Grow thoughts on new setup.

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Hello everyone. Happy Holidays. Ok I am planning a new grow here soon. I was wanting other growers thoughts on what setup I should use. I was thinking of a 3x3 tent with a 400 watt mh/hps light and try to get as many plants as possible inside the tent. I would use 2 gallon pots with ocean forest soil. I was also thinking of a 2x4 grow tent with a 4ft x 8bulb T5 light. I would scrog 2 plants. So what would you do if you had a choice? Why? Thank you

 

[Final Phase]

Most growers start out kind or like you're doing. Starting with what they could get it going on a budget. Keep in mind you may not be knocking yields out of the ballpark on small grows, but you will be investing in your future knowledge in growing some killer herb.

What ever you go with... Try and go as big with as much light as you can in the beginning so you're not wishing you had gone bigger after all is bought and it's too late to change plans without extra cost.

Have fun learning an smoking your first homegrown...

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Most growers start out kind or like you're doing. Starting with what they could get it going on a budget. Keep in mind you may not be knocking yields out of the ballpark on small grows, but you will be investing in your future knowledge in growing some killer herb.

What ever you go with... Try and go as big with as much light as you can in the beginning so you're not wishing you had gone bigger after all is bought and it's too late to change plans without extra cost.

Have fun learning an smoking your first homegrown...

Hello thank you for the reply. I have grown before outdoors. I have also grown a few small grows indoors. I was just looking for opinions on what would be better for the money. A large size tent with more plants or a smaller tent with a 2 plant scrog. I was thinking of trying more plants at 12/12 for the 1st time.

 

[TJ baba]

Either set up would work. But make sure you have taken into consideration your ventilation system. Vent system is a Must, especially if you go with the HPS/mh. Do you need it to be relatively quiet? Both hps/mh and leds are pretty loud. I use CFLs so now my only noise coming from the tent is the exhaust and intake fans. I'm guessing t5 would be quite silent too but I'm not sure bc I have never used t5.

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Either set up would work. But make sure you have taken into consideration your ventilation system. Vent system is a Must, especially if you go with the HPS/mh. Do you need it to be relatively quiet? Both hps/mh and leds are pretty loud. I use CFLs so now my only noise coming from the tent is the exhaust and intake fans. I'm guessing t5 would be quite silent too but I'm not sure bc I have never used t5.

Thank you. Noise is not much of a issue. I am looking for thoughts on what setup would yield better and be worth the money.

 

[Final Phase]

Just opinion... I'd go with 1x1 inch studs and the white/black plastic - Goes up fast to your space needs and strong enough to hold heavy licht cowls.
Low cost... wood, screws, small brackets, staple gun the plastic - Huge roll that was more than I needed ran me 50 dollars. I love the 9" ball bearing, exhaust on a day/night thermostate sensor. Heat - central air... Cool temps free from high elevation in mountans.

Have FUN!

 

[mr sunshine]

Hps.. Buy a 600 and a 4x4. Or a 1000 wattt.

 

[sunny747]

I think you're on the right track. It's tough to beat a 3x3 tent with HPS and air cooled hood. (Apollo makes a decent tent available on amazon for $100).... HPS is the best option in my opinion, unless you have a bundle of cash for COB LED's.. 400 watts does an ok job in a 3x3, but I wish I had a 600w ballast in my 3x3 because coverage would be better. Maybe a 400w plus a bit of fluorescent on the sides during peak budding would be best.

You will need around 150-200 CFM exhaust fan.. No big deal. go for the 6" fan so it connects easily to most hoods. Make sure to get a good filter (phresh is good) and a fan speed controller ($25)

2 gallon pots might be a bit small but you could get six plants in there.... four 3 gallon pots with plants 2-3 ft tall works well in a 3x3.

Don't forget we have a 6 plant "limit" in most areas. If it weren't for the limit I think I'd so SOG and just pack the tent with clones.

Check out craigslist for grow equipment. In Cali equipment is virtually free. It's always some guy that moved in with his girlfriend and is forced to sell his beloved setup for pennies on the dollar

This is 4 plants in 3 gallon pots in a 3x3..

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

I think you're on the right track. It's tough to beat a 3x3 tent with HPS and air cooled hood. (Apollo makes a decent tent available on amazon for $100).... HPS is the best option in my opinion, unless you have a bundle of cash for COB LED's.. 400 watts does an ok job in a 3x3, but I wish I had a 600w ballast in my 3x3 because coverage would be better. Maybe a 400w plus a bit of fluorescent on the sides during peak budding would be best.

You will need around 150-200 CFM exhaust fan.. No big deal. go for the 6" fan so it connects easily to most hoods. Make sure to get a good filter (phresh is good) and a fan speed controller ($25)

2 gallon pots might be a bit small but you could get six plants in there.... four 3 gallon pots with plants 2-3 ft tall works well in a 3x3.

Don't forget we have a 6 plant "limit" in most areas. If it weren't for the limit I think I'd so SOG and just pack the tent with clones.

Check out craigslist for grow equipment. In Cali equipment is virtually free. It's always some guy that moved in with his girlfriend and is forced to sell his beloved setup for pennies on the dollar

This is 4 plants in 3 gallon pots in a 3x3..
View attachment 3573412

Hello happy holidays. Thank you for the reply. What do you think about growing plants 12/12 from seed?

 

[sunny747]

Hello happy holidays. Thank you for the reply. What do you think about growing plants 12/12 from seed?

Well, I think it's a fun experiment or useful in certain situations. Say you wanted to do a SOG from seed then it's probably good. Or say that your space just gets too warm to run lights during the day. Or maybe you need to keep plants really small. Otherwise I think you might as well just veg 18/0 for three weeks then flip.

It has it's advantages and disadvantages. I've always wanted to do a 12/12, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Well, I think it's a fun experiment or useful in certain situations. Say you wanted to do a SOG from seed then it's probably good. Or say that your space just gets too warm to run lights during the day. Or maybe you need to keep plants really small. Otherwise I think you might as well just veg 18/0 for three weeks then flip.

It has it's advantages and disadvantages. I've always wanted to do a 12/12, but haven't gotten around to it.

So you said I should just go with 4 plants in 3 gallon pots. Veg for 3 weeks and then flip to 12/12. Thats with a 400 watt hps.

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Well, I think it's a fun experiment or useful in certain situations. Say you wanted to do a SOG from seed then it's probably good. Or say that your space just gets too warm to run lights during the day. Or maybe you need to keep plants really small. Otherwise I think you might as well just veg 18/0 for three weeks then flip.

It has it's advantages and disadvantages. I've always wanted to do a 12/12, but haven't gotten around to it.

what do you think the results would be say 10 plants in 1 gallon pots 12/12 from seed with a 400 watt light?

 

[borbor]

How much money you workin' with?

 

[sunny747]

what do you think the results would be say 10 plants in 1 gallon pots 12/12 from seed with a 400 watt light?

A rough estimate?? Figure .6 grams per watt for an intermediate grower.. so 200 - 250 grams of dried buds no matter if you have one plant or 20 under a 400w hps. Some people get 1 or even 1.25 grams per ounce, but I am not at that level. I got around 8-9 ounces of quality trimmed bud from my last grow. A lot of good dense nugs..

The issue becomes the penalty for growing ten plants vs 6.

 

[sunny747]

what do you think the results would be say 10 plants in 1 gallon pots 12/12 from seed with a 400 watt light?

I think this guy makes a valid point that you have to consider every aspect of the environment.

Temps,
Humidity
Light source
light leaks
soil
Nutes
Air movement

 

[sunny747]

So you said I should just go with 4 plants in 3 gallon pots. Veg for 3 weeks and then flip to 12/12. Thats with a 400 watt hps.

Yes, the useable footprint of a 400w is really around 2.5 x 2.5 ft .. Really better off with a 600w if you can handle the heat.

 

[VACAVILLE,CA.GROWER]

Yes, the useable footprint of a 400w is really around 2.5 x 2.5 ft .. Really better off with a 600w if you can handle the heat.

yes a 600 watt would be good. I am looking just at a 400 watt for keeping electric down alittle. what does a 600 watt light cost to run a month here in california?

 

[Kcbscrogger]

A lot of bud is the difference, I went from 400w-376gr. dry to 600w-607gr. dry. 4x4 tent

 

[sunny747]

yes a 600 watt would be good. I am looking just at a 400 watt for keeping electric down alittle. what does a 600 watt light cost to run a month here in california?

400w bulb plus fans plus running the A/C a little more in the summer costs me around $50-$60 per month. I can't remember if my electricity is .27 or .37 per kwh.

400 just doesn't seem to fill a 3x3 that well so I end up rotating plants a lot. It did an ok job though. My large hood disperses the light better than my small sunsystems hood. A batwing would be nice if you don't need to air cool because the cooled hoods block 20% of the light and you could also adjust the angle for maximum coverage.

400 will also be easier to cool.

 

[mr sunshine]

400w bulb plus fans plus running the A/C a little more in the summer costs me around $50-$60 per month. I can't remember if my electricity is .27 or .37 per kwh.

400 just doesn't seem to fill a 3x3 that well so I end up rotating plants a lot. It did an ok job though. My large hood disperses the light better than my small sunsystems hood. A batwing would be nice if you don't need to air cool because the cooled hoods block 20% of the light and you could also adjust the angle for maximum coverage.

400 will also be easier to cool.

You can just take the glass out.

 

[sunny747]

You can just take the glass out.

Yea, next grow I will get a semi-premium bulb and remove the glass and see if I can still keep temps under control...

 

[KryptoBud]

Get a 1000 watt ballast you can dim to 400/600 watts so you won't have to buy another ballast down the road. You would probably yield more from autos than you would 12/12 from seed.