Got the major needs tallied; howzabout help with the little stuff?

As I save my pennies and read the vendor deals, I know I can swing better deals from a local vendor with the biggest bulk purchase I can manage. So I've calculated what I need for the grow space, lights, ventilation, carbon filter. I'm still assessing A/C (which I may only need two months this summer) and I'm assessing what to do about a dehumidifier.

So now I'm weighing what else I need for the small scale stuff, so my questions follow:

1) If I'm using 2 8-bulb T5s for either vegging clones or starting seeds through the veg cycle, I presume I'll need a timer. What kind? Do I also need some kinda dimmer?

2) If I get certain ballasts for either 600W or 1000W in the bloom space, the dimmer is built in, amirite? But I presume I'll need a second timer there, yes?

3) For raising and lowering lights, I presume that's something fairly cheap I can get from a local hydro shop, and brand doesn't matter. Or can I get that even cheaper from Lowe's or HD using basic common sense?

4) For starting seeds or clones, is rockwool or coco cubes better or does it matter? I'm planning to transplant to 5 gal cloth pots full of coco fiber once roots are established. Is that a good choice to grow to harvest in? And does it matter what brand cloth pots I use?

5) Should I even consider aeroponics/bubbleponics for root growth or are those more useful for pure hydroponics?

6) I gather that nute choices can be fairly simple like going with General Hydroponics floral trio for the bloom cycle on my first run, then learning to experiment later. I'm still not sure what to use for rooting clones, for germinating seeds and building root balls, or for the rest of the veg cycle.

7) Since I'm talking small spaces initially (two 5x5s probably), I dunno how MUCH nutes to buy: quarts? gallons?

Will I get more yield in such small spaces with a scrog screen?

9) Miscellaneous equipment I THINK I need (correct me or add on): glasses, pruners, rubbing alcohol for cleaning off pruners and hands, vinyl gloves, and some testers (ph? thermometer? tapwater tester? soil tester?)

10) I know there'll be other needs at harvest for drying/curing/storing, but I don't need to calculate any of that now. Is there anything else that I've overlooked?

Even if you just have one of these answers, I'd appreciate it.

Don't over-think it!.

1 Get a digital timer… avoid the ones with pins. I think its easier to just move the lights further than it is to wire up your own dimmer if you don't know what your doing. The actual lumens varies with the square of the distance so you're going to see a lot less light very quickly with just a small move.

I'll come back later and try and tackle the rest of your text wall … good luck

1) If I'm using 2 8-bulb T5s for either vegging clones or starting seeds through the veg cycle, I presume I'll need a timer. What kind? Do I also need some kinda dimmer?
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-TM01715D-7-Day-Digital-Program/dp/B001BPOBTY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1423574408&sr=8-4&keywords=light+timer



2) If I get certain ballasts for either 600W or 1000W in the bloom space, the dimmer is built in, amirite? But I presume I'll need a second timer there, yes? Yes you will need a second timer and don't worry about the dimming. Do what newgrows said and just move the lights.

3) For raising and lowering lights, I presume that's something fairly cheap I can get from a local hydro shop, and brand doesn't matter. Or can I get that even cheaper from Lowe's or HD using basic common sense?
http://www.amazon.com/Global-Gs-hanger02-Adjustable-improved-Silver-painted/dp/B00L8UWQ4O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1423574580&sr=8-2&keywords=grow+light+hangers



4) For starting seeds or clones, is rockwool or coco cubes better or does it matter? I'm planning to transplant to 5 gal cloth pots full of coco fiber once roots are established. Is that a good choice to grow to harvest in? And does it matter what brand cloth pots I use?
Rockwool or coco cubes are fine. I like Rockwool. With cloth pots you get what you pay for so if your cheap you get cheap bags etc. If this is your first grow I wouldn't recommend coco but yes that will grow the plants till finish.

5) Should I even consider aeroponics/bubbleponics for root growth or are those more useful for pure hydroponics?
Keep it simple for now your gonna have enough on your hands.

6) I gather that nute choices can be fairly simple like going with General Hydroponics floral trio for the bloom cycle on my first run, then learning to experiment later. I'm still not sure what to use for rooting clones, for germinating seeds and building root balls, or for the rest of the veg cycle.
Humboldt Nutrients has an awesome line of nutrients. Im going to put a video up where they talk about each and every one of them and explain thoroughly what each one does. Im going to post part 1 but there is a few parts to it and I recommend watching it all. I learned a lot from these videos.
7) Since I'm talking small spaces initially (two 5x5s probably), I dunno how MUCH nutes to buy: quarts? gallons?
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Quarts should be plenty for now. Don't get too much incase you don't like it. As your guy for samples Im sure he has a few.

Will I get more yield in such small spaces with a scrog screen?
Possibly but worry about keeping them alive for now and the yield will come.

9) Miscellaneous equipment I THINK I need (correct me or add on): glasses, pruners, rubbing alcohol for cleaning off pruners and hands, vinyl gloves, and some testers (ph? thermometer? tapwater tester? soil tester?)

http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-TDS-EZ-Measurement-Resolution/dp/B002C0A7ZY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1423575586&sr=8-6&keywords=ph+pen

http://www.amazon.com/Oakton-EcoTestr-Waterproof-Tester-Range/dp/B004G8PWAU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1423575649&sr=8-5&keywords=ph+meter

Don't go cheap with a ph pen.

http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00613A1-Indoor-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B0013BKDO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423575755&sr=8-1&keywords=hygrometer


http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1840-Rapitest-Meter/dp/B0000DI848/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1423575793&sr=8-2&keywords=soil+ph+tester

When you use this make sure your tip is always clean and polished and leave it in the medium for 5 minutes for a correct test.

10) I know there'll be other needs at harvest for drying/curing/storing, but I don't need to calculate any of that now. Is there anything else that I've overlooked?
http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-Cooling-Programmable-Thermostat/dp/B000E7NYY8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1423576075&sr=8-5&keywords=lux+smart+temp

I use this and it works awesome to keep my temps where they need to be.

great job cpapa27 ,it good to see someone really helping out a newbie

Cpappa27 said:

Rockwool or coco cubes are fine. I like Rockwool. With cloth pots you get what you pay for so if your cheap you get cheap bags etc. If this is your first grow I wouldn't recommend coco but yes that will grow the plants till finish.

Click to expand...

Why not the coco? It is a new medium for me, as is indoor growing. I was halfway decent as an outdoor gardener of other crops, and have a friend who's sexed and trimmed before. If not coco, what? Soil? Is coco that hard or doesn't it give a good result?

And thank you for that extensive effort in your reply. Are you recommending every brand you posted or just giving me examples?

i couldn't recommend coco enough, for all levels of growing experience. my first grow was coco and so was this one i set up for a friend, it was his first ever grow too.
40 plants in 6.5l pots coco under 1200w hps




you don't need the soil meter and the best timers i have used are called grasslin not had one fail and they are super easy to use.

/\i could make a list of everything you will need to replicate something like that. grow/\

also vegging under 24/0 is not a bad thing, i do it because it creates a constant environment for the plants, where my veg set up is i would need some form of heating because there is nothing else there to create heat during lights out and it's cold here! save you money on a timer for that at least

Soil is very forgiving coco isnt. I was just saying if this was your first grow to start with something simpler. Its not I see so you have an idea of what your doing so go for coco the results are great if the grow goes well. Aldo those are the brands I reccomend and use

Today, for the first time, I spent several hours at a reasonably big grow op, where I could observe a lot in action. Indoors, setting up for outdoors, from a well-seasoned grower who is now completely (medically) legit. Got to see motorized light movers, huge tanks of teas brewed for nutes, learned some pruning/cloning techniques, heard some foliar spray formulas that provide nutes, pest protection and stuff to make the plant be a bit less acidic. And a whole lot more.

And for an old guy, I was very impressed by the hospitality extended, the knowledge gained, the fumes shared, my very first dab.... so fuck Disneyland, I want to go back often!

The team at the sight also had high praise for Nanolex light setups (ballasts that run red and blue, electronic, dimmable, plus the reflector and bulbs) and was told the whole setup could be had for $360 online. When I got home, I looked and can't find them at $360 yet, but they still beat Gavita prices and this team says they are the peer of Gavita.

So anyone else tried the newer models of Nanolux?

ghb said:

i couldn't recommend coco enough, for all levels of growing experience. my first grow was coco and so was this one i set up for a friend, it was his first ever grow too.
40 plants in 6.5l pots coco under 1200w hps

you don't need the soil meter and the best timers i have used are called grasslin not had one fail and they are super easy to use.

/\i could make a list of everything you will need to replicate something like that. grow/\

also vegging under 24/0 is not a bad thing, i do it because it creates a constant environment for the plants, where my veg set up is i would need some form of heating because there is nothing else there to create heat during lights out and it's cold here! save you money on a timer for that at least

Click to expand...

GHB, that's a beautiful array and that cola beats hell out of Co0ke and Pepsi. Though it won't be like that on our first run, I hope that day is not long off.

I'm getting hooked on bud porn - feed me, feed my new obsession... thanks!