Need Some Help RIU

Ok here are the things I purchased for my DIY under current vertical mini TREE grow.
10 2" Uniseals
1 5x5x6.5 Lighthouse grow tent
1 Iwaki inline pump. Model 20 RN about 500-600gph I think.
4 10" net pots with rim.
1000 watt dimmable ballast
400 watt hps
4 tomato cages
Fans, ducting, td, ph meters, ect
Dyna Grow nutes

Now the things I need help with.
5 Home Depot 27 gallon Tough boxes or 5 Rubbermaid 14 gallon Roughneck totes?
Should I just start the seeds in rapid rooters organic plugs or 6"6" rockwool cubes?
Also have a chiller on my watch list on flea bay. I will be growing 4 plants in the tent. The rez will be on the outside of the tent. I will start taking pics soon once I figure out the last few things. I will also germ the seeds in a shot glass of water and h2o2!

Pics please!! It will help seeing what you need help on.

if you're planning on growing hydro, which it sounds as if you are,than i'd say start the beans in some rockwool over the rapid rooters, although i'm sure both would work rockwool is the preferred medium for hydro..

REALSTYLES said:

Pics please!! It will help seeing what you need help on.

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I will soon. Trying to figure out what size totes to go with is a pain!!

racerboy71 said:

if you're planning on growing hydro, which it sounds as if you are,than i'd say start the beans in some rockwool over the rapid rooters, although i'm sure both would work rockwool is the preferred medium for hydro..

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I will give them a try. So what size rockwool do you think I should get? They will be surrounded by hydroton.

i'd do probably like 3x3 i think they are or mayb 4x4, not exactly sure as i'm not a hydro guy, but if you're going to use hydroton to, you maybe able to get away with smaller sized...
i'm sure a hydro person would be able to help you out better..

drekoushranada said:

Ok here are the things I purchased for my DIY under current vertical mini TREE grow.
10 2" Uniseals
1 5x5x6.5 Lighthouse grow tent
1 Iwaki inline pump. Model 20 RN about 500-600gph I think.
4 10" net pots with rim.
1000 watt dimmable ballast
400 watt hps
4 tomato cages
Fans, ducting, td, ph meters, ect
Dyna Grow nutes

Now the things I need help with.
5 Home Depot 27 gallon Tough boxes or 5 Rubbermaid 14 gallon Roughneck totes?
Should I just start the seeds in rapid rooters organic plugs or 6"6" rockwool cubes?
Also have a chiller on my watch list on flea bay. I will be growing 4 plants in the tent. The rez will be on the outside of the tent. I will start taking pics soon once I figure out the last few things. I will also germ the seeds in a shot glass of water and h2o2!

Click to expand...

howzzit..
go with tough boxes, kylon fusion the top black, then white,*the yellow lids leak light*, containers are way ncer than the roughnecks IMO

I personally would start them in 1.5" starter cubes and then transplant directly into your medium(grow rocks, hydroclay, lava, etc..)
how much is the chiller u are looking at..?
IMO i would skip the h2o2 as well.. I let my seeds soak for about 12 hours then place in a warm dark place, in a wet paper towel, with the paper towel sitting in just a little bit of water(so it don't dry up).
best wishes...

Not to get off topic but you might want to check to make sure that your dimmable ballast is designed to run lower wattage bulbs.

I had been told by the grow shop that Phantom dimmable ballasts can run lower wattage bulbs when dimmed but they clearly warn against it on the ballast and the manual says it runs at full power for 10 minutes at startup before dimming to the set wattage.

Sorry I don't have any answers for your questions just wanted to give you fair warning that not all dimmable ballasts can run lower wattage bulbs.

well there is the next gen ballast and you can toggle in a 400 and 600. or 600 and 1000 and a couple others .

the actual dimmable ballast its only one bulb.. so if you get a quantum 1000w for instance.. you would get a single 1000 watt bulb and the dimmer switch actually adjusts how much light the bulb is putting out.. you wouldn't switch bulbs on those types.

My only real concern is that drek is going to try running that 400w hps on a 1000w digital ballast that is only designed to run 1000w bulbs.

oh I thought he had two different units, a 1000 ballast and a 400.. guesss we will have to wait and see.

Roughnecks flex wayyy too much to work with those uniseals and it
will probably end up being a huge headache for you with leaks.

Rapid rooters for seeds, both work, but I find the RR don't stay quite
so saturated and make it a bit easier.

I second the no h2o2 with the beans, stuff is pretty rough.

Good Luck, systems are really fun!

it all depends on what style dimmeable ballast dude has .. i have a galaxy ballast, and it has a lil switch on it for either 250 watts, or the full 400, or the turbo option, which i'll never use as i don't think pushing your bulbs like that is a very good idea..
but i put in a 250 watt bulb for the 250 setting, and a 400 for the 400 watt setting... i don't just use the 400 and dime it down to 250, as i'm pretty sure that's not how my ballast functions.. at least i haven't blown any of my 250 watt bulbs by running them at the 250 watt setting, so i think i'm doing it correctly...
however, i am sure some ballasts work differently though, and on the lower settings, all you are doing is decreasing the power that goes to the higher wattage bulb, in effect not running them at full capacity..

Im sorry guys for the late feedback. I just got home. Well I have a 1000 watt dimmable ballast and a 400 watt magnetic ballast. Forgive me for not being through. I figured the tough boxes would be the way to go. The Tough Boxes I was going to wrap in the "reflectix" insulation tape. The 1/6 hp chiller I am looking at is at $143 last time I checked but im sure it will rise. Would try to throw 1400 watts in the temp if temps dont get crazy. I will also be trying to mod this fan http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100663385/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 because it will be stealth and I have to vent out the window anyway. Kill 2 birds with one stone type of deal. I think it will be some nice negative pressure a 1400cfm that can be adjusted. The bulbs would be ran bare and I have a 18" wind tunnel fan to take care of those. By the way the I will be running AK48, Critical Plus, Blue Widow, and Northern Lights x Big Bud. Any other suggestions? Rep to you all for taking the time to stop by and share your knowledge and experience.

pics, pics
can't wait to see the build out

MediMary said:

pics, pics
can't wait to see the build out

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Haha. They shall be up be Wednesday my friend. But if you want pic of the materials I will be using I will be more than happy to do that for you. I have been practicing on my germinating skills using some bag seed. I must say that it has been pretty fun!!