Common NewbQuestions Need Help

So im about to begin my first grow which is snow whites femenized. Im using a grow tent with mylar interrior and it zips up completely, it is 3 ft wide and 5 ft high. Here are my questions please help:::

1. About lighting- If i get 4 t5 growlights ading to 8000 lumen is that good for veging?

2. Lighting- another idea i was wondering if i buy a 250w hps can i use it for both veg and flowering for my 2 plants i plan to grow? Or do i need a diff light for veg state..and if i can use hps the whole process, wat are the differences

3. Since my grow tent will be concealed most of the time, do i neede to install some sort of fan because of vent? I heard sumwere opening the tent for 5 min is enough vent, is this true? more info on vent please

4. Since im a US grower im scared neighbors might smell. Im putting this tent in my garage which is 1 fence away from neghbors backyard. Should i be concerned about the smell?

PLEASE HELPP

omikilla said:

So im about to begin my first grow which is snow whites femenized. Im using a grow tent with mylar interrior and it zips up completely, it is 3 ft wide and 5 ft high. Here are my questions please help:::

1. About lighting- If i get 4 t5 growlights ading to 8000 lumen is that good for veging?

YES

2. Lighting- another idea i was wondering if i buy a 250w hps can i use it for both veg and flowering for my 2 plants i plan to grow? Or do i need a diff light for veg state..and if i can use hps the whole process, wat are the differences

Yes but with the T5's you need/want a mixed spectrum

3. Since my grow tent will be concealed most of the time, do i neede to install some sort of fan because of vent? I heard sumwere opening the tent for 5 min is enough vent, is this true? more info on vent please

NO you need ventilation and a source of fresh air

4. Since im a US grower im scared neighbors might smell. Im putting this tent in my garage which is 1 fence away from neghbors backyard. Should i be concerned about the smell?

Yes they smell and your gonna have problems if you don't deal with it

PLEASE HELPP

Click to expand...

Hope that helps

I don't know what 8000 lumens worth of T5 lighting costs, but you might consider regular CFL (the cheapie spiral fluorescent). They're 24-27 watts but replace 100w incandescent. They make about 1650 lumens ea, so you'd have your 8000 with just 5 bulbs. I got the yellow ones (~2700k) for 25 cents ea on sale, and the some 5500k for about $2 ea. Try to get 6500k if you can find them. They make all kinds, but 2700k is the lowest and cheapest, the 6500 is the brightest white and most expensive and what plants in veg like the most, but anything between 5500-6500 is good for veg, then 2700 for flowering. I'd put maybe 2 bulbs over a few seedlings, then 4-6 or more as they get bigger. Put them real close with lots of reflection so they get all the light possible. They're only ~25w ea, so use as many as you want to pay for. They sell adapters to plug a bulb directly into an extension cord and "Y" adapters for two bulbs per outlet. A complete 6 bulb setup would cost $10-20.
The HPS are considered the best for flowering, and more efficient than the CFL. A 250w light would be sweet for your small tent, but I'd consider a 400w Lumatek ballast. The new 400w models are adjustable from about 230w, to 250w, to 380w, then 400. At least that's what I measured mine at. You can get the whole setup, ballast, light, reflector etc for $220, that includes shipping (no tax outside TX) and an extra MH bulb for flowering. Killer deal imo... http://tinyurl.com/ybws9tb
And with the MH bulb you now have the best veg bulb too so you're set for the whole cycle. 400w would be better if you had wall to wall plants and wanted max yield.

You might also consider LED's, they're the next big thing but price is high and many are not in the correct wavelength. The leds that are cheap for commercial use are not right for plants, but people sell them because the consumer can't tell by looking at them. The correct leds are a lot more money. So they're as much or more than the MH/HPS setups that you know work. But the leds are much much cooler and use much less power. They are adjustable too if you want to play with the internals.

As for venting, they say you need to replace the air in the room every 5 minutes or so, but that's not because the plants need it, it's to vent the hot air from the light. Your tent is a bit small and a 250w light will really heat up inside depending on ambient temp. With fluorescent you won't need to vent much, maybe just an opening near the top or small fan. With the 250HPS or more it'll depend on ambient temp. Say ambient is 50, you might be fine with no fan, but 80 you'll probably need to buy an A/C unit. You can buy a boxer fan from an electronic liquidator store for $5 or so, I have a 6" unit that works great for me and I'm at 600w now with a larger room. Vent outside, or attach it to a carbon filter, or make something. I just vent in the house.

I bought these: www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G1783 to help control odor. I bought three of them and tied them together to make a super unit. I also have a generic $30 room air purifier in there too. So far so good....