First Grow Setup

Sadturtle · Nov 19, 2012

Hello everyone! I didn’t know what to write for my intro post so I decided to just start here =]. This will be my first real indoor grow, before this I would just mess around and wish for the best whenever I planted. I am currently still in the planning stage and have tons of questions that I would like to ask in regards to the equipment; any responses at all would be extremely helpful!

Hydroponics
Cost: $700~$1300

Currently have 3 choices:
- UC4
- UC4XL
- UC4XL13

Tent & Lighting
Cost: $236.59

iPower 600w Digital Dimmable MH/HPS Ballast COMBO:
6" Standard Air-Cooled Hood
iPower 600w HPS Bulb
iPower 600w MH Bulb
Pair of Rope Ratchets
24-Hour Mechanical Outlet Timer
- http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLSETX600DHMAC6-600-Watt-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B005GYRZV2/ref=pd_sbs_lg_5

Ventilation
Cost: $209.90

6" 440 CFM Air Duct Inline Fan w/ Carbon Filter
- http://www.amazon.com/Hydropronic-Inline-Carbon-Filter-Control/dp/B002ZJNW3Q
Duct Fan Speed Controller
- http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-ACSC-Duct-Speed-Adjuster/dp/B003URBQ1M/ref=pd_cp_hi_0
6" Insulated Ducting
- http://www.amazon.com/Vent-Insulated-Flexible-Ducting-Black/dp/B007IVOEOC/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1353296464&sr=1-2&keywords=6%22+insulated+duct
2x Oscillating Fans
Rope Ratchets

Medium & Nutrients
Cost: $13

Rockwool Cubes
Cultured Solutions?

Electronics & Monitoring
Cost: $160

pH Control Kit
Acurite Indoor Humidity Moniter
- http://www.amazon.com/Acu-Rite-Indoor-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B0013BKDO8/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_z
Milwaukee MW801 LED pH/EC/TDS Meter
- http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Portable-Calibration-Accuracy-Resolution/dp/B007Z4KGC6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353366878&sr=8-1&keywords=Milwaukee+MW801

Total Cost: $619.49
-Without Tent, medium, nutes, hydroponic system
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Sadturtle · Nov 19, 2012

And a lot of questions:
I am planning to get the UC4 for my personal use (although the UC4XL / UC4XL13 is still in consideration).

Should I stick with the UC4 or just spend the extra money and get the XL or XL13?
If I do upgrade to a 4XL or 4XL13, should I stick to CCH20’s recommendation for a 1000w lighting system?

Lighting:

Should I go with the combo above or just build my own (perhaps Lumatek)? Would the cost go up by a great deal?

Some tent questions:

What would be the minimum size grow tent required to fit one of the UC4’s?
1. I’d like to get a Gorilla Grow Tent at either 2x4 or 5x5 (except the 5x5 is pricey).
2. If this will not fit the UC’s, do you have any other recommendations?
Should I ditch the Gorilla Grow Tent and just go with something like the Secret Jardin DR150 5' x 5' ($275 vs GGT @ $436)?.
1. http://www.accesshydroponic.com/product.php?productid=5170&cat=376&page=1#.UKqbw4foSZB
2. http://www.greners.com/i/grow-tents/secret-jardin/secret-jardin-dark-room-grow-tent-dr150.html

Medium & Nutes

What medium & nutrients do you recommend for an entire cycle?
Should I just go stick with Rockwool cubes for a growing medium?

Ventilation

Is the Inline fan + carbon filter combo fine? Or should I choose something else like below:
1. http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLFANXINLINE6-Ducting-Hydroponics-Applications/dp/B009LCEUEK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1353357443&sr=8-6&keywords=ipower+6%22+inline+fan
Should I get 2 fans, one for intake and one for out
Choice of insulated ducting, which should I get?
1. http://www.amazon.com/LL-Building-F6IFD6X300-Insulated-Duct/dp/B000WJ3218/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1353296464&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=6%22+insulated+duct
2. http://www.amazon.com/Vent-Insulated-Flexible-Ducting-Black/dp/B007IVOEOC/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1353296464&sr=1-2&keywords=6%22+insulated+duct

Tools

The Milwaukee MW801 LED pH/EC/TDS Meter is only 1-Point Calbiration! I read on THCF that one should get a TDS Meter that is at least 2-point, any suggestions?
1. Or should I go with the BlueLab Combo Meter? It is $207 compared to $135 for the MW801.(http://www.amazon.com/BlueLab-BLU2300E-Combo-Meter/dp/B003PD2N8Q)

The space itself is in the (fully finished) basement, which is L-shaped. I will be using the corner of the room (the bottom tip of the ‘L’), LWH of the corner is roughly 10’ x 6’ x 10’. I’d like to minimize noise & smell as much as possible but would prefer to minimize cost even more!

On a side note, I read somewhere that you can connect the ventilation duct directly to the sewer drain in the basement and have it on all the time for no chance of smell =p

Papa · Nov 26, 2012

welcome to the farm Sadturtle!

two point calibration meters are surely the way to go. you can't go wrong with bluelab these days.

jumping into rdwc for your first indoor grow is a very big step. i'd suggest you try something more forgiving for your fist run.

First Grow Setup

First Grow Setup

Sadturtle

Sadturtle

Papa

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