Getting Started in a Calif 6X Aeroponics LED Grow

[Smok3yMcChok3y]

Was turned on the Weedmap.com and found that there are so many local resources I never knew about in the Sacto area. There must be 20 shown on the map, some have seeds and some have clones, most have ready rolls for a few bucks. I found one site that had Durbin Poison ready rolls, $30 for five. Another with ten for $40 sativa, indica or hybrid! Clones for $12 each. No Autos found so far though.

t.

I was wondering why you were talking about auto clones. Because they are autos you cannot clone them. Autos will be seed only and frankly if you can get rooted clones you're better off without going for autos. Just get a shorter flowering strain and veg for only like 2 or 3 weeks max if you're worried about space limits. If you scrog you will increase your veg time. If i were you id just run 6 clones straight into flower. Mini sog kind of thing. You're certainly getting all the bits together. So you seem like you've pretty much got it figured out. Just know you will screw up somewhere and youll just have to run it all a few times to feel better about it. No biggie you'll get some smoke first run and the next will be better.

 

[GoatSoup]

I was wondering why you were talking about auto clones. Because they are autos you cannot clone them. Autos will be seed only and frankly if you can get rooted clones you're better off without going for autos. Just get a shorter flowering strain and veg for only like 2 or 3 weeks max if you're worried about space limits. If you scrog you will increase your veg time. If i were you id just run 6 clones straight into flower. Mini sog kind of thing. You're certainly getting all the bits together. So you seem like you've pretty much got it figured out. Just know you will screw up somewhere and youll just have to run it all a few times to feel better about it. No biggie you'll get some smoke first run and the next will be better.

I have gotten to the point where I'm almost ready to take your advice and just run the clones. The question is, are the clones really decent strains or are they just shit weed that they have put a name to? I'd feel more confident if they had at least one strain that I'd ever heard of.

I could just get two clones and use then to test my cloning tub for a while then put them into flower and take a few cuttings to test clone in my tub while they flower. That would put me a ~ month ahead of seeds and maybe I'd be smoking my own by May and have six good sized clones scrogging in flower?

 

[GoatSoup]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-17-Gal-Storage-Tote-in-Black-HDX17GONLINE-6/205808350?keyword=17+gallon+hdx&searchtype=text

I use the 12 gallon version of these for rdwc. They are the only tote I would consider using anymore. Very rigid. Unless you're just building like a 16 site cloner. Then a regular Rubbermaid roughneck is fine.

I checked out those tubs at HD yesterday. They looked like they would have a better top seal than the rubber maid tubs. I considered using the 27 gal one for a ~100 Ltr rez and two 12 gals for the rooting chambers. I wish the 12 gal were shorter as the rooting chambers only need to be about 4-6" deep.
Last time I grew I use the short RM tub inside a tall RM tub that kept the overall height down a good deal and still gave me a ~100 ltr rez.

 

[Olive Drab Green]

OP thinks he got 600g from 500w of T5 in a 2’x4’. He also thinks 250w LEDs that put out 385 PPFD equate to 1500w. Not to trash this guy, but I’d warn you to take everything he says with a grain of salt. And probably a shot of bourbon.

 

[GoatSoup]

Well after a few oopsies I just about got my cloner hood finished. I only have to connect my fan DC supply to the light. Then I can test it and get some light/ temp measurements. The cloner hood is ~14" tall and should allow for cloning, popping seeds, and early veg work.

Next I have to get my electrical feed line run to my grow area, test the pumps and some sprayers, and maybe make a new sprayer holder. That depends upon what I use for tubs. I didn't see any of the Ruff Neck tubs at Lowes, Home Depot, or Wall Mart. I have a couple of the tall tubs, but only one short tub that my wife uses for laundry and it might be tricky to pry it out of her hands to grow dope with.
***
ODG, Welcome. You came in as I was updating. Have you got that link to the Light requirement article?
Oh, I never said that I thought the light was an actual 1500 watt equivalent light, that is just what it was called, bc it uses 150 x10 Watt LEDs. We all know that advertising is hyperbole. And Guys don't believe I know what I'm doing, I'm just figuring it out, slowly.

***
I'll get some pix of the clone hood up in a few days. I know I'm slow with this shit. I'm using RIU as a way to keep motivated, otherwise I'd just play my ukulele and go to the gym. At 72 I don't have much energy or patience to do much. I'm hoping that some good sativa will get me remotivated.

 

[Olive Drab Green]

Well after a few oopsies I just about got my cloner hood finished. I only have to connect my fan DC supply to the light. Then I can test it and get some light/ temp measurements. The cloner hood is ~14" tall and should allow for cloning, popping seeds, and early veg work.

Next I have to get my electrical feed line run to my grow area, test the pumps and some sprayers, and maybe make a new sprayer holder. That depends upon what I use for tubs. I didn't see any of the Ruff Neck tubs at Lowes, Home Depot, or Wall Mart. I have a couple of the tall tubs, but only one short tub that my wife uses for laundry and it might be tricky to pry it out of her hands to grow dope with.
***
ODG, Welcome. You came in as I was updating. Have you got that link to the Light requirement article?
Oh, I never said that I thought the light was an actual 1500 watt equivalent light, that is just what it was called, bc it uses 150 x10 Watt LEDs. We all know that advertising is hyperbole. And Guys don't believe I know what I'm doing, I'm just figuring it out, slowly.

***
I'll get some pix of the clone hood up in a few days. I know I'm slow with this shit. I'm using RIU as a way to keep motivated, otherwise I'd just play my ukulele and go to the gym. At 72 I don't have much energy or patience to do much. I'm hoping that some good sativa will get me remotivated.

You did not grow 600g (21+ ounces) with 500w of T5 in a 4’x2’. Period. It is not physically possible.

 

[Olive Drab Green]

You’re talking about cloning autos, dude. Like, if you’re a newb, be a newb. If you start talking a bunch of bullshit, people are likely to chase you off the site. Not me, I don’t really want to see that happen to you. But you have to be straight with people, because you are off to a bad start.

 

[Smok3yMcChok3y]

You’re talking about cloning autos, dude. Like, if you’re a newb, be a newb. If you start talking a bunch of bullshit, people are likely to chase you off the site. Not me, I don’t really want to see that happen to you. But you have to be straight with people, because you are off to a bad start.

You did not grow 600g (21+ ounces) with 500w of T5 in a 4’x2’. Period. It is not physically possible.

Maybe wet weight?

 

[GoatSoup]

I went back and looked and don't know why you all think I was talking about cloning autos, unless you misread me or I miss typed my thoughts. It would be cool, but not possible. I have never grown autos, but was thinking about some fast bud and may do some in the future.
All my previous growing was with photo's and the cloning was for a perpetual, which I never actually got going because the wife freaked out and I didn't want to get in legal trouble at the time. Well that and the fact I was working with some Super Lemon Haze and that shit took ~15 weeks to finish. I never got a handle on odor control and had to stop. That is why I'm so concerned about ventilation in this new grow.

As for the 600 g's. I'll admit working from memory about that. However I grew 16 x SLH in a Aeroponics grow in a two Ruff Neck tub arrangement and they were all over ~40-48" tall at finish. That would have been about ~37 gm per plant and ~1.2 gm/watt. I dumped all my records of that grow in case the cops got on me so I can't go back and substantiate much. I did top them but did not do much of anything else. Please, feel free to not believe me, but that is what I remember.

 

[GoatSoup]

ODG thanks for the link to The AFN, I still haven't found the info/chart you posted but the connection was good stuff all around. I got hooked up with the Strain Finder site and was able to research on the Auto's I was after.

I'm thinking now I'll get two of the fastest clones from my local dispensary and use them to trial my system, but get some
FastBuds Seeds Girl Scout Cookies and some Jack H autos seed to follow up with.

From the smell descriptions I figure this month's investment will have to be in Filters, fans, and supporting structure.

 

[GoatSoup]

I was going to test my cloning hood today and WTF! I plugged it in and ....nothing! I had function tested it and found a loose connection in the fancy cord they used for daisy chaining the light but tightening the screw together the connection fixed it, I had thought. no light, no fan and nothing. To trouble shoot this will mean disassembling the whole thing and I glued the fan supply to the hood!

It's a real pain in the ass to disassemble b/c I made all the ac connections real neat and soldiered the wires. I'm thinking the input cord is at fault so I may just replace it for a simple cord from a computer input, I have a bunch of them. One good thing the new cord will be longer than the fancy cord and I will never use the daisy chaining anyway.

There goes another hour!
***

Well fortunately it was just a loose connection but buried deep in the light. Still a pita but fixed now.

 

[GoatSoup]

Testing the hood I'm getting ~785 ftc and only ~ +2 degrees (f) rise in temp after several hours of running with the fan on high. So that would be about 7850 Lumens/m2. The data sheet says 6230 Lux (210 umols) at 30 cm, but I have the inside of the tub painted white and the reflected light may cause the difference. Should be plenty of light for clones or seedlings, up to about 10" or 25 cm in height.
I put the fan on low and will see how it does, temp wise.

I went in to take picture of the hood working and the temp rise is ~+3 degrees after a few minutes.

 

[GoatSoup]

Tested the hood overnight and only had +3 degrees rise in temp at the top of the hood and the inner temp was ~2 degrees lower at the floor with the fan on the lowest setting.

While lurking on the strains and seed bank forum I found Growers Choice Seeds a California bank and they have several strains of sativa doms that sound really good including an Auto Gorilla Glue and Auto Tangerine Dream. The prices are only $10 a seed and they have White Widow and Jack Herer too! As a life long Golden Bear how could I not order from them?
The Tangerine Dream is only 55-65 days which is what I was looking for as a first run and really fast for a Sat Dom strain. Next week is pay day and I'll get my fans, filters, a clone from a local dispensary, and the Auto TD seeds.

In a week or so I'll be popping seeds!

 

[GoatSoup]

I was finally able to order and receive my Fan a Vivosun 4", very cute, quiet, and blows up a storm, When My filter comes in I'll see how it does sucking.
I figure I will suspend the fan & Filter under a shelf with bungee cord and vent out the window. Need a hardware run to get the shelf and brackets. The shelf will also allow me to hang my light on my rope hangers which also came in.

I decided to reproduce my Stink Bud inspired aeroponics tank in a Ruff Neck 27 and 11 gal tubs,( Cause I've already got it, mostly) one inside to hold the root mass and the larger for a ~100 Ltr rez. I'll recycle the old sprayer manifold to adapt to the 11 gal tub and add a drain line. I'll use this with my cloning hood for seedling and clone propagation until I get the second pass going, then I'll move this out of the bath tub and put in another HDX Rez and what ever works best for up top.

But I will construct an HDX 27 gal tote for another ~100 Ltr rez in a modular Aero system using different spray units and 1/2" vinyl pipe. With 2X two plant shoes of 14 ltr for the root chamber for the two plants. That should be enough and only 6" more height. that means that from about 20' to 65" will be free for a scrog net grow space. With the scrog net the "Shoes" should be stable enough for the plants.

Hardware run tomorrow!

 

[GoatSoup]

Well I got my shelf and brackets, just need to put it up. While at HD I was looking for an HDX 27 gal tub, but they were all out of the 27s! They had hundreds just a week ago but It must be planting season. But they did have the Ruff Neck tubs in 27 and 10 gal sizes which are the sizes needed for the modified StinkBud system.

I bought some Auto seed and can get some clones but I'm wondering if I start 8-9 week Auto seeds and I have 8-9 week flowering photo clones vegging 18/6, If I won't end up choking my small growing area?

Or:
Should I just start the Autos and wait a month to get the photo clones? Put the clones under the cloning hood and pre-veg them, & cut more clones, until the Autos are done and then shift the photo's into the flowering side? I can get ~6" clones and veg/train them to 12'-14" x ~10" wide in the cloning hood. Then they should be ready to put in flower, after a month, right?

I bought Northern light Auto and Tangerine Dream Auto seeds (3 ea) and wanted to get them growing for fast bud. They say 7-9 weeks from seed to harvest, but I don't think I should try to get too precise in timing the waves until I've tried the seeds.

Next week should see the delivery of the Filter and other items I ordered, so I need to get the shelf up and the electrical services installed. Every thing should be ready before I need to put the germ'ed seeds into the cloner/seedling Tub.

 

[Lordhooha]

Well I got my shelf and brackets, just need to put it up. While at HD I was looking for an HDX 27 gal tub, but they were all out of the 27s! They had hundreds just a week ago but It must be planting season. But they did have the Ruff Neck tubs in 27 and 10 gal sizes which are the sizes needed for the modified StinkBud system.

I bought some Auto seed and can get some clones but I'm wondering if I start 8-9 week Auto seeds and I have 8-9 week flowering photo clones vegging 18/6, If I won't end up choking my small growing area?

Or:
Should I just start the Autos and wait a month to get the photo clones? Put the clones under the cloning hood and pre-veg them, & cut more clones, until the Autos are done and then shift the photo's into the flowering side? I can get ~6" clones and veg/train them to 12'-14" x ~10" wide in the cloning hood. Then they should be ready to put in flower, after a month, right?

I bought Northern light Auto and Tangerine Dream Auto seeds (3 ea) and wanted to get them growing for fast bud. They say 7-9 weeks from seed to harvest, but I don't think I should try to get too precise in timing the waves until I've tried the seeds.

Next week should see the delivery of the Filter and other items I ordered, so I need to get the shelf up and the electrical services installed. Every thing should be ready before I need to put the germ'ed seeds into the cloner/seedling Tub.

You ramble a lot. It makes it hard to want to follow your grow and/or help you.

 

[GoatSoup]

You ramble a lot. It makes it hard to want to follow your grow and/or help you.

I think it's probably the green dragon hash, I've been smoking.