The ultimate Newb humbly asks for help for first grow ever...

[!!!]

nothing to be nervous about really. If you follow instructions, you'll grow good weed. A lot of it is just genetics. Most people who suck at growing weed chuck bagseed into soil and buy the cheapest lights they can at home depot. I have friends who try to grow but refuse to pay more than $50 for lights or a fan.

What's your budget?

You need a RED spectrum light for flowering. Flowering is when the plant grows bud instead of leaves. We don't give a shit about leaves so for big buds you need light in the red/warm spectrum. If you HAVE to choose 1 light for the entire grow, get an HPS.

If you have another $120ish to spare, get a 4 tube fluorescent light for vegging. It works great and won't kill your HPS bulb life during veg (the bulbs are rated to run certain hours before they lose lumens and require replacing.)

A fan depends on your watts (light.) Here's an example from a script I wrote. Most of the constants/equations used are from Lucas in an old thread.

This is for a 3x3x6' space with a 400 watt light.

ENVIRONMENT
Length x Width x Height: 3' x 3' x 6'
Cubic feet: 54 ft^3
Max Canopy Size: 9 sqft
Light Wattage: 400 W
Suggested Canopy Size: 8 sqft (50W/sqft)
Suggested # of Plants: 4 plants

VENTILATION
NO LIGHT exhaust CFM: 162 - 270 cfm
Suggested exhaust CFM (400 W): 262 - 370 cfm

HYDRO/AERO
Suggested air pump power: 4 Watts
Suggested reservoir size: 16 gallons

 

[stonedar]

if you want to consider 4" there are alot of reflector choices, the ones I personally like are these.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=67831&highlight=post+pictures

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...-horizontal-reflector-wglass-lens-p-1315.html

the reason I suggest them is they are small, the way they have the ducts set up takes less room in the tent than this type of duct set up on this style relector

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...sterii4-reflector-w15ft-lamp-cord-p-2796.html


greners may not list the super sun but they can get it

 

[HopefulNewb]

No I can't pm still, ty very much, I was wondering if a 250w will grow ok because again it will be at most like two plants...

If I go 250, what bulb/hood would you suggest then?

filters a little more expensive than I thought but so important so I'll probably get a good one.


glad you have one of those tents, seems like they got good reviews when I searched over web.

 

[HopefulNewb]

Will I need a intake fan as well with the 250w system, let's say I get this fan/filter which will work with the 80
http://www.greners.com/active-air-in-line-fans.html

filter -
http://www.greners.com/phresh-filters.html

should i get http://www.greners.com/active-air-in-line-booster-fans.html ??

What hood would work with a 250 setup then?

 

[HopefulNewb]

so if it was a 250 without extra cooling for a ballast, maybe just like a

http://www.greners.com/grow-lights/...-ii-aluminum-wing-reflector-with-cordset.html

would be ok? But can that handle the right bulbs?

 

[stonedar]

I use the passive intake flaps for intake. will your tent be in a room that's well lit? will your 12hr cycle be day or night? I keep my passive flaps open, and run my lights during the day. it'd dark enough in the room I grow in for that to work.

if you are need an intake fan, the 6 inch one you listed with a 4 inch reducer would be fine.

the $94 phresh 4 x 12 filter is an excellent filter choice. for pulling air put of your tent the 4" inline active air you listed would be great.

shop around though. if it were me I'd by the filter & tent at greners. the inline fans and lighting is cheaper elsewhere

 

[stonedar]

I like that simple wing you listed, I'd rather have the Hydrofarm (it looks the same)with an all system cord set because it's adjustable to center a 250w. where that wing you listed has adjustment only to 400 if it's adjustable at all.

 

[HopefulNewb]

ok cool, will I need extra ducting also or can those fans pretty much be installed right at the intake/outtake and be good to go?

 

[stonedar]

lets make a list and check it twice shall we?

I know buying a package is great either at greners or wherever but if buying it seperate if from even 2 places is cheaper or better bang for your buck I am all about that. so...

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/hydrofarm-15ft-all-system-socket-lamp-cord-set-p-2337.html
this will center a 250w not saying you gotta buy it at PLH I think greners has it too.

then you can buy a wing with out a cord set and be set

now, not all ballasts and cord sets fit together. so once you settle on a wattage we'll make sure all you get works together.

 

[HopefulNewb]

oh and I definitly will shop around if I can't work out a sweet deal . I can't add to your rep anymore or I would, you've been a tremendous help.!

 

[stonedar]

you will still need some 4 inch ducting. available at Lowes as Dryer ducting.
you don't want to connect a filter directly to fan even though everyone does cause it vibrates the carbon around making you filter last less time. don't let anyone tell you other wise. nyah nyah

 

[stonedar]

so you've settled on 250w huh? for just 2 plants thats what I would do. personally. I mean no matter what you'll always have a 250 MH to beg plants if you get bigger later.

I know it's getting expensive. but here's how it works you get it right 1st time equipment wise. it's cheaper than buying wrong stuff and getting frustrated

 

[HopefulNewb]

Yeah definitely want to do it right first time, prob too much info but I might not have a lot of time to get this really right lol... hopefully will though, hence hopeful newb .

and thank you for words !!!! i missed your post somehow .

 

[TheGreenBastard]

Two plants would thrive under a 250w, though at this point you might want to consider PL-L's. You can get ~200w for under $100, but the two major advantages are reduced heat and multiple light sources. You could get the plants much closer to the lights and could help lower ventilation cost.

 

[HopefulNewb]

how long would this bulb last me? I'm thinking of getting next size up tent, and going back the 400w path ;x

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...anced-blue-spectrum-hps-grow-bulb-p-2985.html

 

[HopefulNewb]

Hey I ordered coco in the no brick form, do I need to soak / power rinse it ? I've read that sometimes it needs that.

Also everything is next to being ordered tonight... very nervous but so excited can't wait. I got some freebie seeds and when I checked the strains some of them look sorta cool so maybe I'll get lucky and be able to use one of them also. The main seed I'll be using is Onyx ss,


and last but not least if I upgrade to the 100 tent, do I need a bigger filter/fan?

 

[coloradomedical]

What kind of CoCo did you get? Some comes pre buffered. That's the kind I get and i never rinse, though some suggest it. If it's not pre buffered definitely rinse with a buffered solution.

Depends, how big of a fan/filter combo you have to begin with and what kind of lights do you have?

 

[HopefulNewb]

Ok almost everything a go...still shopping around for prices / deals , so plz just comment on parts

check list, tell me what I'm missing plz...

BULB -
digilux-400w-enhanced-blue-spectrum-hps-grow-bulb

Ballast -
cap-harvest-sun-400w-hps-or-mh-switchable-remote-ballast

hood-
sunlight-supersun2-6in-ac-horizontal-reflector-wglass-lens



hangers - progrip-ratchet-light-hanger

Tent - secret-jardin-dark-room-grow-tent-dr100.html

fan to exhaust - active-air-in-line-fans.html - 4 inch 165 cfm

filter -phresh-filters- 150 CFM - 4" x 8" -

intake booster fan - active-air-in-line-booster-fans.html 6 inch

extra clip on fan inside - clip-on-fan-6.html

MaxiBloom 2.2 lbs

Perlite 32 Qt

Sunleaves Loose Coconut Fiber 40 L bag

CalMag Qt

Organic anti pest spray

Ph Control Kit

two heavy duty 4.5 gal pots




what else do I need?


seeds are good, well at least ok considering I'm a newb smoker as well tbh.

 

[HopefulNewb]

I'll wash it to be on the safe side, I'm a little worried still on making sure water/feed is right, but I think I'll be ok, might end up needing more ph materials

 

[stonedar]

I would purchase a fan speed controller, and if upgrading to a 400 & a 100cm tent. I would rather see you get a bigger filter and 6 inch fan. it'll be worth it in the long run prolly. the DR100 is slightly shorter than some tents you can set your fan on top of the tent to save some space.