give 1/4 the dose.

soilless mix...almost right away.

i just want to make sure i have things right beforehand. i will be taking alot of precautions...such as always cleaning tools before and after each time used. cleaning growroom after each harvest using a 5% bleach solution. not going into my growroom with shoes on...wearing clean clothes into growroom...and keeping pets away from the area as well as outside the area to help prevent bugs or fungus infestation. last but not least, keeping a log of everything.

im sure ill eventually return with more questions as time goes on with my first grow, and hopefully it goes well. ill also post some pics if i can get my hands of a digital cam for everyone here to see how im doing with my first grow. concerns, suggestions, and recommendations are always welcome...anytime.

thanks in advance,
a.j.

dont bother with an aquarium light, just my opinion. I have tried growing with different lights and have found that if you have the room get yourself some shop lights from home depot or lowes. you can put those shop lights about 2 inches above your plants and they get a ton of energy that way. Mine are 6 weeks (sexing this week ) and they are 13 inches tall and just bushed out like crazy. Keep your shop lights on for 18 hours and off for 6 until the plants are around a foot tall and bushed out pretty good. Than get ready for the HPS. Dont put the HPS too close. Id keep it around 16 - 20" from the plants and use lots of ventilation if you can help it. I am having that problem with my room and will be installing ventilation this week as well. I am a freak about this. Personally, I dont see a problem with washing down your walls and floor a few times through the grow cycle. I just move the plants out, clean up real good and move them back in. I am disturbing them for a matter of 15 minutes every 2 or 3 weeks.

maybe for cloning u can use the tank lite

thanks for your opinions, theyre being taken into consideration. when you mention shop lights i imagine those long or short fluorescent light bulbs. im not sure if i should use or even consider using the old aquarium light. i dont want to put the fragile seedlings under my HPS light fearing that it could be to much for the little ladies. you think that if i put the seedlings under the HPS light after sprouting that there could be problems? if i can do so, how far away should the light be from the seedlings, 16 - 20"?...i dont want any strechting.