$2000 Budget - (Stimulus Check) - 1st Time Grower

Sweetmesss

Well-Known Member
Go to local hydro store they usually have used HID LIGHTS FOR CHEAP. Get ur 4x8 tent just do a couple plants on one side under 1000 watts and learn and build your knowledge of how things work

How does one find a hydro store? Especially if he's in an area where it's only legal for medical. Like the idea of being able to get used.
 

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
How does one find a hydro store? Especially if he's in an area where it's only legal for medical. Like the idea of being able to get used.
Before my state became legal there were grow shops EVERYWHERE. And not just in the cities, they are in very rural areas too. The number of them hasnt really increased since recreational became legal and most people working at grow stores say they see more window shoppers but not many new customers. There are people out there that grow things other than weed in their house. Why they do this I do not know, but the fact remains-there are stores out there to support their hobbies. Just google maps "grow store" or "hydroponics" or "indoor gardening"
 

CptTripps

Well-Known Member
Ive had great luck with the vivosun fans with built in controllers. But yes the AC Infinity are top dog.
After three or four weeks, mine sounded like it had gravel in it. I wasn't even running it on high, and had it on a temp controller so it was only running about 1/2 the time. I also have a sound deadening coupler between the filter and the fan. I'm glad yours is working out, but mine was garbage. Guess I got a bad one. LOVE the VivoSun tents and fabric pots though!

How does one find a hydro store? Especially if he's in an area where it's only legal for medical.
I'm in a "red" state, where medicinal is legal, but growing isn't yet. There are hydro stores all over the place. They all know what we're growing. If you'd see the nutrients they sell it'd make you laugh. They all have "kits" ready to sell with 3X3 tents, lights, soil, pots....everything but the seeds. When I walked in the first time, he knew exactly what I was growing and pointed me in the right direction for getting started. I suspect it's been this way for many years too. There are about 6 stores within an hour of me right now, and they are all doing well as businesses. When I went to buy more medium a few weeks ago, even with the lockdown, they were open and there was a line in the parking lot. Nobody was allowed in the store. You'd tell him what you needed and they brought it to the car. I picked up 5 bags of Coco-Loco and was on my way.

Also: I suspect the OP has already bought everything he listed out, so our efforts to point him in a better direction are falling on deaf ears. He was awfully excited about his shopping list, and I don't think he's logged in since he posted it. I imagine he's already taking delivery of some things. Our job now is to help him get successful with what he purchased.
 
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Ryante55

Well-Known Member
After three or four weeks, mine sounded like it had gravel in it. I wasn't even running it on high, and had it on a temp controller so it was only running about 1/2 the time. I also have a sound deadening coupler between the filter and the fan. I'm glad yours is working out, but mine was garbage. Guess I got a bad one. LOVE the VivoSun tents and fabric pots though!



I'm in a "red" state, where medicinal is legal, but growing isn't yet. There are hydro stores all over the place. They all know what we're growing. If you'd see the nutrients they sell it'd make you laugh. They all have "kits" ready to sell with 3X3 tents, lights, soil, pots....everything but the seeds. When I walked in the first time, he knew exactly what I was growing and pointed me in the right direction for getting started. I suspect it's been this way for many years too. There are about 6 stores within an hour of me right now, and they are all doing well as businesses. When I went to buy more medium a few weeks ago, even with the lockdown, they were open and there was a line in the parking lot. Nobody was allowed in the store. You'd tell him what you needed and they brought it to the car. I picked up 5 bags of Coco-Loco and was on my way.

Also: I suspect the OP has already bought everything he listed out, so our efforts to point him in a better direction are falling on deaf ears. He was awfully excited about his shopping list, and I don't think he's logged in since he posted it. I imagine he's already taking delivery of some things. Our job now is to help him get successful with what he purchased.
Yeah he's going to think it's going great and we were all wrong too. till harvest comes and the scales do the talking
 

Mackattakz

New Member
I'm just saying... I've had all the fancy equipment and if I could go back in time I'd just make my own hydroponics setup using cheap 5gallon buckets from Home Depot with some drip lines and hydroton. You can make these somewhat advanced but I'd just keep them simple and spend as little time/money as possible. Then spend the rest on lights, fans, filters, nutrients, and a sulphur burner to prevent mold. Keep costs low initially by keeping everything simple.

People will tell you to buy all kinds of crazy shit and unless you're running a large op, like a warehouse, you just don't need a lot of the gizmos and whatnot like the intellidose automated nutrient doser and ph balancer. Just focus on the basics, it's really not rocket science unless you want it to be lol.
Haven’t grown before but I’ve tried popping bag seeds before, finally have my own space and want to try again... could you point me to any resources? Or know any good templates for an op like the one mentioned ^
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Choppers dont see the actual lights, they see the heat radiating off the outside surfaces of the home. They CAN'T see through walls like in the movies. They see heat plumes from exhausts (even under the house). So if your grow room is warmer than a HPS room (as it should be due to the lack of IR) you will show up brighter to the chopper than a HPS grow.
 

SwiSHa85

Well-Known Member
Okay so lights are super important. Thoughts on either of these?
or
The 301b + 660nm board looks decent for the price. I'd do 4 of them in a 4x8.
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Okay so lights are super important. Thoughts on either of these?
or
The second option, one per 4x4 of space.

There is a huge difference between the first light and the second.

Try and keep thing simple.
Tent
Lighting
fan/filter
acoustic ducting to match.
circulation fans
ph testing
pots and medium.
 

SwiSHa85

Well-Known Member
Arrives: June 3 - 29 :wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall:
I contacted them about what bin diodes and 660nm their using. Apparently SK bin and epistar 660s. Also they said Amazons ship speeds on their products are way off. 10 days or less to your door fully prewired. Epistar 660s aren't the best but they are newer style smd. Essentially these are some guys state side that bought large amounts of Chinese boards, heatsinks and drivers and did all the work themselves instead of Ali. Not a bad deal at $340.
 

Alabamasf

Active Member
Exactly, omg i left my high bay lights on in the shop and they sent a chopper to let me know!!
its way more common than you think. And no they dont care about your shop lights. Just grow lights. Check out the news on youtube or anywhere else.
 

DREWSER

New Member
600$/oz. Wow I am sorry for your dilemma. If u can somehow get some from b.c. canada you could pay as low as 100$/oz in stores
 

Alabamasf

Active Member
Okay so lights are super important. Thoughts on either of these?
or
On the Aglex cob led 3000, i cant vouch for that size. But i changed from a basic blurple (235 w true draw) to 2 Aglex cob led 1200w (210w draw) and i was able to pull 11 oz off 6 plants in a 2×4×5 grow tent, 1 month veg(from seed)then roughly 55-60 day flower. Excelent buds, crazy frosty. Temp in tent only went up about 4 degrees (averages about 75-78 deg now)but easy to vent. I chose the 1200 over the 2000 for a better footprint. I would give them a try if your not fortunate enough to have a big budget.
 

Caliverner

Well-Known Member
Hey there!

We have similar stories. I'm not a user at all (recovering alchoholic/addict) but my fiancé has Crohn's and the only thing that worked for her was weed. So I started growing about 3mos ago when I got sick of paying $600oz from the local dispensary. (yes...it's that much here!)

I just did a whole 4X8 for under $2K and it honestly rocks. Check out my grow-room setup thread, and my grow journal and it takes you through the entire build.

I'm only growing Autos so I can keep the light schedule the same. I'm planting 2 seeds every 2-3 weeks so I can always have a plant or two ready to harvest every month. That will net about 8-10oz a month, which is way more than she can smoke, but it lets me give weed to my friends too. Anyway - here's my shopping list.

Tent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DXYMSMM/ - $175
Lights: 2 of these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLYR5HG/ - $270ea
(These come with the hangers and timers and temp gauges)
1 of these - https://www.amazon.com/MARS-HYDRO-Commercial-Hydroponic-Greenhouse/dp/B07VPF7KKR/ - $479
Vent Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074XBXFPD/ - $150
Carbon Filter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YXPZR4P/ - $65
Hose: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0791V19H7/ - $25
Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXOFM56/ - $25

That takes you to just under $1,500. You'll need the other $500 for stuff like fabric pots, medium, tools, PH meters, nutrients, and a million other do-dads that pop up here and there.

Oh...and seeds. Plan on $150 for those to get you started there. Order from either Seedsman.com (site sponsor) or HomeGrownCannabisCo.com - Both have a great selection of Autos if you choose to go that direction, and I've had no issues shipping to a "red state" thus far. They both also give you a lot of free seeds with your order, and often will do BOGO sales.

Good luck and PM me if you have any questions!
Honestly this is the best on a budget set up I would say I have a bunch of these lights almost same filter and blower and I do fine
 

Caliverner

Well-Known Member
Well hate to tell ya but i worked for the SD in middle TN for 5 years after i got out of the marine corps Every year late winter early spring we had more home growers in the jail than you could count. They were getting 5 to 7 years if they were lucky. All picked up by the pot chopper in residental housing. So i finally left the department. and no im not paranoid , i live in san francisco. That shit is way legal here.
move to cali
 

Raspberrykiwi

Well-Known Member
My name is Rob. I'm in KY where this sh*t isn't legal (yet) but the wife has Crohns disease and it helps with her nausea and pain.
Anyways, thanks to this damn virus and the stimulus check coming, I have a wife approved $2000 budget for a grow in our detached garage.
I'd like to make it as simple as possible but also want to get as much yield as possible (5lbs) and was thinking of setting up two 4x8 tents with LEDs.
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm a long time smoker but I've just never had a chance to grow my own until now, so I'm excited.
I will keep this thread going with pictures of my progress along the way. Win or lose this will be fun and a good learning experience for me.

1st Step: Find seeds and purchase all equipment needed...
Realistically I was able to set up my 4x4 tent with a 600w HPS, no carbon filters or inline fans or anything fancy for around $500. Not including soil and nutrients and everything else you’ll run into. This is a 1 plant run in that tent.
 

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Macncheesehaze

Well-Known Member
Don’t waste ur money on that Chinese jack 1000 watts my ASS maybe 3 hundred at the wall. Not all that shines is gold trust everyone it is a rewarding hobby but there’sre always bumps in the road. Take your time go slow be patient.
I got two 600 watt bs ones when I first started thinking I saved a ton. Opened em up and they’re only 40 watts. There are wayyyy better LED options.
 
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