The best/cheapest online hydro shop? Need to make a purchase today.

[1love1earth]

So I'm needing to pick up a few items, and my local shop just marks everything up to hell. I've seen a number of online shops, but I have no idea which one to choose. I'm assuming there are a few that are extremely popular amongst users here...

What I need for sure:

Hanna EC/TDS/PH meter (dip, for testing nute/water solution)

R/O device (maybe not), not sure if I need to go R/O, as my tap water may be pretty good, input here is appreciated.

Cool Tube? Should I go this route? Reflector is built into the cool tube, seems like a great idea, pure glass, won't melt, what do you think? (like the one seen here http://cgi.ebay.com/Sun-Tube-cool-h...photoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262 )

For odor control, I've been liking what folks have said about the Vaportek, and will likely pick one of these up. Though I may still through some sort of cheap/easy/compact DIY carbon filter stage on my exhaust.

Some form of organic nutes suitable for use in a pure soil, or soil/coco coir mix. I've gathered that soluable organic nutes are the way to go?
Besides nutes grow/bloom, what else do I need in the "nute" department? I assume perhaps some form of cal/mag for my plants, sensical I've heard is popular.

Maybe some other odds and ends, like black/white poly (my closet is carpeted, so I'll need some form of a liner for this too), though I'm thinking of just making 2 cabs (veg/flower)within the closet (it is 13ft by 2.5ft) with plywood kind of like this:
_
|P| So the lines are plywood, and the "P" represents a poly wall face that can be rolled up to access the plants, and all of this can be hidden behind the sliding doors of the closet, of course exhaust, intake, wiring, etc is all TBD, and a huge factor...

Regardless, as far as supplies go...

What nutes should I go with, again pure organic here. They will be under a 400 watt CMH light, maybe more, I'm not certain what my breaker can handle before I start tripping it.

I need a fan as well, though I figure Home Depot or such will be best for this, no?

Also, light timers for my lights, I take it I need the "right" one, I can't just pick up any old $10 timer and throw my 400 watt CMH on it, correct? The CMH uses a magnetic HPS ballast, and I don't want to damage anything, or start a fire.

Currently we've got 4x t-8 floro tubes going for the seedlings, about 70 of them are 1-2 days old, they are in propagation trays, will be transferred to "Keg cups" in about a week (or however long I should wait before moving them out of the propagation trays). The strains are:
Mandala Satori (6)
Mandala Hashberry (5)
GH Big Bang (6)
Mandala Safari Mix (alot of these, maybe 30 or so)
Nirvana Early Girl (10)
Nirvana Swiss Miss (10)

These ones are en-route (planning on cloning plants (100+ clones) for outdoors, and figured fem'd seeds would give me a faster result getting female clones...)
Mandala #1 fem
GHS Lemon Skunk fem
GHS A.M.S. fem
GHS The Church fem


So, what do you all think? ANY and ALL input, suggestions, help, on ANY level, is greatly appreciated. Please ask me questions! Please tell me what else I need, and I'll tell you whether or not I've got it, need to cover all my bases here. This place rocks

 

[Guest]

My sig.

 

[Guest]

Hanna EC/TDS/PH meter (dip, for testing nute/water solution)

I would look at Milwaukee as well. I have a Hanna combo pen but I wanted the Milwaukee for it's quality.

 

[SomeGuy]

Also, light timers for my lights, I take it I need the "right" one, I can't just pick up any old $10 timer and throw my 400 watt CMH on it, correct? The CMH uses a magnetic HPS ballast, and I don't want to damage anything, or start a fire.

I grabbed one of these mechanicals at Walmart yesterday for $20. Rated at 15 amps and has 6 outlets.
Intermatic

I was using a digital unit that I got at a hydro store that was $25 retail and had 2 outlets. I left it unplugged for 2 months and it went DEAD because it has an internal battery thats soldered in and not replaceable.

Unless you plan on spending BIG bucks on controllers specifically for running greenhouses, then the Intermatics from the hardware store or Walmart are a good value and will save you a few bucks over buying the same thing at a hydro store. Just make sure you get one rated at 15 amps and then not overload it.

"WATTS divided by VOLTS (120) = AMPS"

Example: 400 Watt Light divided by 120 = 3.3 AMPS. Add another amp for the ballast.

I need a fan as well, though I figure Home Depot or such will be best for this, no?

Again Walmart 39.95 for Stanley Blower Fan. It takes some modding but works great. Info here on site.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=29341

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

BG Hydro is pretty good on prices and stuff.

http://www.bghydro.com/

I personally recommend Growco, 4hydroponics.com. Good people out there, and free shipping over $250.

http://4hydroponics.com/

 

[1love1earth]

sorry for anyone sending me a PM, I can't even read them until I hit 50, which is sort of lame, should at least be able to read :/

So as long as I grab a light timer that's rated at 15 amps or so, I should be good?

How do folks feel about the Milwaukee instead of Hanna? Is one a good bit better? I'm looking for accuracy and longevity (if I went with the hanna, I'd pick up the cleaning solution unless it's some cheapo thing I can DIY, and calibration solutions)

How about a nutrient package, can anyone flat out just tell me what is best? (I realize there is no 'best', but I'm a beginner, I know the basics though, like don't fert a seedling for 3-4 weeks in good dirt, etc) There are just soooo many out there, and so many "non-grow/bloom" products, like enhancers, micronutrients, etc etc etc that I don't know what to buy, what isn't needed, and what will actually do more harm than good.

Again, I'll likely be going soil/coco mix (got a 20lb brick of coco, and a bunch of organic dirt that I've been baking).

 

[Guest]

I am using House and Garden Aqua Flakes A + B, MultiEnzyme, Drip Clean, Bud-XL, Top Booster.

I know you are doing coco or soil but I would recommend the FloraNova Grow and Bloom from GH. I will be switching myself to GH after my current grow.

Here is my list for my next grow:
FloraNova Grow
FloraNova Bloom
Floralicious Plus
Rare Earth
Diamond Nectar
Liquid Kool Bloom
Sugar Daddy
Hygrozyme (not for soil I think...)

Getting all that from:

Grow-A-Lot Hydro Store

 

[Guest]

sorry for anyone sending me a PM, I can't even read them until I hit 50, which is sort of lame, should at least be able to read :/

So as long as I grab a light timer that's rated at 15 amps or so, I should be good?

Exactly.

How do folks feel about the Milwaukee instead of Hanna? Is one a good bit better? I'm looking for accuracy and longevity (if I went with the hanna, I'd pick up the cleaning solution unless it's some cheapo thing I can DIY, and calibration solutions)

Milwaukee is more of an industrial grade meter compared to Hanna's hobby solution. Hanna will do the job too though, don't get me wrong. You can replace the probe on my Hanna as well, which is important.

 

[Guest]

Here is the inline fan I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Inline-Duct-F...0785920QQihZ014QQcategoryZ43555QQcmdZViewItem

 

[GirthDogg]

Someone already mentioned bghydro... they are pretty good and have a good selection.
Also there is discount-hydro... popular cali based store that does a great job as well... http://www.discount-hydro.com/

 

[1love1earth]

so are all the "addon" enhancers recommended? I mean, within any given nutrient package, there can be 2-5 enhancer products, and I don't want to go overboard, and do more harm than good, or waste money.

 

[1love1earth]

also, how loud are those inline vortex fans? I know some high CFM PC fans can have a high-pitched whine to them, almost like a jet engine, loud db. Since this is in my living space, quiet is better, but I'm tempted to also pick up a variable fan speed device to "dial in" the perfect mix of db and CFM.

 

[afghanica]

I like http://www.bghydro.com/ and http://www.homeharvest.com.

If you are looking for bulbs, especially Hortilux, http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/ has the best pricing.

 

[soomka]

HTG supply has good service.
and shipping is very discreet

 

[Guest 16149]

Heres a good one with discreet shipping They will probably have everything you need

http://cheaphydroponics.com/
Cheap Hydroponics

 

[Strawberrycough]

you guys got to check out GREENGOLDHYDRO.com cheap and fastTTTT!

 

[GirthDogg]

Hey 1love1earth, I have a 6" Vortex and I know what you mean by the jet engine description. Mine isn't too damn loud though, and most of the noise was eliminated when I installed ducting to both sides of it. If it is your living space, then go ahead and get that speed controller. I have one of those as well and it tones down the fan noise more than enough to have folks over without hearing it (unless of course you have to run it full blast in order to bring temps down).
It's hard to describe how loud something is w/o a db meter over here, so if you have any more questions about the noise, just ask. I'll try to describe it better.

If it helps at all, just know that all of the noise made by my vortex is from the roar of the moving air itself, NOT from the motor or fan assembly. The unit itself and it's moving parts are absolutely silent. That's why my noise issue was eliminated the moment I put ducting on both ends of my blower.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

www.sunstoneherbals.com has the cheapest prices on Hanna meters Ive seen. $120 for the TDS/ph/temp combo meter.

 

[FreezerBoy]

also, how loud are those inline vortex fans? I know some high CFM PC fans can have a high-pitched whine to them, almost like a jet engine, loud db. Since this is in my living space, quiet is better, but I'm tempted to also pick up a variable fan speed device to "dial in" the perfect mix of db and CFM.

VERY loud. Not "ear bleeding" loud but, "what the @#$%* is that sound that has no excuse for being in this room," loud. It will destroy any sense of stealth. They can be muffled sufficiently to keep the noise inside a room but, anyone in that room will know unless you have several large aquariums and a few racks of computer servers and blaring rock and roll to mask them. Did I mention they are LOUD?

 

[ItsGrowTime]

VERY loud. Not "ear bleeding" loud but, "what the @#$%* is that sound that has no excuse for being in this room," loud. It will destroy any sense of stealth. They can be muffled sufficiently to keep the noise inside a room but, anyone in that room will know unless you have several large aquariums and a few racks of computer servers and blaring rock and roll to mask them. Did I mention they are LOUD?

Eh. I have a 6" Vortex and I don't think it's overly loud. Using insulated ducting helps keep the sound more about air movement and less about the fan itself. It does sound kinda like a jet engine, only the turbine part, but its also very "white noise" like. Nothing descript and sounds similar to my furnace fan. If you are doing a cab or live in an apartment with paper thin walls its probably too loud to put by a shared wall. Anything else and it won't matter.