Newb setup. Any recommendation would be helpful!

U

ulquiorrau

Member
So I've been lurking the forums and gaining some knowledge on how to grow my own cannibus! I've got a set up in mind and I'll have that posted at the end of this post, but what I'm looking for is some recommendations on how I can improve my setup or if I'm going to overboard! This will be my first grow and will take place in a small tent grow in my room so any constructive help would be appreciated! I'm a total NEWB and I know I'm bound to make mistakes. Thank for taking the time to read. Here Goes!!!

My potential setup:


  • Secret Jardin DR120w tent (4x2x6) 48 cubic feet
  • Sunleaves windtunnel 6" inch inline fan 409CFM (pulling air out of my tent) -this may be overkill but I'm being super cautious with the smell and all!
  • Carbon Phresh filter 6"x24" inch 550CFM
  • Philips 400w MasterColor Ceramic Metal Halide Bulb
  • Xtrasun 6"inch Cooled Reflector
  • Xtrasun convertible Ballast 400w HPS/MH

My focus was for the main parts obviously I'll be picking up the hanger, pots, analog timer, ducts, and temp/humidity sensors. My main goal was to have an established foundation before I get started.

Just as an addition I'll add a little more details on what I'll growing along with nutes I may potentially use

My potential strains/nutrients:


  • 2 Lemon Kush seeds (Fem) - could I grow more if possible in this size tent?
  • Fox farm ocean forest soil and Fox farm happy frog soil (50/50) on the mix - would It be good to start seedlings off in this mix or is it to acidic/hot?
  • Fox farm Trio nutes - I'm totally open to suggestions on the nutes! Get at me with the suggestions!!! haha

  1. Big bloom
  2. Grow big
  3. Tiger bloom

Let me know what you guys think and help out a newb!!!
 
cc2012

cc2012

Well-Known Member
ulquiorrau said:
So I've been lurking the forums.......
Click to expand...
:twisted:

Nice! we got a Lurker boys.....

Only messing :D

Welcome to RIU ulquiorrau hope you enjoy ya stay

Peace

EDIT: Sounds like a plan, I use the BIOBIZZ range, everyone's got their favourites and preferences with Nutes..I went with BB because I wanted to be Organic..So seemed a good place to start...Waffling!! I give my Babies Bio Heaven and Alg-a-mic for the first wk or 2...its very Low in the NPK levels but contains other benefits for the young ladies...just my opinion though and everyone will have different ways..

Peace
 
jjoe75

jjoe75

Active Member
The Fox farm line caused me really bad ph problems. Tap water is 6.8 and with notes it dropped to the 4 area about 5 weeks into flowering. I know it is mostly my fault because I wasn't ph'ing the way I should but all of my grows before I never ph'ing and didn't have any problems like I did this time. Get a good ph meter and test all the time
 
Doer

Doer

Well-Known Member
Well, pH and PPM is everything. I use a Tri-meter, get both readings a once. Pricey at $200? No. I have spend more for less than that functionality.

My tap water was no good. It took me quite a few clone deaths to figure that out.
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
cc2012 said:
:twisted:

Nice! we got a Lurker boys.....

Only messing :D

Welcome to RIU ulquiorrau hope you enjoy ya stay

Peace

EDIT: Sounds like a plan, I use the BIOBIZZ range, everyone's got their favourites and preferences with Nutes..I went with BB because I wanted to be Organic..So seemed a good place to start...Waffling!! I give my Babies Bio Heaven and Alg-a-mic for the first wk or 2...its very Low in the NPK levels but contains other benefits for the young ladies...just my opinion though and everyone will have different ways..

Peace
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice definitely will look into bioizz digging the organic route!
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
jjoe75 said:
The Fox farm line caused me really bad ph problems. Tap water is 6.8 and with notes it dropped to the 4 area about 5 weeks into flowering. I know it is mostly my fault because I wasn't ph'ing the way I should but all of my grows before I never ph'ing and didn't have any problems like I did this time. Get a good ph meter and test all the time
Click to expand...
I forgot about the PH meter man. I've looked at a few and a lot of them range around the $50 mark. That's a hefty price but I'm willing to pay it if it does the job. Would you have any recommendations for a cheaper reliable ph meter, something cheaper than $50 or are there not any quality ones at a cheaper price?
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
Doer said:
Well, pH and PPM is everything. I use a Tri-meter, get both readings a once. Pricey at $200? No. I have spend more for less than that functionality.

My tap water was no good. It took me quite a few clone deaths to figure that out.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure my tap water's ok would you still suggest getting the Tri-meter. $200 my wallet is gonna take a huge hit haha, but no matter I definitely don't want to be a tight wad when it comes to my grow if the item is going to substantially help me.
 
UncleBuck

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
ulquiorrau said:
Pretty sure my tap water's ok would you still suggest getting the Tri-meter. $200 my wallet is gonna take a huge hit haha, but no matter I definitely don't want to be a tight wad when it comes to my grow if the item is going to substantially help me.
Click to expand...
you can test your tap water cheaper than that by simply seeing if it works well. it probably will.
 
perspextoe

perspextoe

Active Member
ulquiorrau said:
I forgot about the PH meter man. I've looked at a few and a lot of them range around the $50 mark. That's a hefty price but I'm willing to pay it if it does the job. Would you have any recommendations for a cheaper reliable ph meter, something cheaper than $50 or are there not any quality ones at a cheaper price?
Click to expand...

If you do get a ph meter, get a waterproof one…

mine wasn't and the girls were thirsty already, but then i dropped mine in the water i was about to test.. :wall: queue panic… but then i am noob..
 
UncleBuck

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
don't buy a PH meter for any dollars. test out your own tap water first and switch to RO or distilled water at $0.25 a gallon if your tap is no good. at worst, you can buy 200 gallons of water before you justify the cost of a bad ph meter.

that said, my tap comes out near perfect and is close to the quality of distilled water for half the year. so you mileage may vary and a ph meter may be needed. especially if you live near a shitty water source, like doer. the water there is just shit.
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
The ph meter is hefty price... while doing my research I've found that soil tends to allow grows a little more room to experiment while hydroponics is usually a make or break if ph is done wrong.
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
perspextoe said:
If you do get a ph meter, get a waterproof one…

mine wasn't and the girls were thirsty already, but then i dropped mine in the water i was about to test.. :wall: queue panic… but then i am noob..
Click to expand...
Hehe... We're all newbs at some point and newbs tend to make a lot of mistakes thanks for the tip... if I do get a ph meter I'll make sure its waterproof!
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
UncleBuck said:
don't buy a PH meter for any dollars. test out your own tap water first and switch to RO or distilled water at $0.25 a gallon if your tap is no good. at worst, you can buy 200 gallons of water before you justify the cost of a bad ph meter.

that said, my tap comes out near perfect and is close to the quality of distilled water for half the year. so you mileage may vary and a ph meter may be needed. especially if you live near a shitty water source, like doer. the water there is just shit.
Click to expand...
I remember reading something along the lines of tap water being ok to use if I myself was able to drink it! True? or Nay?
 
U

ulquiorrau

Member
I really appreciate the advice guys I'm loving it more more more.... Help this Newb out please. Any advice is welcomed! by the way is my setup good or would you guys recommend making changes to my setup? This is pertaining the the tent, inline fan, cool hood, etc... Once again I appreciate the help guys. I was worried at first to post thinking that maybe I would be shunned for being totally clueless to things but man the advice is coming in from left and right. Really helpful.... Ranting sorry. Haha lets get back to the setup!!
 
Doer

Doer

Well-Known Member
UncleBuck said:
don't buy a PH meter for any dollars. test out your own tap water first and switch to RO or distilled water at $0.25 a gallon if your tap is no good. at worst, you can buy 200 gallons of water before you justify the cost of a bad ph meter.

that said, my tap comes out near perfect and is close to the quality of distilled water for half the year. so you mileage may vary and a ph meter may be needed. especially if you live near a shitty water source, like doer. the water there is just shit.
Click to expand...
So just along the hill, a little bit, the water there is heaven? :) Figures. Yeah my water comes in at 350 ppm. And then the ion exchanger turns it into sodium salt, instead of calcium and then the RO has a much easier time removing most of the sodium.

I was growning horrible little monstrosities until I figured that out.

BTW, OP. I don't suggest anything. I just say what I know. If your situation requires pH and PPM management, like mine and others do, then I can say I have tried a handful of meters and pens. And I spend over twice for that other stuff than what works for me, the Tri-Meter.

That is not to say they have Tri-Meters in Afghanistan so, that is how they have managed to grow in soil. :)
 
Doer

Doer

Well-Known Member
ulquiorrau said:
I remember reading something along the lines of tap water being ok to use if I myself was able to drink it! True? or Nay?
Click to expand...
NO. That's what I thought. Again we have to talk about meters and measure, but that doesn't mean you need to invest.

You can go on the website of your water district or call them. Or you can not trust them. :) Then get an independent assay.
They can tell you the Parts Per Million of various minerals and the total PPM.

So, rule of thumb for me is 100 or so PPM is fine. 200 could be OK according to what the 200 ppm is. Above that you are over-feeding without knowing what that is. I was over-feeding sodium salt, for example.

BTW, PPM is exactly the same thing as teaspoons per gallon. It is just a fancy way of measuring it all at once, including the starting water's
"teaspoons per gallon" dissolved minerals of, whatever.
 
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