First timer with $4000 to spend on set up.

[molemandan]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I have been browsing the forums for a while now educating myself and I am ready to invest in my equipment.

If anyone experience in a similar scenario as mine could elicit their help it would be appreciated immensely!

Here is what I have so far...

Budget for all equipment: ~$4000. This number is flexible but obviously desired to stay under.

This will be taking place in a spare bedroom in an apartment. From what I can gather keeping the operation under 2000 watts is the safest bet without raising many eyebrows. (if for any reason you think this is too risky could you please let me know for what reasons?)

Growing area: 4'x8' tent (can be different if advised)

Lighting: 2x 1kw HPS Sodium (or 2x 750watt if power draw from 2 seems to high) I initially wanted to go with high output LEDs but those seem to have mixed results and a huge initial investment to get the desired actual wattage.

Growing medium will be hydro with a 4'x8' tray using an ebb and flow system. This will be all grown using SOG with less than a week in veg. Rockstar will be the strain used.

Mothers and cloning area will be done in the closet of the room.

Of course the biggest issues are power, odour, heat and noise. I plan on using carbon filters w/ ona gel for the exhaust systems. Does anyone feel that the heat created in a tent would require an AC unit to also be used in addition to fans? Power I gather should be ok if operating under 2kw. Room will have sound deadening materials on walls. Exhaust ducts can run to window with out issue of being seen(window runs on to deck with bbq infront of it : D)

The goal is to pull over 1gpw with harvests approx. every 2 months.

Please let me know if you see any flaws or errs in my ways. Thanks in advance for any advice given.

I will be happy to share the progress with everyone as it comes along!


Have a nice day.

 

[usda101]

Sounds descent but im no pro . Run your air cooled hoods then add Ac if necessary . You cane intake an exhaust air from the window, may stay cool enough . Two 750s sounds better for and apartment plus they will help on power usage if AC is needed . I have a problem with apartment grows as a principle tho . To many unforseens ( somebody in the building setting fire to the place , suprise inspections, Oder , power outtages , etc) . But your plan sounds good . Dont waste your money and take your time $4000 is plenty for what your trying to acheive . Peace

 

[darkshadow]

You're gonna have to watch out for a bunch of things before buying all those things.

First of all, you should figure out how many amps your breaker can handle in that room and whether you're using 120v or 240v outlets.

If you have 240v outlets, you're one lucky person cause 240v stuff uses way less amps than 120v ones.

Make sure to calculate how many amps uses each things you wanna buy & are already in the room.

The rule of thumbs is to use less than 80% of your breaker's capacity.

Example, if your breaker can handle 15 amps, you should only use 12 amps to be safe.

PS, i am not an electrician so take my advice with a grain of salt

 

[soursmoker]

he's not an electrician but he does have the right idea ^^

 

[socialist]

Don't buy cooltubes. You will need to cool your tent if you are running 2k in there. You might be able to get away with using a window unit to cool the air in the room then pull that air into the tent. Have you given any consideration to landlord visits? That ain't shit as far as power consumption. No need to worry about that.

Darkshadow, constant load capacity is 80% of amp rating. So yes you are right.

 

[intotheunknown]

spend very wisely. it will go fast.

 

[molemandan]

Thanks for the comments so far. I will def. check the amp ratings of the room.

Socialist- I am the landlord ; )

 

[mr. gt]

maybe a light mover. if its your first grow please dont count on getting 1gpw. You'll be disappointed most likely. Keep it simple. dont over nute. people on here are real helpful if you post a journal and are real thorough.

getting an ac depends on what your local tempertures are like especially since the summers coming. Lights are HOT! you will need a/c unless your place is cold. maybe you could get away with a portable a/c blowing into a hole in the tent.

you could get away using less than 4k if you only by what you need. lights, a/c, nutrients(kiss), filter/s, fans. basically make a list, write the prices and see what you total. I wouldnt recomend doing any fancy nutrients. I would recomend using the lucas formula thats on here. general hydroponics flower and micro only. thru both veg and bloom. and using 30ml/gallon of hydrogen peroxide so you dont get algea, or root rot ect. maybe something like shooting powder 3 weeks from flower. but do not over do it with all these crazy nutes you do not need.
fans do get very loud. they sound like a jet taking off. please take that into consideration.

 

[HidingInTheHaze]

The goal is to pull over 1gpw with harvests approx. every 2 months.

I want some of what your smoking.

 

[mr. gt]

Dont make any hasty decisions when you buy stuff. google search and this site are your friends. Everything you need to know is on this forum and online. check out the diy link o rama too. google search it. make educated purchases and you'll have extra money left over. Maybe if you do lots of research you could do a co2 setup. which is a sealed grow room. which would mean you need to purchase different things. like cooled lights with the air blowing thru the lights and not for ventalation in the tents. so the tent is sealed. Make sure you know your setup before you buy stuff, than change your mind and buy new stuff, thats how you blow money. Once again please dont count on getting 1gpw your first time. It's also strain dependent. I am not saying big bud will get you 1gpw especailly your first grow. read through some grow journals. maybe look up some famous people on here like heath robinson if your trying to get huge yields. Heath got 2.12 gpw in his octagon grow. using 1 600w per octagon.
Your best bet is to copy someones grow. use same nutes, same strain same everything. (copy heath) haha hes my idol. consider vertical for most yield. theres some good guys in there bobble head, anti and some others. ive been lurking for 8 years now and have 1000s of hours and am still learning.

 

[Tonygreen]

Get a whisperline 440 cfm fan. The thing is quieter than a standard box type fan you would use to cool a room for your family. It also moves a shit ton of air. Use insulated ducting. Deffo get the window AC it will work fine, dont get the little cheap one though.

 

[molemandan]

Thanks I know getting less than 1gpw is a likely reality but it's what drives me.


Does anyone think 2kw+fans, clone fluoros, pumps, ac and someone living in the apartment be too much power usage?

Your best bet is to copy someones grow. use same nutes, same strain same everything. (copy heath) haha hes my idol. consider vertical for most yield. theres some good guys in there bobble head, anti and some others. ive been lurking for 8 years now and have 1000s of hours and am still learning.

Thats exactly what I was thinking of doing- Do you think you could throw me a couple links of what you think would be one best for me to mimic with an ebb and flow?

I was having trouble finding the whisper fan at any of my local hydro stores... are vortex fans very loud? can fans?

I'm almost done compiling my list. I will post it here for advice!

Cheers for the advice.

 

[Hammerhead]

First thing is Apt growing is very stressful. Manager can make entry with a 24hr notice any time they want to. they will have min yearly fire detection testing that requires them to enter you apt.


before anyone can get to far into details we need more details from you. What kind of grow are you planning Hydro,Soil Less or soil???... After I know what your Medium is I can start to give more info. You can start to get some of the ancillary equipment like the scrubber and in line fans, wall mounted fans,,

CAN FAN 33 with flange with a recomended airflow of 100 CFM..
Bungee cords(ratchet straps are better) to attach filter to top of tent.

4" EXHAUST DUCTING 25'
3 CLIP ON FANS large...
Dehumidifier/AC
The bottom on the tent has a drip liner but you need more protection. Get a piece of Pond liner cut it so the liner is wall to wall with some over lap. If there is a spill leak now you can just vac it out keep the corners of the tent dry at all times. It will rust here first if you get it wet(botoom back left ,right)

 

[They]

I personally wouldn't SOG first time out. A 4x8 requires dozens of clones. I would get the environment dialed in while trying out different strains and growing out some mother stock.

 

[mowood3479]

before u go out an buy an ac... just know that depending on where you are... what floor the room is on and whether it gets a lot of sun you may not need it... where i live (in the mtns) i just run my rooms with air exchange... i think the rule of thumb is you want the air cycled out twice per min... so if you have a 4 x 8 x8 room you'd want a 500cfm fan pulling air out of the room.. but if ur in some hot n humid climate u will need ac.. my two cents

 

[molemandan]

before u go out an buy an ac... just know that depending on where you are... what floor the room is on and whether it gets a lot of sun you may not need it... where i live (in the mtns) i just run my rooms with air exchange... i think the rule of thumb is you want the air cycled out twice per min... so if you have a 4 x 8 x8 room you'd want a 500cfm fan pulling air out of the room.. but if ur in some hot n humid climate u will need ac.. my two cents

Yah thank you. I think im going to try it without the AC and a passive cooling through reflectors with no filtration.

Finished the list if anyone's interested. The total came to $3077 pre tax.


Tent-Darkroom Wide II 8'x4'
Jiffy Greenhouse 72
Jiffy Pelts
Heat Mat

Lighting
1000 Watt Philips Agrolite bulb
2x lumatek 1000 switchable ballast
Sunblaster Flouroescent 4x4'
Digital Timer
Chains/Hooks
Maverick Sun Aircooled Shade

Ventilation/Odour Control
6" Stealth fan (lights)
Canfan 6" (room)
25' 6"Flexible Air Ducting Insulated
4L Ona Gel Pro

Canfilter 50-420cfm (scrubber)

Hydro:
Flood Table Bio Zone 4x8
50gal res.
Mag Drive Utility Pump 350 GPH
Hydroton 50L
Coco matt
10ft plastic tubing
6ft wide plastic tubing
Marina Air Pump 200
Eco Plus Large round airstone
Net Pots 8"x55
GH FloraNova Bloom
Root stimulant
Milwaukee pH-600 Tester
Mondi Thermometer/Hydrometer


Misc
Fire Extinguisher
Zip Ties
Doorknob w/lock
Dead Bolt
Weather striping
Sound Deadening

 

[DamnUglyDogE]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I have been browsing the forums for a while now educating myself and I am ready to invest in my equipment.

If anyone experience in a similar scenario as mine could elicit their help it would be appreciated immensely!

Here is what I have so far...

Budget for all equipment: ~$4000. This number is flexible but obviously desired to stay under.

This will be taking place in a spare bedroom in an apartment. From what I can gather keeping the operation under 2000 watts is the safest bet without raising many eyebrows. (if for any reason you think this is too risky could you please let me know for what reasons?)

Growing area: 4'x8' tent (can be different if advised)

Lighting: 2x 1kw HPS Sodium (or 2x 750watt if power draw from 2 seems to high) I initially wanted to go with high output LEDs but those seem to have mixed results and a huge initial investment to get the desired actual wattage.

Growing medium will be hydro with a 4'x8' tray using an ebb and flow system. This will be all grown using SOG with less than a week in veg. Rockstar will be the strain used.

Mothers and cloning area will be done in the closet of the room.

Of course the biggest issues are power, odour, heat and noise. I plan on using carbon filters w/ ona gel for the exhaust systems. Does anyone feel that the heat created in a tent would require an AC unit to also be used in addition to fans? Power I gather should be ok if operating under 2kw. Room will have sound deadening materials on walls. Exhaust ducts can run to window with out issue of being seen(window runs on to deck with bbq infront of it : D)

The goal is to pull over 1gpw with harvests approx. every 2 months.

Please let me know if you see any flaws or errs in my ways. Thanks in advance for any advice given.

I will be happy to share the progress with everyone as it comes along!


Have a nice day.

What a great 1st post..

Mine was (Nice) Worse 1st post ever..

2 thoughts for ya..

1st- Read this... (Simply good timing and it fits)
2013- Am I just stoned - or - What ?<~> Im going to be rich and stuff...
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=260934

2nd-(Much more useful)

Go to Vert-Ville and check out D9 and the P.P.K system...

Bare bulb 600hps Vert any style using coco/perlite/turface or any # of medium on a PPK system of which there are quite a few levels ta chose from..

Using Only Jacks hydro & cal/n for solid grows time and time again.
(Of course ya can use any nuits-but-why) lol

Then there's the # of people willing to help you become-whatever it is your chasing...

DHF-D9 ta name only 2 of maybe 10 solid/reliable givers in Vert-Ville..

Not a bad place ta hang out...

Simply a opinion and suggestion...

Got a feeling your going to put on a good show..

That or im just stoned...


~~~ ~



*

 

[johnipedestran]

I think you need to just buy all that stuff, set it up in your spare apt bedroom and you will be good to go.
peace
jip

 

[soursmoker]

I've always wondered how does one purchase that much worth of equipment? Did you simply put it on your credit card? I guess if you are in a med state it doesn't matter. good luck bro, seems like you got a good understanding of what you need.

 

[MIway]

Re the power... 15amp120v breaker for each ballast, and could even put a fan/pump on it... Need two for the lights. Another 15amp breaker dedicated for the rest of the gear, really just to make sure. And if you put a small window ac in there, another 15amp breaker... And you should think about a deuy for sure, and that might work on the 15amp for the accessories, or another line. if living there, should be okay at nights so wont need a space heater and another 15amp breaker. You need 3 dedicated 15amp lines, and could use 4, and might spill over to 5 depending. Apt has 100amps...? 45 minimum going to the grow and all...

Just a suggestion... In an apt, everything should be built around security and having no one notice. Might want to rework the filter idea and the passive cooling of the hoods. ;-)