List of Materials Needed for New Project?

[kyij]

My last attempts at growing simply failed - I was not able to keep up with the watering (would have to leave for a weekend, etc).


Although now I plan to do it right - so I will need all new hardware too.


This will be in a trailer, and I plan to use a grow tent to keep the op stealth to an extent. But keep this in mind as I wil have neigbors that may get jealous, and attempt to break in, so I would like to keep as stealth as possible (no blaring lights, smell, etc).


Like I said I was thinking about doing it in a tent, around 3'x3'x5'. But since I have never done anything on a larger scale, I never have touched HPS's or anything that powerful.


But I would like to do it right this time, so either go with HPS or CFL, what ever better suits my needs. But I need pointed in the right direction - what types of lights to get, how high to have the lights above plants, etc.


I would also be appreciative if someone could post a list of what I would need in the end and/or recomendations on certain things - such as: tent, lights, fans, ph tester, nutes, etc.


Thanks in advance for all of the advice.

 

[ButchyBoy]

Do you mean you live in a trailer and are setting up a tent in a room or you are using a trailer in the driveway/yard?????

What is different this time that will allow you to keep up with them?

 

[Southerner]

Most of the cheaper brands of tents on ebay and amazon are of medium quality to low quality, but will serve most peoples purposes for a couple of years or so. Usually its the middle zipper that gets broken first because it is the most used and has the most tension on it...also slight light leaks can be an issue but you can ghetto patch them with some tape or something. I have no experience with the top-end tents, such as Gorilla Grow Tents, but I have heard that they are a step up in terms of the quality. I can't speak on if they are worth the price increase, though. Using HPS is optimal but only if you can keep temperatures in check. I don't recommend CFL for flowering, but I have seen people around here with experience and the right strain pull some good bud from them.

You are going to need a carbon filtration system to keep the stink down if neighbors are an issue. You need to think about where you are going to exhaust the fan because it will be noticed if it is placed too obviously blowing to the outside. I'd say a 6" inline fan would keep that size of tent really under control and help with heat/humid issues if they arise. I prefer Hurricane inline fans as they are a nice balance of quality and good cost. Vortex makes awesome fans as well, they are also one of the most expensive. If you go with a cheap fan it will make way more noise than you want and probably won't pull the CFM it claims. I like to hang my fans using bungie cords so that it doesn't make noise from vibrating against something. You can even get one of those 30$ boxes that will turn your fan off and on based on the temp, that also helps to not having the fan running 24/7 and raising suspicion.

Nutes all depend on the medium you are using. If it is a hydro grow, I stand behind Dyna-Gro products and have used Technaflora with success as well(although their nutes are much much more diluted and costly than a Dyna-Gro regimen). These products can be used in soil effectively too, its just not the route I chose. I use a Bluelab pH pen that cost me around 80$ at the time. If you go 100% organic, don't bother buying the pH pen. If you chose soil then I would go organic, super soil if you have the room to mix which it sounds like you may not. I don't have any experience with any of the organic nutrient lines but there's plenty of info on them around here.

 

[Dr. Skunk Bud]

Just the thought of the neighbor breaking in would deter me from growing there.

 

[kyij]

Do you mean you live in a trailer and are setting up a tent in a room or you are using a trailer in the driveway/yard?????

What is different this time that will allow you to keep up with them?

Now I have more time and am not in the time consuming activities that I use to be - that is why I can upkeep now. And the trailor will be in a trailir park, the community does not seem too bad but it only takes one instance.

Just the thought of the neighbor breaking in would deter me from growing there.

I dont think it will be that bad. The community seems fine but the neighborhood outside of it is iffy. I just don't want the operation to be so blunt like having the plants in the windowsill

 

[cc2012]

Oh...A Trailer as in Static Mobile Home? I was thinking you was gonna to do it in like a Horse Trailer next to your house or sumat..
So if I'm Right..which ain't often..LOL! but are you going to be just using the Trailer as a Giant Grow Room(all turned over to Growing) or would you be living there as well.

Peace

 

[kyij]

Most of the cheaper brands of tents on ebay and amazon are of medium quality to low quality, but will serve most peoples purposes for a couple of years or so. Usually its the middle zipper that gets broken first because it is the most used and has the most tension on it...also slight light leaks can be an issue but you can ghetto patch them with some tape or something. I have no experience with the top-end tents, such as Gorilla Grow Tents, but I have heard that they are a step up in terms of the quality. I can't speak on if they are worth the price increase, though. Using HPS is optimal but only if you can keep temperatures in check. I don't recommend CFL for flowering, but I have seen people around here with experience and the right strain pull some good bud from them.

You are going to need a carbon filtration system to keep the stink down if neighbors are an issue. You need to think about where you are going to exhaust the fan because it will be noticed if it is placed too obviously blowing to the outside. I'd say a 6" inline fan would keep that size of tent really under control and help with heat/humid issues if they arise. I prefer Hurricane inline fans as they are a nice balance of quality and good cost. Vortex makes awesome fans as well, they are also one of the most expensive. If you go with a cheap fan it will make way more noise than you want and probably won't pull the CFM it claims. I like to hang my fans using bungie cords so that it doesn't make noise from vibrating against something. You can even get one of those 30$ boxes that will turn your fan off and on based on the temp, that also helps to not having the fan running 24/7 and raising suspicion.

Nutes all depend on the medium you are using. If it is a hydro grow, I stand behind Dyna-Gro products and have used Technaflora with success as well(although their nutes are much much more diluted and costly than a Dyna-Gro regimen). These products can be used in soil effectively too, its just not the route I chose. I use a Bluelab pH pen that cost me around 80$ at the time. If you go 100% organic, don't bother buying the pH pen. If you chose soil then I would go organic, super soil if you have the room to mix which it sounds like you may not. I don't have any experience with any of the organic nutrient lines but there's plenty of info on them around here.

Thanks a lot for this, exactly what I was hoping for. I may go with cheapo tent for now and upgrade if it comes to it down the road.

If I go with the 6" exhaust and the vortex fan, do you think I will have an issue with temps if I go hps? What wattage would you say I need for that operation?Max ilI would be doing is 4 plants.

Then you said I might as well not bother with ph pen if I go organic soil, is that ph in general or just the ph pen? Should I still measure ph of water that I give them?

Thanks.

 

[kyij]

Oh...A Trailer as in Static Mobile Home? I was thinking you was gonna to do it in like a Horse Trailer next to your house or sumat..
So if I'm Right..which ain't often..LOL! but are you going to be just using the Trailer as a Giant Grow Room(all turned over to Growing) or would you be living there as well.

Peace

Yea a mobile home lol. I would be living there.

It would only be small scale, say a few plants. But I have seen the trailors that are fully tailored for growing and they are sweet..

If I was doing a full trailor and keeping it to myself / few friends, I think I have more issues then people breaking in

 

[Newbyduby24]

If your only planning on doing 4 plants I would go with dwc buckets. They're around $30-40 a piece on amazon or you can get a 4 pot set up. Easy maintenance and the plants get all they need. My set up is a 4x4 tent with a 600 watt cooltube. I'm doing hydro with a flood and drain system and I use general hydro nutes which are fairly inexpensive and have been doing great for the plants.
A list of what I would buy is this
-tent
-fan/charcoal filter combo
-600watt cooltube set up (Apollo horticulture is fairly cheap)
-dwc bucket setup
-nutrients
That will get you a really great start and you can buy all of it on amazon for prob about $500-600. I bought the Apollo horticulture set up and I made the mistake of not getting an air cooled light. Deff get the air cooled as it will keep your temps down with the mh and hps bulb. My temps stay around 70-75 with the same set up. I had a non air cooled before this and the temps would go thru the roof and harm the plants. Hope this helps

 

[cc2012]

Yea a mobile home lol. I would be living there.

Easy m8, makes sense now, being a Brit..just kinda got this Picture of Like a Horse Trailer or sumat and you making daily visit to it, but not having a Horse or nothing would've look kinda strange..LOL..
When I lived in a Static Mobile Home(Trailer) back in the day...was Bloody Cold! in the Winter anyhow..but the Layout would've been Great for Growing> Had like a Master Bedroom about 4 x 3 mtr and it also had a SMALL Bedroom about 1.5 x 2.5 mtr..waffling..but would've made Great little space for just a couple of Ladies..

By-The-By, sometimes living in the NOT THE BEST AREA kinda location can work for you, if you friendly but not TOO friendly then the Neighbours won't be a Problem, and if you Don't tell ANYONE!! they won't know what you doing..and the plus is IF you keep your head down, go about your work and what not, be in front on the Rent and Shit, no Noisy Parties you won't even get noticed and if the Neighbours get into any Shit..Police be too busy dealing with them.

Peace

 

[kyij]

Ok, thanks again for the info. But a few more questions:

1) I am confused how cool tubes all work. It appears the fans, cool tube, filter, etc all connect together. So a closed tube would be idea to cool the bulb, but then it would be pointless for filtering smell, and moving fresh air into setup. Or would it be better to get an air cool tube and run the fan through that, and it would cool the bulb, move air, and clean exhaust?

2) Do I need a fan for intake and exhaust? Or will it being in the exhauset side be good enough?

3) Will it be that beneficial to do DWC's? I looked into them quickly but it looks like it will make my grow hydro then, but it manages all of the watering for me, and people suggest this would gain higher yields. But I want to keep everything inside the tent, I do not have room outside of so.

3.5) What else would I need with this kit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deep-Water-Culture-DWC-Hydroponic-Bubbler-4-Bucket-Kit-by-PowerGrow-Systems-/161154790824?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item258592f5a8 (includes bubbler, and pots/filters).

4) Stupid question, but with this tent and all, will I have duct work coming out of the tent? Ideally I would like this black tent be setup in the back of the trailor, even when people go back there, I do not want shiny objects be protruding and them to ask questions.. I would rather not have anyone know about the operation, even those I share with.

5) Do you know where I could get one of the temp monitors for the fan, to turn off/on based on temps?

 

[cc2012]

Ok, thanks again for the info. But a few more questions:

1) Not got a COOLTUBE myself yet but I think you can either have it setup to Fan/Filter Exhaust setup and it will cool the Bulb and Scrub the Air clean. If you GO with CFL(Little to No Heat) or (LED-Expensive,but worth it from what I have Read+ save on Electric in long run) and CoolTubes block I dunno maybe 10% of your Lumens??

200w CFL = 10,000 Lumens = Low Heat/PC Fan(s)
150w Hps = 16,000 Lumens = Bit more Heat/Small Fan
65w LED = not been able to find Info on this..still looking into.


2) I Think alot of Folks go with Passive Intake(Not 100% Sure on this/Aint got a Tent..just closet/Bedroom)


3) If its your first Grow? or If you *new* to this I would say Keep It Simple(Soil/Compost/Perlite Mix)


4) You will need to Exhaust(Ducting) out of the Tent somehow? maybe you could disguise the Ducting with Empty boxes or Laundry?


5) Fleabay probably cheapest bet or Home Depot/Wallmart


Hiya kyij, hope you've managed to work out which direction you going to go with this? Compost/Perlite/Clay pebbles would be the most forgiving Medium to work with + DWC(Bubblers/Airstones make noise and if you have a failure or Elect goes you Fu*ked!)
If you sharing Trialer with anyone else you might wanna go for Low watt Hps 150w~250w(runs cooler than say 400w) or maybe 200w or more Giant CFL or multiple smaller watt CFL ~ compared to Hps little to No Heat..means less Fans OR smaller Fans = Less Noise.


No idea what you planning on growing, But you could maybe look into Auto Fems(You wont learn as much) But lot less stress and Shit to worry about...Take up less space/ Take less time/ no 12/12 needed/ still pretty good yield from what I read(I will be going for Fast N Vast Auto when I switch to them next month or so)


If you go with Auto Fem + Soil/Compost/Perlite Medium..you will maybe get away with only watering twice a week..and if you use Clay Pebbles in the mix with the Perlite I find my Plants Never look like starving for water/feed..gives you more of a saftey margin.


Will you be using Nutes?


Peace

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Just the thought of the neighbor breaking in would deter me from growing there.

You gotta beat him to the punch. Break into his pad and let him know he's your bitch. LoL

 

[jimmer6577]

Ok, thanks again for the info. But a few more questions:

1) I am confused how cool tubes all work. It appears the fans, cool tube, filter, etc all connect together. So a closed tube would be idea to cool the bulb, but then it would be pointless for filtering smell, and moving fresh air into setup. Or would it be better to get an air cool tube and run the fan through that, and it would cool the bulb, move air, and clean exhaust?

2) Do I need a fan for intake and exhaust? Or will it being in the exhauset side be good enough?

3) Will it be that beneficial to do DWC's? I looked into them quickly but it looks like it will make my grow hydro then, but it manages all of the watering for me, and people suggest this would gain higher yields. But I want to keep everything inside the tent, I do not have room outside of so.

3.5) What else would I need with this kit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deep-Water-Culture-DWC-Hydroponic-Bubbler-4-Bucket-Kit-by-PowerGrow-Systems-/161154790824?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item258592f5a8 (includes bubbler, and pots/filters).

4) Stupid question, but with this tent and all, will I have duct work coming out of the tent? Ideally I would like this black tent be setup in the back of the trailor, even when people go back there, I do not want shiny objects be protruding and them to ask questions.. I would rather not have anyone know about the operation, even those I share with.

5) Do you know where I could get one of the temp monitors for the fan, to turn off/on based on temps?

1. The fan sucks the air in through the tube past the bulb out the exhaust to keep it cool. Hook carbon filter on the end and the smell is gone.
2. Exhaust will work fine and pull in the fresh air needed through leaks in tent.
3. I do soil for better taste, but yes you can get higher yeilds and it self waters. Everything could not be kept in tent be cause of water storage.(I think)
3.5 Don't know because I do soil.
4. All duct work could stay inside tent and just stick out filter. If done in the back nobody is the wiser an it looks like a wardrobe closet.
5. Ebay, amazon, or a inline thermostat from HD or lowes for $10.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Don't let people tell you soil tastes better. Done properly you will get same or better flavor from hydro imho.

 

[kyij]

You gotta beat him to the punch. Break into his pad and let him know he's your bitch. LoL

Quite true, and would probably get the job done, but I do not feel like starting any turf wars over personal grows

1) Not got a COOLTUBE myself yet but I think you can either have it setup to Fan/Filter Exhaust setup and it will cool the Bulb and Scrub the Air clean. If you GO with CFL(Little to No Heat) or (LED-Expensive,but worth it from what I have Read+ save on Electric in long run) and CoolTubes block I dunno maybe 10% of your Lumens??

200w CFL = 10,000 Lumens = Low Heat/PC Fan(s)
150w Hps = 16,000 Lumens = Bit more Heat/Small Fan
65w LED = not been able to find Info on this..still looking into.


2) I Think alot of Folks go with Passive Intake(Not 100% Sure on this/Aint got a Tent..just closet/Bedroom)


3) If its your first Grow? or If you *new* to this I would say Keep It Simple(Soil/Compost/Perlite Mix)


4) You will need to Exhaust(Ducting) out of the Tent somehow? maybe you could disguise the Ducting with Empty boxes or Laundry?


5) Fleabay probably cheapest bet or Home Depot/Wallmart


Hiya kyij, hope you've managed to work out which direction you going to go with this? Compost/Perlite/Clay pebbles would be the most forgiving Medium to work with + DWC(Bubblers/Airstones make noise and if you have a failure or Elect goes you Fu*ked!)
If you sharing Trialer with anyone else you might wanna go for Low watt Hps 150w~250w(runs cooler than say 400w) or maybe 200w or more Giant CFL or multiple smaller watt CFL ~ compared to Hps little to No Heat..means less Fans OR smaller Fans = Less Noise.


No idea what you planning on growing, But you could maybe look into Auto Fems(You wont learn as much) But lot less stress and Shit to worry about...Take up less space/ Take less time/ no 12/12 needed/ still pretty good yield from what I read(I will be going for Fast N Vast Auto when I switch to them next month or so)


If you go with Auto Fem + Soil/Compost/Perlite Medium..you will maybe get away with only watering twice a week..and if you use Clay Pebbles in the mix with the Perlite I find my Plants Never look like starving for water/feed..gives you more of a saftey margin.


Will you be using Nutes?


Peace

To you and [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]jimmer, thanks for the inputs.
[/FONT]
I more than likely will just go and do a soil type grow until I very least get a "feel" of the growing.

I like the idea of disguising the exhaust/filter, I could probably disguise it as computer or something as I work on electronics in pastime..

Then the auto off/on with temp sensor, I figured had to be something special part ordered for these fans, but I guess a thermostat is all it is

I am not sharing with anyone else, the problem only comes in if people come over, but after looking at the tents, like jimmer said, they will only think it is a closet or something.
Hopefully the utilities will be in my name too, but even if not, I can say I am working on a super computer

I have looked into autofems, but I feel that I am not that lazy - even though it would be easier, I do wish to gain the normal knowledge for now, and maybe look at them down the road. Better to have too much knowledge then not enough..

I do plan on using nutes. I forget what I used last time, but I still have a lot of "them". They are blue beads, and you dissolve them in the water before feeding. I think it was a NPK of 4-3-4 or something close to that.
And I had bough the "certain" type of soil, extra NaP?, etc to go with it. I just have forgotten what I even used as it has been a while.

I was told earlier to just get a 600w hps, would that be too much? Or would it be fine, as like you said the tube may reduce the lighting to an extent.

PS: This is my other forum where I am trying to choose what seed(s) to get: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/783700-opinion-best-strain-s-my.html

 

[srdthsryujt]

Thanks in advance for all of the advice.

 

[BWG707]

Besides using all stealth methods available do not tell ANYONE. I do everything possible to keep friends from coming over. Ill say that I have to meet them somewhere because I running late or some other excuse. I essentially was a hermit for 4 1/2 months. When anyone unexpected dropped by I would try to live the house quickly always making sure that everything was buttoned up before letting anyone inside. I've heard more stories about "friends" exposing grows than anything else. Even after your harvest I wouldn't tell anyone. People tend to get jealous or they think all your hard earned buds came to you for free. Friends or partners usually don't last long when growing cannabis. GL.

 

[Southerner]

Thanks a lot for this, exactly what I was hoping for. I may go with cheapo tent for now and upgrade if it comes to it down the road.

If I go with the 6" exhaust and the vortex fan, do you think I will have an issue with temps if I go hps? What wattage would you say I need for that operation?Max ilI would be doing is 4 plants.

Then you said I might as well not bother with ph pen if I go organic soil, is that ph in general or just the ph pen? Should I still measure ph of water that I give them?

Thanks.

I think your temps will be just fine with a 6" fan exhausting, as far as wattage I would probably get a dimmable 600w digital ballast with a cool tube for a hood. Try to find one that has a 2-5 year warranty. If you do have temp problems, say during a hot summer season, you can turn it down to 400w or w/e.

I wouldn't bother with a pH pen if your grow is 100% organic, there are a few threads around that topic in the organic section but basically naturally occuring acids and other things help regulate and buffer pH in an organic setting. As long as your water isnt some wack pH to start with(if you use normal city/county water you should be fine). Make sure to let the water sit out for 24 hours or so before using, though. If you are going to use synthetic nutrients, even if its in an organic soil/medium, you will need a quality pH pen.

 

[kyij]

I think your temps will be just fine with a 6" fan exhausting, as far as wattage I would probably get a dimmable 600w digital ballast with a cool tube for a hood. Try to find one that has a 2-5 year warranty. If you do have temp problems, say during a hot summer season, you can turn it down to 400w or w/e.

I wouldn't bother with a pH pen if your grow is 100% organic, there are a few threads around that topic in the organic section but basically naturally occuring acids and other things help regulate and buffer pH in an organic setting. As long as your water isnt some wack pH to start with(if you use normal city/county water you should be fine). Make sure to let the water sit out for 24 hours or so before using, though. If you are going to use synthetic nutrients, even if its in an organic soil/medium, you will need a quality pH pen.

I am not even that worried of it being too hot, but what if it gets too cold. I will be fine for my first grow or two, but up here in the north it gets cold during winter months (can be under -15C easy). Obviously I would have the trailor heated as I am living there, but I would like to keep it warm, as I prefer cooler temps myself. Maybe there is some type of hatch for cool tubes? Or just have the fan hooked up to a thermostat which would probably work better I guess.

So would it just be better to go organic w/o nutes and just not worry about the pH?