Worst Grow EVER!!!!

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
Man, ok I gotta vent here. After a 3 year pause in growing I decided to get some seeds of some old favorites. I'm in a lame state so getting good nugs is hard. Well I have to tell you that I have had more issues with this ONE fucking grow it is stressing me out! Check out below all that has happened.

1) I decided to go with a 1k light (as opposed to my previous 400) so I bought a complete setup on Amazon. Apollo Hort. The dingleberry that sold it to me ships a 600 and I had to get an RMA to get the right light. This would not normally be an issue except I was gifted 2 clones and them some bitches were getting real big, and I didn't want to dedicate my whole 4x4 tent to them.

2) I had my gear vegging outside and lame assed weather caused some stretch so I had to bring them inside to veg under the 400. I didn't want to run both lights for obvious reasons, but I wasn't about to fuck up my investment.

3) during the first 2 days of flowering the clones a bulb died. So basically 24hrs life on a 24,000hr rated bulb

4) Then a storm came and my sump pump decided to die. Of course my tent is right next to it, and of course it was completely flooded at 2am to the point of ripping out carpet on the finished side of the basement.

5) I had to wake the girls up in the middle of the night and move them outside....stress???

6) While I was still trying to save the carpet I had the other 8 under the 400 in another room until the worries of mold in the carpet crept up in my head. At that point I decided to give up on vegging the 8 any further and just threw them in with the clones. Most are only 8 - 10" tall with 5 - 7 nodes. This is after 1-1/2 mo of veg. WTF. That is some fucking crazy slow growing.

7) Today my wife is bitching "we need to go grocery shopping". I was like "NO let's wait", but I've been married for 10yrs so of course she won. While at the damn store (at some point) a second bulb blew (are you fucking kidding me) so I'm back in the car driving across town to get a third bulb in 2 weeks of use.

Is that not some shit? I just want some nice frosty nuggets and I'm getting shit on.

So I wanted to add a picture of one of the clones. I was told it's White Widow. Look at all of those budsites. I seriously can't do it justice, but there are a TON of budsites on this plant. The branching has been incredible.

Well thanks for listening. Hate to bitch, but sometimes ya gotta. Hope yours is better than mine
 

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chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. I appreciate that. I will be happy when they are done. I could use a big 'ol sack right about now. At least the bulb I got this time was a son-agro which is a decent name bulb. When that guy sent me the 600 I was really considering telling me to give me a refund and getting a Solis-Tech ballast, but I thought the return would be a mess because he sent me the wrong items to begin with, and I was considering keeping his cool tube. Well I'm not sure if the ballast is causing the bulbs to go or the bulbs just suck that bad, but when you are working with photo sensitive things like we do; it is not worth it to "save a buck" on your light. Take it from me. Lesson learned.
 

FrozenChozen

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. I appreciate that. I will be happy when they are done. I could use a big 'ol sack right about now. At least the bulb I got this time was a son-agro which is a decent name bulb. When that guy sent me the 600 I was really considering telling me to give me a refund and getting a Solis-Tech ballast, but I thought the return would be a mess because he sent me the wrong items to begin with, and I was considering keeping his cool tube. Well I'm not sure if the ballast is causing the bulbs to go or the bulbs just suck that bad, but when you are working with photo sensitive things like we do; it is not worth it to "save a buck" on your light. Take it from me. Lesson learned.
I have had nothing but GREAT experience with Apollo.... Are you sure every outlet in the house is properly grounded? a small surge like Wifey deciding to vacuum or use another high power consumption device, could be sending surges through your circuits.... Or are you touching them bare handed when installing? oils from your fingers can burn holes through HID bulbs....
just some thoughts.... You seem fairly well versed though, I just wanted to defend Apollo horticulture, as I like how inexpensive and quality it is....
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
I have had nothing but GREAT experience with Apollo.... Are you sure every outlet in the house is properly grounded? a small surge like Wifey deciding to vacuum or use another high power consumption device, could be sending surges through your circuits.... Or are you touching them bare handed when installing? oils from your fingers can burn holes through HID bulbs....
just some thoughts.... You seem fairly well versed though, I just wanted to defend Apollo horticulture, as I like how inexpensive and quality it is....

I'm not ruling it out my friend. It's just a lot of crap in a short period. I guess I'm still in detective mode. Gotta find my perp! I was thinking earlier that I wanted to put the timer in a surge strip rather than directly in the outlet, but I've never had those issues with my 400 that I ran on the same outlet for 1-1/2yrs. Maybe the difference is current draw, or magnetic (400) vs. digital (1000) dunno???

EDIT: ....and yes I never touch the bulb with the fingers.

EDIT EDIT: With Apollo I wouldn't doubt that they sell some good equipment and they have the reviews to prove it, but at their price point I also think they could have some fallout too. I ran my 400 without issue for 1-1/2yrs straight, but I didn't buy budget with that setup. I think issues are more probable with budget equipment than at least medium grade equipment. To the ballasts credit: it's quiet, stays cool, and I've done the AM radio RF test and it passed with no problem. The ability to dim the light is kinda cool, although I would never use that feature.
 
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FrozenChozen

Well-Known Member
EDIT EDIT: With Apollo I wouldn't doubt that they sell some good equipment and they have the reviews to prove it, but at their price point I also think they could have some fallout too. I ran my 400 without issue for 1-1/2yrs straight, but I didn't buy budget with that setup. I think issues are more probable with budget equipment than at least medium grade equipment. To the ballasts credit: it's quiet, stays cool, and I've done the AM radio RF test and it passed with no problem. The ability to dim the light is kinda cool, although I would never use that feature.
I agree that with the price point there are bound to be a few "manufacturers defects" to be had. that being said, I had heard from a friend of mine who only bought Lumatek, that Apollo bought a few factories from them complete with product on hand that was repackaged under the Apollo name... Just rumors though, I never found any tangible proof. FYI dimming the bulb is a BAD idea... I'm not going into the scientific aspect but, dimming causes inconsistent ignition temperatures inside the bulb and makes a different, less beneficial spectrum, also it causes bulb degradation at a higher rate...
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
It figures with the dim feature. Well I'm glad I never experimented with it. Makes sense what you are saying. I suspect that would greatly reduce bulb life as well as the things you are talking about.

EDIT: I guess you already mentioned shortened bulb life.

Well so far I see no real effects of my lights off stint. Maybe a bit of a slow-up in one plant....yes they are at the point where there are daily changes in the structure of the plant, and flower mass. Overall I will just keep an eye out, and maybe I can come back in a few weeks and report back with some happy results. I just hope there are no more issues. Outside of the things that have happened I have perfectly healthy plants, and the grow tent (Apollo Hort) is maintaining the best environment I've ever had with no effort. So there is some good to this. I guess I just needed a day to get my head together. I feel much more positive today.
 
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Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a bad ballast !!! What is it? China special? They can make them look like a lot of brand names and as far as I know Lumitek has not sold any factories lately....
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a bad ballast !!! What is it? China special? They can make them look like a lot of brand names and as far as I know Lumitek has not sold any factories lately....
Man, what isn't made in China? The bulbs both failed at the same spot on the arc tube.
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
Ballast!!!!! It's cooking the bulbs !!
I run Quantums....PERIOD!


What is the correct testing procedure to prove that so I can get an RMA to return it and get a Quantum? Remember the current on these things is about 8 amps so when you give advice please be accurate I don't want to die.

Thanks man
 

chiefbootknocker

Well-Known Member
What is the correct testing procedure to prove that so I can get an RMA to return it and get a Quantum? Remember the current on these things is about 8 amps so when you give advice please be accurate I don't want to die.

Thanks man


lol on another note I was reading my RIU alerts and was notified that I just received a "new member" trophy. That's funny considering the "grow journal attempt" in my signature alone is close to 5 years old.....whatever
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
What is the correct testing procedure to prove that so I can get an RMA to return it and get a Quantum? Remember the current on these things is about 8 amps so when you give advice please be accurate I don't want to die.

Thanks man
Simply call them and explain that the ballast is "cooking" bulbs off......If they are as quality as they say (the company) they will replace it !
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Odd that your loosing bulbs so fast.....I buy industrial bulbs by the case, 1K's and get 6 for about $150 delivered.
Never had a problem (Sylvania).....Why spend the BIG $ for a name?)
 

Wilksey

Well-Known Member
Those kinds of experiences are shitty to get through, but you will, and you'll be able to laugh at them later on down the road.


Positive waves to you dude.
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
Alot of the lighting you will find on eBay amazon etc is Chinese junk.. Some can have a tenancy to blow bulbs, some don't work right out of the box, and some don't even put out the amount of light they should be capable of, might be worth it to sell that if you can or return it and buy one from a store. They are really all made in chins but some brands are better quality. Go be friendly with the local hydro shop they will likely give you a decent deal and replace anything that breaks on you on the spot and just warranty it out... Also some advice, don't bring outdoor plants in and don't put indoor plants out, causes infestation. This also would have inadvertantly solved your stretch issue, if you want to save money on lighting simply only use flourescent lighting for veg, works just fine. You might already know these things but just giving information based on your post
 
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