HI Guys,

How many types of systems are there?
I am going to buy a starter kit using water & nutrients & light.
But that is where my knowledge ends really.
I don't now how the liquids are put to the "cutting" or seed, I'll properly go with cuttings.
Maybe 2 plants but not more (never say never).
I smoke 1/4+ week but never 1/2 So I think 1-2 plants should be OK.
The kit from 420 store came in at £220 is that about right?
Is it worth carrying on hunting to get it cheaper, £199 elsewhere but not quality (feed, screen) is it worth it?
It does seem like you get what you put in.
There's no problem with me talking to them etc.
I'll be reading them "The three little pigs" if it will help.
I will be doing the grow in my loft, quite a lot of space.
But a little worried about police helicopters heat imaging sussing me.
I will only have 1 bulb maybe 400-500w, tell me I shouldn't worry.
All advise taken & needed.
Easy, Dyl

check terminal's loft grow for ideas mate. it's shit hot simply click the link

you shouldn't worry
I've done alot of reading up on this subject and the general opinion is that it's an urban myth perpetuated by the three little pigs that sit in their offices creating propaganda to stop people growing , having said that I'm still going to insulate and mylar the hell out of my loft (won't do the plants any harm)

As for your system, that all depends on your growspace and what you want to achive, for a couple of plants your n.f.t. starter pack sounds perfect, you might be able to find one cheaper (ebay etc.) but for a few extra quid from 420 you'll get quality items.

Just browse and search around to find out about f.a.q.s for nutrients, growing times, everything. For a first time grower (like me) you've found the best place for information

The most honest advice I could give at this stage Dyl, is go with a muck grow initially, and leave the hydro till you got a grow or two under the belt.

Hydro generally, (and NFT specifically) demand a lot of vigilance from the grower. Measurements need to be taken, adjustments made, solutions found and all at the speed of light. Jumping in and out of the loft gets to be a bind mate...serious!

Growing in soil tends to be a bit more....ahhhhhmm.......leisurely!

Its also a great way of getting to know your plants and their needs.

With a £200 budget you could set up a pucker compost grow which leaves absolutely nothing to chance.

Just an opinion.

RD

actually thermal imaging is NOT an urban legend...They have in the past caught people by using thermal imaging(usually in conjunction with a helicopter) in Canada and also in Northern California in the States, BUT
as of current privacy laws in effect today they can not legally use any thermal imaging equipment to obtain a warrant....a warrant must be issued in order to utilize that equipment, they look at it no different then say a wire tap, or a hidden camera in someones home....it is considered an invasion of privacy to use that device on a home that has not had a warrant issued to do so. Having said all of that, this will likely change in the very near future giving the US's current government.

Besides all of that,

I think that you still have some research to do before you dive into the grow world head first my friend...from some of your questions I can tell you have little to no experience in growing....
I don't however agree that just because you are new to this you should not try a hydro grow, my first grow was in a homemade DWC when I was 17 and came out just fine, well it was crap product compared to my current endeavors but it was acceptable at the time.

also HID lights are available in excluse wattage increments and 500 is not one of them....
generally speaking you can get a 150W, 250W, 400W, 600W, & 1000W, u need to decide if you want an HPS(High Pressure Sodium) or an MH(Metal Halide) though. They each have their upside and downside, I personally put more value on the upside of the HPS compared to its own downside but also the upside of the Metal Halide, I just feel that it's a more effecient lamp...just my opinion though....make sure you have adequate ventilation as HID lamps can get quite hot.....

As for systems, right now I would tell you to get something as simple as possible, probably a DWC type system as it's as near fool-proof as you can get....it's a very basic setup and theres a million threads on here that outline it's function, design, and use. The idea here is that if you don't understand how the system works and its upsides and downsides then U should NOT even try to use it yet...which is the case for aeroponic and other more advanced grow systems...

Read through some more of these forums, look at other peoples archives and most importantly other peoples grow journals where they advertise their first grow experience, I find these as the most inspiring, most of the time first grows are low-budget with little to no knowledge backing them, so they make for some very realistic results and can serve to motivate a new grower.....when you find something that floats your boat try to emulate it to the best of your ability, get in touch with the grower and ask questions....there is so much you need to learn that no question is stupid....If I had the benefit of using these forums when I got started I surely would have had better and more plentiful harvests.....good luck man, let me know if you want some pics of my grows....i still have my first grow op documented on my home computer as well as my current WaterFarm grow with KC Brains and BC Bud Depot genetics...currently 2 days from harvest on an 8' tall Sweet Dreams plant I grew indoors under a 1000W Hortilux

~Good Luck To Ya~

Thanks everyone.

The update is I have brought my gear.
I went NFT.
I have black & white surrounding my 4' x 4' x 8' high space
B&W is hanging & isn't fixed to wall or boards.
Mylar over the top to keep the heat in.
I only have a 500w mercury light ( memories ).
205 tank? Think that is the standard tank for little grows.
I have put 6 seeds in the propagator.
I'm growing for myself so 2 plants would be OK, anymore would be better...
I'm using the standard well known feed A+B veg & flour.
I haven't got an EC tester but have been reassured that I shouldn't need one yet.
I'm going to change solution every month a check on them every day.
But any advice is always appreciated.

It sounds like you bought youre kit from estoric hydroponics .If youre nutes are power gro then you would be better not using them,get something else.As for a 500 watt mercury vapour light,i think you would be better off with a 250 watt or 400 watt high pressure sodium,just my opinion.Dont buy anything from estoric hydro,there fecking robbers

Afternoon bud,I,m on my 3rd n.f.t grow now,and the advise i would give is get your e.c meter and ph pen asap these tools are essential when growing hydro,trust me ive went at it blind & really messed up with nutrients,now with an ec truncheon i dip it in daily,sometimes twice and the plants tell me what they need,it ohh so easy to over love them and give them more food,also if its the 205 gt being so small id empty it once a week to prevent any salt build up from your nutes.If your on a tight budget at least invest in a ph testing kit,only about a £5....best of luck with your grow.

s.e.t

In at the deep end huh Dyls? Go for your life man!



You could easily fit 4 plants into the 205 so depending on your ratios males vs females, you got a bit spare.

Before Metal Halide lamps became popular the chosen vegging lamp was a mercury vapour. Although less efficient than the new breed, thats not to say it wont work and you should expect some stonking growth if you get the set up right.

If "the standard well known feed" you refer to is canna a+b I would recommend getting an ec meter just as soon as possible. I used the same regime in my first NFT attempt and found the guidelines printed on the bottle woefully inadequate.

To give your grow the best chance of succeeding you will also need a Ph meter as in no other growing method, is the Ph of the nutrient solution quite as important as in NFT. Also, an inherent problem with the 205 is the small reservoir. This means that as the plant takes up nutrient (or the ambient temperature changes) it can cause the Ph of the reservoir to sway + or - alarmingly quick. I would recommend checking Ph daily and a clean res fill weekly.

You are going to run a supply of this stuff over bare roots so it really needs to be right from the off.

Its not all doom & gloom though. Take a bit of time getting it right now, and delight in some of the most spectacular, explosive growth (both above and below the correx) you could ever wish to see.

You can almost "hear" them rustle as they grow.

Good luck with the grow, and dont leave anything to chance as problems appear rapidly in NFT. In in doubt, ask.

RD

Guys & Girls,

Thanks all for your help & advice.
To finalise I did get my system from esoteric.
I got their £199 NFT system plus extras.
I did upgrade the nutes to canna.

I am propagating the seedlings now under the 500w mercury lamp at a height of 3'.
The babies are coming along very nicely.
I have used jiffy pellets & am topping up the propagator with PHed water to keep humidity & stop the pellets from drying out (not saturated).
I have done six seeds with the intention of only keeping the female plants.
The problem I know is that I will feeding these seeds to flower stage for nothing.

I couldn't get cuttings last week or two weeks ago.
That is why I went with my seeds, plus the bloke from esoteric said too...

I have got the ph test kit but NO EC tester...
I might but this truncheon thingy.
I've been lead to believe that it tests the EC & PH at the same time?
Some advice needed here I think, what tester should I buy?


My grow room is.

4' x 4' x 8' high.
I have Black n' white all around the sides.
The reflector for the 500w mercury lamp the has a 4 1/2 ' Sq mylar sheet over the top.
The mylar is 1' above the lamps reflector. the light doesn’t escape anywhere, well almost.

The 205 tray is on a packing crate to get it of the floor.
I will empty the contents at least every 2 weeks, as this seems just about enough.
I was considering a month but some say that’s to long to wait.


Again thanks everyone.
Be careful Dyl

ive noticed you dont mention extraction via fans and filters mate

do you have any ??????

peppi

http://www.uk420store.com/shop/index.php?c...f3484fbb6b92cd9 look no further!


s.e.t

I don't have any fans, my Grow/Room isn't air tight.
I've been told to make the G/R air tight then put in an extraction fan costing £80.
420 store sells two types of fan, what's the difference between the two types?

I brought my EC truncheon & a PH pen yesterday at an auction site.
Got the truncheon for £30 & a cheap PH pen for £15

My seedling are doing OK.
2-3" high with 4 little leader leaves been in the propagator for 1 week.
Their all still under the 500w mercury lamp, which is 3' away from the top of the propagator.
They have some roots showing on 3 out of 6 seedlings
When I put them in the 3" cube's I'm not going straight to my Canna food I'm going to use a seedling boost.
Canna Rhizotonic looks the favourite at the moment.

I have a friend that may lend me another light.
I want a 400w HPS for flowering.
After using these seeds I've had two people offer me free cuttings

Be lucky
Dyl

hi there you,ll be needing a fan and filter coz it WILL get smelly later on apart from that you need a good exchange of air anyway(imagine been locked in a small space with no air under those lights it wouldnt do you any good the plants are the same ) you may also include in the gr a normal fan to move the air about

there probably isnt much difference the the rvk and vortice but its seems the rvks are the more popular

hope this helps

peppi