First timer needs some advice

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hornyantilope

Active Member
I am starting my first grow and went to the hydro store to start stocking up on everything I need. I already bought some white widow and some lowryder 2 seeds (non-feminized), and made a little veg lamp with some CFLs and a surge strip.

At first I was going to buy an aeroponics system but the guy at the store said it was pretty complicated and wouldn't be the best for me because I would need to constantly be checking on the plants and I work all day long. He was saying for a beginner I would be best off with a drip system on a 3'x3' tray that he would build himself because its more efficient, less work on my part, and it's cheaper. He then started asking me about ventilation and what my grow room was like; I said I had a little loft above the kitchen that is only accessible by ladder and I was going to just keep my patio door open all day (its right below the grow area) and have a deionizing room fan running to keep air circulating, if it gets too hot I can just run the AC. He then started talking about needing to have a perfectly dark environment when my lights are off and how just hanging a curtain to keep light out wouldn't be good enough to achieve this or else I would end up with males, next he starts pushing the need for fans and filters and a grow tent. Originally I had picked out some rockwool cubes before I started talking to him but he said I would be better off using this Canna Coco system and getting several pot sizes to continually upgrade my grow medium. I was a bit overwhelmed by this point since I thought I had spent enough time researching, so he handed me some pamphlets and a DVD and said I should read up more before making a purchase so I left material in hand without buying a single thing.

My question is, should I believe everything this guy is telling me? Is he just trying to get me to buy stuff? I have attached a picture of the grow area and a shot of the nearby door. What do you think is the best way for me to go? I was hoping not to spend anything more than $600 for everything. I was already committed to the light and grow materials so maybe the drip thing would be good, but what about the extra stuff like the tent and fans?

Sorry this was like a freakin novel....
 

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cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Hi,

My opinion, Well he is right. Drip would be much more forgiving the areoponics. You use much less water. Coco works good, it drains better than rockwoll. Always good for a beginner. The thing about the light is true. Curtian wouldnt do it, but not a tent. you don't need four walls you got three already. Here's what I suguest: Go buy a few 2x2 sticks, cut them to fit and wedge them up there to make a wall frame with a door about 2 feet wide and enclose the back. Don't nail it in case you have to take it down. Pick up a couple 4x8 sheets of Styrofoam insulation panels. Cut them with a steak knife to fit. Attach them to the 2x2's with long finishing nails with no heads so the walls or door can come right off.
cost you under $100

Now you got a grow room.

Keeping the back door open will bring in some fresh air but what you want is the co2 thats in the air. Unfortunately co2 is heavy and is closer to the ground. 300ppms at about 4 feet I think. Point is, I would get air up there.

Intake preferably from ground level and than exhaust. you may want to exhaust outside. Its not the smell that matters, its the humidity the plants give off in flower. gets on the ceiling in my place. Figure a cheap way to get air up there is six inch ducting and a couple duct booster fans.

Exhaust your going to need an inline fan. 300 cfm or so.
You know, you could check Craigslist for a cheap fan.

Maybe that will help.
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hornyantilope

Active Member
Any other opinions?

I would appreciate anything, and again cruzer101 i thank you for your advice. I checked out your website and saw what you meant about building the walls, unfortunately I live in an apartment complex and dont have the option to use many tools and am limited on space. Maybe the tent would be the best idea, but I figure with the fans and all I would pushing into the $1000 range.
 
Erysichthon

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
the problem with your situation is you cant make "Improvements" you really need a vent system, if you plan on running any decent amount of lights. be it 300+watts cfls or 400 watts hid or more. and that space, its right up there were everyone and their mother can see it right above your kitchen. if you have never grown anything you dont know the smell of budding plants. lemme tel you even WITH an exhaust fan your kitchen and the room next to it is gonna have a disticnt odor. dont let this discourage you. im sure you will find a way through. you could get away with flowering 2 plants AT MOST there with no ventilation and decent lighting like 250 watt hid or 300 watt max cfls if that much. i hope things go well. good luck on the grow
 
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cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Hum,

Maybe you didn't get how put the walls up. I didn't use nails. I wedged the vertical 2x2 against the upper and lower 2x2's When I took it down there were no holes in the drywall. For a light support you can build a large sawhorse. (A frame)

The finishing nails were just way to attach the Styrofoam walls but make it easy to remove them. You can make one section say a foot wide on the far side that stays on and cut 4" holes. one on top and one on bottom. Hell you can enclose the hole area and make a door on the side if you want.

Cost of materials really isn't that much. say $100 or so. Thats including a hand saw and a hammer.

Anyway, It's up to you. Just thought I would clarify the build.

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hornyantilope

Active Member
Ohh, I get it now, very cool.

Thanks again for the advice fellas, I think I was a little overzealous at first, I have reconsidered and may try an aerogarden, I know I won't get the quantity or quality but for my first time I figured I want to keep the investment small without having to do a whole lot of fiddling around with carpentry. This way I can also get a cabinet and do it kind of stealth style with the proper ventilation.
 
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cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Cool, whatever works man, This is suppose to be fun. It is actually once you get the hang of it. If you want some ideas on building a cabinet you can check out my cabinet grow journal. Good luck man.
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