First set up... more a learning experience

[Midget]

So after finding this place I thought I would give growing a go... the quality looks great on most of the pics and im jealous as hell

 

 

So here is my dilemma.

 

 

I use about a G a day...so I know what I need to harvest.

 

 

I have read up a little about cfl and HIDs... I will be in an aparatment (my own) so a cupboard is no problem...

 

I was thinking about setting up a 2 plant system with some cfls and to learn the ropes a bit..

 

after I feel comortable then perhaps one grow a year kind of thing with a more powerful set up

 

 

My biggest concern is having things go wrong while Im not at home.. mainly a fire...with an HID set up

 

I would prefer to run something that produces a little less heat and not have to worry about it so much.. I dont leave anything on 24/7 and with things like ballasts and high heat lamps running it worries me a little.

 

To start it is more of a little hobby and if I could get 2 ounces out of two plants then that  would be great...

 

 

 

 

Anyway this is the start of my journey and would love to here from those more experienced about what they think.

 

 

[DoctorWho]

You're gonna have to run power to your setup 24/7 and more than likely you'll be forced to run your light at night in the warmer months while you sleep.  Yes there is a chance the apartment is going to be engulfed in flames while you sleep and anyone who denies that's a possibility is bullshitting you but having said that you can greatly minimize the chances of that happening to the point that getting struck repeatedly by lighting is infinitely more likely to occur.  Keeping all the electrical equipment up high and as much of it like ballasts, power boards, etc. out of the grow area as possible will reduce the chances of a fire to almost nothing.  Add good air flow over the electrical stuff and use air cooled hoods to cool the globes and repeatedly getting struck by lightning really starts looking as possible as a fire in the grow room.  If you're still not convinced though you can buy fire extinguishers that you can hang from the ceiling which automatically rain down fire retardant if they get too hot.  If it goes off you'd probably prefer it didn't so the evidence burns before emergency services come around but if you are really paranoid about fires they should put one out in no time.

 

Learning experiences are great and all but make no mistake you are gambling with your freedom to grow.  Consider what that freedom is worth to you and invest in your grow room accordingly.  The police don't care if you are growing 7 plants under an 11w CFL that couldn't light up a lounge room or were running a 1000w HPS over each plant, its all a numbers game to them and since you are literally taking the same risk either way you should invest in the system you want at the end now and use it.  Mucking around with CFLs will give you some experience but if you really want that 2oz first harvest you're also gonna have to go with HID lighting.  It sucks but trust me when I say you're gonna be far better off buying your dream system now and dialing it in as you gain experience instead of building it over time and using experience gained using other methods/materials.  In the short term it will hurt more but in the long term it will more than pay for itself

 

Good luck getting everything setup and remember we're always here to help and that there are never any stupid questions

[Midget]

Thanks for the advice mate...

 

The fear I have is more the fact that I have never done anything like this..I have never even seen a set up first hand... only in pics and like all novices there are always things that an experienced person would say öh that might be a problem for you"

 

 

As far as the freedom thing goes well thats the risk I suppose... I would love to get to a stage where I could just grow once or twice a year and have my Oz a month.

 

 

 

Im still in the fetus stage of my learning and research but thanks for the advice.

 

 

Get ready for many more "novice" questions

[crunk]

The Doc has said it pretty well mate. I'd put police issues aside as long as you keep it minimal and can provide sufficient support that it is for personal use and not commercial. I am running a 125 CFL but only for the first 3 weeks of life then they go outdoors. I suggest either building a proper light proof and well ventilated cupboard or buying a tent and getting good quality gear from a store. Shit off ebay will increase a chance of fire.

 

I suggest you research a lot but i would say a 1.2x1.2x1.8m tent with 600w hps/mh would be best with a decent centri fan and carbon filter. May cost you a good few hundred but one ounce of good stuff could be as pricey as $300 and you could pull multiple ounces from a single plant with good LST and practice and correct strain selection. Since it is your apartment I would highly consider saving up and buying a tent and the proper gear. Don't use CFL's if you have your own place and the space for a tent.

 

Sadly I am doing house share and a tent would be far too obvious, I currently have a small 0.6x0.8x1m cupboard inside a wardrobe which is very discrete. Sadly the 250hps is just too hot for the ventilation restrictions I have, hence the use of a 125w CFL. I suggest you consider this advice and don't follow suit with someone like me since you have the option. And btw CFL's yield jack all TBH mate, they just don't have anywhere near enough lumens.

 

Best of luck, crunk

[Midget]

The Doc has said it pretty well mate. I'd put police issues aside as long as you keep it minimal and can provide sufficient support that it is for personal use and not commercial. I am running a 125 CFL but only for the first 3 weeks of life then they go outdoors. I suggest either building a proper light proof and well ventilated cupboard or buying a tent and getting good quality gear from a store. Shit off ebay will increase a chance of fire.

 

I suggest you research a lot but i would say a 1.2x1.2x1.8m tent with 600w hps/mh would be best with a decent centri fan and carbon filter. May cost you a good few hundred but one ounce of good stuff could be as pricey as $300 and you could pull multiple ounces from a single plant with good LST and practice and correct strain selection. Since it is your apartment I would highly consider saving up and buying a tent and the proper gear. Don't use CFL's if you have your own place and the space for a tent.

 

Sadly I am doing house share and a tent would be far too obvious, I currently have a small 0.6x0.8x1m cupboard inside a wardrobe which is very discrete. Sadly the 250hps is just too hot for the ventilation restrictions I have, hence the use of a 125w CFL. I suggest you consider this advice and don't follow suit with someone like me since you have the option. And btw CFL's yield jack all TBH mate, they just don't have anywhere near enough lumens.

 

Best of luck, crunk

Thanks Crunk.

 

Having never done this it is great to get as much advice from people as possible

 

 

Still a tonne of reading to do on the subject.

 

One thing I didnt want to do is go whole hog and know nothing abbout it...

 

thats why I was sort of looking for a smaller set up even if the yield isnt there... just to get to learn the art of cultivation.

 

 

regards

 

 

Midget

[crunk]

Yeah I get that you may not want a big yeild but you may honestly only get a few grams with an entire plant under a CFL and you would have wasted a lot of electricity. You could have a small set up with a 250w hps or something. I would avoid the CFL's if you can though man

[Midget]

Yeah I get that you may not want a big yeild but you may honestly only get a few grams with an entire plant under a CFL and you would have wasted a lot of electricity. You could have a small set up with a 250w hps or something. I would avoid the CFL's if you can though man

 

 

Would you get two plants out of a 250W HPS.

[Matsu]

Hey Midget,

I run a 600w HPS inside a 1.2 x 1.2 tent no worries at all. I use a 6" (150mm) centrifugal fan with a carbon filter. In winter, I'm battling to get the temps up enough. In summer it can get a little hot on really hot days, but a cooltube would fix that. DEFINITELY go HPS - 250w won't be enough lumens for that size tent.

[crunk]

Would you get two plants out of a 250W HPS.

Yes for sure, the sun is about 10000 lumens and a 250w is about 18000. You would deffs get some decent bud with a 250 but you wouldn't want a tent too large as matsu said.

[Midget]

Hey Midget,

I run a 600w HPS inside a 1.2 x 1.2 tent no worries at all. I use a 6" (150mm) centrifugal fan with a carbon filter. In winter, I'm battling to get the temps up enough. In summer it can get a little hot on really hot days, but a cooltube would fix that. DEFINITELY go HPS - 250w won't be enough lumens for that size tent.

 

 

I was thinking of doing my grow through winter so heating bills can be the excuse for the electricity price.

 

do you guys run your filter 24/7 even when going 12/12