First Grow! 3x3 tent 600w HPS 12/12 from seed

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deephouser

Well-Known Member
I am doing 600 watts in a 3x3 as well. Mine are on day 22 from seed, doing 24/0.

I like how the light fills the space nicely. I think with proper ventilation that 600w 3x3 might be tough to beat in the efficiency department.
 
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Cronnoisseur

Well-Known Member
TheSmokeyBandit said:
3x3 for 3 plants would be perfect you could probably go as far as 4. I guess it really depends on how your gonna grow, Lst/scrog/or just let them grow tall.

For ducting I use 6" my filter, fan and reflector are all 6" so it makes life easy, and it's just regular duct from any hardware store. You can probably get away with 4" but depending on what you were using you may have to go with some 4"-6" reducers.

I went with the 3x3 just because it fit my spot better. It's not like its a huge difference in price. If you can fit the 4x4 fine then I'd say go for it. Especially if you plan on growing more than 4 plants. I plan on doing 1-2 SCROG so the 3x3 was a perfect size for me.
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Thanks for this Im pretty set on the 3x3 now...
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
I love the 3x3! I actually got a 4x4 and took it home and set it up and just felt like it was to big with unnecessary space. The shop was cool and let me switch it with a 3x3 and now that heat is not an issue I love it. the light, filter, and duct just seem to fit perfectly inside, and boy does that thing light up when those lights turn on. I know I'm still on my first grow but not gonna lie really anxious for this one to finish so I can start a new one. I'm really looking forward to a Scrog.

Just need to find some plants that are best for it. So got about 2-3 months of research. And another thing I love about the tent is it will make a nice drying space.
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
Cronnoisseur you will not be disappointed with the 3x3, what lights are you planning on running? Let me know if there is anything I can help you out with. This thing was a real pain for me for the first 2 weeks or so. The guys here were real cool in helping me out, so if I could return the favor just let me know.
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
Sorry I haven't posted pics in a bit I will get some up tonight when the lights turn on. Right now all 4 have a very lime green color to them, hopefully the pics later will be able to show them and someone will have some suggestions.
 
mrwood

mrwood

Well-Known Member
........havent smoked since January so I will admit im a little desperate. (made a resolution to not smoke until I grew it myself)..after this grow I will be ordering more seeds and will do a SCROG with 1-2 plants with full veg.
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HA! I had a similar plan! Decided to go 'all in' and put my money towards a grow rather than buy a bag. I am looking forward to my harvest.........!


IMHO, the plants look a little off. Maybe small & off color? (not sure if it is just the photos....).
Might not be anything. In the 2nd photo, front two look OK, back two a little yellow. Could be the lighting.
What is your watering schedule? Have you provide any nutes? no?
FFOF can be a bit 'hot' for seedlings. Maybe too much water?
You mentioned some heat issues. You don't need the 600W for these plants. May be better off with CFLs, save some $$$, little nicer for seedlings.

Good luck with the grow!
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
Ya I feel like they are both small and off color compared to others I've seen around the same age. I water till I get runoff out the bottom and let them go till the cup is dry. So its usually water then wait 2 days then water again. I added nutes to 2 of them once at 1/4 strength (the bottom and top left). I don't feel like I've been watering too much I could always cut back and see how they are. I haven't had heat issues since I corrected the ducting 81* is the hottest it will get. I have the Ballast set on 400w and it's about 30"m away from the top of the plant.

Someone did mention cfls (daylight) I have some lying around so if by tonight they look the same I will prob throw some in there and bring the HPS up another 10" or so.

I also didn't cook my soil so that's one thing I wish I did or went with Happy Frog.
 
mrwood

mrwood

Well-Known Member
Watering sounds OK. Stick you finger in the pot or check the weight. Once every three days should be fine for seedlings.
Heat & light sound OK; you could go with just the CFL (no HID).
I get good results with CFLs w/beer can reflectors for seedlings, then veg under T5 HO, then flower under HPS.

I would not use nutes for the first three weeks. Your soil should have enough.
Next time, you may want to cut your OF. I got this from another post:
- seedlings: 1 part OF/4 parts Light Warrior
- plants: 1 part OF/1 part Light Warrior
Even when I cut the soil, I am still going 2-3 weeks w/o nutes.
 
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deephouser

Well-Known Member
Those seedlings look pretty small and underdeveloped.

You really should just use 6500K CFLs for the first two weeks or so. Keep them close, cool, and with good airflow. You will see explosive and compact growth.

I'm on my first grow, so not experienced. But when I look at how my plants developed, I couldn't ask for more.
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
Ya for the next go around I will be using a homemade batch of soil with all the ingredients I need so I will be able to re-use it, not to mention It allows me to stay away from nutes. I know I'm not supposed to use them but I thought the light green color may be a N deficiency so I added some General Organics Thrive to it, but as you can see It did nothing. I will be adding some CFL's (6500k) tonight.
 
wyteberrywidow

wyteberrywidow

Global
I'm interested to see how this grow turns out for you. Never pulled the trigger fully on 12/12 from seed but I've seen some good grows with it.

For 9 days yes I would say the plants are a little small esp to be under 400 watts. I wouldn't go adding nutes yet like stated unless its in low doeses because the soil should have enough in it right now to carry it for 2-3 weeks with just plain water. Adding some cfls would be a good idea get it closer to the seedlings hopefully you see some good growth then.
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
I added the nutes at 1/4 strength in hopes that it would help with the N deficiency (if that's what it was).

Should I add cfl's to the HPS or take the HPS and use cfl's solo until they get a little bigger?
 
mrwood

mrwood

Well-Known Member
I like the CFLs vs HPS at this stage.
You can get them ~1-2' away from the seedlings. Add an oscillating fan.

Ya for the next go around I will be using a homemade batch of soil with all the ingredients I need so I will be able to re-use it, not to mention It allows me to stay away from nutes.
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This can work. Your decision, but not my recommendation.
Most soil growers still use nutes. You just have to use them correctly, which in most cases is in moderation. I am not a fan of mix the soil once & good for the whole grow. This may result in too hot in the beginning & too weak in the end. Also, not sure about reusing soil. This is a minor investiment in a large project. You may end up carrying over problems (e.g, salt buildup, low nutes) from one grow to the next.

Post some more photos when you can to give us an update !
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
I'm not sure what I will be doing next. I'm like a kid in a candy store, I read peoples stories and what they use and I'm like oh I want that, now I want to try that... I still have a ways to go before this is done so I will be doing a lot of studying in the mean time. Not gonna lie this is kinda stressing me out so hopefully this problem is fixed soon and I can relax and let these babies finish growing
 
wyteberrywidow

wyteberrywidow

Global
Yeah that's how it goes when you start growing you want to try everything.

I prefer watering and reusing my medium so I would go with coco. Works great! And easy but you need to montior the ph.

Oh and for the lights use just cfls for now then 2 weeks later add the hps with the cfls until finish
 
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TheSmokeyBandit

Member
Ya Coco was another thing I was looking at, I just really like the idea of re-using soil. I wonder what went wrong tho? A lot of people only use HPS and their plants look fine.
 
wyteberrywidow

wyteberrywidow

Global
TheSmokeyBandit said:
Ya Coco was another thing I was looking at, I just really like the idea of re-using soil. I wonder what went wrong tho? A lot of people only use HPS and their plants look fine.
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Could be a number of things. I usually start the hps at about a foot or so away and when they get bigger I drop the light. Maybe it was too close or some other factor but don't worry they are still young. Wait until they are at 2-3 nodes then fire the hps up again at that time they should be ready for the nutes.
 
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