Turn Key systems? any good?

[hewhispers]

Here's the deal....I am inept when it comes to building stuff.
I know that there's enough info on this board to build almost anything but if you can not take me by the hand and walk me thru it I will fuck it up and piss away both time and money.

So I am looking at ready to go kits.

I would like to grow (120% novice) and Hydro intrigues me.
I have seen a few kits on the market that seem almost dummy-proof and I am looking for any feedback from those who have any experience with these set ups.

Any insights on the following systems?

http://www.gssdist.com/tubesys.htm
GSS has an interesting tube system. Looks like a complete set up (less lights) at a reasonable price

http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com/sujustgrcaw1.html
Homegrown Hydroponics
Another complete set up (w/lights). Stealth. A bit pricey.

Are there any others that you have used with success?

Thanks all.

hewhispers Reviewed by hewhispers on 01-05-2007. Turn Key systems? any good? Here's the deal....I am inept when it comes to building stuff. I know that there's enough info on this board to build almost anything but if you can not take me by the hand and walk me thru it I will fuck it up and piss away both time and money. So I am looking at ready to go kits. I would like to grow (120% novice) and Hydro intrigues me. I have seen a few kits on the market that seem almost dummy-proof and I am looking for any feedback from those who have any experience with these set Rating: 5

[danlboy]

bought the mni stealth from homegrown hydroponics. what a nightmare. Its not that bad of a unit I guess I have a 3 week old crop going. I stared with 6 plants and am down to 4 with the hope of having one or 2 females in this tiny chamber. The unit was shipped and came to me damaged so i refused shipment and called HGH. They told me they would repair it but it would have been easier for me to have the replacement parts shipped to me. After a week I called the shipper and HGH had not arranged for return, so I drove to the shipper and picked it up myself, now I was worried I had a broken unit and would get no help from HGH. I spoke with HGH again and finally had replacement parts shipped and basically had to replace the entire cabinet. I did file a claim from the shipper and was able to get back 275.00
All in all the unit is way over represented. I had asked for a 6 plant system (they shipped the 16 plant system) They never did replace the broken latch and I had to purchase one. I had it customized to #2 200 watt HPS bulbs (it came with #2 150 watt HPS bulbs). The "aeroponics" is a $25.00 novelty mister. I bought a 3 dollar sterilite container and cut the holes myself to make it a 6 plant system.
After all that hassle I guess its a pretty good unit and one of my six plants is doing well at 3 weeks, the other 3 are kind of straggly.
If I were doing it again I would consider building it myself, I havent figured out the total cost but the cabinet is a 89.00 stanley cabinet from wall mart
could probably recreate the whole unit for 500

I know exactly where you are coming from about not having the skills or time to put one together

[the yeag]

If you cannot look at a turn key unit and build your own for the fraction of the price... stay away from hydro it is much less forgiving..but buy the unit i asume you mean a locking cab with lights and an exhaust fan and grow in soil for awhile, before switching over to hydro. they look great but damn i have yet to see a full 6-8' cab with a 400wt light or higher with ventalation and mylar for under 1500$ that is an awful lot of money for assembly.....and if you buy it who is going to maintain it and fix it when it breaks..

[hewhispers]

danlboy

Thanks for the insight.

I am sure that you are right that most anyone could recreate an HGH
system, but what a pain in the ass (for me). I dont need stealth. I need something self contained, as close to set-it-and-forget-it as you can get.

Most of these outfits look like the get all their parts from Home Depot and you're paying for the assembly.

I'd be curious if you can let me know how your first attempt goes.

GSS looks fairly simple, but I need to do some digging cause i couldnt find any posts about them here.

It will take me a while but I want to get to a Sea of Green set up.

-Hewhispers

I know exactly where you are coming from about not having the skills or time to put one together

[hewhispers]

Nah I dont need the stealth. It can be open.
What about Self-Watering Pots?
I can get those for $8 each.
Any issues with them that you are aware of?

If you cannot look at a turn key unit and build your own for the fraction of the price... stay away from hydro it is much less forgiving..but buy the unit i asume you mean a locking cab with lights and an exhaust fan and grow in soil for awhile, before switching over to hydro. they look great but damn i have yet to see a full 6-8' cab with a 400wt light or higher with ventalation and mylar for under 1500$ that is an awful lot of money for assembly.....and if you buy it who is going to maintain it and fix it when it breaks..

[MisterE]

All you truly need besides a light and water is:

5 gallon bucket (black)
netpot lid for bucket
hydroton for netpot
airpump
air hose
air stone
nutrients
seed imp:

[sxgrower]

If you ask my imaginary friend Chet, he says that any ebb & flow system is practically turn key.

Try the Baby Bloomer kit, great for beginners says Chet. But ditch their nutes and get FloraNova grow and bloom. They're the easiest nutes out there.

[hewhispers]

anyone have any feed back on The Caddy?

[bud luv]

I don't see why HGH would sell a $5k-$8k system without HID lights. That sucks.

[BlueBear]

I think that the DIY rout is the best at this point for different reasons, unless you can go down to a store and really get to handle the box or see it in action. Still I have done a fare amount of research and besides the BC Producer which I think everyone and their mother have seen at one time or another I would probably have to think about some of these cabs if I went that rout http://www.supercloset.com/proddetai...supercloset005
Adieu