5x5 LED - T-Time grow time

[T-Time]

sorry - couldn`t find the sofa in your living room.

anyway with few meters of hoses you could connect both tents ???
and regulate temps.

Naah. Too much hassle. You see...my flower room is off now and veg tent is on the other side of the room so Idont wanna even go this route.

Anyways. I've spend nearly an hour today trying to equalise water flow through the upper and lover feed lines. It is nearly impossible task even with the valve to do so.
I'm at the stage that I think I will use smaller pump that I've got before and run bottom feed line through it as a sepparate line. Both pumps are adjustable so it would make for a much easier adjustment. But I will do that tmrw. I lost my patience for today


Talking about that...
I did comparison testing today between the last batch that had roots boiled and the one that was left to finish as is.
I must say that even tho both are a bit too dry and need to be calibrated, the one with boiled roots has a noticeably more flavour and a smoother smoke. Friend visited today so I rolled two small joints for us (only I knew wich is which) and he said the same thing.

It think this thing is legit!!!

I will keep conducting this test over and over from now on and If I notice anything different I'll keep You posted

If You cant understan what I just said, then I am sorry. The medicine kicked in

 

[1212ham]

Crock pot ?
You mean this ?

You got it. I was getting large temperature and humidity swings with the space heater so looked around the house to see what I could find. Works like a charm. My temps are ok with the lights on but would dip below 60F/15C during lights out. This cold wave across North America has been a hassle!

 

[1212ham]

Cook some chili in the pot and warm up space at same time......

Yeah, I like chili !

 

[T-Time]

I did some adjusting today and both pumps pump out 2.7L/min. Seams a lot for only 5 pots/pump (540ml/min for one pot ). Anyone knows a good app for smart plugs that can be set for seconds ?
I think KASA app for the TP-Link HS100 I've just ordered can be set only to minutes. Can't restrict the pumps any more, damnit

 

[ttystikk]

I did some adjusting today and both pumps pump out 2.7L/min. Seams a lot for only 5 pots/pump (540ml/min for one pot ). Anyone knows a good app for smart plugs that can be set for seconds ?
I think KASA app for the TP-Link HS100 I've just ordered can be set only to minutes. Can't restrict the pumps any more, damnit

Short cycle timers that can be set to as little as one second of run time are available. Wait time between cycles is also adjustable. I like the Apollo brand, they have one with a light sensor so it won't run at night unless you want it to.

 

[vidrose]

I did some adjusting today and both pumps pump out 2.7L/min. Seams a lot for only 5 pots/pump (540ml/min for one pot ). Anyone knows a good app for smart plugs that can be set for seconds ?
I think KASA app for the TP-Link HS100 I've just ordered can be set only to minutes. Can't restrict the pumps any more, damnit

What about a controlled bleed at the pump, like T-in another valve near the pump and just let it flow back in the reservoir, open it up a tad until your happy with the other sides flow.

 

[T-Time]

That is what I came up with today. Valve on the pump slowing flow down a bit. My test bench


Two new fans came in so I increased the air flow to nearly 140cm on a 150cm (hopefully soon to be filled with green wall) tent space. Six fans drawing only 25W from the wall

 

[ttystikk]

That is what I came up with today. Valve on the pump slowing flow down a bit. My test bench
View attachment 4068950

Two new fans came in so I increased the air flow to nearly 140cm on a 150cm (hopefully soon to be filled with green wall) tent space. Six fans drawing only 25W from the wall View attachment 4068951 View attachment 4068952

Sexy, but it's starting to look awfully complicated.

I'm a well known long-standing advocate of vertical growing, but I'm just as firm a backer of simplicity.

I want to see you succeed! I fear the additional complexity adds up to more potential points of failure, or at least more maintenance.

 

[T-Time]

Sexy, but it's starting to look awfully complicated.

I'm a well known long-standing advocate of vertical growing, but I'm just as firm a backer of simplicity.

I want to see you succeed! I fear the additional complexity adds up to more potential points of failure, or at least more maintenance.

Yes, I agree. I don't like the way it is going. I was hoping for using only one pump but the vertical 2 level setup is nearly impossible to be adjusted. It was 1 or 0 when it came to the flow when I started playing with the valve.
There is one extra failure point now and it's not a matter of IF but WHEN one of the pumps will go. Luckly I've gof spares, but still far from ideal solution.

I'm open to any ideas how to simplify this setup

 

[Prawn Connery]

I recommend a bypass to regulate your flow. That's what I've always used. It provides a break in the line to prevent siphoning of nutrient, but most importantly it helps regulate, mix and aerate the nutrient each time the pump is on. Without a bypass, you will labour the pump (place excess pressure on it) and possibly shorten its life.

I'd also recommend a larger reservoir if you can manage, as yours looks a little small - though it's hard to tell from the photos. How many litres is it? I use a 60 litre reservoir.



This is how I would try to solve your plumbing dilemma: run one 13mm main line from the reservoir large pump straight to the upper level where the feeder lines will branch off to feed the upper pots. Continue the 13mm main line to the lower level (one big loop from reservoir to upper level, then hanging down to lower level) where the secondary feeder lines will branch off to feed the lower pots. At the end of the 13mm line is a stopper plug.

Place a regulator tap in the 13mm line AFTER it has fed the upper level, but before the lower level - in-between the feeder lines for each level.

What will happen is the nutrient will be pumped straight to the top level where it will feed the top plants first. Water will continue to flow back down to the lower level, where gravity will assist it. If you place the regulator between each set of feeder lines, then you should be able to balance both.

__________f_f_f_f_f_f________
|...................................................|
|...................................................|
|...................................................|
|...................................................|Regulator
|...................................................|
|...................................................|
|...................f_f_f_f_f_f________|
|
|
|
|
|
PUMP


Flow goes up, over, down, ends on lower level. "f" is feeder line. I'm not sure if you have tried this layout already, but it may work.

 

[T-Time]

Thats my old (top) and new setup. The water went either right or left when I starting to close the valve. So the T connector was the problem. Inline connecton for 5 of the feed line should fix the problem.



The setup You've proposed would be easily achived by not using one of the manifolds (left one) and attaching 4mm tubing straight to 13mm tube as You have done on Your photos. Did I hear You correctly that You did have some problem with those connections leaking ?

I think You're right about the bypass tap and putting a strain on the pump. I'll look around for 13mm sprayer. I'll go tmrw and buy some extra parts needed to check Your theory. It makes sense to me and the parts to do it are so cheap its worth a try. I much rather have one problem (pump) on my head.
Cheers mate

 

[T-Time]

Ohh and my res is 84L the one on the photo was only for testing

 

[Prawn Connery]

84L - excellent! Get some 13mm rubber or similar flexible hydroponic hose and just run it over the top and down to the lower level - a big arch. You could probably use the manifolds and connect the 13mm line either side of the top row, and end at the manifold on the bottom row. If the manifolds are restrictive and making it hard to balance the flow to the bottom, then maybe consider another way to provide feeder lines.

And you are right, I changed my feeder line design above due to susceptibility of leakage. This is my setup now:

I would consider something like this if available:

Or this:

 

[T-Time]

I think my local shop has those autopot reducers. They might be a bit hard to put on 13/4mm tubing but I'll make it work
Thanks for all the help.

Tmrw is a new day. New day = new mods to the system Good that the veg tent is growing slow at the min. I have more time to do and test all of that. Will try to move the carbon filter outside the tent tmrw as well. Its a never ending story with this hobby. Me likey

 

[T-Time]

Did couple of hours work in the tent today, removing carbon filter and installing/testing new layout for feed lines. I got it working and its pushing out 1.3L on each level which gives 260ml of nutes flowing through each pot. I can adjust the flow later with the adjustable sprayer as Prawn Connery suggested.

Only have the cooling radiator left in the tent now but couse I don't need one of the ends that connected to the filter, I can chop about 1/3 of it off. But thats a job for another day to keep me busy.

Heres a small update from the Veg tent.
All the plants are growing slow and I'm not sure is it because of the temps, the new time schedule (12/1) or both. The one in a round pot is a Sweet Tooth and two Chronic plants are hidden somewhere inbetween the Northern Lights.


I'll be putting them in the big tent tmrw.

 

[Prawn Connery]

So the new plumbing layout works? Hope so.

Regarding your seedlings, they appear healthy - so it's hard to say - but the most common factors that can slow them down are:

* Overwatering and/or lack of drainage (probably not in your case)

* Hot soil/nutrient levels/salt build-up due to additives or failing to provide a small amount of runoff during watering - all of which can lead to root burn (again, probably not in your case)

* Low light levels - the blurple maybe better suited to flower than veg? Generally you will see a lot of stretch if light levels are too low, and your Sweet Tooth looks a little stretchy - it's usually a pretty compact strain

* 24-hour light - even vegging plants need a couple of hours every 24 to convert starches stored in the leaves to sugars. The fastest growth cycle I've tested is 11-on/1-off, but I usually stick to a more traditional 20/4 or 18/6 cycle

* Low temperatures - possibility?

* Genetics - some plants are just slow

 

[T-Time]

Yup, it works. A bit finicky to fine tune but it works. Thanks for the help

From all the posibilities You've listed I can see only two that might have an effect on them. Light schedule and temps.
As for the plurple light I never had as slow results with it. Even on the same strains/soil. I would say that couse theres only 13h of light, DLI is too low. I'm still thinking to upgrade my veg light. Just have to check if I can use the drivers out of my old (fake) black dog led light and order the cobs for it.

 

[Prawn Connery]

I'm confused by the 13 hours of light . . . Are you saying your timer is set for 13 hours on and 11 hours off?

 

[T-Time]

I'm confused by the 13 hours of light . . . Are you saying your timer is set for 13 hours on and 11 hours off?

Gas lanthern light schedule:
12h on
5.5h off
1h on
5.5h off

 

[Randomblame]

Along with the current low temperatures the slow growth is nothing unexpected with only 13h of light. I would switch to a 20/4h rhythm, then the low temperatures would have less of an effect.
I usually change to a 12+1 or 12+2h rhythm only if I want to have a kind of pre-stretch. Thus, the internodes can be extended without inducing flowering. The elongated internodes are already visible on the SweetTooth plant.
If you have moved them in the final pots, you should keep 20/4h, so the pots do not cool out so much at night.
Rootzone should be 18-20°C.