I feel like a noob... because I am!

[Selftest]

Hi guys,

Ive been reading on here for a few days about different methods and am a little lost on some of the terms, but i think I have it mostly figured out. My plans are:

Bubblers (x5, 5 gal buckets)
a few different strains




I'm lost on lighting in my particular situation. I'd like to go as inexpensive on the grow as I can, but I'm a perfectionist. Is a flourescent/CFL only build possible or desirable with 5 bubblers going? Would it be better to just get the HID/HPS lights right now and bite the cost? Am I correct in assuming that 600watts x2 hps lights would cost me about $600?


It's cold here and only getting colder. We're sitting at 40 degree days with 35 degree nights. By the time my mother plants are grown and ready, it will be in the middle of winter. I have a few different rooms I can grow in, each with their own pros and cons. One specific room is bare concrete floors and walls (sort of a basement, but not really.) The only problem is, it's HUGE (bad problem to have, right?) at about 14 x 14 x 8 or 10. I'm worried about it being too cold. Would a heater in this room be beneficial? If I go HPS/HID, would it keep it at optimal temperature? If I use fluorescent/CFL (compact fluorescent light?) I'm assuming I'd have to heat the grow room...

Also, venting that big of a room may prove difficult, yes? It has two large windows that I can point fans at...

Will do more reading, and a grow journal when we start.

 

[Haps]

Welcome seedling, read in the forums and the diy sticky is a goldmine, in growrooms and equipment forums. Your questions need tuning, as you need to do more study, as do I. If you want fine buds, hid is the ticket, the rest are role players.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

I always Veg with a florescent ( 30k Lumen T5) and flower with a 1,000W HPS ... You can never have too much light or bubbles its all about how much you want to spend if you are only growing 5 buckets then you should be good with one 600W HPS/MH I have 6 plants and I veg with a T5 and flower with one 1,000W HPS. You are gonna have to buy a good fan to keep that light cool.

 

[!!!]

You gotta define what your budget is.. for me $1k is low in this hobby. For my friend he's not willing to put down more than $50.

In a room that big, fluorescents would not produce enough heat to warm the room up to ideal temps, so the cost of HIDs will be exceeded by your heating costs.

A 600w (ballast/reflector/bulbs) is around $280-300. In big room I'd bring out the 1000ws though!

I suggest buying a tent (or two down the line. Perhaps one for veg and one for flowering.) Heat will remain in the vicinity of the plants and venting will be easier because you'd need a much smaller fan. Noise is also slightly reduced and the tents are light proof.

You seem to be on the right track though. To cut costs on nutrients I suggest MaxiGro and MaxiBloom. They go for around $13 for 2.2lb (each) online. Dirt cheap.. couple that with dry pH up/down and you're set. Just because maxi is cheap doesn't mean it's low quality. Prob as good as the most expensive nutes at your hydro shop.

What's left..

Figure out the size of your space and find a fan with enough CFM to move the air 3-5 times a minute (300-500 cfm for a 100 cubic foot room), FootHill Filters for your scrubber, home depot for ducting, get a Milwaukee pH/TDS meter, extra shit if you're going the DIY route ... that's pretty much it. Oh and seeds of course haha. DO NOT SKIMP ON SEEDS. Genetics will make or break your grow. Dank equipment + shitty genes = regs. Chemdawg IBL, BOG Sour Bubble, Dutch Grown's gear..

 

[B. Friendly]

My plans are:

Bubblers (x5, 5 gal buckets)
a few different strains, I am running 20-25girls for every 400watts more girls for me is easier to get high yeilds.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=194145 pics

I'm lost on lighting in my particular situation. Spend some dow,

600watts x2 hps lights would cost me about $600?http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...600watt+grow+system&_sacat=See-All-Categories


It's cold here and only getting colder. I'm assuming I'd have to heat the grow room... doubt it, 1200watts will warm it up

Also, venting that big of a room may prove difficult, yes? It has two large windows that I can point fans at... Don't Vent get co2 will pay for itself first grow!

Will do more reading, and a grow journal when we start.

my thoughts above

 

[B. Friendly]

try using 3-400watters since your space is so large you'll easily be able to space your lights out in a large room like yours.

 

[Selftest]

Thanks a bunch, guys. My partner and I are weighing options right now. Need it to be stealthy but fairly productive to make it worth our while.

My budget? I'd say $1500 will be the upper limit. After doing a few "test" shopping carts online, this is more than doable.

DWC buckets still seem to be the best option right now, in my opinion. The cost/failure ratio is pretty big with a system that requires so much to go right for it all to work . Soil is tempting, but the added mess may not be worth it.

The real problem I seem to be having is this: The space will be a rental property. The entire downstairs is sectioned off from the rest of the house. The basement is a great grow location, but the room is almost TOO big; It's really hard to heat/cool and vent. There is a few other options (bathroom grow, closet grow, indoor bedroom grow, cabinet grow) at this location, all of which we are looking into.

 

[Motta-Tokka]

I am growing in a super cold garage right now (super hot in summer) and I can get temps from 55f to 80f in a hour or two with 1000w and a propane co2 generator. The way I can do this quickly is to turn off my fan to the lights that have a separate cooling fan just for them. In fact my a/c has had to come on for a few minutes anytime I do this to save it from getting to high. Once the tent is hot I turn the light fan to keep temps in check. I have a dimmer on that fan too because if it was at full speed, with the intake temps to it being 55f-60f, it stops producing heat entirely and the temps will start to lower again. I also have a bad ass digital heater I got from lowes for $30 or so that I never use since I got it down this way. Check out my log here https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=193013

I have also tried a better version of your bubble buckets (rdwc with a chiller) and found it was a pain in the ass to dial in so be ready to get annoyed if all does not go for you very well with this. I found dirt to be way easier in so many ways. My log above shows back to back aero and dirt and I will post a pic on monday to show insane week three from clone 12/12. Some started pre flowering about a week ago.

 

[sneaky101]

You could also get some panda film and construct a fairly inexpensive tent in your big basement if you are into diy. It would probably be about half as much $ as a tent and you would have to make all the ventilation holes yourself which can be a pain.

 

[crazybear]

You mentioned this being a rental, is the person or rental company going to be inspecting? If your going to do dwc make sur you figure the cost of water heaters especially if you do it on concrete floors, especially in bloom water will cool off quickly in the 12 hours lights are turned off. I would go with hid.

 

[mule420]

If you can only afford 1 good light set up buy that! And work your way up! You will be surprised in 6 months when you have lights coming out of you ass just by chilling and watching what will come along out of the blue...

I grew DWC in 5 gallon buckets for a grip! (that's a long time)
The problem you are dealing with is this,,, not enough water buffer, when the plants uptake nutes PH will change... When the plants are transpiring and just up taking water the PH changes... Depending on how hands on you are it could make or break you. And to PH 6 buckets with 2 strains can be hell...

Now that Ive scared the shit out of you the good news...

Find totes or something bigger then 5 gallons say 10 gallon totes and use those! Bigger water buffer you might make it 2-3 days before the PH swing hits the plants then you must PH .5 or so down or up over time... The beauty of hydro is this, low maintenance and explosive growth. I check my PH maybe 2-3 times a month... No need to, I have a big enough buffer of water in my rez to make the swings slower and I can adjust on the fly.

I have a 12 site ebb and gro, a 72+ site flower and veg stinkbud set up, 2 flood tables, and a dozen DWC buckets.... However I'm building a 12-16 site, Under current in 7 gallon buckets so my point is "it's not if you will change up it's when" Pick bigger totes and remember the bigger the rez the bigger the buffer! Peace and puffs good luck! you need some help anyway you go PM me grasshopper!

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Thanks a bunch, guys. My partner and I are weighing options right now. Need it to be stealthy but fairly productive to make it worth our while.

My budget? I'd say $1500 will be the upper limit. After doing a few "test" shopping carts online, this is more than doable.

DWC buckets still seem to be the best option right now, in my opinion. The cost/failure ratio is pretty big with a system that requires so much to go right for it all to work . Soil is tempting, but the added mess may not be worth it.

The real problem I seem to be having is this: The space will be a rental property. The entire downstairs is sectioned off from the rest of the house. The basement is a great grow location, but the room is almost TOO big; It's really hard to heat/cool and vent. There is a few other options (bathroom grow, closet grow, indoor bedroom grow, cabinet grow) at this location, all of which we are looking into.

Buying online is cool and a lot cheaper but I like to buy from my local hydro grow store because if something breaks all you have to do is take it in with the receipt. One recommendation I make on the DWC buckets is to buy some 5 gallon Igloo sport coolers they sale at home depot and Lowe's I use them and my res temps stay the temperature I set them at for a a good week.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

If you can only afford 1 good light set up buy that! And work your way up! You will be surprised in 6 months when you have lights coming out of you ass just by chilling and watching what will come along out of the blue...

I grew DWC in 5 gallon buckets for a grip! (that's a long time)
The problem you are dealing with is this,,, not enough water buffer, when the plants uptake nutes PH will change... When the plants are transpiring and just up taking water the PH changes... Depending on how hands on you are it could make or break you. And to PH 6 buckets with 2 strains can be hell...

Now that Ive scared the shit out of you the good news...

Find totes or something bigger then 5 gallons say 10 gallon totes and use those! Bigger water buffer you might make it 2-3 days before the PH swing hits the plants then you must PH .5 or so down or up over time... The beauty of hydro is this, low maintenance and explosive growth. I check my PH maybe 2-3 times a month... No need to, I have a big enough buffer of water in my rez to make the swings slower and I can adjust on the fly.

I have a 12 site ebb and gro, a 72+ site flower and veg stinkbud set up, 2 flood tables, and a dozen DWC buckets.... However I'm building a 12-16 site, Under current in 7 gallon buckets so my point is "it's not if you will change up it's when" Pick bigger totes and remember the bigger the rez the bigger the buffer! Peace and puffs good luck! you need some help anyway you go PM me grasshopper!

For sure growing one strain is much easier.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

I'd go with a soil/soil-less medium given your temp problem. If you have trouble keeping the room warm your sure as hell gonna have trouble keeping your rez warm. The last thing you want are cold roots.

In your situation I would use a coco based mix as there is little mess, it has great watering properties, and roots love it.

 

[Selftest]

You guys kick so much ass.

I have NO idea what we're gonna do. Working with another person here, so we both have to be happy AND profitable. Two things that are increasingly hard to do


There are so many damned ways to grow. ScroG, SOG, LST, De-fol, soil, hydro, coco... and they all have pluses and minuses! DWC LOOKS so awesome, but I also forsee some headaches as a first grow. But maybe no more than any other method.

I still have a TON of reading to do, different methods to study, etc. Again, you guys kick much ass. Thanks a lot.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

You guys kick so much ass.

I have NO idea what we're gonna do. Working with another person here, so we both have to be happy AND profitable. Two things that are increasingly hard to do


There are so many damned ways to grow. ScroG, SOG, LST, De-fol, soil, hydro, coco... and they all have pluses and minuses! DWC LOOKS so awesome, but I also forsee some headaches as a first grow. But maybe no more than any other method.

I still have a TON of reading to do, different methods to study, etc. Again, you guys kick much ass. Thanks a lot.

DWC isnt that hard I never grew anything in my life and I went DWC piece of cake as long as you focus on PPM, PH, and Reservoir Temp.