MY DIY hydro grow

I'm setting up a legal medical grow in my basement. This will on a ramen noodle budget. Anything that can be scavenged or done for cheaper will be. not to the point of cutting corners that take away from what the girls need but as much as I can without losing quality.

What I currently have;
lights: I have three 400watt hps industrial lights. They were hardly used before being replaced for a more green friendly set up. cost $0.00
2 cfl tube style for clones $35

I will be adding cfls as needed for mothers and main grow room as needed.

ROOMS: Main room is 8x8x7 Closet for mom's and clones is 4x7x6.

HYDRO: I salvaged the water tanks, pumps, and hoses from an old camper. There were 3 tanks of different size and shape and lots of hoses. cost $0.00
* Be sure they are the water tanks! Tearing into sewer lines or tank will be no fun and not useable.*

That's all I have time for now. Gotta run.

These are the tanks and useable lines.
I think I will be using a drip system. Unless of course someone convinces me of a better way before I get to it.

I'm still looking for help with wiring my lights. I've been told I can wire them 120. I posted on some electrical threads by no response yet. Advice welcome!

nice one! love the recycle grow. hope you journal this one along! I rec getting a few books such as wiring simplified if you have doubts on your wiring abilities. the last pic shows how to wire them up. good luck!!!

why not NFT? all you need is a small pump and its a easy to build recycling system

How would i do the timer if wired like the last pic? I've only seen the plug in timer. Can hard wire timers be picked up at a hardware store?

urgod said:

why not NFT? all you need is a small pump and its a easy to build recycling system

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NFT? I've read up on them and just kind of pictured that one in my head the easiest. Why do stoned minds do what they do is a Q for the ages lol.

Do you prefer NFT? Why? Hit me with some of you thoughts on why its better and how it work. The tanks are still as they sit in the pic so I'm open to any set up really. Let me hear you two cents.

by the way I'm perfectly literate. My android phone just thinks it knows best so it sometimes makes me appear special lol. maybe there is a hooked on phonics so to fix that.

Would these pots work with NFT? Also I'm thinking of put one or to moms on a bubbler in the white tank. Any thoughts? How much room should there be per plant for a bubbler? The tank is about 4-5gal also how large a pump? Is air like light? Too much is never enough? Or will it have negatives? Common sense that too little is bad.

It looks like you can wire at 480v or 120v Find the black wire or wires on the ballast most times they are marked with a tag 120 or 480 sometimes it might be marked right on the wire itself and use the 120v tap and the white wire is the common.

GreenLantern1 said:

It looks like you can wire at 480v or 120v Find the black wire or wires on the ballast most times they are marked with a tag 120 or 480 sometimes it might be marked right on the wire itself and use the 120v tap and the white wire is the common.

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That's the golden nugget I was digging for! Thanks I'll try that in the AM.

Ok so I need to read a newbie thread about journals threads and what not. I'm having trouble keeping the 2 straight. Just a dumbass newbie posting Willy nilly all over.

So I got some good stuff today. Here's the pics. There is a rambling post in my journal detailing about all the happenings of today. Sorry I'll figure this journal thread BS and try to get this shit straight. May have to start again if I can't sort it but hope not.

That stove is fucking awesome. My grows all consist of scavenged, reclaimed, diy, and other wise Mcguyvered parts and accessories. Reps to you Bro, can't wait to see the finished system.

You like my stove eh? Thought about naming my room The Bakery! Pun intended. It was actually there when I moved in. My house is stucco and brick built in the 1920's by a stone mason who built homes in the area. He built it for himself I should say. So he made it special complete with 2 prohibition era secret rooms in the basement for bootleg liquor! If it wasn't a huge pain in the ass I would put my grow in them just for the cool factor. They actually have more floor area than the rooms I'm using but no head room at all. Could do CFL but might be too low for HID. I'll post some picks tomorrow if you'd like to see them. Oh ya thats the other thing that makes them a no grow. The entrances are both in my teenage sons room.

kinda got off the subject huh? So about my stove. When I moved in the great granddaughter of the homes builder said many of the people she had showed the house to wanted to buy the stove. She said she would have too but the house was remodeled and it would require knocking out the wall at the top of the basement stairs. Not sure if that's true. But I'm sure glad she didn't sell it. I will be moving it out of the garden room though. I don't think the girls and it will jive. Not sure what its worth. Any idea? I know they can be worth a lot. I wish it had the bread boxes up top instead of just a shelf.

This is crazy cool. I'm not sure I need it but if I get better lights I'll build one for sure!

Where's my link? Sorry Rednecks and internet is like oil and water.
Check it out.
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/131039-diy-4-6-light-controller.html

you can remove the light fixture, and add some wire ( i used a section of 12g extension chord), make a new mount or buy a real HID hood for grow rooms (or you could try a vertical hanging bulb). then youll be able to remote mount your ballast out of the room, save some heat. this is what i did. got a free 175w MH works like a charm. Also have a 100w HPS but have yet to include it in my space. frikn thing is a hot light.

unohu69 said:

you can remove the light fixture, and add some wire ( i used a section of 12g extension chord), make a new mount or buy a real HID hood for grow rooms (or you could try a vertical hanging bulb). then youll be able to remote mount your ballast out of the room, save some heat. this is what i did. got a free 175w MH works like a charm. Also have a 100w HPS but have yet to include it in my space. frikn thing is a hot light.

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Really? You just answered a huge future Q +rep! I was going to run all three to test the heat once I hang them. Thanks man! I may hit you up for details if I need too!

If anybody likes my scavenged room don't be shy about giving me rep. I at least want that meter to show my real talent. Even if its only slightly above rolling my own. Hit that button people.

theres only two wires running to the lamp socket. should be white and black, Just take off the wire nuts, and add what you need. use 12G wire i would think. some people may say 14 is good enough, but i wouldnt want good enough running my lights.