Indoor 600W HPS Budget Grow

Days Since Transplant: 1
Number of plants: 2 (1x Critical Mass, 1x Sunset Sherbet)
Lights: Sunmaster SuperHPS 600w
Lumens: 90,000
Light Cycle:18/6
Temps: ??

I wanted to try out growing once again. It's been about ten years since I last grew. Tent ballast and lights have been sourced from secondhand markets from my local area. I am going to try to keep this as cheap as possible, I've already spent over $100 but plan to keep total under $150 for materials. The clones were from a friend.

Materials:
Gorilla Grow Tent 2x2.5 ($30)
Galaxy 600W Dimmable Ballast Model:902517 ($20)
Old Sun System Hood (unsure of the model) ($10)
Pride Lands Premium Potting Soil 1.5Cu($17)
Precision Perlite 1.5Cu ($14)
2x 5Gal Pots ( $1.50 x 2)
2x 3gal Pots ($1.25x2)
Great White Shark Rooting Powder 1Oz ($10)
Clonex Cloning Gel ($5)
Total Spent: $111.50

Clone on the left is Critical Mass, right is Sunset Sherbet


I set up the tent and put the clones in while waiting to get soil and pots. It was pretty hot in there at first until I set up an intake and exhaust just using small fans I had in the house. It got too hot for about an hour while I was out and I think the critical mass was affected by it a bit.


I transferred both plants into 5gal pots today and used Great White Shark Rooting Powder on the roots ( I got a bit on the bottom leaves but I hope it doesn't affect the plants. The critical mass clone is looking a bit rough but I am hoping transplanting will help.




Sunset Sherbert is looking pretty good with fatter leaves that are dark green.




Both Together in the tent. (I know the light is too far away at this point but I need to get a thermometer to check temps so I know I am not burning them right now.


I plan on starting LST after they take root and look a bit better in the tent. Would anyone think it would be a good idea to top them as well or would it be too late at this point?

Days Since Transplant: 2
Number of plants: 3 (1x Critical Mass, 1x Sunset Sherbet 1x White Tahoe Cookies)
Lights: Sunmaster SuperHPS 600w
Lumens: 90,000
Light Cycle:18/6
Temps: Low: 58 High: 94 Average: 85

A lot has happened in the past couple of days. First, I started to LST the Critical Mass and the Sunset Sherbert. Ive been struggling with getting a consistent temperature in the grow tent. It's varied from high 50's when lights are off to 94 when lights are on. I am currently using two small fans as an intake and exhaust.
First is CM




Second is SS



I have started to use a heating pad with a temperature probe inserted into the bottom of the pot to measure temps and then covered with a towel. This is to help with the low temps at night (also got my last addition to the family White Tahoe Cookies)

Days Since Transplant: 5
Number of plants: 3 (1x Critical Mass, 1x Sunset Sherbet, 1 x White Tahoe Cookies)
Lights: Sunmaster SuperHPS 600w
Lumens: 90,000
Light Cycle:18/6
Temps: Low: 57 High: 91 Average: 83

Materials:
Gorilla Grow Tent 2x2.5 ($30)
Galaxy 600W Dimmable Ballast Model:902517 ($20)
Old Sun System Hood (unsure of the model) ($10)
Pride Lands Premium Potting Soil 1.5Cu($17)
Precision Perlite 1.5Cu ($14)
2x 5Gal Pots ( $1.50 x 2)
2x 3gal Pots ($1.25x2)
Great White Shark Rooting Powder 1Oz ($10)
Clonex Cloning Gel ($5)

1/7
Apollo 6 mechanical timer $5
Wind King Inline Fan 4"171CFM ($1
Elemental Dial a Speed Fan Controller (included with Fan)
Total Spent: $134.50

I transplanted the White Tahoe Cookies into a 3gal pot and added some GWS rooting powder. This time I watered much less than I did when I transplanted the CM and SS. Temps have been a problem and I am hoping that the addition to the Inline fan as an intake will help with better temps.

I can definitely tell that the CM has had some problems with the temps and the SS has also showed some signs of maybe getting too hot. Her color is much lighter shade of green and leaves are kind of thin.



The SS is looking much better but is also showing some signs of heat stress...



The WTC is looking nice and green.


Overall, they don't look too bad and there is a lot of new growth. Still a bit worried about the CM strain and trying to stabilize the temps. If anyone has any tips for the 2x2.5 grow tent, let me know. Here is a pic of how my plants look in there now ( the light is just so you can see the actual colors in the tent)

600w is alot for that little tent
I run a 400w I my 3x3 and use a 200cfm fan on 20% power as exhaust, keeps it low 80s, without fan i was mid 90s!

How do you like the galaxy ballast? any RF interference, I've been thinking about putting my magnetic one in storage the hum is making me a little crazy lately

SuBlimE420 said:

600w is alot for that little tent
I run a 400w I my 3x3 and use a 200cfm fan on 20% power as exhaust, keeps it low 80s, without fan i was mid 90s!

How do you like the galaxy ballast? any RF interference, I've been thinking about putting my magnetic one in storage the hum is making me a little crazy lately

Click to expand...

Yeah man, temps have been super hard to keep consistent and thats the thing that worries me the most about my grow.. I don't have much room where I am, so that tent size was my only option. I wish I was able to have a 3x3. The galaxy ballast is good man, no interference at all.

Please comment on my posts! I would love to hear feedback from you guys.

Days Since Transplant: SS and CM (12 Days), WTC (7 Days)

Number of plants: 3 (1x Critical Mass, 1x Sunset Sherbet, 1 x White Tahoe Cookies)
Lights: Sunmaster SuperHPS 600w
Lumens: 90,000
Light Cycle:18/6
PH: 6.89
Temps: Low: 55 High: 81

Materials:
Gorilla Grow Tent 2x2.5 ($30)
Galaxy 600W Dimmable Ballast Model:902517 ($20)
Old Sun System Hood (unsure of the model) ($10)
Apollo 6" Inline Fan and 21" Carbon Filter Combo ($30)
Pride Lands Premium Potting Soil 1.5Cu($17)
Precision Perlite 1.5Cu ($14)
2x 5Gal Pots ( $1.50 x 2)
2x 3gal Pots ($1.25x2)
Great White Shark Rooting Powder 1Oz ($10)
Clonex Cloning Gel ($5)

1/7
Apollo 6 mechanical timer $5
Wind King Inline Fan 4"171CFM ($1
Elemental Dial a Speed Fan Controller (included with Fan)
Total Spent: $164.50

I don't know if I would call this a budget build anymore, I've spent more than my original $150 that I budgeted for the build. I just picked up an inline fan combo online used in town and paid $30 for it. My setup is now complete and I am happy with the temps I am getting. This also shows how small my tent really is.

I also watered with 1:5 ratio KIS organics compost tea that was free from my local hydroponics shop.



This is with everything in the tent and all the plants in.
View attachment IMG_2738.JPG

I have been having bad luck with LST training. I have snapped two stems so far... I almost snapped the WTC in half and it is looking really rough right now. The snap hasn't healed much. It's been three days since it happened.





The Critical Mass Strain is looking a bit better, color is coming back but I also managed to snap the stem on this plant but not as bad.



Leaves are burnt at the tips but could have been from high temps and overall stress. I tested the PH and it was 6.9, so that helped to rule that out with being a problem.


Still have discoloration but seems color is coming back.


SS is doing really well, really happy with this one so far.



Did see a couple of leaves like this but it was only one part, wondering if it could have been from heat.


I will switch to flower next week, hoping the WTC will bounce back by then.