3' x 8' First Grow Room Setup Questions

[GhanjaBuck]

Hi All. I am new to this board and wasn't sure if i should post this in the newbie thread or here. If I need to move it please let know.

I have read a lot of info on this and on this board and have a few questions for my setup.

I live in an old home in the Northeast US and plan to use a basement storage room that is 3' x 8' and has a concrete floor.

My budget for the project is about $800. I could go up to $1000 but would rather not.

I plan to grow in soil in one room. I will go through an entire grow cycle and then start again from seeds for a new crop. I plan on having somewhere between 5 and 10 plants.

Here are my questions:

1. I plan to buy a 1000W HPS light. Is it worth the extra expense to buy a MH/HPS switchable light? Is it worth the extra money to buy a Hortilux HPS bulb with the "extra blue spectrum"? What is the best reflector system? Any recommendations on which light system to buy would be much apprecitated. I know there is nothing more important than the lighting and want to make the right choice.

I also plan on sealing the room and covering the walls with Mylar...just for extra info

2. Since I am doing this in pots on the cold concrete basement floor, should i cover/insulate the floor? If yes...with what? Should I cover the floor in Mylar as well?

3. I plan on having an oscillating 10 in fan in the room. With just one light will I need an air supply and exhaust for the lamp to keep it cool?


Thanks in advance for all of the help. I look forward to becoming a regular on this board!

 

[email468]

Welcome GhanjaBuck!
I think i can help. I have a similar space (though it is a box) also in the basement in a similar climate.

1) I bought a dual-spectrum reflector/ballast combo (600w HPS and 400w MH) that run simultaneous throughout the entire grow. That may blow your budget though (especially after you get the bulbs). If i didn't have that - i would get a digital switchable ballast. I did drop the money on better bulbs but have only used those so can't give you a comparison.

2) I also used mylar but would add the following caveats: hang it right (nice and flat) otherwise you may as well use white paint. if you foliar feed, you'll be cleaning it a lot. No need to cover the floor in mylar. I would, however, keep the plants off the floor. Unless your basement is very climate controlled, i would predict you won't have any humidity problems but will get kind of hot in the summer and be cold in the winter.

3) Oscillating fan is helpful. you'll also need an exhaust fan and if you are using 1000w of HID lights, you may want to consider venting it - just in case.

I have a lot more info (and pictures of my set-up) which i will eventually put into a grow journal (I really will!) but in the meantime - let me know if you want me to brain-dump everything on you....

 

[GhanjaBuck]

OK.....so here is my tentative shopping cart..broken into 2 postings. This is everything I will be using except for the pots, soil, seeds, and exhuast fans/ducting. I am not going to be staying in my originally planned budget...LOL. Any thoughts/suggestions before i pull the trigger?

1000 HPS Super Sun 2 Grow Light System
Super Sun 2 Reflector
1000W MH/HPS Sun System 10 Ballast
1000 HPS SolarMax Bulb - 147,000 lumens

1000 MH SunMaster Cool Deluxe (BT-37)
Budswel Liquid - gallon
Fox Farm Grow Big - quart
Fox Farm Tiger Bloom - quart
Hanna Checker 1 pH Tester

Hanna Primo TDS Tester
Einstein Oil - 4oz.

2 mil 100' Mylar
pH Control Kit by General Hydroponics


The total for all of this is just under $800. Does this seem reasonable?

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[email468]

Hopefully you won't need the Einstein Oil. As you mention, you'll still need to get all the exhaust fans/ductwork and the pots, etc..

don't forget about odor control. plus all the sundries, like measuring cups, extra buckets, etc..

 

[GhanjaBuck]

Thanks email...yeah I hope i dont need it either...but I want to have it around just in case. For odor control I plan on getting a carbon filter cartridge that I can put in the ducting. I will be picking up the buckets at the garden center when I get the soil etc....

 

[email468]

i think the grand total for everything for the latest box was around 1400. but that was starting over completely from scratch and includes all the building supplies also.

 

[TheGardenMan]

Hi All. I am new to this board and wasn't sure if i should post this in the newbie thread or here. If I need to move it please let know.

I have read a lot of info on this and on this board and have a few questions for my setup.

I live in an old home in the Northeast US and plan to use a basement storage room that is 3' x 8' and has a concrete floor.

My budget for the project is about $800. I could go up to $1000 but would rather not.

I plan to grow in soil in one room. I will go through an entire grow cycle and then start again from seeds for a new crop. I plan on having somewhere between 5 and 10 plants.

Here are my questions:

1. I plan to buy a 1000W HPS light. Is it worth the extra expense to buy a MH/HPS switchable light? Is it worth the extra money to buy a Hortilux HPS bulb with the "extra blue spectrum"? What is the best reflector system? Any recommendations on which light system to buy would be much apprecitated. I know there is nothing more important than the lighting and want to make the right choice.

I also plan on sealing the room and covering the walls with Mylar...just for extra info

2. Since I am doing this in pots on the cold concrete basement floor, should i cover/insulate the floor? If yes...with what? Should I cover the floor in Mylar as well?

3. I plan on having an oscillating 10 in fan in the room. With just one light will I need an air supply and exhaust for the lamp to keep it cool?


Thanks in advance for all of the help. I look forward to becoming a regular on this board!

I would suggest getting the conversion for mh/hps if you plan on growing for a long period of time because im sure you will eventually decide to use mh for veg if your that serious about growing. Also you can go to htgsupply.com and buy the light kits you put together and there much much cheaper. If im not mistaking you can buy a 400watt hps kit for like 56$ plus shipping. The kit includes everything besides a reflector. Yes i recommend insulating the entire grow room, this will help control your air controls. Temp humidity...etc. And no i dont think i would cover the floor in mylar, just the walls And you will need an exhaust as well, it doesnt have to be all fancy but it will have to be suffice for your grow area. You will need to keep fresh air in and you'll need to suck the old used up air out. So you'll just need an intake and an exhaust. I recommend have two holes for your exhaust to make certain its getting rid of the air as fast as new air is being sucked in. Good luck man.

 

[GhanjaBuck]

I would suggest getting the conversion for mh/hps if you plan on growing for a long period of time because im sure you will eventually decide to use mh for veg if your that serious about growing. Also you can go to htgsupply.com and buy the light kits you put together and there much much cheaper. If im not mistaking you can buy a 400watt hps kit for like 56$ plus shipping. The kit includes everything besides a reflector. Yes i recommend insulating the entire grow room, this will help control your air controls. Temp humidity...etc. And no i dont think i would cover the floor in mylar, just the walls And you will need an exhaust as well, it doesnt have to be all fancy but it will have to be suffice for your grow area. You will need to keep fresh air in and you'll need to suck the old used up air out. So you'll just need an intake and an exhaust. I recommend have two holes for your exhaust to make certain its getting rid of the air as fast as new air is being sucked in. Good luck man.

Thanks GardenMan. I did choose the switchable ballast and bought both lamps. I want to do this right! Why do it half ass?

What do you recommend I insulate the floor with? Just some foam padding? Should I insulate the walls with foam under the mylar as well?

 

[TheGardenMan]

Thanks GardenMan. I did choose the switchable ballast and bought both lamps. I want to do this right! Why do it half ass?

What do you recommend I insulate the floor with? Just some foam padding? Should I insulate the walls with foam under the mylar as well?

Good Choice i knew you'd make the right one. What are you gonna put over top of the insulation? Id just use either foam padding or the padding for under carpet, and as far as the walls go just throw up some mylar and they should be good. I grow in the basement to and i dont have any insulation on the floors or walls but i can tell i need it. I just leave a small heater on set on a timer to go on and off every 4 hrs.

 

[mobby420]

i live in the same climate as you, (eastern canada) and have about the same size grow room also in the basement. i use a 50 cfm bathroom exhaust fan and a passive intake, and i am using a 600 watt hps +150 watt hps flor flowering and florescents for cloneing. its important to insulate the room, and also have good airflow... and exhaust fan is neccesary! i have pplanks of wood ont he floor for the cold. and a small space heater!

 

[GhanjaBuck]

I am still in the process of setting it all up so I am not sure what the temps will be. My light and other supplies are due to get here next Friday....cant wait! I am going to be using a 350 cfm 6" fan with filter on it for exhaust. I will also have passive intake. I have a 250 cfm fan to cool the lights so I can keep them nice and close!