First Grow Setup! Any Tips, Tricks, Advice, or Knowledge is Welcome!

[chadster152]

Alright! I've been lurking on these forums for about 4 years...reading, searching, drooling over grow journals, researching strains, techniques, systems, and basically just biding my time till i had the cash, place, and ability to start a grow. And now it is here...Almost.

The Setup (things marked with a * I have yet to buy, but are just a Home Depot/Hydro store trip or amazon order away)

• 600w MH/HPS w/ 6" Air Cooled Hood, both bulbs (the HPS is marked as a "Super HPS" and it says it produces more lumens than a regular HPS...is this legit??) and an Ipower electronic ballast
• Virtual Sun VS4800 Tent (4'x4'x6.5')
• DIY 4 Site RDWC System (Four individual 5 gallon buckets for plants, One 15-20 gallon tote for epicenter/reservoir)*
  • 6" basket bucket lids
  • 350 GPH pump
  • Piping (2" with a waterfall setup for the res)
  • Hydrofarm 15 LPM air pump
  • Hydrofarm 4" Active Aqua round air stones
• Veg Nutes*
  • Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro (or just Grow...whatever my local Hydro shop has in stock)
  • Dyna-Gro Mag-Pro
  • Dyna-Gro Pro-TeKt
  • Botanicare AquaShield
• Flower Nutes*
  • Dyna-Gro Bloom
  • Dyna-Gro Mag-Pro
  • Dyna-Gro Pro-TeKt
  • Botanicare AquaShield
• VenTech 6" 440CM Inline Exhaust Fan*
• DIY 2-layer Carbon Filter (inner layer activated carbon, outer layer activated carbon pre-filter thats used in humidfyers/air purifiers)*
  • 7" Dia. x 18-24" tall
• Misc. Meters (PPM/Temp/Ph for res, Humidity/Temp for tent)*

As you can see, I'm still gathering all the stuff i need, but I'm looking to start this grow probably the first or second week of November. What do you think of my set-up? Any questions, comments, advice, changes, and tips about my setup are welcome.

The Strains

1. Cherry OG from Emerald Triangle*
2. Blueberry Headband from Emerald Triangle*
3. Sour Jack from G13 Labs*
4. Delahaze from Paradise seeds (possible, may wait)*
5. Bag seed I've collected over the years

Any questions, comments, advice, changes, and tips about the strains are welcome.

My Goal & The Plan
My goal is 0.75g/watt or 16oz. My plan is to start with seed, veg for a month on 18/6, take clones for mothers/next round (hopefully by the time I'm ready to flip them, ill have another tent and some CFL's or a MH for mothers and clones), flip to 12/12, then enjoy. I am still up in the air about what training methods i should use to accomplish my goal; topping, supercropping, LST, SCROG, a combination of a few, or all of them...So any questions, suggestions, advice, changes, and tips about training are definitely welcome.

Thanks for stopping by,

Chadster152

 

[IndicaDom]

I have two questions, are you dead set on the nutrients, and why did you choose those nutrients, and are you concerned with plant numbers at all?

 

[chadster152]

are you dead set on the nutrients

I am not dead set on anything in my future grow, other than growing itself. lol

why did you choose those nutrients

I have read many threads here on RIU about nutrients and i chose to go with Dyna-Gro because it is one of the only, if not the only, product on the market that has all 16 essential macro and micro nutes in it, thanks to Homebrewer, we know that it is basicly pH perfect and produces better results than both General Hydroponics and Advanced Nutrients, at a fraction of the cost and without any expensive boosters that other nute brands require.

Check out these two threads: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/358562-dyna-gro-vs-general-hydroponics.html & https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/429438-dyna-gro-vs-advanced-nutrients.html#post5684072

I added Aquashield by Botanicare because i am planning on running a RDWC set-up and i read a thread on here, although i cannot remember the title or find it which is aggravating, that basically showed the effectiveness of Aquashield to promote and protect pearl white roots that thrive in RDWC.

are you concerned with plant numbers at all?

I am not concerned with plant numbers, i just don't want to cram 16 plants into my tent and have them not use the available light efficiently.

Thanks for the reply,

Chadster152

 

[IndicaDom]

You are always going to be playing with plant numbers unless you settle on only 1 strain to grow. Tweaking veg times to get the best yield per plant number is going to take a few runs, the threads on the Dynagrow were interesting, I will read through more of them. I have been thinking about those nutrients which is why I ask, and I have been thinking about switching up from GH nutes.

 

[fro77]

hey bro my first grow i did 5 different strains to cuz they all look so good. and i fucked up big time just pick 1 its way to hard to do multiple strains each strain takes different to nute levels and so on.

pick 1 for your first run bro.
also try soil first couple runs. i also went straight to hydro and wish i had not hydro its easy to over feed and your ph can change in your resivor if you dont check it often wich can DESTROY your crop.

also i dont see eny fans on your list having lots of fans will make it so bugs dont even bother to fly around. and your plants will love it and grow great and strong.
its easyer to prevent then to kill

unless you doing a legal grow you better get a carbon filter. having a noisey nabor or mailman. can get you busted. keep the smell down make it smell like eny thing else keep candles around. or fart a lot.

and never never tell you sisters brothers parents bros or hoes. it almost always destroys your grow. shutting you down.
most sucesfull grows are 1s that only the grower knows about.
this can be the hardest part of growing but buy far the most important
i couldnt tell you how meny times i wanted to show my friends my buds when ther close to gettin done and show off.

16oz is a pretty big goal in a 4by4 not impossible tho.

before you buy seeds look in to auto plants you can crop out almost a month sooner. there easy to grow and you can fit more in your area. i bet you could get at least ten in a 4by4
they yield about a a oz to 0z and a half a plant. i dont think ill ever grow regular seeds again.



just keep it simple for your first run. and good luck to ya.

 

[IndicaDom]

most sucesfull grows are 1s that only the grower knows about.
this can be the hardest part of growing but buy far the most important

Amen!!!!!!

 

[chadster152]

You are always going to be playing with plant numbers unless you settle on only 1 strain to grow.

Sorry I wasn't clear in the OP, but I will not be running more than 1 strain at a time. I just listed the strains I am interested in growing in order to get some feedback on them.

...the threads on the Dynagrow were interesting, I will read through more of them. I have been thinking about those nutrients which is why I ask, and I have been thinking about switching up from GH nutes.

I agree. I think Dyna-Gro is definitely the way to go...it's cheaper and produces the same if not better results than other nute brands, plus the easy of use cant be beat...definitely read those threads, they're very informative.

 

[mr2shim]

I personally think nutes are a giant gimmick. I've used ONLY GH Flora Nova Bloom start to finish for the past couple grows. Got a bit over 5oz from 1 plant and this grow I'm looking at 8-10oz from 1 plant.

 

[fro77]

I personally think nutes are a giant gimmick. I've used ONLY GH Flora Nova Bloom start to finish for the past couple grows. Got a bit over 5oz from 1 plant and this grow I'm looking at 8-10oz from 1 plant.

iv heard few people say this today. what kind of soil do you use if your not using nutes

 

[mr2shim]

iv heard few people say this today. what kind of soil do you use if your not using nutes

I grow in hydro. Waterfarm. I use nutrients. It's only Flora Nova Bloom

www.lucasformula.com

 

[fro77]

I grow in hydro. Waterfarm I use nutrients. It's only Flora Nova Bloom

and you use nothing but ph water tell blloom?

 

[mr2shim]

and you use nothing but ph water tell blloom?

I use tap water. not pH'd.. First two grows I ran 0ppm pH'd water. Makes no difference as far as I can tell. If anything it doesn't help, this grow is the most I'm going to yield since I've been growing.

 

[TheGreenHornet]

its hard to grow multiple different strains, especially if you were to SCROG - which would definitely help you achieve your lb per 600. (scrogging)

I would recommend at least one more 15 LPM air pump if you are going to have 4, 5 gallon buckets. you cant have too much dissolved oxygen, more oxygen, faster growth - and it has other benefits like cooling the reservoir, (at least with smaller pumps like you have), and keeping algae growth at bay. algae hates high amounts of dissolved oxygen, and the more turbulent your water, the less likely it is to form.

I also have to say that although I have never used DynaGro nutes, (with the exception of ProTekt), I cant imagine it getting any easier than the General Hydroponics Flora series, (tri pack) I have used this for the last 3 grows, and im getting better and better at managing it, but it is SOOOooo much more simple than any of the other nute lineups I have seen.
That being said, make sure you keep it simple.. do not use a bunch of additives n shit your 1st grow, you will be amazed by what you see with just the basics... Im doing a grow right now actually, nothing but the TriPack the entire grow, and so far they look better than they ever have.

Make sure to NEVER leave the room while your light is on (while setting up ventilation especially).. many a new grower never made it to germination because of this.. HID bulbs will blow your mind if you've never used one before, they heat up VERY quickly and can potentially turn your house/apt into a bonfire. Be careful, and, in the words of Gandalf the Grey;

" Keep it secret, Keep it safe! "

 

[fro77]

thats crazzy how are the plants getting eny food.
i know low nutes are always better then over doing it but never heard of a hydro setup with no nutes.
maybe nutes are just a joke.

 

[mr2shim]

thats crazzy how are the plants getting eny food.
i know low nutes are always better then over doing it but never heard of a hydro setup with no nutes.
maybe nutes are just a joke.

lol, I AM using nutes. Flora Nova Bloom is a nutrient solution. It's the only nutrient I use. I don't use 3,4,5 different ones like a lot of people. I get the same if not better results.

 

[fro77]

ya i see what ur saying i use fox farm theres like 9 diff bottles and shit. but seems to work good just prolly not needed. plus fox farm soil is pretty nuty by itself

 

[chadster152]

hey bro my first grow i did 5 different strains to cuz they all look so good. and i fucked up big time just pick 1 its way to hard to do multiple strains each strain takes different to nute levels and so on. pick 1 for your first run bro.

Ya for sure i feel you. As i mentioned above, I will only be running 1 strain at a time, just multiple plants of the same strain (searching out the "keeper" phenos).

also try soil first couple runs. i also went straight to hydro and wish i had not hydro its easy to over feed and your ph can change in your resivor if you dont check it often wich can DESTROY your crop.

I'm going straight to hydro because i have gardened before in soil and i hate the mess...plus hydro shaves off growing time and promotes more vigorous growth. As for pH imbalances, that was a deciding factor in me choosing Dyna-Gro for my nutes and i will have a daily task list to keep reminding me to check up on everything. Hydro is definitely not for lazy people, so i will be pretty diligent.

also i dont see eny fans on your list having lots of fans will make it so bugs dont even bother to fly around. and your plants will love it and grow great and strong. its easyer to prevent then to kill

I have a 440CFM fan listed for my exhaust fan. Intake will be passive. Also i will have a small oscillating fan for air movement inside the tent.

unless you doing a legal grow you better get a carbon filter. having a noisey nabor or mailman. can get you busted. keep the smell down make it smell like eny thing else keep candles around. or fart a lot.

I have a DIY carbon filter listed in my plan as i definitely want to contain the smell.

and never never tell you sisters brothers parents bros or hoes. it almost always destroys your grow. shutting you down.
most sucesfull grows are 1s that only the grower knows about.
this can be the hardest part of growing but buy far the most important
i couldnt tell you how meny times i wanted to show my friends my buds when ther close to gettin done and show off.

I agree 100%

16oz is a pretty big goal in a 4by4 not impossible tho. before you buy seeds look in to auto plants you can crop out almost a month sooner. there easy to grow and you can fit more in your area. i bet you could get at least ten in a 4by4 they yield about a a oz to 0z and a half a plant. i dont think ill ever grow regular seeds again.

I thought about doing auto's but i want to stay with mothers and clones and eventually turn it into a perpetual harvest.

just keep it simple for your first run. and good luck to ya.

Thanks for the Karma man, i appreciate it.

Chadster152

 

[fro77]

Ya for sure i feel you. As i mentioned above, I will only be running 1 strain at a time, just multiple plants of the same strain (searching out the "keeper" phenos).



I'm going straight to hydro because i have gardened before in soil and i hate the mess...plus hydro shaves off growing time and promotes more vigorous growth. As for pH imbalances, that was a deciding factor in me choosing Dyna-Gro for my nutes and i will have a daily task list to keep reminding me to check up on everything. Hydro is definitely not for lazy people, so i will be pretty diligent.



I have a 440CFM fan listed for my exhaust fan. Intake will be passive. Also i will have a small oscillating fan for air movement inside the tent.



I have a DIY carbon filter listed in my plan as i definitely want to contain the smell.



I agree 100%



I thought about doing auto's but i want to stay with mothers and clones and eventually turn it into a perpetual harvest.



Thanks for the Karma man, i appreciate it.

Chadster152

sounds like you did your homework unlike i did my first time.
cool man good luck keep up posted when you start

 

[homebrewer]

I also have to say that although I have never used DynaGro nutes, (with the exception of ProTekt), I cant imagine it getting any easier than the General Hydroponics Flora series, (tri pack) I have used this for the last 3 grows, and im getting better and better at managing it, but it is SOOOooo much more simple than any of the other nute lineups I have seen.
That being said, make sure you keep it simple.. do not use a bunch of additives n shit your 1st grow, you will be amazed by what you see with just the basics... Im doing a grow right now actually, nothing but the TriPack the entire grow, and so far they look better than they ever have.

The GH 3-part works, no question about that. I used it for years and disliked two things: it wasn't pH stable and their florabloom is super watery. In hydro, I found DG to be easier to use from start to finish and it always out-yielded the 3-part, always. I also liked the fact that I could use it in promix which meant that one food would cover all my needs. There are a handful of good options out there and GH makes a few of them actually.

Chadster - good luck on the grow. Your water has a lot to do with the performance of your plant food choice. If you're not using RO, hopefully your tap waster is soft.

 

[chadster152]

I would recommend at least one more 15 LPM air pump if you are going to have 4, 5 gallon buckets. you cant have too much dissolved oxygen, more oxygen, faster growth - and it has other benefits like cooling the reservoir, (at least with smaller pumps like you have), and keeping algae growth at bay. algae hates high amounts of dissolved oxygen, and the more turbulent your water, the less likely it is to form.

How big of a pump would you recommend? Would 25 LPM be big enough for four buckets?