New to growing and....

I want to go hydro, I have done extensive research on growing techniques and lighting schedules. I was thinking of buying a 150 watt hps/mh growlight and putting it in a small rubbermade shed type thing (around 3 feet high 2.5 feet left to right and 1.5 feet wide) with a 10 gallon res tank for 3 DWC plants that will be in there from start to finish. Can anyone help me with what nutes I should use, how to figure out how much to put in and how often, and what I should use as cooling, I was thinking of using 2 computer fans, 1 for intake and one for exhaust. Would that be enough? I want to start this grow soon and will keep you updated with pics of my set up and grow. Any recommendations or tips would be cool.

Look at the micro garden by Botanicare you can find some really good deals it if you shop around, this is the best Ebb and Flow self contained for stealth growing I have seen thus far. It comes with everything you need except a light and plants. I prefer using CFL lights in small spaces due to heating issues if you stay under 45 watts with your bulbs you will not have much of an issue with heating. As far as the fans go I have searched and searched for a good deal on a decent fan and the best I have found is this. http://www.texashydroponics.com/shop/product.php?productid=2675&cat=76&page=1
I know these guys and they are very cool so they have great deals going all the time. PLease let me know if you need anything else I would be glad to help, I am new to the forums and new to growing but I researched for over a year before I started and my first plants are growing out of control in my little home office closet.

Which is it 150mh or 150hps or both? You can get 150hps's for $20 here:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=1096767


You'd be best of getting a couple of these instead of a single retail grow light for the flowering part. Actually you could run two for flower and one for veg, doesn't matter that it's hps it still will veg fine.

Anyway no, you're probably not giving enough cooling with just computer fans. Find something larger. Duct booster fans or something.

you won't really need a fan blowing "into" the grow area. It's more important that you have plenty of air moving "out" of the growroom. Of course have holes where air can passively flow in the area from the lowest point (coolest air). Having an oscillating fan inside will also help to keep the temps down. Good luck!

oh, and nutes. I use GH 3 part flora series with some Liquid Karma. Treat your fertilizer like you would a hot tub, in that, it's easier to get into a cooler hot tub and heat it up than it is to jump into the hot tub at full temp. So, start low on the ppm's and gradually raise them up. I started my DWC at 100ppm, 5.8 pH in a 5 gal rubbermaid and increase the ppm about 50% every 10-14 days but keep the pH between 5.5-6.5. So after 14 days go up to 150ppm, then 225ppm, then 350ppm, then 525ppm, etc. I do 1-1-1 at the beginning (1 part grow, 1 part micro, 1 part bloom), then go 3-2-1 when you're in full veg, then 1-1-1 for transition into bloom (1st 10 days or so), then 1-2-3 when in full flower. The amount you use will depend on your desired ppms.

I have changed my idea on what I'm going to do...I want to just do a stealth computer case dirt grow but today I went out to get some supplies.

I bought 6 porcelain bulb sockets that I am going to circut and connect so that I can plug in.

4 pack of 14 watt Daylight CFL's

2 pack of 23 watt Bright White CFL's

2 pack of 23 watt Daylight CFL's

This is my rough design that I made in paint



Will this be enough light for the plants?
I already have a old computer case, I don't have exact measurements right now but it is a decent size for 3 small bushy plants.

I am going to put mylar all over the inside of the case itself with just the hole for the fans and it will be in the top part of my closet which is pitch black when the door is closed.

What kind of smell issues might I run in to with a grow this small, possibly only 2 plants (I will be using bag seeds from some decent mids)

I am going to read up on what kind of soil to use and what, if any, soil nutes I should use.

I will take pics once I get back home and can start setting this baby up!

your plants will have a mild smell while in veg and then a strong odor once they get about 4 weeks into flowering. you could just build a small carbon scrubber to attach to the "out" port of your box. You could also place it on the outside of your case to save space on the inside. Here is a DIY link to a design I've used myself.

http://forums.mycotopia.net/cannabis/8038-diy-carbon-scrubber.html

You could build it yourself for about $50 and an hour or two.

what are the dimensions of your cpu box?

89SoFine said:

your plants will have a mild smell while in veg and then a strong odor once they get about 4 weeks into flowering. you could just build a small carbon scrubber to attach to the "out" port of your box. You could also place it on the outside of your case to save space on the inside. Here is a DIY link to a design I've used myself.

http://forums.mycotopia.net/cannabis/8038-diy-carbon-scrubber.html

You could build it yourself for about $50 and an hour or two.

what are the dimensions of your cpu box?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure right now, I have to stop by my uncles house to pick it up before I go home, but I think like 2 or so ft high x 2 or so ft long x 1.5 feet wide. I was going to LST the plants from a 2 or 3 week after they sprout and I might try SCRoG if they look promising. I am only looking for maybe an oz dried per harvest and I'd be happy.

I would just be concerned about the height of the plant. I've got a couple that have been vegging for about 6 weeks and they are well over 2' tall. Not sure what LST is. You would want to get rid of that small table you have in your drawing for sure. Your going to be flowering some very young & small plants. Unless you plan on keeping a mother and taking clones. I'd search some of the forums for something that's been done similar to your setup. Good luck!

I might just say fuck it and buy a big rubbermaid tub because the sockets I bought unscrew and you can put them through something then screw the other part back on, so I can just cut holes in the top and mount them like that. It would also be a lot easier to design than with a computer case, but I will probably be getting 2 150 watt HPS when they get more unless there is no difference between them and the ceiling mounted ones (link), then I will get those for later on (once I have the room to house 2 of those and the decent plants I will be pumpin out).

I am about to start drug court for 6 months to a year so I won't be smoking my 1st crop or 2 but by my 3rd, I should have some experience and be able to grow some crazy shit for when I get off haha, hopefully with the HPS's and in a hydro set up.

I will start on my tub/comp case when I get back home in a few days and I will take pics after all is set up.

Would you recommend that I get more bulbs for this grow or should 6-8 bulbs be enough for 2 plants?

LST is when you bend the stem and use hooks to hold it close to the ground and make it go in a spiral around the pot so that it will grow more bushy like. (basic description, but there is a lot of info on it on riu)