So for my 1st grow I was hoping to get a 8x8 footprint with a mix of led and hid lights running co2. My ceiling is 9' or so so I was thinking maybe 10 plants or am I off? I want more led than hid bc of heat but the room will have ac. So any lighting options would be appreciated.
8x8 footprint 1st grow
- Thread starter Rdot03
- Start date
No more than 3k for lighting
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
8x8?
So 4x 1000w HID. = $1200 or so.
But that is a lot to start out with. You could 16 avg size plants there and that is a LOT of work for one person, unless you are experienced and have a system all worked out and your enviro is all dialled in. Plus you need support space... for mixing nutes and transplanting and harvest/drying.
If this is your first grow start with 4x4... or you will likely be overwhelmed and quit, unless you have an experienced person to help show you the ropes.
So 4x 1000w HID. = $1200 or so.
But that is a lot to start out with. You could 16 avg size plants there and that is a LOT of work for one person, unless you are experienced and have a system all worked out and your enviro is all dialled in. Plus you need support space... for mixing nutes and transplanting and harvest/drying.
If this is your first grow start with 4x4... or you will likely be overwhelmed and quit, unless you have an experienced person to help show you the ropes.
blowincherrypie
Well-Known Member
50 w/ft2 of good quality LED is pretty overkill.. you can get by with 30-40 with strips and QBs.
But I agree with your overall comment for sure. You will be needing to exchange your air anyway.. so unless OP is going to build his own lamps HPS would def b way to go with that big of space
GreenHighlander
Well-Known Member
I second this for your first grow. I would also suggest leaving out the co2 until you learn the basics.
Goodluck!!
Cheers
My foot
I understand 16 may be a little much so maybe 6 plants to start my total space for the flower room is 10x10 or larger I have a 10'6"x 25' space to work in. I have an experienced grower that will be assisting me, but he's a hid guy I want to run a more efficient grow.
I understand hps is cheaper but money for lighting isnt an issue but heat will be so I'm trying to go combination hid and led. I'm following your journal and would like to replicate something along those lines.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
A mix is good. I have considered using LED for side lighting however it's just a lot cheaper to use CMH. That said for me it's about a conversion cost, I already have the HPS lights that work fine for what I am doing and I already have the AC to cool it. If bang for the buck is the goal HPS is good and still cheaper than good LED. If you get quality LED lights like QB's, or COBS and build them yourself you can really get the cost down and mixed with HPS it could rock, especially as side lighting with QB's, nice even distribution.
I was thinking 4 electric sky es300
I guess I have some research to do on building leds. Or how to cool hps. I'd do test runs of my environment before I put plants in to make sure everything good.
blowincherrypie
Well-Known Member
1200/64=18.75 w/ft2
you would need to damn near double that.. look into air cooled hoods and tubes. You're going to have your air exchange game tight with a large space like that anyway, so you'll have the fans to cool the shits. I imagine you would want the fans with the LEDs anyways.
If you're building panels look into quantum boards or led strips. I use Samsung strips, but I know there have been a few other companies that have been making quality strips lately. Go dive into the LED section.. People are really helpful if you ask the right way and are wiling to learn. If you don't have the time there are even a few members who will piece you together something (for a $ of course lol) or you can look into a QB kit.
TintEastwood
Well-Known Member
I found. Non-sealed, managing and regulating temps and humidity were a nightmare, for my situation. I gladly pay the AC and Co2 $$ overhead costs. Adding Co2 is optional.
If it were my space, I might start with two 4x4 trays. Run CMH over one 4x4, QBs over the other. No need to buy it all at once, so easy to scale up as needed.
My lil 4x4. ( in 4x8 )
If it were my space, I might start with two 4x4 trays. Run CMH over one 4x4, QBs over the other. No need to buy it all at once, so easy to scale up as needed.
My lil 4x4. ( in 4x8 )
I would do 600 or 1000 hps with air cooled hoods and magnetic ballasts. You have a lot of other things to focus on and these are a guarantee.
I devided into 3 rooms and the last/smallest has my carbon filter.
All the hoods draw the heat out and a quality exhaust fan will move all the air you will ever need. Key to this is quality and total control of the passive intakes and sourcing a cooler and less humid lung air.
I know people will say do a sealed room but that’s a bit too much controlling for me. The earth does wonders with wind and air movement.
I devided into 3 rooms and the last/smallest has my carbon filter.
All the hoods draw the heat out and a quality exhaust fan will move all the air you will ever need. Key to this is quality and total control of the passive intakes and sourcing a cooler and less humid lung air.
I know people will say do a sealed room but that’s a bit too much controlling for me. The earth does wonders with wind and air movement.
blowincherrypie
Well-Known Member
clean setup!
This is it though.. I know it's been mentioned but unless you have someone to teach etc., 8x8 is going to be waayyy too much to handle imo
I personally started with a smaller veg space and 3x3 flower space and then expanded from there once I got a few rounds under my belt.. getting overwhelmed (whenever I get real sick etc. shit can become less of a "fun hobby" and more of a job, and shits just for family lol) with a larger space would definitely be a lot for someone without experience..
I was going to supplement with 2 600 hps lights too.. I understand what you saying.
TintEastwood
Well-Known Member
Indeed time and labor can be overwhelming. What media/nutrients?
Soil...coco....hydro...bluecarmats?
Soil...coco....hydro...bluecarmats?
Coco and I havent thought about notes yet. I wanted to take it a step at a time getting everything in order.
blowincherrypie
Well-Known Member
I run coco and have used a bunch of different nutrients. Im currently using MegaCrop and am mostly happy.. price is great and results have been good, they have a new formula which Im gonna check out when Im done with this stupid big ass bag (make sure you put it in multiple smaller containers if you go this route.. somehow I left my tote open one night and shit absorbed moisture and turned into a rock. I just made a stock solution and its actually more convenient but that's another day lol) Aside from the MC, GH cocotek is the other standout in terms of results. I began with AN like a bunch of noobs and got decent results but cocotek was better as well as cheaper.
I also personally have found drip clean and hydroguard to be beneficial.. there are a ton of different ways to skin a cat, others may prefer (or not use) any beneficial bacteria when growing with coco. I didn't use it for my first few years but a buddy recommended I use it now that Im reusing coco, which is another thing I would tell myself to do 5 years ago if I could lol.
Take things one step at a time and don't let the planning get in the way of getting the seed wet. Not to minimize the importance of planning, but there are some things that you can hold off on getting etc. Remember this is just a plant.. If you have any previous gardening experience or hort studies shit will come easy. A lot of us have a habbit of overthinking things and making them more complicated than they have to be.
Good luck brother! I cant wait to hear how awesome the first harvest is!