$1320 Budget lets GROW DRO!

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

Well everyones telling me my best bet is two 600's.. and to go Ebb & Flow with SOG... Im over killing this enough, lost lol i can tell your use to GOIN HUGE! what you think of their idea? i mean bud is going to be growing if i go dirt! im just trying to find something in the middle of your crazy ass MPD set ups and a soil grow...

I looked at Ogisel and am convinced that will be my strain! now all i need is that Cali connect...

Dont forget to take a look at this meter http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-PH-200-WATERPROOF-METER/dp/B000WJ2YOE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_5

and help me find the lowest priced most reliable 600watt hps system...
or tell me
What kind of hood am i looking for?
What bulbs should i use or NOT USE
what ballast brand/company should i use or not use?

experience is awesome and im going to take full advantage of you professionals!

Thx a million i will dedicate every harvest to you guys helping me out i wont let u down.

mrdizzle · Feb 16, 2010

that Ph/ppm pen is fine, just google 600w ballast any brand it doesnt matter, you can find one for $120 bucks, you can find 600w bulbs for $50 bucks again any brand it doesnt matter, google 8inch aircooled hoods doesnt matter which brand, and they can be found for around $120 or less, so were looking at 500bucks so far. you said your gonna build the tables so theres $100, 400gph pump, $40, two 27gal totes $28 bucks, raindrop top feed $20bucks, hydrofarm fans $250, scubber $200, couple wall fans $60 bucks you have money left over

Oregonic · Feb 16, 2010

Dude, most of this stuff can be answered by spending HOURS in the forums and browsing online.

30 ppm/ph should be fine ur first go round but you will be miles ahead if you put down the extra money now, I had so many problems until I got ph dialed in.

but really, dude, most of your questions can be answered yourself with some research on the farm. Go used on quality equipment for the first run like was said before, brand new bulbs but the hoods and shit are all over CL at least in my area and way cheap!

Good luck brutha, hope to see a journal soon!

PureSugar · Feb 16, 2010

mrdizzle said:
that Ph/ppm pen is fine...

Neither one of those meters are what you need. You want a combo meter that reads both pH AND PPM/TDS/EC. The two you posted links for are for single read meters, one of them does pH the other PPM/TDS/EC. Both values are essential if you are going to go hydro.

SRHninja said:
Dont forget to take a look at this meter http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-PH-200-WATERPROOF-METER/dp/B000WJ2YOE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_5

SRHninja said:
What about that ph/ppm METER? is that what im lookin for?

http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-PH-200-WATERPROOF-METER/dp/B000WJ2YOE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_5

edited: first link i posted was to wrong product

Generally speaking the most expensive way to do something is to buy the cheapest parts you can find. Spending an extra $1 now could save you $2 later.

Kpezzy · Feb 16, 2010

Hey ninja have you looked on Craigslist? I know you have a small budget and there are people selling all kinds of stuff for great deals on there, shit I found three 6 inch inline fans for $90 how can you beat that? go to the Garden section good luck buddy

Lost · Feb 16, 2010

SRH - Ebb and flow, but top feeding it, not flooding it is the way to go like dizzle pointed out. If you want to be sucessful first go around listen to dizzle. My post was a joke, that's almost a grand worth of equiptment and your not even growing yet.

In all seriousness, that budget grow ballast they have is 133 for a 1k hps. Cheaper for the 600 if I remember correctly. You can buy 2-3 of them for the price of a galaxy or lumatek. Sure the electronic ones are nice once you have finished a crop and you have a wad of cash that your looking to upgrade your game, but not necessary. You wanna get up and running as soon as possible.

Since your going E&F top feed, checkout the grodan 8 inch blocks. People have been telling me good things about them. Also, order some H&G nutes. Better yet, call them up, tell them you just started indoor hydroponics and would like a sample of their nutes if possible. If your lucky they will send you a run's worth. If they do not send the the Roots excelurator, buy it!!

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

thx alot im currently in the process of purchasing a SUNLIGHT SUPPLY DUEL 600 watt HPS ballast for super cheap!!! ill let u guys know how it works out im going to craigslist now...

and i appreciate all the help dont think i dont research sometimes i just like to hear the same info twice its always explained differently.. and i want opinions from specific ppl not scattered information i mean the scattered post are good for a decent idea but i need to explore the mind of you celebrity farmers hahah dig around in their plant my seed and harvest that knowledge!!!

::EDITED:: just checked out lawn and garden section of craigslist for my area... NOT 1 item relating to growing.. bunch of Goats, heifers, and chicken cages for sale.. im in a area where i have to drive 40 miles to a hydro store if i go....

RE EDITED TO SAVE SPACE::

OKAY LOST lol for a minute their u had me lost anyways so instead of a flood and drain you want me to run a drip system ebb and flow?

also had some help and in the steps of buying a duel 600 watt HPS ballast.. for SUPER CHEAP... lol

ShorelineTex · Feb 16, 2010

I have maybe $600 in my whole 600w tent setup, including *everything* down to the soil (fans, lamp/ballast/hood, tent, pH, supplies, soil). Two of these could be run on opposite cycles (one light and one dark during each 12 hour period), and it might cut down on your heat problems as well.

If you decide to go with 600watters, I'd try a single 600w and experiment with some genetics for a grow. That way, if something goes fubar, you don't have $1200, a massive electric bill, and not much to show for it. Plus you know what to expect from your ladies on round two.

Hydro is just so finicky sometimes...mechanical failures, reservoir temps, correct nutrient/pH levels, and constant monitoring...I would HIGHLY recommend soil if you want to put a little less effort into it.

I think I went 3 days last week without even looking in my tent - take a peek at the link in my

If you get the right genetics and you SOG (or maybe scrog), I think you could get 1.5 lbs.

You won't get this your first grow, and the quality will likely not be nearly as good as your second grow will be, but it's totally doable.

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

Very nice.. well im buying the Duel 600 hps tomorrow its set up! and my worse case scanrio is that i gotta grow dirt weed... (JOKING ORGANIC FARMERS!!!!) i dont have a job my full time job is doing what im doing now. Learning and Executing... So time isnt a issue and im pretty damn bored so if i gotta check my girls twice a day its fine hell im going to do that regardless..

And heat shouldnt be a problem once i get the ventilation set up.. especially using the system DIZZ posted if a 200 dollar inline fan dont fix my heat problem then i got hosed tommy! plus i plant on cutting my intake hole @ the bottom of the left side wall.. that way i will pull that cold air from my window a/c unit in their...

QUESTION: what if i cut a hole in the floor to pull the air from under the house? now if im in my shroom farming mode im thinking MOLD and Contamination..... do the same rules apply?especially using ebb & flow drip system

BTW this is a 3 bedroom house with a attic (god knows where this is going) lol!

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

hmmm. im going to have to learn DWC one way or another and if LOST thinks im not ready for DWC then it must be better then EBB & FLOW... because y can i do one and not the other unless it was more complicated which over all means BETTER YIELD hahaha didnt think i caught that did you? well G.OD PM some info maybe some pics to go along with it maybe show me your system so i can get a picture in my head that or draw me a pretty picture like the illustration below maybe add some arrows on the hoses to show me the flow of air or water haha i love you guys bare with me.. im like a bud plant give me TLC and i will blossom!

OKAY! i might not even need a A/C unit all summer now that im drilling a intake hole in the floor of the house! call me TIM THE TOOL MAN! ARHG ARHG ARHG ARGH ARR??? hahah

Fred · Feb 16, 2010

if you are still undecided then I say Dro the first time out is much harder than throwing them in some soil on the drain table and pick up some more skills, knowledge, and money to build your ultimate system. Spend the next couple months learning about the different systems and then decide. If the info from the other post sounds easy to ya then well maybe different. Just my thoughts, but if you are gonna go hydro you already have the best peeps helping!

Good luck and I can't wait to see how this comes out.

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

but if you are gonna go hydro you already have the best peeps helping!

lol thats not by chance! i have been reading and reading posts, threads, journals, smoke reports by these guys hell you can consider me stalker.. i got them all to come here i recruited the best! I can make things happen! lol im very determined

and im definitely going dro ill keep some dirt around for that worst case scenario!

(AND NO WORRIES i will record all of this and post updates as they happen)

convex · Feb 16, 2010

Are plant counts an issue for you?
If so it may dictate your manner of growing - a table full of cuts vs. a few buckets.

Cheers

Texas Kid · Feb 16, 2010

I think you can do a badass setup for that money...

(1) Dual 600w ballast
(2) 600 Hortilux HPS
(1) Grozilla air cooled dual bulb hood
(1) 6" inline CanFan
(1) 4x4 Darkroom grow tent
(1) 3x3 ebb & flow setup
(1) 6" circulation fan

If ya had a big ass closet, you could loose the tent and kill it...

Tex

mrdizzle · Feb 16, 2010

I agree with GOD that rw does suck if you flood the table, it wicks and gets soaked, but top feed the gravity pulls the water down through bringing in alot of new air as well as oxy rich water, I have had my best results watering for 2mins every 1:30mins

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

well that closet is kinda small 4 1/2 inches in 5'9 high and 6 1/2 ft long (ill get percise tomorrow but last time i checked that was the range) rectangle and little... keep in mind im going to have two 600 watt HPS going (on a duel ballast) with the ventilation system if your idea can fit those schematics im game brother... lets hear it!

just read the new post by TK and DIZZLE edititng to save space:

YOU R NOT LYING TK!

the stars are shining on me now!

well im convinced Drip is my best bet on the tray..
you guys do mean EBB & FLOW DRIP system? i always have to check with you guys to make sure its not modified haha just a plain ebb & flow drip system right?

not half flood 3 times a day drip for 2 mins every 3 hours or something hahah just a standard drip schedule from vege to flowering SOG style?

also TK in that budget comes the METER and the SEEDS.
do i really need a tent painting the walls flat white and ceiling wont be just as good as a tent?

How much distance should the 600watters have between each other?

Lost · Feb 16, 2010

Basically you run ebb and flood tables and never flood. You use top drip and the flood table returns the nutes to the res. (the top drip runs thri the cube down the table to the drain and into the res where it is pumped back to the drippers. )

Its not that I don't think your ready for DWC. I just would not risk an entire crop on it with no experience.I think it would be a good Idea to also throw a 5 gallon dwc bucket in there. They cost about 15 bucks to get together and are great yielders. It would give you a step into the world of DWC while producing a crop with your top drip tables.

Lots of stuff can go wrong in DWC and the thing is by the time the plant leaves are showing you something, you missed your window to fix it days ago, its just that fast... Not so in other mediums..

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

thats cool you know whats weird is that my first choice was DWC single buckets anyways... only reason i didnt stick to my plan is because i thought at that time when you guys said 1gram per watt it was per plant not per light... so i was thinking 5 DIY SINGLE BUCKET DWC (FOLLOW HESSISAH's techs on constructing them) and when i harvest i would have 5 pounds hahaa well thats not the case.. i was told im going to get the same weight if i got 5 plants or 12 under that light all that changes is vege times....

so i decided maybe i should just do 12 or 8 small fast plants to get my 1g per watt in a faster time period instead of doing
DWC single bucket cleaning them out once a week, growing longer jus for the same weight..?

SRHninja · Feb 16, 2010

okay that sounds good with your system were vegeing 4 weeks and flower until finish sounds like 3 1/2 months.... same thing that a ak-47 auto-flower ran in a report i read

my ceiling is almost touching my head atleast those 2/4 braces.. and DWC doesnt that mean bigger taller plants? that could be a CON to DWC?

im going to compare this to the ebb and flow and by the end of this thread we will have which system and cycles are the better in this case!! i like a good VS match

i guess we can compare pro's and cons and since you guys are well rounded in both this will be good information to collect (one day i hope to publish a book of compiled information)

Malachi · Feb 17, 2010

The biggest pro of an ebb and flow system is that you use medium. Medium based systems are a little more forgiving with nutrients than NFT or DWC systems. The medium acts as a buffer for your nutes. It doesn't mean you will yield less. It is a great way to learn the basics of hydroponics with a smaller risk of an epic failure.

Con Ebb and Flow is a little more expensive to get going. You have to buy the medium and or pots and flood trays/tables.

$1320 Budget lets GROW DRO!

$1320 Budget lets GROW DRO!

SRHninja

mrdizzle

Oregonic

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PureSugar

Kpezzy

Lost

SRHninja

ShorelineTex

SRHninja

SRHninja

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Fred

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SRHninja

convex

Texas Kid

Some guy with a light

mrdizzle

SRHninja

Lost

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Malachi

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$1320 Budget lets GROW DRO!

$1320 Budget lets GROW DRO!

SRHninja

mrdizzle

Oregonic

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PureSugar

Kpezzy

Lost

SRHninja

ShorelineTex

SRHninja

SRHninja

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Fred

Premium Member

SRHninja

convex

Texas Kid

Some guy with a light

mrdizzle

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Malachi

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