Does this look like a decent starter setup?

[bigbubbagumper6]

I want to try my hand at growing but don't want a huge setup or to drop a ton of money right now. I'll only be doing this for my own personal needs (not selling) so a small setup is what I'm after. I have a large walk-in closet that I'm going to use for this and this is what I have so far...

(These are all links, so click em!)
Grow Tent
Lighting
pH kit
Cloning gel

I realize I still need things like fans for ventilation, pots, soil, etc. but most of those things I'll get local or already have...Like I said, I just want to start with a small setup, nothing fancy, just to get my feet wet

 

[MellowHaze]

I'd add some mylar to that its not to expensive best reflective stuff to get

what lights you planning to get?

Check out my grow in my signiture its in my closet

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

That list is actually a list of links, click em

 

[zippythehippy]

wouldnt it be cheaper to buy the mylar and actually use your whole room with your extraction vented to the roof space ?

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

wouldnt it be cheaper to buy the mylar and actually use your whole room with your extraction vented to the roof space ?

Probably, but I need to keep this as simple and discrete as possible, don't want to modify any rooms or anything.

 

[MellowHaze]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Not a bad idea!?
fair man didnt notice the links lol
thats not bad good lights CFLs are cheaper to run I've got a 125w CFL
you thought about what seeds your getting if you havent got them already?

 

[zippythehippy]

not really modifying a room just one 5 or 6inch hole and some white paint and youd be good to go hang your lights have passive intake under your door my mate uses this exact setup running a 400w hps if you keep the piece of ceiling you take out its easy enough to patch up

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Not a bad idea!?
fair man didnt notice the links lol
thats not bad good lights CFLs are cheaper to run I've got a 125w CFL
you thought about what seeds your getting if you havent got them already?

Nope, don't have any seeds yet, still just in the conceptual stage, not sure if I'm actually going to do it or not...Everything I read said that CFL's can be used but it takes longer and doesn't yield as much...

not really modifying a room just one 5 or 6inch hole and some white paint and youd be good to go hang your lights have passive intake under your door my mate uses this exact setup running a 400w hps if you keep the piece of ceiling you take out its easy enough to patch up

It's an apartment bro, I'm not modifying any rooms, period.

 

[zippythehippy]

well then maybe the tent is your best option didnt realise it was an appartment everything else seems like a good start

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

well then maybe the tent is your best option didnt realise it was an appartment everything else seems like a good start

Yeah, I'm fairly limited on what I CAN do, one thing I really like about the tent is it's very inconspicuous, if someone sees it in the back of my closet they'll just think it's extra storage or something...if I have an entire room (or closet) that's devoted to this it has to be off limits and that throws up flags, lol.

 

[MellowHaze]

fair man just gettin the info CFLs a good for saving money and they make far less heat the yields are fine but yer they would be better with more light

 

[Bonzi Lighthouse]

You're going to struggle with heat with the lights on. Vented hood and inline fan reccomended.

You might also end up wanting veg and flower spaces. Maybe 2 samller tents.

One of the nice things I like about my Seceret Jarden tents is the removable floor that acts like a tray, will hold like 20 gal.

 

[Illumination]

These are links as well:

http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-Original-Organic-Grow-Kit.asp

They have awesome deals and their customer service is the best...they will make you happy...period...call when you order and they will further discount or throw in free stuff...as for the nutes which are included I would use House and Garden...van de zwann ....

Best place for ec. ph. ppm meters:

http://www.eseasongear.com/mipote.html

I recommend CMH bulb and here's why:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215

Some more why:

http://advancedtechlighting.com/cmhfact3.htm

Best deal on it and outstanding customer service:

https://www.lightingsupply.com/CDM400S51-HOR-4K-ALTO.aspx

Hope this helps and you will be hard pressed to find better deals from solid companies that customers really matter to

Namaste'

 

[ChucklesD]

Bubba-

I have ALL of that stuff that you listed. I'll give you a heads up on everything:

Tent - Great tent for the money. Easy to set up. You will need to seal up some places where light bleeds through (vents, seams, etc.) Kinda hard to seal up zippers though. It's best if you had this actually inside of a closet. That way no worries about light bleeding in during flowering. I've just about outgrown it though. I need to buy another one of these or a 4x4 for flowering.

Light - Works great and comes with both bulbs. -BUT- it IS going to cook your plants/seedlings inside that tent. You WILL have to build a cool tube for it. Mine is just sitting around right now until I get around to building a cool tube. I'm using a couple blackstar leds for veg. I would look into buying a light that already has a cool tube unless you want to go through the hassle.

PH kit - Works great but also buy a digital ph meter. It gets to be a pain in the ass having to check ph with the vial and drops. Save some time by buying a meter.

Clone gel - I haven't used it yet so can't say on this.

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

Think it would be worth it to take the hit in quality/quantity and use a CFL in order to save on the heating/electricity?

 

[Illumination]

Think it would be worth it to take the hit in quality/quantity and use a CFL in order to save on the heating/electricity?

You will be surprised to learn that I went from cfl's to 400 watt hid and there is less heat and much easier to control...... the remote ballast helps alot there in that respect as all the ballasts are with the bulbs on the cfl's


Namaste'

 

[dankasaurusrex]

good start! In a tent a vented hood is pretty much a requisite. Otherwise it gets too hot. If I were to do it all over again, I'd focus on two things from a dollar perspective. I'd try and find a used magnetic 600 with a cooltube or something vented. Then you're gonna need an inline fan with enough static pressure to keep the bulb cool and exhaust the room/tent (run a duct from the light fixture outside the room/tent). There are a lot of brands out there. I've had luck with Vortex and Elicent (300+CFM). Used, they'll run $100. New more like $200. You'll also need a wal mart oscilating fan to prop up and blow a stream of air on the plants all the time. But that should be less than $20. I should also say the more you can get used at the hydro shop, or on craigslist....the better. Just try to start with fresh bulbs. This hobby is filled with folks who try it once or twice, decide they don't have room or the skills or the patience for it, and sell the stuff back.

 

[bigbubbagumper6]

Dang, I never even thought to check craigslist. Looks like someone local to me has been trying to sell a HPS light with the hood, ballast, and 2 extra bulbs since Januarary, I can see all the ads he's placed and his price has dropped from $150 obo to $50 obo, lol. Also found the exact grow tent I was looking at for $60 which isn't that great of a discount ($20) especially considering I'd have to drive an hour to get it, but getting a light for $50 would be awesome...