Good budget indoor setup for 1 or 2 plants?

[Leoman]

Haven't thought much about contamination but I'll keep that in mind. This would be my first time with this type of equipment so I appreciate the advice. The one grow I did in the past was in a bedroom closet with mylar on the walls and the yield was crazy, but it wasn't very potent. I think I harvested too early and probably didn't dry and cure correctly.

Luckily there are places like this and youtube now to get a better understanding of how everything works.

 

[Zill]

Very good Leo. Lots of folks here have perfected all forms of plant culture. You’ll learn a lot.

Good luck.

Zill.

 

[Leoman]

Another question. Has anyone dealt with 42 Fastbuds for seeds? If not who's your go-to?

I'm considering their Gorilla Cookies FF since it has all the characteristics I'm looking for. Don't want autoflower since I'd rather have full control over the grow.

 

[Zatoichi]

I have seen Gorilla sell small tent setups.

 

[Leoman]

I've got a 3x3x72 tent arriving Monday. I still haven't settled on a light yet...been doing all kinds of research and it's really frustrating because of the companies that sell them.

I decided I'll double my budget on lights since I want something that may last and be enough for decent yields. I've been learning about different diodes (Samsung LM218B, LM301B, 301H, 301H EVO, etc). Also reading and watching a bunch of reviews on lights I'm interested in.

The problem is these models change every year. Not the model numbers which stay the same, but the components change. They may put in better diodes one year, and take out the better driver. Or put in better diodes, but decrease the total amount of diodes. Even downgrade to generic diodes, but it's the same model number as last year.

So going by reviews and videos doesn't help at deciding what may actually be a good light when they're reviewing superior versions of them. Even popular brands like Spider Farmer and Mars Hydro are all over the place cutting corners. Their listings will show one spec in the product photos, and give another spec in the description. So who knows what you're getting.

Sorry for the rant but I'm ready to cut a hole in the roof and let the sun handle this. lol

 

[GNick55]

I've got a 3x3x72 tent arriving Monday. I still haven't settled on a light yet...been doing all kinds of research and it's really frustrating because of the companies that sell them.

I decided I'll double my budget on lights since I want something that may last and be enough for decent yields. I've been learning about different diodes (Samsung LM218B, LM301B, 301H, 301H EVO, etc). Also reading and watching a bunch of reviews on lights I'm interested in.

The problem is these models change every year. Not the model numbers which stay the same, but the components change. They may put in better diodes one year, and take out the better driver. Or put in better diodes, but decrease the total amount of diodes. Even downgrade to generic diodes, but it's the same model number as last year.

So going by reviews and videos doesn't help at deciding what may actually be a good light when they're reviewing superior versions of them. Even popular brands like Spider Farmer and Mars Hydro are all over the place cutting corners. Their listings will show one spec in the product photos, and give another spec in the description. So who knows what you're getting.

Sorry for the rant but I'm ready to cut a hole in the roof and let the sun handle this. lol

don’t get to technical about it.. look into metal halide and hps or something similar

 

[Leoman]

don’t get to technical about it.. look into metal halide and hps or something similar

That would be ideal since they're closer to the sun. I had a MH when a stealth grew at my parent's house as a teenager lol. This was before LED grow lights (or before I knew about them). They kept complaining that the electric bill was too high and asking me about it, so they probably knew. So I'm trying to avoid that. They also put out a lot of heat.

I think I have it narrowed down to 2 now in the $200 range. It may come down to a coin toss, but I'd like to complete one season before the weather warms back up.

 

[Natep]

That would be ideal since they're closer to the sun. I had a MH when a stealth grew at my parent's house as a teenager lol. This was before LED grow lights (or before I knew about them). They kept complaining that the electric bill was too high and asking me about it, so they probably knew. So I'm trying to avoid that. They also put out a lot of heat.

I think I have it narrowed down to 2 now in the $200 range. It may come down to a coin toss, but I'd like to complete one season before the weather warms back up.

I would not go metal halide or hps. They make way to much heat. You would need to run two exhaust fans. One for the light hood the other for the tent. You can find a good light for a few hundred buck. Make sure it has Samsung lm301b or h diodes. With a mean well driver.

 

[Leoman]

I would not go metal halide or hps. They make way to much heat. You would need to run two exhaust fans. One for the light hood the other for the tent. You can find a good light for a few hundred buck. Make sure it has Samsung lm301b or h diodes. With a mean well driver.

Yeah, heat and overall cost is my main concern with those.

I think I may pop for the Mars Hydro FC-E3000. It has BridgeLux diodes and Mean Well driver. Mars also has the FC3000 model with 301h EVO diodes for around the same price, but that doesn't have the Mean Well driver and also has less LEDs. It advertises the 301h to get your attention, then cuts costs in other ways.

Both of those are 300 watt suited for a 3x3 tent and "used like new" on Amazon for under $200. That's the coin flip, which one to get. I'm hoping to have everything up and running by the end of the month.

 

[Leoman]

So, just ordered the Mars Hydro FC3000 for $179. Less LEDs than the FC-E3000, but supposedly has better PAR readings due to superior diodes. Reviews for a 3x3 were promising. Not sure about the driver but took a chance. Ready to get this thing started.

 

[2Water]

I would definitely get new and not used. You want to be careful and make sure to have a fire extinguisher around.

 

[Leoman]

So, I cancelled the Mars Hydro and waiting for the Viparspectra black friday sale starting Monday. The KS3000 is made for a 3x3 so hopefully they'll have a deal on that.

The tent just arrived early so it gives me time to set everything up. The last thing I'll need is nutrients. If anyone knows of good products for coco during veg and flower I'm all ears.

 

[Leoman]

I also ordered these seeds since my old ones appear dead. I can only plant 2 at a time so have to choose wisely:

Royal Queen Seeds: Shogun, Cookies Gelato, Royal Runtz, OG Kush (free). They have a 40% off code so wasn't bad.

Fast Buds: Gorilla Cookies FF, Banana Purple Punch Auto (free, didn't want auto but that's what I got).

Kind of leaning towards Shogun and Gorilla Cookies FF for the first grow.