First time setup checklist

[Ares2389]

Hey all,

I am venturing into this new world and am pretty excited. I have my seeds lined up. I have done extensive research and picked up awesome tips. This was the first site I read a grow journal from a member brettsog (not sure if they are still active on here) back in like 2012 and it inspired me to give it a shot. Just wanted to make sure I have my bases covered before I order my setup. Please let me know if I am missing anything or if anything is wrong.

What grow method would be best for this space? I was thinking of going the ScrOG route. Is that too advanced for a first timer? I feel I am a quick study. I figured I would start on some auto strains and work my way up as I figure this all out.

My List:

• Gorilla Shorty Grow Tent. 2"x2.5"x4"11'. - This tent is perfect for the space I have.
• TD-100X 4" Inline Fan and with insulated ducting and carbon filter
• 6 inch clip fan for air flow
  
• VIPARSPECTRA PAR600 LED Light (Anyone have any experience with this light?)
  
• Method Seven - LED Grow Room Glasses
  
• 3 Gallon Smart Pots (should I go bigger?)
  
• Fox Farm FX14000 Ocean Forest Soil
  
• Fox Farm FX14049 Nutrients
• Timers with grounds
• Digital PH Meter for water
• Analog Soil PH Meter
  
• Desk humidity gauge for inside the tent
• Peat Pellets
  
• Pruning Snips and Shears
• Disposable Gloves
• Mini digital humidity gauges (for inside my mason jars)
• Boveda 62% humidipaks

I was going to build my ScrOG out of PVC and some fishing line or kitchen twine.

 

[dargd1]

Hey all,

I am venturing into this new world and am pretty excited. I have my seeds lined up. I have done extensive research and picked up awesome tips. This was the first site I read a grow journal from a member brettsog (not sure if they are still active on here) back in like 2012 and it inspired me to give it a shot. Just wanted to make sure I have my bases covered before I order my setup. Please let me know if I am missing anything or if anything is wrong.

What grow method would be best for this space? I was thinking of going the ScrOG route. Is that too advanced for a first timer? I feel I am a quick study. I figured I would start on some auto strains and work my way up as I figure this all out.

My List:

• Gorilla Shorty Grow Tent. 2"x2.5"x4"11'. - This tent is perfect for the space I have.
• TD-100X 4" Inline Fan and with insulated ducting and carbon filter
• 6 inch clip fan for air flow
  
• VIPARSPECTRA PAR600 LED Light (Anyone have any experience with this light?)
  
• Method Seven - LED Grow Room Glasses
  
• 3 Gallon Smart Pots (should I go bigger?)
  
• Fox Farm FX14000 Ocean Forest Soil
  
• Fox Farm FX14049 Nutrients
• Timers with grounds
• Digital PH Meter for water
• Analog Soil PH Meter
  
• Desk humidity gauge for inside the tent
• Peat Pellets
  
• Pruning Snips and Shears
• Disposable Gloves
• Mini digital humidity gauges (for inside my mason jars)
• Boveda 62% humidipaks

I was going to build my ScrOG out of PVC and some fishing line or kitchen twine.

Before you buy a grow light you need to find out how low it will hang from the ceiling at its highest possible point and how far away from the plants you have to keep the light. In a 5" high tent; every lost inch counts. If the light at its highest point hangs 12" and you have to keep the light 18-24" from your plant you will lose roughly 3' of grow height space before you even start a seed. Unless you plan on growing plants 2 feet or shorter.
Also there are much better nutrients to start with and easier to use than the Fox Farm line up. That soil will work fine that is what I use. Don't use it for germinating and young seedlings. It may burn up your seeds/seedlings. Use something that is not as nutrient hot as Ocean Forest.

 

[Ares2389]

Before you buy a grow light you need to find out how low it will hang from the ceiling at its highest possible point and how far away from the plants you have to keep the light. In a 5" high tent; every lost inch counts. If the light at its highest point hangs 12" and you have to keep the light 18-24" from your plant you will lose roughly 3' of grow height space before you even start a seed. Unless you plan on growing plants 2 feet or shorter.
Also there are much better nutrients to start with and easier to use than the Fox Farm line up. That soil will work fine that is what I use. Don't use it for germinating and young seedlings. It may burn up your seeds/seedlings. Use something that is not as nutrient hot as Ocean Forest.

Are there any lights you would recommend for this size grow? I am not dead set on anything. I figured LED and that one looked like best bang for the buck. I slapped my forehead when you mentioned the total hang of the light plus including the distance from the plant. It's tough to visualize without it in front of you. That particular unit is 3.5" wide and I am guessing with the pulley it will be at least a foot maybe shorter as you indicated. I am now curious if I can rig something in the tent as the plants increase in size and get rid of that pulley system. and hang it to the top with carabiners haha. I can get creative if I need to.

As far as nutrients anything that is easier is fine by me. I am not an expert (yet!) and am open to recommendations as well.

 

[dargd1]

Are there any lights you would recommend for this size grow? I am not dead set on anything. I figured LED and that one looked like best bang for the buck. I slapped my forehead when you mentioned the total hang of the light plus including the distance from the plant. It's tough to visualize without it in front of you. That particular unit is 3.5" wide and I am guessing with the pulley it will be at least a foot maybe shorter as you indicated. I am now curious if I can rig something in the tent as the plants increase in size and get rid of that pulley system. and hang it to the top with carabiners haha. I can get creative if I need to.

As far as nutrients anything that is easier is fine by me. I am not an expert (yet!) and am open to recommendations as well.

I don't have any recommendation. Anytime a member mentions a specific light to buy it starts a war of who's dick is bigger. Good luck with that part...lol
Give it a little time there should be several folks who would be willing to share their favorite nutrients and lighting. I use botanicare KIND trio and am extremely happy with it. I used the Fox Farm line up in the beginning and it was very tough to keep the plants 100% healthy. I experienced issues throughout the grow. I won't use it again, personal preference. there are those that I am sure had good grows with it.

 

[Ares2389]

I don't have any recommendation. Anytime a member mentions a specific light to buy it starts a war of who's dick is bigger. Good luck with that part...lol
Give it a little time there should be several folks who would be willing to share their favorite nutrients and lighting. I use botanicare KIND trio and am extremely happy with it. I used the Fox Farm line up in the beginning and it was very tough to keep the plants 100% healthy. I experienced issues throughout the grow. I won't use it again, personal preference. there are those that I am sure had good grows with it.

Yeah I know how that goes with the dick measuring contests lol.

Thanks for some tips and getting this going for me

 

[GreatOneDuane]

Are there any lights you would recommend for this size grow? I am not dead set on anything. I figured LED and that one looked like best bang for the buck. I slapped my forehead when you mentioned the total hang of the light plus including the distance from the plant. It's tough to visualize without it in front of you. That particular unit is 3.5" wide and I am guessing with the pulley it will be at least a foot maybe shorter as you indicated. I am now curious if I can rig something in the tent as the plants increase in size and get rid of that pulley system. and hang it to the top with carabiners haha. I can get creative if I need to.

As far as nutrients anything that is easier is fine by me. I am not an expert (yet!) and am open to recommendations as well.

Hey, I'm in the same boat. My setup list is pretty much identical to yours. I wanted to mention that the GG Shorty Tent you have on the list also comes with an extension kit which increases the height to 5'8" if you need more than that I believe they have extension kits available on their site.

Good luck on your grow.

 

[Dan can grow]

If it were me I would find a way to mount the light right tight to the ceiling. Then as the plants are short keep them raised up on a stool and lower the plants to the floor as they get bigger.
I run a 2x2x2 space for veg and my plants get big. Also I had a 300 watt cheapo led in there and it was too much light for little plants. I have since purchased a vegetative diy kit off of rapid led. And I have the option of dimming now! Perfect!

 

[brewbeer]

I'm in the process of designing a 2 x 4 cabinet for my first grow in 20+ years. For lighting I plan to use quantum boards from Horticulturelightinggroup.com. Very low profile and high efficiency mean low heat signature. These are the perfect lights for height limited applications.

 

[Lorenzo420]

Are there any lights you would recommend for this size grow? I am not dead set on anything. I figured LED and that one looked like best bang for the buck. I slapped my forehead when you mentioned the total hang of the light plus including the distance from the plant. It's tough to visualize without it in front of you. That particular unit is 3.5" wide and I am guessing with the pulley it will be at least a foot maybe shorter as you indicated. I am now curious if I can rig something in the tent as the plants increase in size and get rid of that pulley system. and hang it to the top with carabiners haha. I can get creative if I need to.

Hey Ares,

I put together a simple CFL setup by zap strapping two power bars to a piece of wood and hanging it from chains. I bought 6 of each of these




and then plugged them in to make this.

I have removed the tape, and am now using zap straps to hold each light. This setup allows me to run 12x23 watt CFLs (4 daylight 6500K, 4 soft white 2700K) which is 276 watts, plus one more CFL at the base, so 299 watts altogether. The two power bars running the lights and a small fan are plugged in to a timer for my light cycles.

You said you could get creative if you needed to! =P This just shows that almost anything can work if you have the principles covered.

These are my girls at just about 3 weeks of flowering. I only vegged them for about a month because of the small space I'm using (for 5 plants no less). I started with 11 bag seeds, and the 5 that germinated the healthiest I kept. They're all females. I'm not sure if it's luck, or feminized genetics!