I am still in the planning and ordering process at this point. I have several items that are going back as soon as they arrive, after what I have learned already here on this site and through other research. I just want to make sure that I have my grow room/ tent set up correctly before I start growing. I already broke my general rule of following the 6 P’s. I started one plant prior to being set up and I will deal with it. So far I have a 60x60x80 tent, 8" carbon filter system with contrlable fan, 1,000 watt hps/mh 6" air cooled fixture with dimmable ballast, multiple LED’s that will be returned upon arriving, 2-6" in line fans with control/rehostat, 1 for light fixture, 1 for intake air, 4-5 gallon cloth pots (again changed my mind about 10 gallon, thanks to ya"ll here), several power strips and about a dozen adjustable/pulley/lovable hangers. Oh, of course some flexible 6" duct, tape and clamps. I plan on using Roger’s nutrient system the first time around. Now on to the soil. I have always been an outdoor guerilla grower in the past and have dabbled a little with the indoor in the past with florescent grow lights. Mainly just to get a jump on the plants that I was going to eventually be putting in the ground. Had very good luck in the past and looking forward to learning how to do this indoor thing with the help of those on this site. This is what I am thinking about trying. 4 cubic feet of Fox Farms Happy Frog mixed with 3 cubic feet of Fox Farms Ocean Forest. I found a deal on this in these amounts, otherwise would go half and half and wanted to make sure that I had enough to sufficiently fill the 4-5 gallon pots. I have not pushed the button on the soil yet, don’t want to have to send anything else back. I wanted the opinions of everyone here due, to the vast amount of knowledge. Oh, I almost forgot, I have several timers, soil testers (I purchased a pack that has 3 different digital types of testers). Any thoughts, any suggestions, anything else that I need or forgot. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I use FF Ocean Forest with 20% worm castings and 20% perlite added.
Getting your setup dialed in before growing is a great idea.
I have not heard this (other than me saying it) since my discharge from the Navy nearly forty years ago. I was a Navy nuc aboard submarines (EM1 (SS)).
Welcome to the most helpful cannabis forum on the net.
Proper planning prevents piss poor performance
You got it. I try to live by this.
Except the way I always heard it was Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
I use fox farms I layer bottom 1/2 with ocean forest then fill with happy frog and make a pit in center for a expanded net free jiffy puck and place my seed in center of jiffy puck material. They grow into what the need, I usually don’t have to feed for 2 months or so
I use all FF products. The three liquid and 3 crystal powder for my babies. Definitely get your lights right the first time. I’ve spent $1250 on lights. Uggg.
And welcome to the Forum. Talk to @dbrn32 about lights. You will need it if you want to utilize your grow tent properly.
So, do you think that 2 layers is the best method? I was thinking about just mixing the 2 together but, I am definitely open to suggestions. I had a pretty good understanding that lighting was very important when I decided to give this a whirl. Thought that LED was the way to go and actually thought that I was over doing it until the help that I received here. I think that the 1,000watt hps/mh air cooled fixture will work for my set up, much better than what I was planning on attempting. In the future I may venture back into the LED world. Right now I’m just trying to make sure that I am not setting myself up for failure. I expect operator errors along the way and I will rely on the help and advice given here to get over them. I don’t look at it as I did something wrong, I just know now how not to do it again.
I switched to the HLG 260xl kits. Definitely made a huge change from my Viparspectra PAR600 lights. 
Didn’t see a Ph or tds meter! Important!!!
Thanks. They are in the 3 pack of meters that I purchased. There is a Ph a TDS and some kinda other digital meter in the 3 piece package, I ordered. Again thanks so much for checking me.
Jewelrys loupe, did u order anything for run off, some sort of tray to catch the water, ph up and down if you plan on ph-ing, wireless thermometer
I think layered is best I mixed the two first time and it was a bit hot for babies
No, I didn’t order either one of those. I thought I would put a tray under when watering and catch the run off and thought that I could use a magnifying glass, if needed. If this is not practical let me know and let me know what type of product you think would be best so, I can go online and order. Again thanks to everyone for any and all advice.
I will try the layered first go around then.
A magnifying glass isn’t going to show trichromes color. I have one and it’s not rated for 60x zoom. A jeweler loupe is a must have item and it’s really cheap to purchase one.
And yes, I bought this one and even at 30x is shows the trichromes but the 60x really shows the tri’s.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_image
I have a indoor and outdoor old style thermometer still in the package. I had thought about using it. I know that wireless is better but, I’m still a little bit old school
I hear you, it’s just a good way to monitor temp and humidity with out opening the tent, and maybe a bottle of cal mag , the loupe can come in handy to identify pest also
I sure do appreciate all of y’all’s help. I have been trying to do my best to at least keep everything to operator errors. I’m in the hospital until Monday so, trying to get the rest of my poop in a group. Damn heart went back into AFib. Sucks but, I will use the time wisely. I just sent my wife out to my car to get my notebook and pen. Getting to be more than I can remember. I wish that I would have brought my laptop. I thought that they were going to have to do something else and I might not feel like doing anything. Luckily not. New medication worked just have to be monitored until after my sixth dose. Now, I am bored outta my mind. If you can think of anything else please don’t hesitate to let me know. Thanks again to you and everyone else.
What do you recommend to catch the run off and 1 for each pot ? I do have cal-mag on my list. Should I just go ahead and get a gallon? I don’t reckon that it will go bad, or will it?