SknkPnk
New Member
Well, as this is my first post, I want to give a quick hello 
I've been reading up on a lot of forums lately and have decided to make a spot here after reading a lot of good info and seeing a really positive community. I'm going to be starting a grow here in the coming weeks and hoping to use this as a resource along the way.
I have a few small soil grows under my belt over a decade ago and am now again in a position where I would like to build another garden. Previously, I grew under cfl's and t5 florescent, this time I was looking into going the LED way because of the energy efficiency, but after a lot of research, I settled on cob led's, but do not have the funds to go that route at the moment, instead I came across a great deal on some hps lamps that I couldn't pass up so, I'll be going with that this time. Also, this time around, I am wanting to give a SCGROG RDWC system a shot. Having no hydroponic experience at all, I'm hoping can find some answers here that I may have.
Alright... I'm working with a 12x6x8 space
lights : Hydrofarm 1000w & 400w HPS (hoods/ballasts/and extra bulbs for each).
4 inline fans (three 4" and one 6") & all the ducting i need.
2 large carbon can filters (spent?)
c02 tank and controller (this is something I have no experience with and will need some info on.)
ppm and ph meters
light timer
I'm in the planning phase now and trying to nail down exactly how I want to set up my space. I have two separate things in mind, but not quite sure what would be the most efficient with the space I have.
I was initially looking to split the space into two parts, a vegging/clone side under the 400w and a flower side under the 1000w. With this I'm looking to harvest every 8 weeks after the initial cycle. Vegging for 8 weeks under 400w in [2] 15 gallon totes (with about 10 gallons water each) on one side, then moving them into [2] 30 gallon totes (with about 20 gallons water each) for the vegging phase. *note* lids are interchangeable on both size bins. Each side will also have its own reservoir, water pumps, and air pumps. Scrogging could be a pain with the transferring, is one issue I foresee, but I believe it can be done.
Now another option is to abandon the perpetual scheme, and use the entire space, grow under the full 1400w, and expand the number of plants to 6 or 8, that stay in their 15 gallon totes veg to bloom. This way will be easier to scrog, would only need to purchase and run 1 air and 1 water pump instead. This will obviously have a much longer harvest turn around time, closer to 4 months than 2, but could I more than double the yield? How many plants can 1400w handle? An autoflowering strain would obviously cut down the turn around time, but would that transfer into comparable yields over time?
These are a few things I need to hash out before I go purchasing the rest of the equipment I will need.
which will be air pump (was looking at eco plus 3) and water pump (suggested size/wats?)
I think I may need to install an electrical sub panel as well. With the 2 lights, fans and pumps, what kind of power draw am I looking at? what kind of amperage and breaker situation should I be looking at? 120v 240v?
I also have a question on the can carbon air filters. I believe the two I have are inactive, can these be refilled/recycled? turned in for discount on new ones? I hear aquarium stores sell activated carbon, would it be worth it to buy in large enough bulk and do myself? is this practical? Surely they're not trash.
I will most definitely have more questions on things like nutes, ppms, c02 and particulars later. I'll probably start another thread once I get everything together and keep a journal on the grow for that stuff, but for now I want to get all my logistics and prep worked out. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
I've been reading up on a lot of forums lately and have decided to make a spot here after reading a lot of good info and seeing a really positive community. I'm going to be starting a grow here in the coming weeks and hoping to use this as a resource along the way.I have a few small soil grows under my belt over a decade ago and am now again in a position where I would like to build another garden. Previously, I grew under cfl's and t5 florescent, this time I was looking into going the LED way because of the energy efficiency, but after a lot of research, I settled on cob led's, but do not have the funds to go that route at the moment, instead I came across a great deal on some hps lamps that I couldn't pass up so, I'll be going with that this time. Also, this time around, I am wanting to give a SCGROG RDWC system a shot. Having no hydroponic experience at all, I'm hoping can find some answers here that I may have.
Alright... I'm working with a 12x6x8 space
lights : Hydrofarm 1000w & 400w HPS (hoods/ballasts/and extra bulbs for each).
4 inline fans (three 4" and one 6") & all the ducting i need.
2 large carbon can filters (spent?)
c02 tank and controller (this is something I have no experience with and will need some info on.)
ppm and ph meters
light timer
I'm in the planning phase now and trying to nail down exactly how I want to set up my space. I have two separate things in mind, but not quite sure what would be the most efficient with the space I have.
I was initially looking to split the space into two parts, a vegging/clone side under the 400w and a flower side under the 1000w. With this I'm looking to harvest every 8 weeks after the initial cycle. Vegging for 8 weeks under 400w in [2] 15 gallon totes (with about 10 gallons water each) on one side, then moving them into [2] 30 gallon totes (with about 20 gallons water each) for the vegging phase. *note* lids are interchangeable on both size bins. Each side will also have its own reservoir, water pumps, and air pumps. Scrogging could be a pain with the transferring, is one issue I foresee, but I believe it can be done.
Now another option is to abandon the perpetual scheme, and use the entire space, grow under the full 1400w, and expand the number of plants to 6 or 8, that stay in their 15 gallon totes veg to bloom. This way will be easier to scrog, would only need to purchase and run 1 air and 1 water pump instead. This will obviously have a much longer harvest turn around time, closer to 4 months than 2, but could I more than double the yield? How many plants can 1400w handle? An autoflowering strain would obviously cut down the turn around time, but would that transfer into comparable yields over time?
These are a few things I need to hash out before I go purchasing the rest of the equipment I will need.
which will be air pump (was looking at eco plus 3) and water pump (suggested size/wats?)
I think I may need to install an electrical sub panel as well. With the 2 lights, fans and pumps, what kind of power draw am I looking at? what kind of amperage and breaker situation should I be looking at? 120v 240v?
I also have a question on the can carbon air filters. I believe the two I have are inactive, can these be refilled/recycled? turned in for discount on new ones? I hear aquarium stores sell activated carbon, would it be worth it to buy in large enough bulk and do myself? is this practical? Surely they're not trash.
I will most definitely have more questions on things like nutes, ppms, c02 and particulars later. I'll probably start another thread once I get everything together and keep a journal on the grow for that stuff, but for now I want to get all my logistics and prep worked out. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.