want to spend money right, the first time

hello,

I just recieved my caregivers card and can now legally grow limited amounts of weed. i understand i am deffinetly a newb but i have been doing tons of reading(books online ect...). i am allowed 24 flowering plants for the time being. my goal is to harvest the most i can with it also being an exotic type of plant. for my first harvest i am going to use clones off a fellow grower. then i will purchase a cloner and order my own liking of seeds/strands. my only current issue is to completely set up my room and to do it correct the first time. i know there is many variables when doing this because certain strains yeild more and hydro/soil setups matter.

i have $2500 limit on setting up the room. i would like that to cover everything needed from when you open the door. now, hopefully you are willing to let your mind travel and post some detailed lists of how many lights, type of lights, watts per light, preferred nutrients, preferred soil or if possible preferred hydro setup. pretend this was your limit on money and be detailed.

space is a 12x16ft room about 10ft high for flowering. space is 2.5x4ft and about 10ft high for veg.(if more space needed lmk please!)

my goal is to arrange a cycle of harvesting every 45 to 60 days. hopefully 2lbs after curing process.

please guide me into buying the correct stuff for my room so i can learn trial and error with my plants and not with my whole room and the only money i have to make this possible.

huge thanks!

Mini Split AC/Heater = 1,000-1,500

Humidifier/Dehumidifier/Fans = 300

Co2 & Controllers = 600


with whatever change you have left.. buy some pots & soil. <3

GetOffMyBalls said:

i think you forgot ballasts, bulbs, nutrients, and a few other things....

Click to expand...

Oh yeah, you might want to look into those as well.<3

If it were my room? I'd run 4-600 watt HPS. Lumatek sells a ballast that runs 2-600s. You'd only have to buy two of them, or start with one.

I like C.A.P. Luminaire relectors.

Pick a grow medium.

ok,i went to local store. i think im going to over shoot my costs but i feel that going this route there isnt much room for error?
http://www.titancontrols.net/products/grow-systems/flo-n-gro-system.aspx

http://www.titancontrols.net/products/grow-systems/flo-n-gro-expansion-kit.aspx - 2 of these cause the first sytem does up to 24. how convenient.

http://www.titancontrols.net/products/temperature-and-humidity/kronus-4.aspx

http://www.titancontrols.net/products/lighting/helios-1.aspx

so yeah im a sucker for complete kit senerios.

the store had ballasts for 190$ and bulbs for $60 each... 3 ballasts and 3 bulbs for 600watts each. i work on cars and im really good with hands on things like running the water lines and plumbing/ electrical. so that would cover my setup and pretty much use my $2500 depending on my discount at store from a friend then ill need look into nutrient kits and cards to know when to use each nutrient and how much... several months down the road ill buy a cloner and do another veg room to start the cycle.
any suggestions? everytime i open a different website i read a different opinion on how many watts ect. i could use some insight from them the experienced on if im on the right track.

240 is right... thats what comes out of the wall

also, the room i have has its own temp control and venting outside already. so i can just set the heat to 70* and use the hundifier and fan to do the rest. then i get the co2 machine for $150 and that will add that when needed. so the setup should run itself other than adding nutrient and adjusting lights and upkeep correct?

yeah i understand being the newb part. especially with ph levels ect... i do have experienced friends who would lend some advice when needed though. IMO,its kind of like riding a bike. you can start off with a 1000 and take it easy until you learn what your doing or you can buy a 600 and learn what your doing but have to sell it and get a new one an get used to it order to really have some fun. however,do you have any other controllers in mind that are cheaper and work the same? also, for the lighting i would love if someone could clarify what watts i should be looking into. idc about wiring 220amps or multiple breakers,thats easy. should i just get a forth 600 watt light and fixture or get what is listed above where it has2 lights each? im hoping to get 3oz a plant mabe so from that stand point how big will i have to get my plants.

^^agree. I wouldnt worry about co2 at this point either. $2500 is not alot to fully equip a grow for 24 plants. I honestly think you will go over budget... Especially in hydro. IMO invest in the things that matter right now, you can always add to it but you dont want to buy things twice. dont skimp on lights and ventilation. Is this room sealed??

not completely sealed. it has venting which lead outside and it has central air and heat. im in the process of seeing what lighting is good for 24 plants and how big the plants will be in order to get roughly 3oz each... im not purchasing anything until i know what specifically im getting for lighting. i do know i am going to get the flo n go system for the 24 buckets. as for all the controllers, those will be delt with last.

I think you need more light for that size space. I have 11x9 flower with 4 600s. no need for light controllers, 220V timers are $15 each. A big cost is reflectors.. are you using them or have you looked at them? You will save big if you can get cheap unsealed reflectors, but if you need to vent the heat out of the lights you are looking at $175 each sealed reflector. I would suggest getting a small tent to learn how to grow before you pull the trigger on a room of this size. just my $.02

It's too late. He's off the deep end.

jeeze, not off the deep end just yet lol... im learning right now. still researching and readin, reading, reading. from everything so far i see is everyones room is slightly different and no lighting vs sqft is the same generally. i was only set on the flo n grow setup because ive read so many threads stating how easy it is and the gains from hydro vs soil. on the other hand, ive read and seen videos of how easy it is just to add nutrients to a measuring cup and mix into a bucket of water, then use a spraying and spray alround the soil every so often. the only thing im sure of at this point is not wanting to spend over $2500 and wanting to yeild 3oz per plant at 24 plants. everything else is still debatable because i can only make decisions from what i read since there is no experience personally...

trust me, if someone knowledgable can point me into the correct direction when going either route (hydro,soil) then i dont mind either way. i would just like to spend the $2500 once and do several crops to make some money to expend with other caregivers for patients. waiting 3 months time for 1lb to hardly make any profit just isnt sounding fun lol. also spending 3 months learning to do things one way and then spending all your money and having to re buysomething else and relearning a more difficult way sound like a full yrs wasted time.

for starters, im buying the white/black sided paper to put on the walls. then im buying the foam squares to put on the floor andcovering with the black tarp material. then i need to buy 4 600watt lights with the ballasts and a timer setup. then i need to ensure the ventilation is properly setup with the lighting and outside venting. also, need to get the humidifier and possibly a controller for it........ that should cover things needed to be setup reardless which way i decide to go. sound correct way to begin spending money?

going to vent them outside. theres a vent in the wall which leads outside already so nice and easy... 4 lights are necessary though correct? thanks for telling me about the insulation. good to know.
is 3oz per plant a realistic goal with organic soil?
soil is wayyy less exspensive and seems more basic and doesnt need as much technology/nutrients. as long as i can harvest the 2lb mark with soil on the 24 plant goal then i dont mind.

why so worried about yields?? that is the worst mindset to go into this with

Keep it simple get 3 4x4 tents. about $90-110 delivered each so that bout $300.....now heres a link to a 600 watt dimmable digital ballast, cool tube both mh and hps 600 watt bulbs, timer, hangers for $198 even no tax and free shipping.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/COOL-TUBE-with-XL-WING-iPower-DIMM-600w-600-watt-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Kit-/160722062856?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item256bc80e08#ht_6269wt_1346 get 3 of those so thats $300 more...Get 3 4x4 tables which are about $90 each at most hydro shops or online so that $300 more total $900...Now 3 pumps about 350 GPH on eaby run about $25 each delivered so $75 thats $975..Now go buy 3 clip pn oscalating fans at wal mart about $15 each so $45 total $1025..you ll need some basics like 2x4 to build stands in each tent for tables so figue 4 per tent so 12 2x4s at $2.85 each so thats what say $35 total at $1060..Now some trellis netting maybe stakes or pvc pipe for support so add $40 there thats $1100 totals. Now lets say rockwool cubes get 6x6 cubes you ll need 24 8 in each tentso add another $50 so now $1150 total. Get 3 rubbermaid tubs as res tanks 20Gallon is fine so those are $5 each at wal mart so $15 now at $1165...Next a ph digital pen off ebay for about $20 shipped new so now at $1185.. bottle of ph plus and ph minus at wal mart pool stuff add$35 for both...Thats $1220...Now I reccomend Fox Farm nutes easy reliable and good for starters or pros. Get a gallon of 3 part feed Grow Big Hydro, Tiger Bloom gal, gallon Big bloom. That should run about $180/Now your at $1400..I would then get 3 4" inline fans to suck air into each tent the lights dont get to hot but you could add vent lines out the tent throught tent openings just to let it rise..The fans lets say $50 each for good ones so $150 or at home depot $35 each, lets go high so now $1550 add $30 for ducting or what not so $1580....Now you want to add the little wire hang down temp, humidty, digital guages from walmart $15 each so get 3 so $45 bumps you too $1625..If your in an area that gets hot and have no ac in the room you can get a portable ac unit on wheel for like $300 or bit less new at Homedepot only if you need which would bring you to $1925......Might not need so that gives you 3 areas to grow in staggered to have a perpetual crop every 3 weeks. Veg in one flower in one start veg in first then move to 3rd flower now flowering is about 3- weeks apart every 3 weeks. Buy a simple humidity dome for clones or an clone machine which cost about $165 for your needs..Maxed out your at about $2200 with enough fert for dozen or so grows.If no portable a/c needed then your under $2000.... I forgot you may find a can filter helps in the room if it smells the house add another $200 for that setup but if your legal let it stink lol

Lol I listed every single thing you would need to have 3 simple flood and drain tents rotating. How much where to get and how to use lolBasics

Hydro is much easier then soil to grow in. It also is cheaper faster and fits exactly what he wants to do. Soil would be the worse choice to go in this situation.

Soil is so much harder to fix issues in and time consuming. then the time to grow is just ridiculous. If you can do it big outside or have huge space to use and get around then its fine but still slow and the mess it just makes no sense when flood and drain is almost set it and forget it. Check 5 minutes each day and done.

Not really if you look at inside growers over 80% are some form of hydro due to its ease, time saving and cleanliness. You have a few organist who prefer dirt and then outdoor growers but even outdoor many are expirementing with hydro. The only hydro that takes practice is aero which is my favorite way to grow but even after 2 or 3 grows its really basic stuff.