My First Time Growing

PeeJay said:
I agree. Light leaks from the veg tent would be a concern. You've gotta move some air through the veg area but the small tent is pretty light proof. the two big CLFs and the Mars 300 in the small veg tent. All the rest (T-5, 144x5, starter LED panels) in the big tent with no partition. It's not enough light to cover the whole remaining 6x4 space but you'll need room to walk in anyway.
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Actually the T5HO grow light is supposed to have a 4' x 4' (depending on height could go a little larger) footprint and is big (Canna said she has one just like it), I was thinking about using just the T5 for the big side of the tent with all the extra lights added in and keeping the 144 x 5w in the small tent. The T5 is big and puts out a lot of light from just what I saw when I opened it to be sure all 8 bulbs were intact. In fact, If I were to put both the T5 and the 144 x 5w into the flower side, I wouldn't have any room to walk or move around in there. The T5HO is 48.25" long and 28" wide (I looked it up), if I were to add the big Mars I wouldn't have enough room to move around I don't think, plus I don't think that just the lights that are in the bookcase now would be enough light in the little tent to veg any large plants. The biggest light is the Mars 300 which is supposed to be for 1 plant only. Then I have 2 CFL's, which I have no idea how I can mount them so the horizontal light will be spread out. In the bookcase they are in power strips screwed to the back of the bookcase and plugged into it, in the small tent I am going to have to just hang them from an extension cord. And on top are the 2 under powered LEDS that I originally bought that I had thought would be bright enough, They work OK on seedlings and small plants, But big plants I don't think would have a chance. Anyway's, that's just my input from actually seeing the lights. Sorry I haven't been on a lot the last few days, I'm having some problems with my back (nothing to worry about) and just haven't been on the computer a lot before and over the next day or 2 (only hopefully). I will check back in later though to see if there is a response.
 
Radogast said:
Good afternoon Smokeater.

I agree. That big 8-bulb T5HO is a great lamp to cover a 3x4' space completely or a 4x4' space reasonably well.
Did you buy VEG spectrum or FLOWER spectrum bulbs?

Whatever you end up with - it's more space :)
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That's what I was thinking, I think it would give me a 4' x 4' area when I find somehow a way find a way to suspend the 2 CFL's in comparison to the the 2 small level's of 1' deep x 29" wide I have now for veg leaving me with a little space to move around in as well since I can't bend too much with my back. Then I could hang vertically in the small tent (on top of the 144 x 5w) on each end the small LED panels I bought before I knew what I was going to actually need. They will be on hangers and will be able to lower and raise depending om the size of the plants on each end of the small tent as well as the Mars 300 anywhere it's needed (probably in the flower tent). But I want to hear PJ's opinion still.
 
My opinion, Smoke? There is no sense worrying about it much. That's my opinion. I have to tell myself that. I can be sort of a control freak and I don't want to throw negative vibes in the air just because you don't do exactly what I say.

You are obviously fired up and rarin' to go. That's a good thing. Right now you have what was previously unimaginable amount of alternative pain medication based the perspective of only having a bowl or two now and then in the recent past to experiment with. It's clean, organic weed that you grew yourself - and by your own admission, you've never grown ANYTHING before.



In my opinion priority #1 is your pain meds. Cannabis, like the narcs... Well, Smoke, you build up tolerance. There is no telling how much will be the right amount for you in the long run. What I can say is that you're going to have a crap-ton of very high quality pot in the near future. It may not seem like much if you look at some of the other grows hereabouts, but trust me. You are going to have a bounty. The main thing right now is to keep the perpetual rolling safely. You want enough cannabis, steady and uninterrupted, to enable you and your pain Doc to work together.

What you have going with the bookcase and 2x4 is going well. Pay attention to the dimensions. That bookcase is not stealthy, however, it is keeping pace. It's biggest downfall is the 12" width. I'm not going to do the math. You can do it yourself, Smoke. Roughing it out from memory, veging in the 2x4 would give you twice the footprint of the bookcase... Combine that with twice the footprint of the current flower tent and you have a winner!

Things with your recent purchases are sort of in limbo. The plan to put the 2x4 inside the 8x4 without a partition is the best option available. However, you are going to try to seat that 4' wide tent into a 4' wide tent. It may go smoothly.... Maybe not. It could be prudy cool. Or, it could be like trying to install a car part that doesn't quite fit....

What really has me in a dither is that $160.00 T-5 unit. If the dimensions you shot us are correct that lamp will not fit across a 4' span. It's 4'1". It seems daft to me that it wouldn't go in a 4' width. It may... Where are the switches?

Realize I spent millions of other people's dollars laying out food production facilities for a couple of decades...

Anyway, when you get a chance set up the big tent and see if the 4x2 will fit in it like Shiggy described. If it doesn't fit in neatly then we see what's what after.

That's the first step. You need to put the stuff up and assess. Don't count on it all going together in a couple of hours. Just size things up with an emphasis on not screwing up the good things you already have going on.
 
PeeJay said:
My opinion, Smoke? There is no sense worrying about it much. That's my opinion. I have to tell myself that. I can be sort of a control freak and I don't want to throw negative vibes in the air just because you don't do exactly what I say.

You are obviously fired up and rarin' to go. That's a good thing. Right now you have what was previously unimaginable amount of alternative pain medication based the perspective of only having a bowl or two now and then in the recent past to experiment with. It's clean, organic weed that you grew yourself - and by your own admission, you've never grown ANYTHING before.



In my opinion priority #1 is your pain meds. Cannabis, like the narcs... Well, Smoke, you build up tolerance. There is no telling how much will be the right amount for you in the long run. What I can say is that you're going to have a crap-ton of very high quality pot in the near future. It may not seem like much if you look at some of the other grows hereabouts, but trust me. You are going to have a bounty. The main thing right now is to keep the perpetual rolling safely. You want enough cannabis, steady and uninterrupted, to enable you and your pain Doc to work together.

What you have going with the bookcase and 2x4 is going well. Pay attention to the dimensions. That bookcase is not stealthy, however, it is keeping pace. It's biggest downfall is the 12" width. I'm not going to do the math. You can do it yourself, Smoke. Roughing it out from memory, veging in the 2x4 would give you twice the footprint of the bookcase... Combine that with twice the footprint of the current flower tent and you have a winner!

Things with your recent purchases are sort of in limbo. The plan to put the 2x4 inside the 8x4 without a partition is the best option available. However, you are going to try to seat that 4' wide tent into a 4' wide tent. It may go smoothly.... Maybe not. It could be prudy cool. Or, it could be like trying to install a car part that doesn't quite fit....

What really has me in a dither is that $160.00 T-5 unit. If the dimensions you shot us are correct that lamp will not fit across a 4' span. It's 4'1". It seems daft to me that it wouldn't go in a 4' width. It may... Where are the switches?

Realize I spent millions of other people's dollars laying out food production facilities for a couple of decades...

Anyway, when you get a chance set up the big tent and see if the 4x2 will fit in it like Shiggy described. If it doesn't fit in neatly then we see what's what after.

That's the first step. You need to put the stuff up and assess. Don't count on it all going together in a couple of hours. Just size things up with an emphasis on not screwing up the good things you already have going on.
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Once it's setup (which may take a little while anyways because my helper hasn't been as available to me as I had hoped), I think you'll see what I have in mind, I may or may not be able to make it work (I'm pretty sure it will though), I also am planning on figuring out a way to circulate air in the smaller tent to the inside of the big tent and then filtered out with the system in place now.

As far as the 48.25" x 28" T5HO unit, it will be hung down the end of the 4' x 6' area with the 28" width being over the 4' area and hopefully will find a way to hang the CFL's right, but even if I can't get the CFL's to work, This is a big grow light and looks like it will cover the area I will will be flowering in. The switches on the T5 are on the one end with the power cord and will be basically straight out from the small tent. This would be so much easier if I could draw it for you.

Basically I want to be able to grow enough for me to quit the narcs plus enough for me to make CCO for the wife which is why I'm trying to have a little more room to grow in because all our plans were to grow enough for me to use for my medicine but since I've heard about what the CCO can do, I've added it to the list of how much I want to grow to also help my wife. But anyways, I won't be making any changes right away until I have my helper back to assist. And with the way he's been working lately, it may still be a week or 2. But either way, I won't be destroying anything and would be able to go back to where I am now if necessary and the only thing I've lost is the time the plants from the tent not being under the light for a couple hours on the day this gets done (besides the T5 light, but I'm pretty certain it will work exactly like I am planning it). But I think it will work and will get it set up as soon as I can so you can see how I'm picturing it. Sorry if I am unable to explain it better, But from the amount of room, light and circulation I've been planning, I think it will work and will let you know as soon as I get it set up and you can see pics of the grow area. I expect their to be some difficulties making everything work when I first try, but I do think it will come together. In fact, I just drew a pic and scanned in it of how I see it:

Big_Tent.jpg


I'm sure I could have problems with the 4' x 2' bookcase fitting in the 4' space inside the big tent, But if necessary I will just shorten up the width rods by a 1/2" to get it to fit and will still be usable. At least on the tent I have, that's all I would have to do and it just won't be as tight on the fabric as it is now. I hope you see how I'm planning it. And like I said, I'm not destroying anything and the only difference may be is the 2' x 4' tent will be 2' x 3'11 1/2" wide. I'm not going to even touch the bookcase until everything is set up and I can put them under the light(s) in the smaller tent.
 
This is all good in the end. You are thinking for yourself with the knowledge you have gained and will come to the point of independence. A few mistakes will be made along the way and PeeJay just wants to make sure you will be good on your budget, keeping the mistakes as low cost as possible. But he and the rest of us are proud of your success. This whole project has come really far and that makes me super happy. Your goals are surely attainable. A 4x4 can output some good quantity of herb.
 
sweethook said:
glad plants are going good smoke . what do you do with the odor the smell in flowering ?
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Welcome Sweethook! I have an activated Activated charcoal filter inside the tent attached to a fan that sits on top of the roof pulling all the air in the tent thru it. The filter is working great since the ventilation has no odor whatsoever. The only problem with them is they cost a bunch. If you look at this link you'll see what I'm referring too. The one I am showing you is almost exactly what I have.

VenTech 440 CFM 6" inch Inline Exhaust Blower Fan with Carbon Filter and Variable Speed Controller

1666761992086.png
 
Sent some reps your way smoke, amazing what you have accomplished in this journal. Help or no help, there are very few that could have done it as fast. Cant wait to see what those girls reward you with:thumb:
 
PJ,
The last thing I want is to make you upset with me over this. You've been my guide and mentor thru most of all this. I respect your opinion and is why I still feel like I need your help still (besides the stuff I haven't learned yet
permagrin.gif
).

But like you said, it could turn out to be pretty cool or have a snag here and there which I have plans in my head to get past. I reread your post just now and realized you said I need to just set it up and see what happens. That's what I'm gonna do as soon as I have my helper back, and thanks PJ, your opinion is very important to me if you haven't noticed in my last posts before I realized you said to go ahead and try it. We'll see what happens, but I have high hopes for it. Especially the part about increasing the grow to help the wife with a steady income of CCO as long as it works for her. This grow is dedicated to improving the quality of our lives medicinally and now I just have to get her done. I also want to thank the rest of you for all the help/advice you've given to me also! This whole grow is a team effort and I seriously doubt I would have gotten anywhere without PJ's and all of yours help!
Big_Tent_2.jpg
 
Jonwayne said:
Sent some reps your way smoke, amazing what you have accomplished in this journal. Help or no help, there are very few that could have done it as fast. Cant wait to see what those girls reward you with:thumb:
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Thanks Jon, But it is from all the help I've gotten from PJ and all the rest. I wouldn't have more than a couple seedlings if not for them! I can't wait either to see what is in store for my grow in the future with all the help I get from so many great growers. All I want is just replacement medicine for my narcotics (and maybe a few other meds I'm on, for sleep as an example) and to be able to make Concentrated Cannabis Oil for the wife's severe arthritis which she won't smoke to help with. Until the last couple months I had no idea that the CCO could help her so much from what I've read about it here.
 
Radogast said:
Good afternoon Smokeater.

I agree. That big 8-bulb T5HO is a great lamp to cover a 3x4' space completely or a 4x4' space reasonably well.
Did you buy VEG spectrum or FLOWER spectrum bulbs?

Whatever you end up with - it's more space :)
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The link for the fixture Smoke posted aways back indicates that the T-5 came with 6500K lamps (veg spectrum.) They will still work for flowering but not as well. Smoke can slowly replace them with flower spectrum bulbs for about $8.00 a pop.
 
PeeJay said:
The link for the fixture Smoke posted aways back indicates that the T-5 came with 6500K lamps (veg spectrum.) They will still work for flowering but not as well. Smoke can slowly replace them with flower spectrum bulbs for about $8.00 a pop.
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Oops, Sorry I didn't catch that, but at least I can replace the bulbs to get the right ones. What type of T5HO bulbs should I be looking for, so I know what to get whenever I start buying them? Sorry Radogast, I missed that part of your post.
Getting ready to run to the pain Doc's. I'll be back later after my monthly appointment.
 
The drawings are a big help, Smoke. If you think about it the 2x4 can go right up against the big tent wall the way you have it in the picture, or it can go against the back wall. Getting away from using it as a partition is the main thing. If the 2x4 doesn't nest in the 4' width just put it against the back wall. That way you wouldn't have to shorten the bars on the small tent.

The decision of where to place the small tent might be influenced by venting. It would be nice if venting on the bottom of the 4x2 flushed up to venting on the bottom of the big tent and a piece of ducting could be run from the 2x4 through the wall of the big tent so that there would be no light leaks from the veg tent. Is that making sense?

No matter which wall the tent sits against the spaces are basically the same. If the small tent is against the side wall there is a 2x4 dead space in front of it for you to stand and move around in there. Same if you rotate it 90 degrees.

The Mars 144x5 should hang alongside the T-5 in the flower area. It is far and away the most powerful light in the arsenal and you'll want it driving flower production. Veg with the Mars 300, big CFL's, and original LED pannels.

Given the things to work with, that is the way to go about it.
 
The T-5 would hang over the top of the 2x4 tent a couple of inches. You wouldn't be able to have the veg tent up on the table. Were you planning on using the table?

What would happen if you returned the T-5 unit? If you returned it (you'd take a hit on the return shipping) you could trade it for a 4x4 tent and have ~ $50 towards more light for the 4x4. Using the lights you have the 2x4 could stay separate eliminating all concerns about light leaks and venting. The veg tent could stay up on the table. Sitting next to each other the two tents would still be 8' long.

If you did that you'd have to light the 4x4 with the 144x5 alone for a bit and wouldn't be able to increase the amount of flowering plants much until you were able to get a second strong light for the flowering area but you'd already be $50 on the way there.

The big tent and the T-5 would then be a $50 mistake or thereabouts. Considering the cost of dispensary meds $50 does mean much over the long haul. If you keep the T-5 you're facing another $50 in replacing the bulbs for flowering spectrum. Thinking about it that way with the ~ $50 in change from the T-5 /4x4 tent exchange plus the cost of replacing the 6500k bulbs you'd be $100 on the way towards more light for the 4x4.
 
Radogast said:
On the SIZE of the T5 light - it is under 4 ft long

Hydrofarm — AgroBrite T5 432W 4' 8-Tube Fixture with Lamps

Package Dimensions 48.3L x 28.0W x 4.3H
Product Dimensions 46.0L x 19.5W x 3.0H
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Ok, that's awesome! It would fit in the veg tent. Put the T-5 in the 2x4 and the 144x5, Mars 300, CFLs and original LEDs in the flower portion. Then the bulb change is not necessary. This would also allow the gradual addition of more lighting in flower over time when there is a little mad money.
 
I am not going to be able to make that work because of money, All I am seeing is buying another 4' x 4' tent because you don't like the big tent and buying another light right now (you guys were looking at the wrong light and dimensions by the way. To do the same job I have virtually everything for now without spending much more than $33.00 for a 4" inline fan from home Depot, flowering for now in the 2' x 4' tent as I am with the 144 x 5w light and vegging under a portion of the big tent as I slowly replace the bulbs until I have them all replaced and can flower under them (it might take me 5 or 6 months doing it slowly, but I would get there). (I'm sorry, I wish I had never seen that friggin big tent and paid the shipping to get it!!), But I also have no clue how the 2 CFL's and the Mars 300 made for 1 plant will veg the whole 2' x 4' tent? Right now the three are in a 29" wide x 12" deep and it's only bright in the center.

I just don't understand what is so abhorrent about using the big tent and saving me money I don't have. After I was able to buy the T5 light I straight out asked my wife if we had money she wasn't telling me about and she said no, it was actually only because she had made a mistake over the last few months and forgot about a deposit we had made and forgotten to write it in the check book and she wanted to do something nice for me because my back had been pretty bad the last few months but I didn't complain about it unless it was really bad. I just don't understand why it is so important to not use the big tent and the little tent together just because no one has done it before? It will save me money and theoretically, could be put up as soon as I get the fan for circulating the air in the little tent.

Either way, I can't afford to buy another tent when I have one that is just bigger (and paid for) as well as investing in more lighting when I could do it with what I have now. (And under NO circumstances will I accept any more help before any one even thinks of it, It is MY responsibility and my biggest mistake was not quitting when PJ said how expensive it will be and I didn't actually realize how expensive he meant.
It's completely my fault and I think the best thing to do is to just harvest what I have and maybe keep it going the way it is and just use weed to supplement the narcotics and hopefully be able to quit one of them. I still have to pay for my MMJ card when we can (Doc's nurse told us today it would be around $400.00 and we thought they had told us before it might get as high as $150.00 to $200.00). Sorry I'm upset, today just sucks and I will figure out what I'm going to do, I will probably keep what's up now and not quit the narcotics, but try to cut back on them and supplement them with what weed I can grow for myself and the wife along with whatever I end up buying for a few months from the dispensary to look legit when my doc calls or checks on how much I'm buying.

I will be back later if you are still talking to me. But as far as buying another tent, that's out as is buying another light (and I REFUSE to accept any help because I am NOT a guy with his hand out and will take responsibility for myself and my family and will tell any deliverer that shows up that we made no purchases and return to sender).

Sorry I got so upset, but all I see is that you don't want to use the tent I have because it's big and I need to buy another tent and another light(s) with money that doesn't exist. But I will NOT accept ANY help so please don't even think along those lines. The guy that wanted to get the community together to buy us a wheelchair accessible Van with a lift in it I turned down because I don't feel I deserve that. I will be fine with or without the narcs and for a couple hours, I'm not going to think about it.
 
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