95% READY! First Time Grow! 600w MH/HPS Roots Organics!

SamWaterstone

SamWaterstone

Active Member
Sup guys-n-gals:

Been on and off on this website inquiring a lot of information on how to get my first grow started. Always said i was ready to grow but still found myself with many obstacles to jump over. NOW, here i am! Ready to GROW! first off my grow room and info:

Closet: L: 4'7'' x W: 5'10'' = 23.97 Sqaure Feet. So lets just say 25 square feet. With a height of 7 feet 10 inches. Covered in Mylar.

Ventilation: two 6 inchcentrifugal fans; one for exhaust with carbon filter and one for intake for fresh outdoor air. See pics for detail. My tubing goes straight out to the Roof. (note that i have 2 "The Speedster" motor speed controls for both fans.)

Lights: ONE 600 watt Apollo Lighting Kit with Metal Halide for Vegetative Stage and High Pressure Sodium for Flowering. I will also be surrounding my plants with 2700k and 6500k CFL's. Planning to use my 2700k's with the Metal Halide and the 6500k's with the High Pressure Sodium. (What are your opinions on this? Guy at my brew and grow said they wont make a difference since i have a 600w Metal Halide.)

Media: Roots Organics Formula 707.

Pots: Aurora Fabric Roots Pots (5gallon.)

Nutrients: Roots Organics 5ml Feeding Schedule: http://aurorainnovations.com/AuroraInnovations_MasterFeedingSchedule.pdf

Ph: Hanna instruments Ph Checker and Advanced Nutrients Ph up and down.

Water: Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water.

There ya' go. So ... Now. I want to start germinating my seeds but cant decide whether to go with the moist paper towel method and then transplant the germinated seed straight into soil, or buy some Rapid Rooters and cover them in plastic lids then transplant them over to soil when i see some roots peeking out of them. What do you think is best?

Also, how much water is needed to water a 5 gal container?

I finally opened up my Hanna Ph Checker to play with, and noticed that the Ph levels were jumping around constantly and never settled on a specific number. From 7.3 to 8.0, it just kept jumping. Do i need to calibrate this instrument like it says in the directions? if so, poor salesmanship from Brew and Grow for not informing me of this. Directions call to Dip the tip of the electrode (bottom 4 cm/
1½") in pH 7.01 buffer solution at room temperature. Allow the reading to stabilize then Use a small screwdriver to adjust the pH7
trimmer until the display reads "pH 7.01". WTF is Ph 7.01 solution and why didn't the salesperson mention it before? here is a link the operating manual: http://www.hannainst.com/manuals/manHI_98103.pdf

One last question: when i figure out my Ph tester, do i calibrate my water to Ph 6.5 THEN add my nutrient Mix to it? Or do i add my nutrients first, then calibrate. Do my nutrients affect the Ph level of my water?

Sorry if all my questions are annoying you professionals, im a newbie.

Here are some pics of my little Project.

Thanks in advance for all your time and cooperation.

-Mr. Water-stone.

[video=youtube;CocWaN-bT9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CocWaN-bT9U[/video]

_DSC6055.jpg_DSC6058.jpg_DSC6061.jpg_DSC6069.jpg_DSC6070.jpg_DSC6072.jpg_DSC6074.jpg_DSC6083.jpg_DSC6084.jpg_DSC6086.jpg
 
galildoughty

galildoughty

Active Member
Looks great. Nice and clean, this I like.

As far as germinating goes, do yourself a favor. Keep it simple. Buy party cups, cut nice big slits in the bottom for good drainage, fill with appropriate soil for germination, lightly tamp the soil, plant your seeds 1/2" down(what I do), cover them soil, then water them in. Don't shrink wrap the top of the cup for moisture retention, there seeds, not clones. Set them under your grow light and your done. I'd start firing your lamp up like 2 days later, ensure its running your schedule when they break ground. Periodicly check the cups to make sure there not drying out. Lightly water when needed. Remember, they can be really impressionabl when so young. Keep em alive for a few weeks and it will be hard to fuck up after that.

Leave the glass of water, wet paper towels, plates and all that bull shit at the door.

Nice living room buy the way.
 
galildoughty

galildoughty

Active Member
I forgot to mention, be carefull watering your fabric pots, you'll notice water likes to escape out the sides. I try and do it slowly, letting it sink in and eventual I can saturate it without water shooting out everywhere, you'll see what I mean. I have smart pots by the way, maybe yours won't be as bad.
 
SamWaterstone

SamWaterstone

Active Member
@ galildoughty:

Thanks man: Keep it simple. Shouldve done that from the beginning. Can i just use my 707 formula in the party cups? And thanks for the other advice. My livingroom only consists of a rug and sofa. not much but just getting it started.

And YES! @ bmeat! MINI-RIG!
 
galildoughty

galildoughty

Active Member
I just checked out the Roots organic 707. It seems in line with a FFoF as far as amendments go. I read that some ppl thought it was to hot for seeds, some ppl germinated in it just fine. So I cut the FFoF soil with a high quality top soil( bagged top soil used for fill in you yard, flower bed, etc.) I cut it at about half and half. Its worked fine so far. No burning, but the nutrients are there. Once I feel there ready, cut the solo cup away(or just turn it up right and slide her out) and pot up. Water them in. As chef Ramsay would say, "Done".
 
kinetic

kinetic

Well-Known Member
You have the loot for a real nice jump, much nicer than my first go at it indoors. Good Luck!!!
 
hiitsbob

hiitsbob

Well-Known Member
good advice galil only thing i disagree on is saying no plastic over it while it germinates.
reason i say this is i did 5 seeds and left for a day and in small cups they dried out and only 2 made it.
on the other hand a few days later i started pepper and tomatoes with the plastic over it and had 100% germination rate.
yes it was my fault for them drying out but the plastic is put it on forget about them til they sprout and the soil is still wet for a few days.
just a thought and sam good luck looks like you have done your research.(i like am a newbie and have not had to ask much its all on the forum
 
S

Storm

Active Member
I would have mounted the filter on the roof because heat rises. Did you do this in an attempt to get maximum scrubbing? I can understand that, especially in a small area. But you have a nice inline, and a sexy filter, I would assume there would be no smell issue no matter where you had it located.
 
SamWaterstone

SamWaterstone

Active Member
well, its not that i have a lot of loot. I've basically saved up my entire wages for 2 months and invested it in this little project. Hopefully it will pay off.
 
kagecog

kagecog

Well-Known Member
Wow... I can't believe that's your FIRST setup! I expect very good things coming from you on here...
 
Greggos88

Greggos88

Active Member
I'm not sure if you've popped open those nutes you're planning on working with, but they stink :spew:! I used roots organic for about 2 months and was really offended by the smell it put off even several days after feeding, it left a gritty residue on topsoil, also not impressed with its overall performance, many plants suffered. I'm sure it smells because of its organic nature but working in an enclosed area it can really make a difference if you plan on tending in the room. I was working in a garage at the time just to give perspective on smell:space "presence".

I have since been using Fox Farms 3, General Organics, and have some Veg + Bloom to mess around with. Overall very satisfied with these lines.
Good luck!
 
Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga

Active Member
SamWaterstone said:
Sup guys-n-gals:

Been on and off on this website inquiring a lot of information on how to get my first grow started. Always said i was ready to grow but still found myself with many obstacles to jump over. NOW, here i am! Ready to GROW! first off my grow room and info:

Closet: L: 4'7'' x W: 5'10'' = 23.97 Sqaure Feet. So lets just say 25 square feet. With a height of 7 feet 10 inches. Covered in Mylar.

Ventilation: two 6 inchcentrifugal fans; one for exhaust with carbon filter and one for intake for fresh outdoor air. See pics for detail. My tubing goes straight out to the Roof. (note that i have 2 "The Speedster" motor speed controls for both fans.)

Lights: ONE 600 watt Apollo Lighting Kit with Metal Halide for Vegetative Stage and High Pressure Sodium for Flowering. I will also be surrounding my plants with 2700k and 6500k CFL's. Planning to use my 2700k's with the Metal Halide and the 6500k's with the High Pressure Sodium. (What are your opinions on this? Guy at my brew and grow said they wont make a difference since i have a 600w Metal Halide.)

Media: Roots Organics Formula 707.

Pots: Aurora Fabric Roots Pots (5gallon.)

Nutrients: Roots Organics 5ml Feeding Schedule: http://aurorainnovations.com/AuroraInnovations_MasterFeedingSchedule.pdf

Ph: Hanna instruments Ph Checker and Advanced Nutrients Ph up and down.

Water: Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water.

There ya' go. So ... Now. I want to start germinating my seeds but cant decide whether to go with the moist paper towel method and then transplant the germinated seed straight into soil, or buy some Rapid Rooters and cover them in plastic lids then transplant them over to soil when i see some roots peeking out of them. What do you think is best?

Also, how much water is needed to water a 5 gal container?

I finally opened up my Hanna Ph Checker to play with, and noticed that the Ph levels were jumping around constantly and never settled on a specific number. From 7.3 to 8.0, it just kept jumping. Do i need to calibrate this instrument like it says in the directions? if so, poor salesmanship from Brew and Grow for not informing me of this. Directions call to Dip the tip of the electrode (bottom 4 cm/
1½") in pH 7.01 buffer solution at room temperature. Allow the reading to stabilize then Use a small screwdriver to adjust the pH7
trimmer until the display reads "pH 7.01". WTF is Ph 7.01 solution and why didn't the salesperson mention it before? here is a link the operating manual: http://www.hannainst.com/manuals/manHI_98103.pdf

One last question: when i figure out my Ph tester, do i calibrate my water to Ph 6.5 THEN add my nutrient Mix to it? Or do i add my nutrients first, then calibrate. Do my nutrients affect the Ph level of my water?

Sorry if all my questions are annoying you professionals, im a newbie.

Here are some pics of my little Project.

Thanks in advance for all your time and cooperation.

-Mr. Water-stone.

[video=youtube;CocWaN-bT9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CocWaN-bT9U[/video]

View attachment 2516135View attachment 2516136View attachment 2516137View attachment 2516138View attachment 2516139View attachment 2516140View attachment 2516141View attachment 2516142View attachment 2516143View attachment 2516145
Click to expand...

Good start.

A few things. I'd secure any ballast/s outside of the grow room. Unless you need the extra heat why not just get her away from plants.

Intake should be coming in opposite corner of exhaust down low and exhaust going out opposite corner of intake up high, but being it's a closet maybe you didn't have a choice. You note roof. Are you bringing in air from roof?

Roots O is good, I have ran both RO anf Fox Farm Ocean Forest and they are almost the same. I stayed with FF because I can get it cheaper then Roots.

I LOVE seeing newbies, or a less insulting word, a new grower using fabric pots. It's the first and easiest thing one can do to start out strong. And 5 gallon is the minimum you want for decent yields.

I have no idea about the hanna, I use a Oakton Eco and it says steady, needs to be calibrated one a week with 7 cal solution. Always add nutes in separately then when all are in water, then pH. Nutes almost always affect pH, so do some additives.

Good growing and have fun!
 
SamWaterstone

SamWaterstone

Active Member

  • day one:

    So i started off with a 1 gallon of Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water with a pH of 6.9. When i added my Roots Organics nutrients: Buddha Grow, Trinity and Ancient Amber, at 5ml each, it dropped down to a pH 4.1-2. Then i added 5ml of Advanced Nutrients pure concentrate pH UP. Bad idea! I underestimated its pure concentrate content and the pH shot all the way up to 12.3! So for the next 10min a played around with up and down til i got to 6.49-50.

    I then soaked my Rapid Rooters (derived from naturally composted tree bark) and soaked them in my nutrient mixed water with the pH of 6.49-50. From there, i finally opened up my seeds (bought from The Attitude seed bank in England) and placed 5 of them into each Rapid Rooter. 3x Top Skunk 44, 1x White Widow, and 1x Lemon Thai Kush. I placed them on a plastic tray and added about .25 inch of nutrient mixed water inside the tray as well.

    i turned up my space heater to pump up the temperature to 80f (my growing closet stands at a natural 70-73f without anything on.)

    so there ya' go.

    Day one. Hopefully it works out.

    Please, any constructive criticism and/or questions will be helpful. Here are some pics.

    Mr. Waterstone.

    ​




 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top