Can i start a small grow room with $500 or less (USA)

R

RebelMan

Member
Introduction:

Hello, i am newbie, for sure, and i am wondering about pricing for starters, I am of age to be growing and i am 18 so i can post on this site too. and i have myself all permitted to grow, so now that i can, I am making sure i do all my research correctly. I am a bit low on cash as of now, so i hope i can make sure i'm getting the right deals and i make sure i buy that right supplies at the right price.

Right to my question:

 Can I start a small grow area/room all under or around $500?

Well it's time that i figured me and my friends would put some money down and since we are old enough we are going to be growing in a friends house and are looking into hydroponic. We have area and electrical plug ins (from the wall obviously), but would $500 cover a full hydroponic system

Including:

- Lights (flowering and vegetative growth, both separate) Thinking of Flourescent for vegetative and a 400w hps for flowering
- Reflectors
- Ballasts
- Ducting and duct fans
- Small Water Pumps (something like less or about:-? 300 gph, I think)
- Small drip hoses
- Fertilizer mixture (3 component?)
- Timers
- * Seeds would be included in this cost, but i am focusing on the hardware, if you know what i mean
- **CO2 tank with small hoses and a fixation to encircle the plant (not sure if i completely need this, but if it's not worth it i may leave it, but i from the research i found, it says it helps a lot).
- If i am missing anything else, please say so, but i am aware of other things needed like a reservoirs and tables, but i have those around the house.


I have been finding prices at Home Depot, Menards, Fleet Farm, and other stores similar, and it seems if i am thrifty with the money, i may be able to only spend $500. I am handy with things and think i may be able to pull it off, but i feel i need to make a good investment if i want this to be a working hobby.

Thanks for reading, and i hope i can get some good knowledge since i heard there are some very knowledgeable people on this website, that really know a lot about POT!

Also if you know of any stores that you found best, that would help, but i found some common products at the stores listed above.

Thanks
RM
 
crazyhazey

crazyhazey

Well-Known Member
order from sanniesshop, they're cheap legitimate genetics. for veg, you can be using a compact horticulture fluorescent and you can also use the hps you will need for flowering if you want both spectrums and more stretch. the 2500K light temp will stretch them also, so if you only used the hps for a couple days it would give it a good stretch.

you will need pots and soil, try fox farms light warrior for popping seeds and happy frog for veg. buy organic nutrients if your on a budget as well. and as for reflector, just spray your walls flat white, mylar reflects only 2% more light than flat white and mylar isnt worth the cost.
co2 also isnt necessary if your on a budget, also i dont like running co2 in my house, the carbon buildup can get bad and you wont even know when it could kill you, you could be sleeping and your co2 could go on overdrive and pump carbon monoxide through your ventilation.

hydroponics might be a bit pricey but you can make good systems with rubbermaid storage boxes, look into the diy section and also look into a carbon filter to mask the smell.
 
Thedillestpickle

Thedillestpickle

Well-Known Member
with 500$ you shouldnt even be thinking about CO2

spend 200$ on CFL's (HID are too hot unless you can afford good ventilation)
spend 40$ on soil
40$ on nutrients
20$ on timer
30$ on white paint/brush
50$ on oscillating fan
40$ on Ona Gel

That could work, you'll need to find a way to maintain fresh air supply and keep humidity down... shit gets expensive

You'll notice my list adds up to less than 500$... trust me it will add up to alot more than 500$ when it's all said and done

If you can do the grow unconcealed in a large room you won't need to worry about ventilation as much. You'll need to keep a window open a crack to provide fresh air
 
Gastanker

Gastanker

Well-Known Member
Yup.

600w lumatek dimmable digital ballast $150 - http://www.thehydrosource.com/Lighting/Ballasts/Lumatek/Lumatek_600w_Dual-Voltage_HPS_MH_Dial-A-Watt_Dimmable_Sunlight_Supply_Inc?zenid=r6d4qh4edbq22cj92sm8ve0an2
Air cooled hood $90 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Virtual-Sun-VSGC6000-6-Grow-Light-Lamp-Enclosed-Reflector-Hood-1000W-600W-400W-/120865478577?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2424d7b1
High PAR bulb $46 - http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=600w+lumatek+high+PAR&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1552657692504622688&sa=X&ei=kpRmT8z9BKSkiQKCt4GjDw&ved=0CEcQ8wIwAg
6" 440CFM fan and filter combo $159 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Carbon-Filter-Inline-Fan-Air-Blower-Combo-Hydroponic-Odor-Control-Scrubber-/390363592798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae37bb85e

You can make this yourself for ~$40 - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203124374/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=hydroponic&storeId=10051

Which leaves you $60 for ducting, tape, and timers.

And then there's always the ebay no name brand chinese kits. I hear they work ok. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1000w-1000-watt-Digital-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Set-/160634128853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item25668a49d5
 
crazyhazey

crazyhazey

Well-Known Member
Thedillestpickle said:
with 500$ you shouldnt even be thinking about CO2

spend 200$ on CFL's (HID are too hot unless you can afford good ventilation)
spend 40$ on soil
40$ on nutrients
20$ on timer
30$ on white paint/brush
50$ on oscillating fan
40$ on Ona Gel

That could work, you'll need to find a way to maintain fresh air supply and keep humidity down... shit gets expensive

You'll notice my list adds up to less than 500$... trust me it will add up to alot more than 500$ when it's all said and done
Click to expand...
also very true, make sure you have great ventilation when running hid lights.
 
goodro wilson

goodro wilson

Well-Known Member
If I was on a budget I'd buy
Wardrobe uhaul box 10
Car sun visor. 2
extension cords. 20
Plug in light socket
Adapters 2/piece 10
Cfls. (about). . 20
Seeds probably
from sannies shipped. 70
Ocean forest soil. 20
Grow bags 10
Small fan. 10
Ff nutes haven't priced. 60?
Anyways that's only about 200 something and u could just add more lights as you need it
It can def be done on a budget or staying under five you could add a 400 watt ups for about 175 and a Stanley blower for about 50
Some people make it harder than it is
You can grow nice plants like this
 
grobofotwanky

grobofotwanky

Well-Known Member
If somebody else knows about your op, then you've already broke the first rule. Grow partners never work out. You need to do alot of reading and planning before buying anything. That sounds like a dick answer, but its the truth. I wouldn't bullshit ya.
 
R

Roland of Gilead

Member
You're new and you're thinking of co2 and active hydro? That's crazy. Get a tent, a 400w hps, some pots and some dirt. DWC is pretty cheap & easy too, if you want to go that route. You don't need anything else other than nuts & bolts stuff (timer, fan, fert). $500 is more than enough, just forget about all the high tech shit. Once you know what you're doing you can experiment with all that if you want, but it really isn't necessary.
 
Farfenugen

Farfenugen

Well-Known Member
I started out with a used armoire, ripped out the guts, made a stealth cabinet, wired her up with fans, CFL's and a carbon filter for under $250, got a good crop too.
 
crazyhazey

crazyhazey

Well-Known Member
Roland of Gilead said:
You're new and you're thinking of co2 and active hydro? That's crazy. Get a tent, a 400w hps, some pots and some dirt. DWC is pretty cheap & easy too, if you want to go that route. You don't need anything else other than nuts & bolts stuff (timer, fan, fert). $500 is more than enough, just forget about all the high tech shit. Once you know what you're doing you can experiment with all that if you want, but it really isn't necessary.
Click to expand...
i hate to sound like that stoner hippie that says "go organic" but roland of gilead is spot on, co2 and hydro are kind of advanced things, first time grows with hydro systems sounds like trying to learn rocket science, without experience growing isn't too easy and hydroponics is also very costly, id have at least $700 to spend on hydro, including all the supplements, nutrients, i would want a system that automatically adjusts ppm and pH if your in a delicate system that can drop or rise pH randomly and you can easily kill your plants in a matter of hours if not paid attention to.

lights and a box are gonna cost you a good deal, as well as soil, your gonna want plenty of seeds, as well as ventilation. growing indoors can be costly, hopefully if you dont buy advanced nutrients, you might have some money left over.
 
N

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
HID HID HID HID HID HID. a 400W HPS puts out less heat than 400Watts of CFL.

Cool tube with 8" ends and batwing reflector, $80
1000 watt digital ballast $200
Ultra Sun 1000W bulb $25
inline fan 8" ends. $60
7 Gallon brewers bucket $10
Net pot lid for bucket $6
5L Hydroton $10
1" cube of RockWool $.05
8" flexible ducting 20' $10
20-40 gallon aquarium air pump $20
5" diameter round airstone $5
10' airline $3
Hydroponic Nutrients for 1 grow $30-$70
Mechanical timer $8
TDS and PH meters-$50+

DWC bucket, 1 pound end product. Most heat will be wicked away by the sealed cooltube system drawing air from outside the room and exhausting it out of the home.
 
ohmy

ohmy

Well-Known Member
I started out with about 500, two very important things. Lite and filter Get a good exhaust fan and filter combo. 6 inch or bigger. get the tall boy filter... I started out with T8 for veg and 600w for flower . now i am 1600w flower and T5 12 bulb for veg ;-) looking forward to outside where I can stress less.
 
phillipchristian

phillipchristian

New Member
crazyhazey said:
i hate to sound like that stoner hippie that says "go organic" but roland of gilead is spot on, co2 and hydro are kind of advanced things, first time grows with hydro systems sounds like trying to learn rocket science, without experience growing isn't too easy and hydroponics is also very costly, id have at least $700 to spend on hydro, including all the supplements, nutrients, i would want a system that automatically adjusts ppm and pH if your in a delicate system that can drop or rise pH randomly and you can easily kill your plants in a matter of hours if not paid attention to.

lights and a box are gonna cost you a good deal, as well as soil, your gonna want plenty of seeds, as well as ventilation. growing indoors can be costly, hopefully if you dont buy advanced nutrients, you might have some money left over.
Click to expand...
Spaghetti. $5
 
R

richinweed

Active Member
spend your mony on the biggest lights you can afford...it ALL starts with the lighting......400 hps min if you can...that will light a small 2 foot by 2 space almost as much as the big boy lights in a big space...U will get big bud.period...anyone whome says dif is a goof!...only use florecent for veg...unless u like small buds...if u cant afford both get the 400 min......
 
crazyhazey

crazyhazey

Well-Known Member
richinweed said:
spend your mony on the biggest lights you can afford...it ALL starts with the lighting......400 hps min if you can...that will light a small 2 foot by 2 space almost as much as the big boy lights in a big space...U will get big bud.period...anyone whome says dif is a goof!...only use florecent for veg...unless u like small buds...if u cant afford both get the 400 min......
Click to expand...
and vegging with fluorescents doesnt effect yield if you switch to hid in flowering
 
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