Some constructive criticism please

Now imagine this as a flowering room...

1 600 watt light (maybe 1000W?) on a mover over two 3x3 ebb and flow trays. I figure you could at least fit 12 plants per tray if not more. Harvesting every two weeks you could do half a tray, so 6 plants every two weeks.

What I mean by this, would be something like here, except instead of a whole separate tray for each cycle, you would only use half of a tray per cycle of two weeks.

Using Dutchmaster gold with liquid light as far as nutrients go, along with added CO2.

This would all be in a small well ventilated room, mylar on all sides, etc.

Running an AC for the 12hr cycle along with blowers and the lights, I estimate a total of a 2100W-2500W system. (depending on lights) Half of this power would be drawn from a portable generator, while the other would be on the grid.

Estimates in monthly costs are around $800.

And a follow up of the equipment that would be used:
1 600W-1000W light on a mover
1 700-1000W AC
1 6"-8" blower 300-400W
2 3x3 ebb and flow trays off of one reservoir (don't know how much power that would take...)

1/2 of the time this would all be run off of a generator, the other 1/2 on the grid.


Now, my main questions are the following.

What would you expect to yield?

How would you do it differently working around close to the same thing (ie: you have no more space, and the wattage is trying to stay about the same.)

The grow would take place in a shed, so for most of the day there will be no ac, would you constantly keep exhaust fans running? or would you only turn everything on for the 12hrs of light?

I don't know what the temps would be as far as during the day with no AC, what would be a safe number to hit?

How long should a 30g reservoir last on 2 3x3 trays?

Finally, what would be some minor things that I've missed and need to reassess?

Option said:

Now, my main questions are the following.

What would you expect to yield?

How would you do it differently working around close to the same thing (ie: you have no more space, and the wattage is trying to stay about the same.)

Finally, what would be some minor things that I've missed and need to reassess?

Click to expand...

A lot of those questions are impossible to answer intelligently. There are just too many variables. You would just need to get it up and running and see what the temps are to decide about running the fans during the off time. See what I mean? How long your water lasts varies hugely depending on how big the plants are, yield depends on strains, how long you veg, etc, etc, etc.

Cost wise you need to figure in the very real cost of depreciation on that generator, AC, bulbs, etc if you didn't already.

RIU is good for specific questions, not so good with asking wide sweeping questions.

Sorry, it was late and was having a hard time concentrating.

There's no way I could get an estimate on yield? Let's just say the strain is northern lights.

Is it generally worth it to use a 1000W light with what I'm doing? Or will a 600 suffice without losing too much yield?

I was under the impression that you should always keep an outside air flow on your plants, so I should only use the exhaust fans when it gets too hot and that's it?

Vegging time I'd say would be a few weeks, until the plants are 1-2' tall. Much shorter veg, maybe eventually I'll lengthen the veg.

And I don't follow what you mean on depreciation of equipment... I don't think an AC is going to go bad in a year, and neither is a generator... only thing that I can think of needing to be replaced would be filters, and lights (keep in mind this is all off the top of my head).


Why is RIU not good for asking general questions? I'm not asking for exact figures, just whatever your best estimate is you can give me with the information I provided...

Why? Because we are stoners and too much typing wears us out.

A very competent grower, with no problems, can grow about two pounds of weed per 1000w every three months. So adjust accordingly. So from one 1000w every two weeks? Divide 2 pounds by 6 = 5 oz every two weeks.

Plants need fresh air all the time except when dosing with co2. More air is always better for many reasons. MORE. MORE MORE.

Sure, nobody thinks their equipment will go bad. Wait until you are running an operation and then we'll talk. Also have money set aside for when the generator or AC dies six weeks into flowering and you need a replacement in ten minutes or plants start to die.

The generator would be connected to the grid, along with the lights and everything. So, if the generator died, there'd be no effect, except my electricity bill would go up until I got a new generator.