First Grow Setup wondering what to purchase

enigma858

Active Member
:mrgreen:
I'm currently planning out my first grow. I am planning on buying a 3x3x5
dark room, going with t5 lighting, and starting off with 4 clones.

Budget is going to be limited to about 400 or so, what im wondering is if 2' 4 bulb is going to support the clones for very long or would they outgtow them pretty fast. I could add some CFL's to the mix, and I have a 4 2' T8 fluoros that i could use for side lighting.
the 2' 8 bulb T5 is about 250 dollars and its kinda pricey but if that will get me all the way through flower it is probably worth it.

So 4 clones in Fox Farm soil, 3 Gal buckets, would they do well in the 3x3 space?

Please feel free to add whatever else i may need. I have water and ph meters test kits, I'll be using RO water, and i still could use a lot of advice about nutes and ferts and a schedule when i should be administering those
 

ceestyle

Well-Known Member
:mrgreen:
I'm currently planning out my first grow. I am planning on buying a 3x3x5
dark room, going with t5 lighting, and starting off with 4 clones.

Budget is going to be limited to about 400 or so, what im wondering is if 2' 4 bulb is going to support the clones for very long or would they outgtow them pretty fast. I could add some CFL's to the mix, and I have a 4 2' T8 fluoros that i could use for side lighting.
the 2' 8 bulb T5 is about 250 dollars and its kinda pricey but if that will get me all the way through flower it is probably worth it.

So 4 clones in Fox Farm soil, 3 Gal buckets, would they do well in the 3x3 space?

Please feel free to add whatever else i may need. I have water and ph meters test kits, I'll be using RO water, and i still could use a lot of advice about nutes and ferts and a schedule when i should be administering those
you could spend less than 250 to get a nice 400W HPS cooltube and probably a MH conversion bulb that would put those T5s to shame.
 

dew-b

Well-Known Member
:mrgreen:
I'm currently planning out my first grow. I am planning on buying a 3x3x5
dark room, going with t5 lighting, and starting off with 4 clones.

Budget is going to be limited to about 400 or so, what im wondering is if 2' 4 bulb is going to support the clones for very long or would they outgtow them pretty fast. I could add some CFL's to the mix, and I have a 4 2' T8 fluoros that i could use for side lighting.
the 2' 8 bulb T5 is about 250 dollars and its kinda pricey but if that will get me all the way through flower it is probably worth it.

So 4 clones in Fox Farm soil, 3 Gal buckets, would they do well in the 3x3 space?

Please feel free to add whatever else i may need. I have water and ph meters test kits, I'll be using RO water, and i still could use a lot of advice about nutes and ferts and a schedule when i should be administering those
if you can aford a hps get one. you will get better results flowering with a hps over flros & cfls
 

enigma858

Active Member
yeah then ducting and heat would become a factor as well. Also the usage per t5 bulb is like 24 watts. more than half less of hps.. i might flower under hps later on... but im thinking with this grow tent heat is going to a huge problem, and my intake and exhaust would have to be top notch. 2' 8 bulb T5 puts out 20k lumens and on 9 sq. ft thats 2,222 lumens per sq ft. that should get me through to veg right?
 
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ceestyle

Well-Known Member
yeah then ducting and heat would become a factor as well. Also the usage per t5 bulb is like 24 watts. more than half less of hps.. i might flower under hps later on... thanks for the input, im going to look on craigslist for some used hps.
yeah i got a used cooltube for $150, normally run you about 250 i think. try HTG supply on ebay; that's the unit i have, and i love it. you do need to run a duct out, but it's simply and quiet, especially with insulated ducting. cheapass 4" inline fan is sufficient. if you go HTG, call him and he'll kick you down for not going through the ebay site. free shipping usually.
 

ceestyle

Well-Known Member
if you're planning on expanding your op, to, say, a SOG, you could pick up the T5s now, then grab an HPS when you're heading into flower. keep the T5s on the moms and clones, and just rotate your clones through to your flowering room.
 

enigma858

Active Member
Im not trying to get a super heavy yield for my first grow. Any buds at all for your first grow is a successful grow, IMO.. do you think i could do at least 14g per plant under fluoros?
 

Butch206

Well-Known Member
I would advise making your own organic soil and not using Fox Farm. They have new owners and they have changed the product even tho they say they haven't. You can simply mix perlite, sand, potting soil, worm castings, bone meal, blood meal, and some ppl use bat guano but we don't. Buy some organic compost with live earth worms in it and sprinkle some of the compost in your soil make sure it is ORGANIC. let the worms go right in the dirt they will create air pockets so your babies have more oxygen!! GL with your grow which ever way you choose to go :)
 

enigma858

Active Member
thanks for the advice seems really solid, but a little complex for a newb grower :[ definitely wanna go organic soil but maybe a premix? which brand should i trust?
 

Butch206

Well-Known Member
I know just the thing. I suggest using Master Nursery Gardener's Gold Organic Potting Soil Mix. Here is a pic of the plant we are using it on and she is THRIVING like crazy :)! lol here is a pic of our pre mix soil!!! enjoy
 

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SugaShane

Active Member
I use cfls and with 5 , 26 watt cfls per plant I yield between 14-21 grams of properly dried and cured marijuana. I recomend using Premium Organic vegetable garden and herbs organic soil mix by "Hortibec"
 

dubblehue

Active Member
I just transplanted my four girls into some Gardener's Gold. It looks like great stuff. I am upgrading from Hyponex(yes I know). I'll report in again in a few days and let you guys know how they are fairing.
 
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