Newb here

Hello all. Brand new to the hobby and only experience I have is helping wife in her flower garden from time to time. She has a little more knowledge than me but not much so any and all advice will be GREATLY appreciated.

My plan is a very small indoor grow. Outdoor is not an option. Space is very limited as well as being on a shoestring budget. More than likely will be using a small corner of the basement.I'm thinking of going with some autoflowers due to my space issues and lack of experience. Also, I was wondering if anyone has ever attempted a grow in a fish tank. I have an old 30 gallon tank I'm not using and thought it would be great to use for a small 5-6 plant grow. I also still have the lights from when this tank was set-up. They are Tropic Sun 5500k daylight bulbs.Would these be okay to use or should I invest in actual grow lights?

My next issue is that I live in an area where the only types of soil and nutes available is the basic Ortho and Miracle Grow stuff. Will this stuff be okay to use?
I hope to learn a lot from all you "seasoned" growers. From what I have been reading so far, you all seem very friendly and more than willing to help out a newb.

Please forgive my laziness, I just copy/pasted this from my post on THC Farmer. Hope this doesn't offend anyone.

How many watts/lumens is the light? 5500K will probably be okay for veg but for flower you'll need something closer to 3000K. The ideal veg spectrum is 6500K but 5500K is close enough. As far as soil, the MG soil should be okay, just don't give them any nutes unless you wanna cook them since the MG soil is loaded already. The only problem I've had with MG soil is bugs in it. I use Sta-Green soils. No bugs, and not as hardcore on the nutes. Regardless of soil I'd put some more perlite in it. Even though most potting mixes come with perlite already mixed in, dope plants like a lot of drainage and the ability to dry out fast and breathe.

Good luck.

fish tank how u going to drain off water and growing plants in one container is not a good ideal

fabfun said:

fish tank how u going to drain off water and growing plants in one container is not a good ideal

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didn't think about that fab. that's why i'm here doing my homework before i get started. any advice you can give a rookie?

how much money are you working with? growing should be looked at as an investment.

ok what kind of light is on tank t-5 bulbs? u can use that light might need to get some 6500k bulbs for veg
and to grow in u need a box or closet and some pots ot 5 gallon buckets if u got the room
and if u got the means and the fans to cool it get a 400watt hps
u got to have fans almost as important as lights
i can help u get a setup designed just tell me how much room u got can u make temporary walls to wall off corner of basement

shoestring usually means not alot so i think he needs to start cheap and step up as gains more exp

irieie said:

how much money are you working with? growing should be looked at as an investment.

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fabfun said:

shoestring usually means not alot so i think he needs to start cheap and step up as gains more exp

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hes got to have something. instead of the next 100$ the OP spends on weed, he should buy a 150w hps. they are cheap($80) and worth every penny.

thats true he can use that and the fish tank light too
why buy weed when u can invest alittle and never buy again when crops come in

irieie said:

hes got to have something. instead of the next 100$ the OP spends on weed, he should buy a 150w hps. they are cheap($80) and worth every penny.

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Download some grow books from BitTorrent and read them. Then read them again. No offense homie, but if you don't even know that a plant needs drain holes then you got a lot to learn.

and thats why im on this site to help teach him i guess i will handle this one
take care sunshine

Sunshine Closet said:

Download some grow books from BitTorrent and read them. Then read them again. No offense homie, but if you don't even know that a plant needs drain holes then you got a lot to learn.

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first let me say thanks for all the replies and that i am not nor will i ever be offended by any advice you guys should give me. right now i am strictly in the planning stages. i figure i have about $500 to play with. my basement already has a small room that i'm assuming the previous owners used as a canning room. the basement is also pretty dark with only one small window. as far as the light, it is just an 18" fixture with the 15 watt Sun Tropic bulbs. they worked great for the plants in our aquarium.

fabfun, i'm open to all your advice and knowledge/experience so let me have it.

woohoo 500 we can build a hell of a grow for that if u shop right 15 watts isnt any good except for side lighting

fabfun said:

woohoo 500 we can build a hell of a grow for that if u shop right 15 watts isnt any good except for side lighting

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see i knew he had something. that aint no shoestring budget. for that money he can set up a pretty nice grow.

no it isnt shoestring more like the whole shoe you were right so lets see u can get a nice fan system and a light and money left over to build a grow box a decent one at that

irieie said:

see i knew he had something. that aint no shoestring budget. for that money he can set up a pretty nice grow.

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i am thinking for $500. get a nice 400w hps, a 6'' fan/filter combo, panda film, construction materials (pvc piping, lumber etc.), circulating fan, timer, power strip, thermometer/hygrometer, basic 3 part nutes (Fox Farm for example), soil, pots and trays, watering can. what else?

I grow outdoors, but would a PH meter help indoor growers growing in soil???

doing some research today and found some lights for sale locally. i will make some calls tomorrow to see what's still for sale, but here are some options:

1. 600 watt MH w/ bulb and ballast $150 best offer
2. 250 watt Sun System MH 5 months old $90
3. 1500 watt MH w/ bulb and reflectors, 1000 hours use $125
4. 1000 watt switchable MH/HPS w/ timer and some nutes $250 best offer
5. 2 250 watt Hubbell MH lights w/ one bulb $60

u want to get a switchable ballast instead of one ballast for mh and one for hps
will save money but those prices r good i like 400-600 watt lights myself

fabfun said:

u want to get a switchable ballast instead of one ballast for mh and one for hps
will save money but those prices r good i like 400-600 watt lights myself

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that's what i was thinking fab. hopefully he still has it.