So I'm a noob and am trying to figure out my first grow room design and am looking for feedback both positive and negative, so please explain your reasoning either way so I can understand your thoughts. I want to buy the
best quality products (within a reasonable budget, hopefully far less than $2,000) my first go round so I don't have to turn around and sell components because I find that I didn't adequately plan ahead, or failed to do the necessary research. That said, I've picked products that I think will allow me multiple options interms of growing styles and techniques as I am not set on one way to grow yet (I.e I want to try many ways of growing: SCROG method, growing trees; and inbetween)
Location/ Restrictions: Basement room (12'h x12'l x 7'h) in home in Denver: 100 F outside is possible at times in summer; usually high of 70-85 F in basement. Colorado's laws permit 3 veg plants and 3 flowering per MMJ patient. 12 total per household if 2 patients are living in it. Currently my girlfriend is not on the lease so I will be abiding by the 3 / 3 regulations, but may be able to go to 6 / 6 in the future with another patient gets on my lease. Also I only have 120 v now as my 240 v connection is being used by my drier and is the old style 3 pronged 240 v plug. I'm not willing to pay an electrician to upgrade my connection as it is a rental.
Tent: Initally to be used for all stages of growing at least till i get the hang of growing indoors. I am thinking about a 5x5 Gorilla Tent (approx $415 online with the extra 1ft height extension included) (http://www.gorillagrowtent.com/product/grow-tent-5-x-5/)because I read it is the best. This design would allow me to add 1 ft height to my tent when I move into a larger place. Also the 5x5 is only $30-$40 more than the 4x4 gorilla and would give me room to walk around the plants, allow more growing space and greater ease of cooling (compared to the 4x4).
Reflector: I already have a Hydro Farm T5 designer series 4' x 6 tube for the little girls and supplementary light during flowering. Want to buy a Sunlight Supply Blockbuster Reflector 8" Air-Cooled (estimated cost $150-160) (https://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-11802-blockbuster-reflector-8quot-air-cooled.aspx). I like it b/c of the advertised square footprint; 95% reflective material, the Hammered specular aluminum reflector for optimum light distribution (not the plain finish) , high PAR results (https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/threads/a-comparison-of-hid-reflectors.44545/) and think that the 8" duct will allow me to cool the space easier than the 6". Also like it b/c I could use either a 600w bulb or 1000w bulb (unlike the Magnum XXXL, which I have read are too big to effectively use a 600w bulb).
Ballast: Solis Tek Matrix, (http://www.solis-tek.com/digital-ballasts/matrix-1000-digital-ballast.html) 1000w dimmable to 600w and 400w, HPS and MH at all watts, Built in digital timer, lifetime ballast timer, minimal THD%, highest par results (http://growershouse.com/blog/1000w-...umatek-solis-tek-quantum-phantom-galaxy-nano/), 5 year warranty (3 years + 2 years prorated), less than 1% return/ warranty rate, ignition control (can have multiple solis tek ballasts and they won't fire up at the same time, preventing your breaker being flipped) and have Pre-ignition self-diagnostic checks, and it doesn't have a cooling fan which I have read often is the component which fails in ballasts.
Fan: 8" Hyper Fan. (Approx $210) I like this one because it is small, has a 5 year warranty, is quiet in comparison to others, 710 cfm, 80 watts and outperforms the vortex (http://youtu.be/0DkzX6ElX_4) has an included speed controller which you can adjust fan speed from 30% to 100% and is designed to work with the fan, unlike adding a speed controller to a fan designed to work at one speed or only 3 speeds. Lastly, I am thinking the 8" over a 6" because I think that a 6" with a carbon filter and 1000w or 600w hps bulb when it's hot out will likely not provide the necessary cfms.
Bulb: either 600w or 1000w; both HPS and MH; Hortilux Super HPS and Hortilux Metal Halide or Sun Pulse 3k 4k &10k bulbs; Hortilux is said to have the highest PAR ratings while Sun Pulse has been paired to "work" with Solis Tek ballasts and are fully covered under the 1 year warranty (not sure if hortilux will honor a warranty claim with a solis tek ballast since its not their brand of ballasts.
Carbon filter: heard Can Fan filters are the best but haven't done extensive research, your suggestions needed.
Inline fan: no ideas; likely necessary for additional intake air.
CO2: Exhale CO2 bags. Once again not much research conducted here, just think it might be enough for a 5x5 with 3 plants and easier and cheaper than the hassle of filling tanks.
Grow mediums/ containers- want to try them all; been told its easier to not try hydroponics my first go.
This has been all I have learned so far, your help and opinions are greatly appreciated.😜
best quality products (within a reasonable budget, hopefully far less than $2,000) my first go round so I don't have to turn around and sell components because I find that I didn't adequately plan ahead, or failed to do the necessary research. That said, I've picked products that I think will allow me multiple options interms of growing styles and techniques as I am not set on one way to grow yet (I.e I want to try many ways of growing: SCROG method, growing trees; and inbetween)
Location/ Restrictions: Basement room (12'h x12'l x 7'h) in home in Denver: 100 F outside is possible at times in summer; usually high of 70-85 F in basement. Colorado's laws permit 3 veg plants and 3 flowering per MMJ patient. 12 total per household if 2 patients are living in it. Currently my girlfriend is not on the lease so I will be abiding by the 3 / 3 regulations, but may be able to go to 6 / 6 in the future with another patient gets on my lease. Also I only have 120 v now as my 240 v connection is being used by my drier and is the old style 3 pronged 240 v plug. I'm not willing to pay an electrician to upgrade my connection as it is a rental.
Tent: Initally to be used for all stages of growing at least till i get the hang of growing indoors. I am thinking about a 5x5 Gorilla Tent (approx $415 online with the extra 1ft height extension included) (http://www.gorillagrowtent.com/product/grow-tent-5-x-5/)because I read it is the best. This design would allow me to add 1 ft height to my tent when I move into a larger place. Also the 5x5 is only $30-$40 more than the 4x4 gorilla and would give me room to walk around the plants, allow more growing space and greater ease of cooling (compared to the 4x4).
Reflector: I already have a Hydro Farm T5 designer series 4' x 6 tube for the little girls and supplementary light during flowering. Want to buy a Sunlight Supply Blockbuster Reflector 8" Air-Cooled (estimated cost $150-160) (https://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-11802-blockbuster-reflector-8quot-air-cooled.aspx). I like it b/c of the advertised square footprint; 95% reflective material, the Hammered specular aluminum reflector for optimum light distribution (not the plain finish) , high PAR results (https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/threads/a-comparison-of-hid-reflectors.44545/) and think that the 8" duct will allow me to cool the space easier than the 6". Also like it b/c I could use either a 600w bulb or 1000w bulb (unlike the Magnum XXXL, which I have read are too big to effectively use a 600w bulb).
Ballast: Solis Tek Matrix, (http://www.solis-tek.com/digital-ballasts/matrix-1000-digital-ballast.html) 1000w dimmable to 600w and 400w, HPS and MH at all watts, Built in digital timer, lifetime ballast timer, minimal THD%, highest par results (http://growershouse.com/blog/1000w-...umatek-solis-tek-quantum-phantom-galaxy-nano/), 5 year warranty (3 years + 2 years prorated), less than 1% return/ warranty rate, ignition control (can have multiple solis tek ballasts and they won't fire up at the same time, preventing your breaker being flipped) and have Pre-ignition self-diagnostic checks, and it doesn't have a cooling fan which I have read often is the component which fails in ballasts.
Fan: 8" Hyper Fan. (Approx $210) I like this one because it is small, has a 5 year warranty, is quiet in comparison to others, 710 cfm, 80 watts and outperforms the vortex (http://youtu.be/0DkzX6ElX_4) has an included speed controller which you can adjust fan speed from 30% to 100% and is designed to work with the fan, unlike adding a speed controller to a fan designed to work at one speed or only 3 speeds. Lastly, I am thinking the 8" over a 6" because I think that a 6" with a carbon filter and 1000w or 600w hps bulb when it's hot out will likely not provide the necessary cfms.
Bulb: either 600w or 1000w; both HPS and MH; Hortilux Super HPS and Hortilux Metal Halide or Sun Pulse 3k 4k &10k bulbs; Hortilux is said to have the highest PAR ratings while Sun Pulse has been paired to "work" with Solis Tek ballasts and are fully covered under the 1 year warranty (not sure if hortilux will honor a warranty claim with a solis tek ballast since its not their brand of ballasts.
Carbon filter: heard Can Fan filters are the best but haven't done extensive research, your suggestions needed.
Inline fan: no ideas; likely necessary for additional intake air.
CO2: Exhale CO2 bags. Once again not much research conducted here, just think it might be enough for a 5x5 with 3 plants and easier and cheaper than the hassle of filling tanks.
Grow mediums/ containers- want to try them all; been told its easier to not try hydroponics my first go.
This has been all I have learned so far, your help and opinions are greatly appreciated.😜
