to cover the 4 aeroponic systems you should get 2 600w lights or 2 1000w lights. 600w lights would be fine, 1000w lights would be optimal.
Like I said money is tight, but do you think I could get away with 2 400w hps/mh conversion lights? or 1 600 w potentially? I would think that the 400's would be more optimal (in the money situation). I most definitely do plan on having 1000w's in the end...
128 clones is a ton. i can fit about 30 comfortably in one 10x20 cut tray. so 4 trays would be 20x40 which is an 8 lamp T5. mix the spectum up on the bulbs too. 5 grow and 3 bloom bulbs. or 6 and 2. more balanced spectrum.
What sort of 10x20 trays are you talking about? ebb & flow? Are you growing to fully grown and harvesting from the 10x20? Or just having it setup to grow the clones initially? I ask this because if I can end up having more setups in a smaller area, it would produce more.. How big of rock wool cubes would you suggest? 1.5x1.5 or 2x2?
if you are just taking cuttings every 2 months or a perpetual with 64 a month you are gonna need 6 moms in my opinion. you could probably get away with 4 but that would be a lot of stress on them and you might now be getting the best cuttings after about 20-25. 6 moms at 2x2 for each one is a 6x4 space to cover. you could do it much more efficiently with MH lights. 2 400w MH lights would be idea. if power and money are an issue then you are gonna need 3 8 lamp T5 setups or 2 12 lamp setups. Quantum makes a 12 lamp setup.
What did you mean by "you might now be getting the best cuttings after about 20-25"? Do you think you could make up like a general layout of what you think I should start with and possibly a beginning shopping list? I am getting ready to order some seeds in a few days, I'm thinking of a few strains from Nirvana.. AK-48, Northern Lights, White Widow, or Master Kush.. If you have any suggestions on strains to try out, please let me know, I'm trying to narrow it down to 2 high yielding strains that I can have that take around 6-8 weeks flowering period... Also, if its worth noting, we don't have any "brand name" strains around here, so I am definitely open to suggestions.. The seeds I just want fem, and it has to be around $40-50 per pack.
I definitely plan on having a perpetual grow, I just have to get this first grow completed to be able to reinvest back into the grow and trying to start out with putting as little into it as possible, but it is definitely one where I do have lee way for finances, I just want to not use up everything and looking for a ball park figure of how much it would cost to include a mother, clone, and flowering room, so if you could let me know about what I am looking at that'd be awesome. Also for the aeroponic setup by DrGreenFinger that I am looking mostly at, its around $400 for 4 setups (without lights), so if you know of any other setups I could make that still have around/more for cheaper and still efficient, please let me know, I do not do soil though... Also I did find some lights on amazon I believe that were around $165 for some 400w conversion mh/hps so I may be leaning more that way for the lights, but how much would the lights run up the bill say for... 2 400w and a 8 bulb t5?
What all should be on my initial list to purchase before I even start to germinate the seeds?
I know lights, the system, timer(s), nutes, ph meter, rock wool, net pots, clay pellets, rooting compound... I do plan on having a fan and ducting for the hoods, but do you think that I could get away without for the first grow?
What your stance on mylar and/or panda plastic? Do you think its needed or just a "perk"?
I know that theres a lot of questions in here, if I have more, I'll just post after you let me know the answers to the above questions..