few questions on my setup

I'm a long time outdoor grower but this year shit went south mid summer. I've grown some real monsters over the years but my experience indoor is limited to a few months veg in the spring.
Anyway. It's too late to start over outdoors so I'm diving in head first indoors. If anyone has any experience growing with a setup like what I'm doing, I would appreciate any suggestions, tips or whatever.
I have a heated insulated room about 24'x28'. I doubt I'll be using every bit of it but I can.
I've already picked up 3, 1000 watt dual hps/mh ballasts with reflector hoods. I only have one air cooled hood. I also have 2, 600 watt hps lights.
I'm picking up a aeroflo 60 site this week. It's a pretty big jump from only ever growing in soil, but it doesn't sound too complicated.
My budget wouldn't allow me to buy 60 seeds of good genetics to get the ball rolling but I do have 10 dr.krippling incredible bulk fem seeds coming along with some freebies.
I'll obviously have to grow those up and go to town on the cuttings to fill the 60 sites.
A couple things I'm concerned about to start are....starting with 10 seeds. Would it be a issue keeping the growth even enough in the aeroflo chambers? I'm considering only using every other chamber for 30 plants. The only problem there is I would have to veg longer for bigger plants. I would really like to get a fast turn around on my first grow to get me back on my feet.
Another thing I'm scratching my head on is whether the 3,000 watts would be overkill in that space. Also I'm not sure how big of a deal having air cooled hoods is. I plan on haven't plenty of airflow and ventilation.
I guess that's all I've got right now. I kinda wanted to get this thread going now and hopefully get advice along the way.
Thanks

james42 said:

I'm a long time outdoor grower but this year shit went south mid summer. I've grown some real monsters over the years but my experience indoor is limited to a few months veg in the spring.
Anyway. It's too late to start over outdoors so I'm diving in head first indoors. If anyone has any experience growing with a setup like what I'm doing, I would appreciate any suggestions, tips or whatever.
I have a heated insulated room about 24'x28'. I doubt I'll be using every bit of it but I can.
I've already picked up 3, 1000 watt dual hps/mh ballasts with reflector hoods. I only have one air cooled hood. I also have 2, 600 watt hps lights.
I'm picking up a aeroflo 60 site this week. It's a pretty big jump from only ever growing in soil, but it doesn't sound too complicated.
My budget wouldn't allow me to buy 60 seeds of good genetics to get the ball rolling but I do have 10 dr.krippling incredible bulk fem seeds coming along with some freebies.
I'll obviously have to grow those up and go to town on the cuttings to fill the 60 sites.
A couple things I'm concerned about to start are....starting with 10 seeds. Would it be a issue keeping the growth even enough in the aeroflo chambers? I'm considering only using every other chamber for 30 plants. The only problem there is I would have to veg longer for bigger plants. I would really like to get a fast turn around on my first grow to get me back on my feet.
Another thing I'm scratching my head on is whether the 3,000 watts would be overkill in that space. Also I'm not sure how big of a deal having air cooled hoods is. I plan on haven't plenty of airflow and ventilation.
I guess that's all I've got right now. I kinda wanted to get this thread going now and hopefully get advice along the way.
Thanks

Click to expand...

You have a ridiculous amount of lights. Your electricity bill is going to jump up to like 2 extra grand a month.
You have to keep those lights on 18 hours a day in veg. Why did you buy 3, 1000 watt dual hps/mh ballasts and 2, 600 watt hps light.

In my opinion, I think you should only run the 600 watt hps throughout the whole veg stage. Stay away from that huge 1000 watt light until the plants go into flowering.
I would probably grow the whole thing with the 600 because that is such a big hps light.
Your wasting money if your going to buy some aero matic thing. Just veg them under the light's you have

I just looked at those aero things and holy shit they are expensive. You have thousands of dollars into this grow already, why would you want to a hydro system when you plan on growing in soil.
I'm sure a lot of ppl would disagree with me and tell you that you should get all that stuff but I've been growing a very long time and my plants came out beautiful and all I spent was about 60 bucks with miracle gro and cfl's.

james42 said:

I'm a long time outdoor grower but this year shit went south mid summer. I've grown some real monsters over the years but my experience indoor is limited to a few months veg in the spring.
Anyway. It's too late to start over outdoors so I'm diving in head first indoors. If anyone has any experience growing with a setup like what I'm doing, I would appreciate any suggestions, tips or whatever.
I have a heated insulated room about 24'x28'. I doubt I'll be using every bit of it but I can.
I've already picked up 3, 1000 watt dual hps/mh ballasts with reflector hoods. I only have one air cooled hood. I also have 2, 600 watt hps lights.
I'm picking up a aeroflo 60 site this week. It's a pretty big jump from only ever growing in soil, but it doesn't sound too complicated.
My budget wouldn't allow me to buy 60 seeds of good genetics to get the ball rolling but I do have 10 dr.krippling incredible bulk fem seeds coming along with some freebies.
I'll obviously have to grow those up and go to town on the cuttings to fill the 60 sites.
A couple things I'm concerned about to start are....starting with 10 seeds. Would it be a issue keeping the growth even enough in the aeroflo chambers? I'm considering only using every other chamber for 30 plants. The only problem there is I would have to veg longer for bigger plants. I would really like to get a fast turn around on my first grow to get me back on my feet.
Another thing I'm scratching my head on is whether the 3,000 watts would be overkill in that space. Also I'm not sure how big of a deal having air cooled hoods is. I plan on haven't plenty of airflow and ventilation.
I guess that's all I've got right now. I kinda wanted to get this thread going now and hopefully get advice along the way.
Thanks

Click to expand...

Sounds like you have enough lighting to rock it... but with only 10 plants i would only use a 1000w (2 maximum). Dont think wasting your time and money with the extra lighting would be efficient. I bet you still kill it when you harvest with the right strain/nutrients.

edwardvanhalen123456 said:

You have a ridiculous amount of lights. Your electricity bill is going to jump up to like 2 extra grand a month.

Click to expand...

Completely untrue and RIDICULOUSLY exaggerated. If we assume his KWPH charge is around the national average of 12 cents, here's how his bill will look:

VEG STAGE:
Three 1000 Watt HPS lights running 18 hours a day = 3000/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $194.40 per month.

Two 600 Watt HPS lights = 1200/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $77.76 per month.

Total lighting bill Veg: $272.16 per month.

FLOWER STAGE:

1000 watt lights: 3000/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $129.60 per month

600 watt lights: 1200/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $51.84 per month.

Total lighting bill Flower: $181.44

james42 said:

A couple things I'm concerned about to start are....starting with 10 seeds. Would it be a issue keeping the growth even enough in the aeroflo chambers? I'm considering only using every other chamber for 30 plants. The only problem there is I would have to veg longer for bigger plants. I would really like to get a fast turn around on my first grow to get me back on my feet.
Thanks

Click to expand...

If it's me, I plant all 10 at one end and get them going. When they get a bit of size to them, clone them and start those clones filling the rest of the system up down the line.

If you try spreading them out and filling in the gaps, you're going to be getting uneven lighting no matter what you do. You're not going to be able to slow down those first plants enough without doing at least some harm to them, so that's counter-productive.

About the only other way I can think of that would work would be to only use the 600's at the start and plant the seedlings in the middle and work your way out. The 600's will grow the plants just a bit slower and if you keep them a bit closer you can keep the plants a bit shorter.

Once you get the seedlings up to plants for cloneing, you can put the clones on either end under the 1000's and the extra light will help them get up to speed quicker.

Once the plants reach a relatively close size, you simply mix the lights for a more even spread. (Instead of 600's in the middle and 1000's on the end, go 600 / 1000 / 600 / 1000 to get a more even light spread.

That's as far as my thinking takes me.

I would still do option one if it's me: treat it like two completely separate grows: Grow 1 is the 10 plants at one end and grow two are the clones at the other. That way you can max out the grow on all plants and not risk messing anything up by trying to slow one down and speed up the other.

VenomGrower6990 said:

Sounds like you have enough lighting to rock it... but with only 10 plants i would only use a 1000w (2 maximum). Dont think wasting your time and money with the extra lighting would be efficient. I bet you still kill it when you harvest with the right strain/nutrients.

Click to expand...

I'm only starting with 10 fem seeds and the freebies that come with it, so about 15 all together.
That's what I'm getting at though. It's not enough to fill my 60 site system so I'll have to take clones off of those. I'm a little concerned that I won't be able to keep a even canopy with some from seed and some cloned. Maybe I can make that work though

TacoMac said:

Completely untrue and RIDICULOUSLY exaggerated. If we assume his KWPH charge is around the national average of 12 cents, here's how his bill will look:

VEG STAGE:
Three 1000 Watt HPS lights running 18 hours a day = 3000/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $194.40 per month.

Two 600 Watt HPS lights = 1200/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $77.76 per month.

Total lighting bill Veg: $272.16 per month.

FLOWER STAGE:

1000 watt lights: 3000/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $129.60 per month

600 watt lights: 1200/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $51.84 per month.

Total lighting bill Flower: $181.44



If it's me, I plant all 10 at one end and get them going. When they get a bit of size to them, clone them and start those clones filling the rest of the system up down the line.

If you try spreading them out and filling in the gaps, you're going to be getting uneven lighting no matter what you do. You're not going to be able to slow down those first plants enough without doing at least some harm to them, so that's counter-productive.

About the only other way I can think of that would work would be to only use the 600's at the start and plant the seedlings in the middle and work your way out. The 600's will grow the plants just a bit slower and if you keep them a bit closer you can keep the plants a bit shorter.

Once you get the seedlings up to plants for cloneing, you can put the clones on either end under the 1000's and the extra light will help them get up to speed quicker.

Once the plants reach a relatively close size, you simply mix the lights for a more even spread. (Instead of 600's in the middle and 1000's on the end, go 600 / 1000 / 600 / 1000 to get a more even light spread.

That's as far as my thinking takes me.

I would still do option one if it's me: treat it like two completely separate grows: Grow 1 is the 10 plants at one end and grow two are the clones at the other. That way you can max out the grow on all plants and not risk messing anything up by trying to slow one down and speed up the other.

Click to expand...

I like how you calculated all the costs because I knew it was gonna be a lot.

james42 said:

I'm only starting with 10 fem seeds and the freebies that come with it, so about 15 all together.
That's what I'm getting at though. It's not enough to fill my 60 site system so I'll have to take clones off of those. I'm a little concerned that I won't be able to keep a even canopy with some from seed and some cloned. Maybe I can make that work though

Click to expand...

You will work it through, it's all about trial and error. Once you see a mistake or make one, you will understand the problem and fix it.

edwardvanhalen123456 said:

I like how you calculated all the costs because I knew it was gonna be a lot.

Click to expand...

Well, to get your exact cost, you have to know your KWPH charge. (It's listed on your power bill). Just plug that in as the last number in those equations and you'll know exactly what it's going to cost you.

TacoMac said:

Completely untrue and RIDICULOUSLY exaggerated. If we assume his KWPH charge is around the national average of 12 cents, here's how his bill will look:

VEG STAGE:
Three 1000 Watt HPS lights running 18 hours a day = 3000/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $194.40 per month.

Two 600 Watt HPS lights = 1200/1000 x 18 x 30 x 12 = $77.76 per month.

Total lighting bill Veg: $272.16 per month.

FLOWER STAGE:

1000 watt lights: 3000/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $129.60 per month

600 watt lights: 1200/1000 x 12 x 30 x 12 = $51.84 per month.

Total lighting bill Flower: $181.44



If it's me, I plant all 10 at one end and get them going. When they get a bit of size to them, clone them and start those clones filling the rest of the system up down the line.

If you try spreading them out and filling in the gaps, you're going to be getting uneven lighting no matter what you do. You're not going to be able to slow down those first plants enough without doing at least some harm to them, so that's counter-productive.

About the only other way I can think of that would work would be to only use the 600's at the start and plant the seedlings in the middle and work your way out. The 600's will grow the plants just a bit slower and if you keep them a bit closer you can keep the plants a bit shorter.

Once you get the seedlings up to plants for cloneing, you can put the clones on either end under the 1000's and the extra light will help them get up to speed quicker.

Once the plants reach a relatively close size, you simply mix the lights for a more even spread. (Instead of 600's in the middle and 1000's on the end, go 600 / 1000 / 600 / 1000 to get a more even light spread.

That's as far as my thinking takes me.

I would still do option one if it's me: treat it like two completely separate grows: Grow 1 is the 10 plants at one end and grow two are the clones at the other. That way you can max out the grow on all plants and not risk messing anything up by trying to slow one down and speed up the other.

Click to expand...

Thank you!!
That's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for.
And I knew the light bill wouldn't be that ridiculous. I actually bought all the lights, ballasts, hoods, extra bulbs and 3 huge carbon filters off craigslist. 350$ for all of it. (Don't hate me)
I don't necessarily have to use all of them but I certainly will if I can without bad wasting of light.
I got the aeroflo 60 for only 500$. It even comes with all the net pots, and clay ball medium. I really like your idea of putting the ones from seed on one side and cuttings on the other. There is a way to set the system up with half the aero tube things on each side of the reservoir. Making it almost 12 feet wide.
I'm definitely going to have to partition of a little veg room to be ready for the next round in this system.
Thanks again for the advice.

edwardvanhalen123456 said:

You will work it through, it's all about trial and error. Once you see a mistake or make one, you will understand the problem and fix it.

Click to expand...

Oh yeah. I don't expect to have everything dialed in on the first go. I've always been a shoot for the stars kind of though, and hopefully I can steal enough knowledge from other growers to shorten the learning curve.

I thought I'd post some pictures of where I'm at on my grow and the grow room. I'm doing alot diy work and I'm doing it as I go. I've always been a outdoor grower and I lost everything this year do to some domestic issues. I'm not some hobby grower that lost a couple bag seed plants. I had thousands invested in this year's outdoor grow. I lost 42 plants that I was depending on to keep a roof over my families head for the next year.
It might look cobbled together, but I'm confident that this new indoor venter will be a success and keep me afloat until the fall of 2017.
The pics are 4 or 5 days old. I currently have 16 week old seedlings and two little cuttings from my lost outdoor crop that somehow survived in my aeroflo2 60. I have 10 fem dr.krippling incredible bulk, 2 dr.krippling afghan cow, 2 delicious cheese and a few a afghan valley somethings.
The surviving 2 are either critical sensi star, Iranian g15, Iranian or goldmine. I have no way of know which. Doesn't matter though. There all good strains.
I built a water chiller out of a dehumidifier I had and ordered a drinking fountain thermostat switch to control it. It maintains my reservoir Temps between 62-65f. It's working great so far.
It's not quite finished but I'm almost done with my big carbon scrubber. I took a furnace blower and built a box that will be mounted against the wall inside the grow room. I am mounting 3 large carbon filters plugged directly into the top of the box. It will draw air through them and exhaust into the attached garage next door.
Right now I have one 1000 watt metal halide over all the plants. It's overkill for there size but I have a 600 watt mh bulb on the way.
As soon as I can clone the plants I have and get my numbers to 30+ I will do a short veg and switch to flower under 3, 1000 watt hps.
I still have tons of work to do. As soon as I get that all squared away, I have to start building a separate veg room so I can throw another batch into flower right behind this one.
Sorry for the long winded post. Drank too much coffee this morning