You can get completely set up with one 4’x4’ tent for less than $400. I recently put together a purchasing plan for another member. It won’t be the most efficient equipment, but you can get stellar growth with half your budget. Instead of blowing 1k on a single tent, you could do two for $800.
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8x6
Okay, is it a barn a shed a room in a house? Is it insulated and heated/ac’d?
Your going to want to try and have a sealed and controlled environment that’s important unless you plan to grow outside in the soil that’s for a different area on the forums though.
Your 1k budget will limit you, so maybe once you grow a couple plants you can re invest and grow your grow!
Until I know your situation I don’t want to recommend anything just yet as if you need heat you will be better off running a CMH/HPS setup but otherwise led is much more efficient but it’s costly up front.
Do you have some basic tools? A DIY led will save you alot of money if you can use a some basic tools and don’t mind investing a bit of time.
@dbrn32 will be your goto guru for that one if so.
I’m just trying to think if this is an old barn that has a breeze and no heat but has power and what area you live in so how that will effect your temp and humidity. No point in setting up a tent inside a barn only to have it get to cold when lights are off.
Lots of factors.
@KeystoneCops that’s if the 8x6 is in a heated room with power, a barn outside in North Dakota is a different story…
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Yes I have tools and carpentry skills so DIY is great. It is a shed. Not insulated. On the gulf coast. High humidity, no snow, hot summers. I have them in a quick box rn with a temp/humidity gauge but it’s going to have to be bigger anyway if the plants get bigger. Are you familiar with the SCROG method?? I can add insulation or anything needed to control temp/humidity.
Roger that send it. I’ll take any info I can get. Thank you.
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What about automated lighting. Is that an option at this budget?
I might spend more money on a gorilla grow tent and an AC infinity fan/filter combo, because a little more money will go a long way and get you durable, high-quality gear. You can put some of the money you save on flowers toward a DIY LED to replace the HID down the road.
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@Cappy K well those that are in the USA will have a better idea on recommendations for your area, I don’t know your weather highs and low’s and seasons etc I just know it’s hot and probably humid there so not sure what your low is but you want to ideally keep the Temps above 12c and even more ideally keep them at 15c on the low side with the high side 25c but they will handle 28c.
Now @KeystoneCops has the right idea using a controller like the AC infinity but I have one and I recommend against it, instead get an Inkbird controller that has humidity and temp control much much better. You hook your duct fan into it and set the max temp, min temp and other variables then the fan kicks in and off as the temp rises and falls. The other plug can be hooked into a heater, AC unit or a dehumidifier /humidifier whatever combo works for you depending on what value is getting to high or to low. This Makes a world of difference.
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Temperature-Controller-Pre-Wired-Thermostat/dp/B07GQWY9HM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=inkbird+temperature+and+humidity+controller&qid=1578281784&sprefix=Inkbird+temp&sr=8-3
Also I would recommend a 2-1 tent, I have this tent in the 3x3 version and I can recommend it, only down side is the interior wall sucks in more than normal but its all good and you can fix that yourself.
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Reflective-Indoor-Hydroponic-Growing/dp/B07HQHG311/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=Grow%2Btent&qid=1578281468&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVEFXU0Q5WktWOUhWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTIyMDQxMjA2VlM4Mk9EMkZMUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDI2NDgzMVhLU0hOVUhKVEZUWCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1
@KeystoneCops also linked a 4inch fan, your going to want a bigger fan, 6inch min
Check prices and get the fan and filter combo or order them separate if that’s a better deal
For me the vivohome have been the cheapest and worked fine.
As for lighting you should go to the lighting portion of the forum and post in DIY just get lighting for the 4x4 section to start, since heat is and issue in your area I would go with the LED DIY and not the HPS lighting. Also you would need a CMH bulb to do the veg phase, it will be cheaper up front but then you won’t be able to sell it and it will be hanging around once you build your own lights anyways sooo I suggest against it.
Some guys line their sheds with foam boards with the foil on one side and make it a giant grow room but a tent is easy and cheap, ultimately you’ll have to weigh your options and cost.
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The current AC Infinity Cloudline T Models have a humidistat, I believe. I don’t own one to confirm this. But yeah, a humidistat is good.
The list is supposed to be a starting point to ensure the grow has enough potential to justify the electrical cost; there’s ample room to improve the kit. If @Cappy decides one tent is enough, then there are plenty of other ways to spend that money.
Personally, I’d want to have the essentials in hand, and buy the incidentals as needs arise. At least that’s be my approach if 1k was my budget.
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I own a AC infinity T6 and I own the 6" vivohome dutc fan filter combo with an inkbird controller.
The AC infinity is more expensive and it’s worse.
I agree that we’re looking at a starting point, but that being said a 4inch fan is not enough for a 4x4 tent and it will turn into wasted money as well as a CMH is needed to be linked.
This is a good 4 plant setup, you can go cheaper slightly but it will cut you down to 2 plants.
We will see what @Cappy decides
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The tent only has 128 cu ft of volume. The T4 provides +200 cu ft per minute, which is enough air exchange. Is there another reason it’s lacking? I’m really curious about how the AC Infinity is lacking compared to the Vivohome.
I wonder if you have a prior version of the T6. I wonder if they’ve improved recently. I’ve heard good things about them, I’m sure people aren’t comparing multiple fans side-by-side.
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I bought mine brand new 3 months ago, I contacted them and they told me I could pay to ship it back to them and they woild refund me but what a hassle and cost also couldn’t do it mid grow so yeah…
While the air exchange might look like it’s enough on paper it’s the temperature that will end up causing issues, the more airflow the faster you can drop the Temps or the easier it is to hold Temps down when it’s hot outside and running lights inside the tent.
Air exchange while important is the minium bar to meet, once you introduce the lighting and hook up a controller to kick the fan on to control Temps air exchange will be met or exceed depending on heat issues.
Again air exchange requirements will change with size and amount of plants.
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Ok so I got some shopping to do this weekend. I know I need to get some jars. Is there anything else i need to get to finish out this first attempt?
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Walmart just buy a pack of Mason jars you will use them all and more next time.
A cheap humidtor just so you can put it inside the jar and know the humidity inside the jar so you know when to burp it.
A USB microscope from Amazon
That’s about it you don’t need humidity packs yet… And won’t for that amount of bud it’s only for long term storage
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Correct ! And I am a perfect example. Although you can get nugs with the cheaper burple lights, I did and was happy, then got a bigger tent 4x4 and now lacking light!! For what you say 5 then 10 your gonna need a LIGHT, I’m doing 3 under 420w (3 different combined burple from Amazon) but in the 4x4 it’s slow going …it’ll get there but I’m wishing I just got a better combo lights to get the proper amount of wattage needed to flower this 4x4 tent at max. 500w/600w. Is needed for 4-6 photos ,Autos I have no idea but it cannot be much different, just more smaller plants, more work, less yield. I assume…dont skimp on the light! Others here have pointed you right, Good Luck on the next grow!! Tag me in and I’ll follow along!
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Autos are actually less work for lower yields in a faster time.
Every 3 months (from seed to harvest) a plant can produce anywhere from 2oz (when your just starting to grasp the basics) to 7oz when your running good genetics, an experienced grower and running heavy nutes
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Yeah man for sure. Thanks for the info.
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Ok I got the jars and humidor and i got the microscope on the way.
Suffice it to say they didn’t thicken up… I musta messed these up pretty good. A lot of room for improvement though!
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Well once you get the scope we will zoom in and take a look, no point in rushing to chop it. How long 2 day shipping?
What are you thinking about doing in the future?
Saving to build a new setup in your shed?
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