Help me design a $1,000 grow!

drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, I'm about to chop my first harvest, and am beginning to plan my next one. I am going to be spending around $1,000 on the actual setup itself, so I was curious as to what would be my most efficient approach. My goal is 2 lbs. Initially, this is what I'm thinking about for the basics:

2 x 1000W HPS (I have the ballasts and 1 lamp so far)
2 x YieldMaster 6" air cooled reflectors - $120 ea.
ActiveAir 95CFM Blower System - $90
98x55x78 Grow Tent - $250

That leaves me $400 for the fun part :confused: I am all about DIY forms of hydro systems. I plan on using rockwool/hydroton, and would like to have the plants water themselves. I am pretty lost when it comes to high-quality setups, so I'd love some input from some pros to get me started on taking my growing to the next level.

Thanks RIU!
 
akgrown

akgrown

Well-Known Member
I would suggest a good carbon filter anything that requires 2 or more 1000w lights is going to stink.
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
for sure , i read the DIY on carbon filters and plan on using one. what i am curious about is what kind of system i should set up for the plants themselves. how many plants should i put in there for the most efficient yield? anyone know where i can find a good diy for a dwc setup?
 
desertrat

desertrat

Well-Known Member
2 x 1000W HPS (I have the ballasts and 1 lamp so far)
2 x YieldMaster 6" air cooled reflectors - $120 ea.
Click to expand...
great choice of lighting for your space, assuming you have separate veg area?, if not, you should add one to your plans.

ActiveAir 95CFM Blower System - $90
Click to expand...
not nearly enough ventilation for two 1000 watt lights unless you're using a/c extensively. you'll probably want something like a 440 cfm vortex fan with a variable speed controller for the air- cooled hoods and you may need a second outlet for the room depending on temps. i'd use the 95 cfm for an active intake, especially if you can bring in cooled air.
 
litljohn

litljohn

Well-Known Member
i would use the 95cfm fan for the room,get the 400+cfm fan for the hoods,spend the 400bucks on a diy ebb and flow,and all of your excesseries like temp/humidity meter,a couple fans for air movement,maybe a co2 sytem would be sweet
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
Taking in so much info. Thank you guys for all the help. I've been sitting here weighing out the options for hours and I still can't decide exactly to do. Now I'm starting to worry about 2 1000W lamps getting PGE curious as to whats going on lol
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
Well I made my veg system today. $50 at Home Depot. It'll be perfect for vegging 20 clones under a 4' T5 setup in order to accomodate my 4x8 tent on a 1-month rotation. Now, I just gotta worry about a 4x8 tent, 2 reflectors, ventilation equipment, and a 4x8 tray lol
 
BCBuddy420

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
drrasta47 said:
for sure , i read the DIY on carbon filters and plan on using one. what i am curious about is what kind of system i should set up for the plants themselves. how many plants should i put in there for the most efficient yield? anyone know where i can find a good diy for a dwc setup?
Click to expand...
to answer your question about how many plants, I would go 9 under each lamp in a 3 x 3 formation creating a perfectly shaped " grid " for your plants. If you veg them with proper care they should be 20-22 inches upon the 4 week mark. Taking you to flowering where you double to triple your height depending on strain, so let's say they end up 54 inches ( 4 1/2 feet ) that will give you some product forsure. Also I recommend, on your budget, to get a rubbermaid tote reservoir ( i use 32 gal ) and fill 18 pots with a soilless mix. You will water every 2-3 days ( easy to maintain/ little work ) and this practice is super easy to control nutes and ph and is cheap cheap. Forget hydro you don't have the money with your 1000 dollar budget...because you need a bigger fan for exhaust and maybe a small intake fan :) Like the other guys said. Don't skimp on basic ventilation stuff, this shit comes first, gotta have flow ~ BCbuddy :leaf: I forgot you still need a good carbon can filter, maybe 150-200 bux, you need a bit more money I say.
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
BCBuddy420 said:
to answer your question about how many plants, I would go 9 under each lamp in a 3 x 3 formation creating a perfectly shaped " grid " for your plants. If you veg them with proper care they should be 20-22 inches upon the 4 week mark. Taking you to flowering where you double to triple your height depending on strain, so let's say they end up 54 inches ( 4 1/2 feet ) that will give you some product forsure. Also I recommend, on your budget, to get a rubbermaid tote reservoir ( i use 32 gal ) and fill 18 pots with a soilless mix. You will water every 2-3 days ( easy to maintain/ little work ) and this practice is super easy to control nutes and ph and is cheap cheap. Forget hydro you don't have the money with your 1000 dollar budget...because you need a bigger fan for exhaust and maybe a small intake fan :) Like the other guys said. Don't skimp on basic ventilation stuff, this shit comes first, gotta have flow ~ BCbuddy :leaf: I forgot you still need a good carbon can filter, maybe 150-200 bux, you need a bit more money I say.
Click to expand...
Got it. I'm working with closer to 2k, but I'm trying to take things one step at a time and not jump into spending all of my budget before everything is ready to go. I'm going to be making a trip to the hydro store in a couple weeks to pick up a 4x8 ebb & flow tray, 2 air-coolable reflectors, new nutes and some other goodies. I'll run a 32 gal res with around 500gph pump and air stone. I'm gonna grab this tent...

http://htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=53402

...and start by filling half the tray, with the 20 clones that I'm going to start vegging under t5's tomorrow. Immediately start vegging 20 more, and 4 weeks later, fill up the other half of the tray and turn on the second light. At that point I'll have a 20 plant harvest every 4-5 weeks, RIGHT!?!?!? lol
 
Xan2

Xan2

Well-Known Member
If your're on a tight budget i would not opt for 2x 1000w on the 1st run as you'll have to compromise somewhere..
2000w light and ballast will produce a HUGE amount of heat, i know as i am actually working with a 2000w system.
You don't want to heat stress the plants even less burning em. With a 1000w bulb unless properly air-cooled, you most will most likely need to run an A/C or C02 in the room.
If i had $1000 to start with i would buy the tent you described with one 1000w hps with a cooltube or cooled hood with proper in line fan, a DIY hydroponic setup for a 4x4 area as well as a good carbon filter.

You can build a very decent system for $1000. Just make it right.
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
Xan2 said:
If your're on a tight budget i would not opt for 2x 1000w on the 1st run as you'll have to compromise somewhere..
2000w light and ballast will produce a HUGE amount of heat, i know as i am actually working with a 2000w system.
You don't want to heat stress the plants even less burning em. With a 1000w bulb unless properly air-cooled, you most will most likely need to run an A/C or C02 in the room.
If i had $1000 to start with i would buy the tent you described with one 1000w hps with a cooltube or cooled hood with proper in line fan, a DIY hydroponic setup for a 4x4 area as well as a good carbon filter.

You can build a very decent system for $1000. Just make it right.
Click to expand...
The tent is around 37 sqft, and I've heard that you want to be pushing at least 50W/sqft.; which would be around 1800W. If I used these reflectors:

http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=49541

with one of these at either end for intake/exhaust

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/valueline-inch-435-cfm-centrifugal-inline-fan-p-2260.html

and maybe a booster fan between the two reflectors, that still wouldn't suffice for keeping temps under control?
 
Michiganman247

Michiganman247

Active Member
drrasta47 said:
for sure , i read the DIY on carbon filters and plan on using one. what i am curious about is what kind of system i should set up for the plants themselves. how many plants should i put in there for the most efficient yield? anyone know where i can find a good diy for a dwc setup?
Click to expand...
Dont bother with a DIY scrubber. I am about to replace mine that I spent alot of time on and it still doesnt work. Just buy one, cheaper in the long run.
 
Touchet

Touchet

New Member
Ok, first off your gonna need some of these



then you'll need one of these



I would have gone with one of these but you said ebb so scratch this



you can use this for the smell to start if need be



I usually move on to some of these,



lots of this,



and finish my install with these,



can't forget these,



then you gotta install all this shit,



gonna need an air pump and a PPM meter too,




LOL I killllll me
 
Touchet

Touchet

New Member
I can bring you pics tomorrow of 1000 watt lights running 8" fans I can put my hand within 6" of no problem. Would I do this with a plant, NO! Just saying with good seals and a decent intake fan he will be smiling wide with no worries.
 
drrasta47

drrasta47

Well-Known Member
Touchet said:
I can bring you pics tomorrow of 1000 watt lights running 8" fans I can put my hand within 6" of no problem. Would I do this with a plant, NO! Just saying with good seals and a decent intake fan he will be smiling wide with no worries.
Click to expand...
Yeah I figured as much. Do I need two of those 750cfm inline fans for the lights, or just one and some boosters?
 
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