Right. to start off with, hello all =) back on the site after a while.. my last grow didnt really turn out very well.. did it too cheaply and i couldnt stand to see some of the lovely products being made on here in comparison to my spindly babies.

anyway, after getting rid of all of that setup, i've decided to spare no expense when it comes to my next grow, and im quite set on the idea of going aero.. i've looked into a few systems and whatnot, but cant really find the answers I've wanted from searching the net, so if you lovely 420'ers could point me in the right direction, i'd be rather greatful.

first off, heres my current shopping list:

2-Way CFL System With 2 x 250W Blue & 2 x 250W Red Lamps (thought 2 blue for veg, 2 red for flower, or if i do one of each, saves replacing the bulbs !)
Budbox Large - 100cm x 100cm x 200cm (have considred the XL, because of the possible system choice)
X-Stream 12 Site Propagator - Complete
RUCK Fan & Rhino Pro Filter With Acoustic Ducting - 5 inch (365m3) ( no idea on filters or what not. just had a scout round the boards, seems like a good make ?)
Basic Light Controller

all from greens, as they seem reliable, and reasonable.. so i take it thats about the basics (system, nutes, and seeds aside ofc) anything else i may need, or if i've not picked a good brand of anything, would muchly appreciate any tips =)

now, onto the system choice. and its a bit of a hard decision here, i've been looking at the amazons, and after seeing some of the grows on here, im quite impressed, but the quoted dimensions for it seem a little small ( Dimensions: 800mm x 750mm x 460mm ) am I to belive that these can actually hold fully developing plants ?

onto the next one.. I think you'll like it...
Atomix Pro.13 Mk1 Aeroponics

First off. can i REALLY justify £2500 on growing ? im sure i could, but would this be like giving someone a ferrari on the day they pass their driving test ? i've been reading G-Love's grow diaries, the results are impressive enough to make me feel justified in paying out for this, but as a relatively new grower, would this be diving in at the deep end ?
also, with the XL Budbox, would it really fit ? I dont know about all the extra's, but again, Dimensions quoted are: 1000mm x 1000mm x 400mm.. anyone with experience of budboxes, would .2 of a metre around the system be enough space ?

As you can probably tell, sizing is my main concern, but not on a secrecy level, I'd quite like a compact system, but if it means better results, then I can and will dedicate more space to it.

well, thank you for reading.. I seem to have been typing for ages! any help or advice is always welcome, and thanks in advance for your time

If you had a lot of trouble on your first grow why not start with something a bit simpler than aeroponics? As far as i know it's probably the most technically challenging form of hydro growing so your more likely to come unstuck.

An NFT table or good old pots and compost for a few grows will allow you to build up the knowledge and experience that will see you through grows with more technical equipment in the future.

NFT's are cheap and have v little waste product too.


Just a thought.

the trouble I had was mostly because i was using table lamps and tin foil. , it was a real "ghetto" grow, honest, was the equipment, not me !

but i shall have a look at NFT.. seems silly not to look in to other options also

thanks again

Oh, and don't bother flowering with flourescents. The results will be total shit. Get an HPS for flowering and a MH or flouros for veg.

thats probably what your problem was before.

, that is proper ghetto.
The best thing you can do for your plants is get the light and environment right. That means a decent lamp and decent extraction.
then worry about growing medium. I still go for soil every time. If i was to go hydro for sake of not having to water every 2 days i would an NFT cos the equipment is so simple.

if i was buying for my 1st i'd just buy 150w CFL (6400k blue) for seedlings/cuttings, 400w HPS cooled-hood light with fan and ducting, carbon scrubber. with the light you will need a contactor so you don't blow timers.

everything else can be made

I've got a cheap nasty grow tent from growhell (It really is nasty I actually bought hardboard from B&Q cut to the size of the tent, covered that in mylar and clad the tent.) that's 1mtrx1mtr a 600w goes in nicely and I have a cool tube on hand if temps gets crazy but no problems yet. In fact I had to swap the cool tube out for a normal reflector and whack the fan right down just to get the temps high enough.

I have a brand new 600w grolux bulb which I quickly took out and put an old MH in there as even a new grolux cant come close to an old MH when it comes to veg.

500w of fluros just isn't enough IMO but a 400w hps would be and less heat in fact a 600w hps is probably less heat.

2500 quid???

Naaah mate, bin the flouros, as has been said, get some decent HPS on it.....

Aeroponics, waiiiiit a while.....

As Danklord says, tent, proper lamp, extraction, odour control....there's where you focus.....

And set up a smaller area with a flouro or two for vegging, keeping a couple of mums, and cloning.....

Should be able to do all that EASILY for under a grand.

Monk...x