First Timer - question about lights

[simonH]

Ah well, already ordered the seeds, so will try again soon if it doesnt work out. Also, I dont wanna build a proper tent to make it 100% dark yet, can do that later.

 

Yeah I wont go the CFL then, HPS and MH it is

[pisspotgrower]

good choice bro

 

With ya tent better to do it right the first time bro than find ya got light leaks during the flowering. And nothing worse than having light poping out sides both for security and its just shit haviing glowing light all over the place.

 

Seems ya dont wana put in alot of effort bro maybe not the right hobby for ya.

 

Have u thought about ya fans ( intake and exhaust ) carbon filter, PH meter, EC meter, Nutrients, Addatives and all the rest of the shit cause that stuff gona run ya above 500 and without it u will fail

[simonH]

Its not the effort at all, I'm actually looking for a new cheap hobby - so after the setup not too much!

 

Since this is my first time, I've never really grown anything before other than some tomatoes when I was kid, I wnat to keep it simple and see what happens. Been doing some more reading round this forum, and discovered soil is a no no, but coco is a go go, so will try that.

 

I have a spare bathroom in my house, so later on I can darken that and use that to grown normal (non autoflowering seeds), but right now, I just want to buy some lights, a pH meter, and any fertiliser as needed and go for it. With my order I got a few free seeds, so might try growing them later. I'm not a big smoker at all, havent had any in a long time, but I'm back at uni now, and wouldn't mind a light smoke now and then to relax, as my new course (medicine!) is the hardest thing I've ever done! Eventually, I'd like to have my own compost heap, as I've heard worm shit is the best fertiliser there is!

 

But yeah for now, with a 400w HID system I should be ok? And how many plants can 400w actually support? Like I said, later I will use my spare bathroom

[pisspotgrower]

A 400 watter should cover almost 1m2.....now how many plants u grow in that space is up to you. U an grow 1 plant with say 12 weeks veg from seed that will fill that space after the streatcing in flower. Or you could run 30 plants in the same space with less veg time...how many u feel comftable in growing is up to you.

 

I haven growen auto flowering plants before so not sure how big they will get before they start to flower.

 

COCO is the bomb bro i love it to bits and is how i grow, BUT u will need to buy COCO nutes for it from a hydro shop.

 

This hobby IS NOT a cheep 1 to start up it you want to do it right BUT saying that, if you get 3 ounces from the first grow u will have covered all ya costs plus some....after ya buy ya light, 2 fans, carbon filter ph meter EC meter ( is a must also ) nutrients n all the rest ya pretty good for quite awhile.

 

Good luck trying become a Doc man thats pretty good stuff, wouldnt hurt to have another doctor around who doesnt hate the weed

Edited March 20, 2013 by pisspotgrower

[simonH]

Yeah man, in moderation its good stuff, and much safer than alcohol!

 

If I'm in a bathroom with a venitllation system, will I still need a fan? Get lots of fresh air blowing in there, and theres no window so easy to make light tight.

 

In case if I didn't wanna go soil for the first time, could I use a high quality vegetable potting mix from a gardening job?

Edited March 20, 2013 by simonH

[pisspotgrower]

Yes on the bathroom if ya not worried about smells, cause that fan wont suck though a carbon filter.

U will def need a osclyating fan to blow the plants around abit ( 20 bux )

 

As for ya soil yes u can people grow soil indoors. But i couldnt help ya on 1 what or what mix as iv only ever growen hydro

[simonH]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/180871252143?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4710wt_1251

 

In terms of CFL though, I like the fact they run cool and use less power. A 300W CFL should put out a lot of light no, like this:

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fluorescent-CFL-Grow-Light-2700K-6500K-Dual-Spectrum-Hydroponic-Reflector-Kit-CE-/140920867268?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&var&hash=item20cf89c9c4&_uhb=1#ht_4562wt_1142

 

Good startup?

 

The bathroom is actually a bit cool, since there are no windows, so I'm thinking the heat might be good, to bring the temp up ro around 25 degrees?

Edited March 20, 2013 by simonH

[Faith]

Hi simonH  I must agree with the above posters. 

 

Please don't stuff around w/lights unless you are flat broke and just wanna grow so bad you can't help it .  You're gonna get new ones if you do  99% for sure. This is a full-on time for you  re info and new (ish) equipment and such.  If you don't have readies so much I'd go w/the cfl until you can get one of these or similar  http://glandorehydro.com/COOL-SHADE-DIGI-400W-KIT.html

 

I personally think there will be a place for led in the future-just not there yet from what I've seen around.  Goodish results but not like the sun or hid.  I would try to buy the most quality grow equipment as you can realistically afford.  For me it took around 6 mos to accumulate most of the stuff and I'm not finished tweaking yet

 

You can get growing with your cfl and adequate ventilation if you can't wait ( I couldn't wait)  Check out the grows. Many growers are using cfls for veg-if you got autos I would 24/7 them under the cfl maybe wack em outside when you can (be careful of hitchhikers when ya bring them in though) but I've only ever grown a few plants. 

 

Read bulk and ask these questions there are heaps of much more experienced growers only too happy to offer some guidance.  Its up to you if you receive it.  Best fortune with this and future grows!

 

Peace to you . v

Edited March 21, 2013 by Vinno

[The Hash Nibbler]

Heya Simon =), Mate try a philips 80w CFL for germination/clones/mother plants ($90 online with shade and lead) , and go for a 600wer HPS globe and ballast and cooltube with carbon filter (dont cheap out on this!) and 150 centrifugal fan. (about 800 bucks all up) .

Thats a rough guide before ya even get coco, nutrients, a tent etc etc.............

Having a couple of grand handy will help get ya started. Just buy the right shit the first time.... cheap out , and you will replace it with the right stuff within 12 months.

 

Peace. Nibbler.

[simonH]

Thanks guys.

 

So basically CFL is OK up until flowering, then we need HID's to get the most bud? Can I just use HID the whole way through? Or I was thinking even put them outside initially for seeding, then bring them in under the HID's.

 

My bathroom has this in it, and fresh air comes in from here constantly:

 

http://i.imgur.com/ffDnvAH.jpg

 

other than that, it is 1.2m X 1.5m and is 2.2m high. Its has no windows, so easy to make pitch dark for 12/12 (how important is COMPLETE darkness, like in a photographic darkroom?).

 

This room is a toilet that isn't used, I have another room which is the actual bathroom which isn't used except for guests, and has a bathtub, and a window which might be good for air?

 

Would getting a small pedestal fan in either room be adequate? How and where would I install an exhaust fan, or is that if I get a proper full tent. Recommendations for a tent?

 

 

 

Heya Simon =), Mate try a philips 80w CFL for germination/clones/mother plants ($90 online with shade and lead) , and go for a 600wer HPS globe and ballast and cooltube with carbon filter (dont cheap out on this!) and 150 centrifugal fan. (about 800 bucks all up) .

Thats a rough guide before ya even get coco, nutrients, a tent etc etc.............

Having a couple of grand handy will help get ya started. Just buy the right shit the first time.... cheap out , and you will replace it with the right stuff within 12 months.

 

Peace. Nibbler.

 

Nibbler, whats a carbon filter and cooltube? Something like this:

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/400W-HPS-MH-Light-Lamp-Dimmable-Digital-Ballast-Cooltube-Combo-Hydroponic-Kit-/140889721612?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&hash=item20cdae8b0c&_uhb=1#ht_4863wt_1251

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/600w-cooltube-hood-with-Balllast-MH-and-HPS-grow-bulbs-Tent-Yoyo-Timer-kits-/251248533129?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&hash=item3a7f945e89&_uhb=1#ht_500wt_1266

 

An HID that runs cool? Does anyone have an approximation of how much hotter a 400w -600w HID would make the area underneath it? As mentioned my toilet is quite cool, so I could take advantage of the heat to make it an ideal temp for growing.

 

 

Thanks for all the help guys, wanna be as prepared as possible!

Edited March 20, 2013 by simonH