250w HPS setup

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=629

100mm RVK fan

http://www.uk420store.com/shop/product_inf...products_id=605

100mm Carbon filter

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=805

PH Meter

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=434

PH Up & HP Down

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=442

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=443

Contactor

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=828

Thermometer

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=848

Diamond Reflective Sheeting (3m)

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=893

Ducting 100mm (4m)

http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=832

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I was just going to buy the pots, Humidifier, Biobizz Grow and Bloom, Timer, Oscillating fan & Fire alarm locally

Am I missing anything in my checklist before I buy tommorrow?

Something to grow?

No seriously folks, its looking pretty good. I'd leave off the humidifier until you know that you need it. And are you thinking soil or hydro? If hydro (don't know about dirt), then look at an ec truncheon, it'll do you loads of favours.

The rest is all small stuff.

Growing from seed or clone? If seed then I think you'll need some media for seedlings (rockwool for hydro, little pots for soil, generally). If you can't find any rockwool locally, jiffy pellets are good too. You could get a propagator for the little 'uns, but equally you could just cover them with a plastic bag, refreshing the air every day or so.

Also, and a little mundane, is a timer for your lights, maybe another one for your fan. Cheap manual ones are fine, avoid digital.

And where are you growing? Do you think that lights off temperature is going to be a problem? If so, then you'll need a thermostat and a heater of some description. Not a big one, looking at your grow space, but I guess it depends on how well insulated it is...

Some minor measuring bits and pieces (try figuring out how much 8ml is by sight!), so pipettes, or a small gradiated cup.

Hope that helps mate, good luck, its a blast! Almost as much fun planning your grow equipment as it was planning mine!

Edge

Thanks for the helpful post mate!



I'm growing lowryder #2, I know most people are not impressed with em BUT this is my first grow, I currently have no smoke and I'm not the most patient person in the world (especially with no smoke )

So LR2 will be a nice learning curve, plus it only takes 60 days. After that I'll try a real strain.



I'm going with compost, I'm just not sure if I should use a Westlands and john Innes mix or some Biobizz All-Mix



Growing from seed, I'm not sure if they need a specific mix for the first week or 2?

I think I'll do without th propagator, from what I've read it doesn't sound like it's that important if your grow enviroment is at the correct levels.



Yep gonna get a timer for the light, not sure if I should get one for the fan (You're talking about the Oscillating fan right?) I could just as easily turn that off when it's lights off time.

Although with these lowryder2, I was thinking of perhaps having the light on 24/0 for the first few weeks so the plants can veg as much as possible before they flower. Again I'm not sure if that's a great idea or not.



I'm growing in my wardrobe, I don't think lights off temp will be a major problem no.

I've already insulated the wardrobe (I'm just not sure how to measure how well it's insulated).

I put a layer of "no more nails" at every single edge of the wardrobe, inside and out to make sure it was air tight. Then I put duct tape over every edge in the inside to make sure it was insulated.



Then for the doors I bought some door gasket and placed that around all the edges of the door and in the middle part. Tested that by putting a light inside and made sure no light was getting out



So I don't know for certain that it is airtight but I think I've done an alright job so far

Hi Dr Duke

Firstly as you are only using a 250 hps you could go without the contactor, Just get a decent timer.
Also as you are growing in compost you don't really need a PH meter or the PH up and down as compost is self buffering.

Hope this helps

HH

Very helpful indeed, thanks Herman

I'm getting conflicting views about the contactor though, I read a tutorial on here which said anything above 250w needs a contactor (Which would certainly suggest I don't need one)

But I created a thread in the lighting section

http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=85545

And compostverte thinks I do need a contactor, I'm confused

I read that post from "Compostverte" And it may be he was saying "yes" that your 250hps would run MH bulbs.

Personally i think if you get a decent timer you'll be fine without a contactor.

HH

buy a contactor i dont know how many times it needs to be said if only for peace of mind the last thing you want is your grow/house on fire for the sake of thirty quid so once more buy a contactor and sleep safe

No disrespect "Dirtbikeal" I use contactors but have still managed to blow a few timers, So nothing is 100%. And in the past i've ran a 400 hps without a contactor with no problems.
If money is no object buy a contactor, It would be 1 less thing to get should he upgrade.
But i'm sure as others will agree 250s will run without a contactor.......Just avoid cheap timers, Contactors or not.

HH

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated!

Is this £38 contactor suitable? http://www.hydro2005.co.uk/product_info.ph...products_id=828

I'd rather buy one to be on the safe side, seems like some people think they are needed and some don't.

Personally, I don't want to take that risk. Better safe than sorry imo

none taken hh yep that contactor will do fine mate