Need inexpensive recommendations

Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
Hey everybody, I have a 3x3 with so far a successful grow. As I am in flower I'm thinking I don't want to wait till the end of the harvest to start another grow. Also I want something to let me experiment. I only have room for a 2x2 tent that I can pick up for around 50 on amazon. I'm worried though about what type of cheap light will work well in it. A little research tells me I can get a 1000 watt 65watt light for under $100. But will a 65 watt light actually produce decent quality if I keep my grow on point? I have also read mixed reviews on HLG DIY lights. My goal is to grow 1 plant and use it to clone and possibly start vegging 4 more for my 3x3 to get a head start, and then grow out that plant. Since my 3x3 is a soil grow I figure the 2x2 can be my test bed for a hydro grow. I know ow a lot of people feel about Chinese lights, but I'm not really spending my own money. I have a $115 gift card from Amazon laying around so I might as well use it. I don't mind adding a few bucks, but I want to spend as little as possible without wishing I spent more.

I don't have to do this, I know I can just start some seeds but that means I have to wait until my grow and cure is done in the 3x3 and then I don't get the hydro experience while still staying safe with soil.
 
JCMT98

JCMT98

Well-Known Member
Hey im new here so take what I say with a grain of salt..

Been doing plenty of research and i myself am running a 2x2 with a soil grow & currently in flower.

I would suggest using coco as its considered a hydroponic medium instead of using something like DWC (unless you want to of course)

The light im currently using in my 2x2x6 is a Spider Farmer SF-1000 and its my first grow light (draws 100w) So far i have nothing but good things to say about it and for the price IMO its great bang for your $, It's around $150 - $180

Id allocate most of your gift card balance for the light and add on for the tent/nutes/coco shouldn't be much more.

Hope it helps :)

:bigjoint:
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
JCMT98 said:
Hey im new here so take what I say with a grain of salt..

Been doing plenty of research and i myself am running a 2x2 with a soil grow & currently in flower.

I would suggest using coco as its considered a hydroponic medium instead of using something like DWC (unless you want to of course)

The light im currently using in my 2x2x6 is a Spider Farmer SF-1000 and its my first grow light (draws 100w) So far i have nothing but good things to say about it and for the price IMO its great bang for your $, It's around $150 - $180

Id allocate most of your gift card balance for the light and add on for the tent/nutes/coco shouldn't be much more.

Hope it helps :)

:bigjoint:
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Yeah, I already have everything I need except the tent and light. The tent is a no brainer and I can take your grain of salt cause I would give the same advice. Spend good money on your light! What I really want to hear though is from somebody who used a 1000 level Chinese light. Lights with a 1000 nomenclature are a dime a dozen on Amazon but is the end product gonna taste like homegrown? Is this your first grow? It's always easy to be happy on a first time grow until you get to the end product (taste, quality, yield). I think by the time I get to the $180 range I might as well say screw it and go for it. HLG sells a 135w QB V2 Rspec kit for $200 that many say is better than most of the 1000 level stuff on Amazon, while the SF1000 from spider farm is on sale for $89 plus 20% off so it looks like a tasty deal.
 
T

testtime

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
Yeah, I already have everything I need except the tent and light. The tent is a no brainer and I can take your grain of salt cause I would give the same advice. Spend good money on your light! What I really want to hear though is from somebody who used a 1000 level Chinese light. Lights with a 1000 nomenclature are a dime a dozen on Amazon but is the end product gonna taste like homegrown? Is this your first grow? It's always easy to be happy on a first time grow until you get to the end product (taste, quality, yield). I think by the time I get to the $180 range I might as well say screw it and go for it. HLG sells a 135w QB V2 Rspec kit for $200 that many say is better than most of the 1000 level stuff on Amazon, while the SF1000 from spider farm is on sale for $89 plus 20% off so it looks like a tasty deal.
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I have four enjoyield 1,000s.
This is in a 4x4 and currently flowering a 3x4 area.


The non-timer version for $93. I've been using them for about 3 months. When you first turn them on they are 220 watts of the wall but when they steady out they are 184 watts. For a slow mother you might want to turn it on half strength, you don't want the mother growing like crazy.

If I put it closer than 12 in I will burn the s*** out of my plants. Not from the heat, the light. Very little heat. This will veg 3x3 and flower 2x2 and it really will do it. Half strength, very cool running but a bit closer to the mother would also work for you.

So for you to get that for a mother plant in the 2x2 in veg mode it will be more than enough.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
.Smoke said:
$68.99 100w with 0-100% dimmer control. Samsung Lm301b diodes/uv/ir.
2yr warranty
.
View attachment 4926670 View attachment 4926675 View attachment 4926679
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Dimmer on a 100 watt :wall:
 
MICHI-CAN

MICHI-CAN

Well-Known Member
If only vegging to move I say a 2'x2' LED panel. Good for the first 4-6 weeks from start. And under $45 at most.

001.jpg006.jpg
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
MICHI-CAN said:
If only vegging to move I say a 2'x2' LED panel. Good for the first 4-6 weeks from start. And under $45 at most.

View attachment 4926952View attachment 4926953
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I plan to clone and veg, then move to the 3x3. At the same time I want to grow the one plant and experiment with different growing styles DWC, Kratky, Sog and practice scog. So I would want to be able to get good enough quality to make it worth it.
 
MICHI-CAN

MICHI-CAN

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
I plan to clone and veg, then move to the 3x3. At the same time I want to grow the one plant and experiment with different growing styles DWC, Kratky, Sog and practice scog. So I would want to be able to get good enough quality to make it worth it.
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I can only say I did the pictured and this for 2 winters in front of a westerly window with 1. I have 4 to play with and stole for under $25 shipped in an auction on we bay in wrong category. 017.jpg
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
MICHI-CAN said:
I can only say I did the pictured and this for 2 winters in front of a westerly window with 1. I have 4 to play with and stole for under $25 shipped in an auction on we bay in wrong category. View attachment 4926970
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You have a luxury that I don't have. My daughter's come over almost every other day. My grandkids are here almost everyday. Grandkids always find something to break or meddle with.
 
MICHI-CAN

MICHI-CAN

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
You have a luxury that I don't have. My daughter's come over almost every other day. My grandkids are here almost everyday. Grandkids always find something to break or meddle with.
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I tried. Honest experience as a cheap bastard is all. Best of luck.
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
MICHI-CAN said:
I tried. Honest experience as a cheap bastard is all. Best of luck.
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Thanks I appreciate the help. I lost a Stevia plant to a two year old a couple of months ago. It's always something, no way they should be able to get into the shit they get into, but they do.
 
P

piratebug

Well-Known Member
One 4 pack of hlg 120(s), centered, placing each board, (the 240mm side), 3 inches from wall, using a mean well hlg 240 in a series, running them at max efficiency @ 186 watts at the wall! Will grow you some beautiful plants!!!
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
piratebug said:
One 4 pack of hlg 120(s), centered, placing each board, (the 240mm side), 3 inches from wall, using a mean well hlg 240 in a series, running them at max efficiency @ 186 watts at the wall! Will grow you some beautiful plants!!!
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the qb120? Cause it looks like they run 90 each plus you need a power supply. That takes it up to the $400 range. That seems like too much for a 2x2. Hopefully I'm wrong and you're gonna set me straight. And again I came up with this idea because I have a $115 Amazon gift card. It's been sitting around collecting dust so I need to spend it before it expires. I don't mind adding some money, but I figure 55 for a 2x2 and up to maybe 125 for a light. Anything more than that and I should be trying to squeeze in a bigger tent and better light to make it worth the effort.
 
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