New Grower Getting setup with my first auto grow

[AutoGoober]

I actually had some posts in the led help thread and hansbrick was very nice to me and helped me a lot. he suggested i start a thread here since there is more traffic. so here goes.

I have some growing experience in my past but it's been over 6 years now if not more. I have an idea of what I'm doing but a lot has changed and I'm definitely a little rusty. I'd really appreciate some direction and advice.

I'm thinking get 2 400 watt mars II as hansbrick suggested. after a little more research that seems pretty solid and i think i can get a pair for around $400? Are the fans loud? any suggestions on where to order em from? i don't mind e-bay but it makes me a little nervous because of the record of it and because i don't really know who i'm getting it from and if it is even what it says it is. clearly i need a filter and a fan, again suggestions? i'd like something quite as well. lol sorry i just used to run down to the store a long time ago but now they don't have what i really need and the cost would be a whole lot more. i figure i'll grab a tent as well, probably do the 4x2x5 even though that seems kind of short to me since i'll probably need like a foot or two of space between the light and the girls? but i'll give it a go if you all think it's possible and since i don't think the auto's get as tall. it's strange feeling like a noob again

any idea about a co2 option? and i guess i'll order from DP seeds as they seem to be real popular and apparently turn out well and are hardy in case i'm not as good as i used to be with the girls it's been a while.
as for nutes, i always liked ff stuff what do you all work with for the auto's? it seems as though the auto's really don't want that much in the way of nutes since they are kind of sensitive to it? i think i saw a nice post from tang giving a feeding schedule although i would think each strain would vary. can you get pro mix in smaller packages? lol i never got anything less than a bale. i almost forgot about getting a ph meter... again suggestions? i think that should cover everything.

I'm really excited to get going again, it's been way too long for me and i feel overdue. I'm glad i have such a nice resource in this site available as well. again thanks a million i really do appreciate the assistance.

 

[FadedMalone]

Advice I can give is try to get all the things you need before you start so you'll 100% from the start of your grow. I don't think you'll need co2 unless your growing in a sealed grow space. Using leds it shouldn't get hot enough to need co2. Don't under estimate the growth or height that an auto may reach. I've had them get close to four feet on more then one grow. Depending on heat and the size of your tent your fan may not need to be all that big. I grow in a 4x22x7 with 1 135 watt and 1 180 watt (adding another 180 watt soon) and my fan is a 4" duct boosting fan and my temps do very well for me. On nutes it depends on the style your going with organics or what? I'm using aurora (roots organics nutes) and like them as of now but this is my first grow using these nutes.

 

[AutoGoober]

thanks for the tips.... i was planning on growing in a tent so i thought some co2 might be helpful. i have more height available but the only tent i could find that would fit in the closet space i have is a 4x2x5... which kind of bugs me since the closet is just under 6 feet by about 28 inches and pretty much all the height i would need. i thought of just using a bunch of panda tarp and mylar and fitting in an extra plant or two and maybe even a third light. i figured with the led's i could get away with all that wattage in a small space as long as i ran a good intake fan. and maybe even another circulation fan. i've actually never grown in a tent before. my old setup was a much bigger setup so this is also the first time i'll be doing a small scale grow. i just want to maximize my yield as best as possible in the small space i'm working with.

 

[FadedMalone]

No problem man. If your closet is that big I would just use that space for a grow. I gave you my space size and I can fit three nice size plants in two gallon pots in there, it gets a little cramped at times but you most def can get two nice plants in there. I look for strains that get taller cause I just like taller plants. I do construction work and I was on the job one day and looked out the window and the HVAC guys had threw a length of ducting out the type with the foil rapped around it, the sun reflected off of it and blinded me. I went out and cut all the foil off the ducting and lined my grow space with that, that shits great and was free..lol The leds are great man,I've tried almost any type of light you can think of and the leds have been and will be my choice for growing till I don't grow any more. I don't deal with to much heat and that is awesome for my style man. I use more then one led for me I can spread light better with more ufos vs one big light.Plus if you use just one and you have one plant it all goes to the top. With two light and you have just one plant you can hang them to work with the tops and the side thus killing two birds with one stone, what I mean by that is you also have side lighting. This thread will give an idea of what I'm talking bout [h=1]How you Hangin'..[/h]I hope I have helped a bit and get with me if have more questions I'll be happy to help. Good luck with your grow bro.

 

[AutoGoober]

can anyone explain to me the purpose of tilting the lights? and how you know how to do it properly? my initial plan was to veg with one on top then move in 2 little all red less on the sides once it starts flowering.

also would 5g airpots work alright for this sort of thing? i want to give them room to get real big since i'll only have a couple girls.