Was wondering if I could bounce some questions of people?

Hi all hows it going?




I'm totally new to this but have some (many!) questions after researching for a number of months.




I have taken the plunge and decided to purchase a 1.2 x 1.2 x 2.0 (m) box. I have 16^2 ft.




My main question is the lights.




I have go a 600w HPS for this set up, is this too much? I have seen them on display in various shops and I don't think heat would be an issue but I have read some people struggling with heat with 400w. :/




I have also got a 125w CFL which I wanted to use for vegging or at least the first couple of weeks from seedling state. I have been advised the HPS will be too strong for my girls at that stage. Do you agree?




To start the germination process I was going to use the method of soaking them in a glass, rather than the damp towel method, again I would like to ask about this and if its okay?




Planning on using root riot cubes along with hygrozyme, how do I start this? I know I have to soak them but how so? Literally water them? Along with the feed? I have got a propagator the size of a toolbox so they would go in there, at this point would it need to be in darkness?




I'm thinking I have to put the seeds which have sprouted roots into the riot cubes and then I have to wait for them to sprout in the propagator? Then into the actual box under cfls?




Also planning on 4/5 girls in there, can do more if anyone thinks otherwise.




From what I have read, I wouldn't need the extractor fan on until flowering or when the HPS is on, wasn't 100%.




I was going to buy an air cooled lamp but with the light being raised I thought there would be a problem with the ducting, was I wrong?




I have got all the equipment today and I have got my seeds today and using the coco method. I am planning on doing 1 x Purple Haze (G13 Labs) 1 x Money Maker (Strainhunters - Was curious to what it is like ), 1x c99 (Femenized Seeds) and 1 x Northern Lights (Ministry of Cannabis) and 1 x Liberty Haze (Barneys Farms).




I have also got another tent which is the same size but I cant get both going due to height restrictions, but if i was to just use one bar so it would be approximately 1m high, would the original covering and that fit? I know there is going to be a ton of slack but could it be used?


Such a long post!




I hope it's not too boring, I have got final things to sort out in the room like the curtains and sort the door out, its on the second (top floor) of my house, not the attic




Thanks in advance guys.

The formatting has been ruined for some reason. :/


Sorted it

1. A 600w isn't hard to cool but it definatly needs to be cooled, you will need a 6" inline fan, using a cool tube for your lights will help a lot to, lots of information about setting up proper cooling is available if u take the time to look

2. if that is a true 125w cfl then starting your seedlings under it should be fine, but if your doing 4 or more plants the will need to be under better light within a week or 2. you can start them under the HPS but you will need to keep it several feet above them so they don't get burned or bleached

3. there is all kinds of methods for starting seeds but I think the best way is just sticking them in the growing medium and wetting them, with proper warmth they will sprout and you avoid damaging the tap root by moving them after they have germed

4. just wet them, they will absorb the water and swell up, I haven't used them myself but I assume they are a lot like peat pellets, the seeds don't need light while they are germinating but placing them under light not only provides warmth but prevents them from stretching when they break ground

5. When the seedling breaks through the soil it will need light immediately, you can keep them in your propagator if you want it will provide a more humid environment which is better for germination, but you can also put them right in your grow room if you want

6. 4-5 plants is a good amount for a 600w

7. You will definatly need your extractor fan while running ur hps

8. buy flexable ducting

hope this helps good luck on growing, and remember when growing weed google an patience are your best friends

Google, patience and RIU Super info, as usual, by Adjoor. You may want to check the Indoor forum, or Stealth, Micro, Cab growing sub forum too. Those forums are totally focused on indoor growing/lights/medium etc I hope you find them interesting. Personally, I enjoy those 2 forums a lot during the indoor season

Good luck and welcome to RIU

R2T

A 600 watt needs to be at least 12" from the tops of the plants.

I'll tackle a few of your questions, but I'd suggest breaking your list down to a few questions at a time. Most people complaining about heat in smallish tents are running MH ballasts and bulbs. MH set-ups are much hotter running than the HPS systems. If you still have a choice go with the cooler HPS stuff. Might save on fan/cooling issues. I run HPS only, veg and flower and prefer it to MH. No problems. Paper towel germ'ing is much more predictable and successful. It's the best way. Learn it. My propagator (domes) are kept lit with a soft 60W bulb 24/7. I keep 1/2 to one inch of standing water inside the domes as clones need 100% humidity. So, if the inside of your dome isn't covered in condensation every time you check you need to fix it. I clone with the larger 2 inch jiffy pellets and any cloning gel. Gel over cloning powder as the powders can accidentally cake up and strangle the new roots. Go with a gel only. Seedlings don't go in the dome. That's for clones only. You want to put newly sprouted s'lings into dirt in a 12-16 oz. solo cup. You want to cut down on handling them too much when young, so go straight into dirt. Number of ladies is determined by your plants' height and width. HINT - you can probably fit fewer plants than you think. Use a box fan if temps get over 85 degrees.

Adjorr said:

1. A 600w isn't hard to cool but it definatly needs to be cooled, you will need a 6" inline fan, using a cool tube for your lights will help a lot to, lots of information about setting up proper cooling is available if u take the time to look

2. if that is a true 125w cfl then starting your seedlings under it should be fine, but if your doing 4 or more plants the will need to be under better light within a week or 2. you can start them under the HPS but you will need to keep it several feet above them so they don't get burned or bleached

3. there is all kinds of methods for starting seeds but I think the best way is just sticking them in the growing medium and wetting them, with proper warmth they will sprout and you avoid damaging the tap root by moving them after they have germed

4. just wet them, they will absorb the water and swell up, I haven't used them myself but I assume they are a lot like peat pellets, the seeds don't need light while they are germinating but placing them under light not only provides warmth but prevents them from stretching when they break ground

5. When the seedling breaks through the soil it will need light immediately, you can keep them in your propagator if you want it will provide a more humid environment which is better for germination, but you can also put them right in your grow room if you want

6. 4-5 plants is a good amount for a 600w

7. You will definatly need your extractor fan while running ur hps

8. buy flexable ducting

hope this helps good luck on growing, and remember when growing weed google an patience are your best friends

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for your response it was very informative.

1) I have already bought a 5" fan and filter set, would this do in place of the 6"?

2) Yeah it is a true 125w, paid about £25 for it. Was thinking of getting a 250 but they didn't have any stock. I saw a heating mat for propogators, do you think that this would be a good thing to use?

3) What is flexible ducting because the ducting I have got is the norm, I think and it is flexible.

Thanks again

bigsteve said:

I'll tackle a few of your questions, but I'd suggest breaking your list down to a few questions at a time. Most people complaining about heat in smallish tents are running MH ballasts and bulbs. MH set-ups are much hotter running than the HPS systems. If you still have a choice go with the cooler HPS stuff. Might save on fan/cooling issues. I run HPS only, veg and flower and prefer it to MH. No problems. Paper towel germ'ing is much more predictable and successful. It's the best way. Learn it. My propagator (domes) are kept lit with a soft 60W bulb 24/7. I keep 1/2 to one inch of standing water inside the domes as clones need 100% humidity. So, if the inside of your dome isn't covered in condensation every time you check you need to fix it. I clone with the larger 2 inch jiffy pellets and any cloning gel. Gel over cloning powder as the powders can accidentally cake up and strangle the new roots. Go with a gel only. Seedlings don't go in the dome. That's for clones only. You want to put newly sprouted s'lings into dirt in a 12-16 oz. solo cup. You want to cut down on handling them too much when young, so go straight into dirt. Number of ladies is determined by your plants' height and width. HINT - you can probably fit fewer plants than you think. Use a box fan if temps get over 85 degrees.

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for your reply.

So do you reckon that I shouldn't use the propagator for the seedlings?

I wanted to put the seeds in root riot cubes and then that goes straight into my 13cm deep square pot. Finally I wanted to transplant from the square pot to a rhizo pot (which I haven't bought yet) that will be either 16 litres or 30 litres in size, another decision I need to make.

I am looking into grows that have been done with my strains so I have a better idea.

Thanks again!

Rold2Tight said:

Google, patience and RIU Super info, as usual, by Adjoor. You may want to check the Indoor forum, or Stealth, Micro, Cab growing sub forum too. Those forums are totally focused on indoor growing/lights/medium etc I hope you find them interesting. Personally, I enjoy those 2 forums a lot during the indoor season

Good luck and welcome to RIU

R2T

Click to expand...

Hi,

When is indoor season? Because I thought growing indoors meant it can be done all year round? :s

newbie187 said:

Hi,

When is indoor season? Because I thought growing indoors meant it can be done all year round? :s

Click to expand...

While you are correct, in that you can grow indoors year-round. But if you can use that huge (and free) trillion watt bulb-in-the-sky, why grow inside? Unless you have a large indoor area dedicated to your grow. You really can't grow anywhere near as much (or as big) indoors either. Plus, and this is a big one..... Outdoors you get to experience many pleasures you don't get indoors. Like rain, fog, fukin' 7000 different kinds of bugs mold and mildew, rippers, cops, nosy neighbors and more. Why would any sane person pass up an opportunity like that? K, so maybe we're not quite all there


See ya in the Indoor forum in November

R2T

Interesting thoughts R2T thanks

I like the rapid rooters they look just like the root riot.

I just stick the seeds right in the rapid rooter and keep it moist

Yeah I'm waiting on chains for my lights and I will be starting

Adjorr said:

1. A 600w isn't hard to cool but it definatly needs to be cooled, you will need a 6" inline fan, using a cool tube for your lights will help a lot to, lots of information about setting up proper cooling is available if u take the time to look

2. if that is a true 125w cfl then starting your seedlings under it should be fine, but if your doing 4 or more plants the will need to be under better light within a week or 2. you can start them under the HPS but you will need to keep it several feet above them so they don't get burned or bleached

3. there is all kinds of methods for starting seeds but I think the best way is just sticking them in the growing medium and wetting them, with proper warmth they will sprout and you avoid damaging the tap root by moving them after they have germed

4. just wet them, they will absorb the water and swell up, I haven't used them myself but I assume they are a lot like peat pellets, the seeds don't need light while they are germinating but placing them under light not only provides warmth but prevents them from stretching when they break ground

5. When the seedling breaks through the soil it will need light immediately, you can keep them in your propagator if you want it will provide a more humid environment which is better for germination, but you can also put them right in your grow room if you want

6. 4-5 plants is a good amount for a 600w

7. You will definatly need your extractor fan while running ur hps

8. buy flexable ducting

hope this helps good luck on growing, and remember when growing weed google an patience are your best friends

Click to expand...

Wow. Frickin awesome answers. I learned something today.

I can give tips on a few of your concerns...The temps in my tent can get to over 95 easy if my 6'' inline fan is off and the tent is closed. I got a 3.3' x 3.3' x 7' tent using 600 HPS for flower and used the MH for veg 600 watts, digital ballast, air cooled hood and carbon filter set up with other little fans that keep my tent around 75-77 lights on- sealed closed, my plants are kinda getting bushy so I wouldn't do more than 5 if you planning on growing bigger plants, definitely scrog them, super-crop them and top them for better yield and to keep them from the light, i keep mines at least 14-18 inches from the light so if you got limited height I would be concerned of the heat stress, run the set up with the most ventilation you can get and let us know whats the temp, you will need a grow meter too, humidity and temp and since u got 5'' fans, look up 5'' ducting, its like a silver tube very flexible that connects to the air-cooled hoods to the carbon filters or inline fans to pull hot air out, you will need a good exhaust so your room doesn't get filled with hot air too.

@hmontero88

Hi. I have got it all going now and am using the 125w at the moment. Haven't had to use the exhause fan but needed to put it on today. Felt quite warm. I have the same temps as you. I think I need to get an intake fan! And maybe a clip on fan for air circulation and something similar for the room.

My problem now is twofold, how to have the ducting pointing out the window and more importantly, the fastclamp between the filter and the exhaust is coming loose. I think my hanging is just out of sync because I used the metal clamp for the exhaust and then hung that. Need to think this through.

Hey man, I hear you, You can use a carbon filter to either help with the exhaust if u pull air since you don't have an exhaust. That can eliminate the smell atleast, Take a look at my new video i made from veg to transplant into flower, I show the set up of my air exhaust system and how i found a way to blow the hot air out of my house. Always take the most precautions btw! good luck bro!

http://youtu.be/HmG5IJ-TF6o

That video has been removed.

I've done it now got an exhaust and filter installed.

Really? http://youtu.be/HmG5IJ-TF6o should still be working.. anyways what is the temp with the fans now? Should have dropped quite alot.

I decided to take it off youtube, seems like a bad idea..lol