Thanks for the info on the FloraNectar stuff, Al. I knew there was a reason I got it for free!
I've read around about how some people add molasses and other people think it's dumb to do that, and now I know why.
Never underestimate the ability of a marketer to meet a need he thinks exists. Want to go 300 miles per gallon? Someone will sell you a magic carburetor or a hydrogen electrolyser. Doesn't actually matter if it works or not, if you think you need it, someone will find a way to sell you a copy.
I've got a 600W HPS over a 2X2 table with 6 plants (probably too many plants for that size table) so I think I should have enough light for some awesome buds. I can't wait!!
2'x2'=4sq ft. A 600 is actually much more light power than you really need for that amount of lighted tray space. You could conceivably add another 2'x2' table under that 600.
If you used the Sea of Green method, you could raise as many as 16 plants per 2'x2' tray. In SoG, you flower clones immediately after they set root (no veg time before flowering the clones), which results in short plants, finishing about 30-40" tall. Due to the limits of foliar penetration of artificial light, tall plants are not the indoor grower's friend. SoG overcomes this limitation by tailoring the plants to the ability of the lighting. Also, all branching on the lower 1/3 of the plants is removed in week 1 and again as needed in wk3. This gets rid of poor producing small lower branches and improves air circ around the plants, allowing you to pack in up to 4 plants per sq ft. All the buds that form on these short stalks will be big, dense colas, dramatically improving the avg bud weight & density.
Good luck!
hey al,do you have any advice on cooltubes with a light rail system,i run a 1000 on an intellidrive,and was thinkin bout a cooltube,but seemed like it would just be a pain.
Yes, get rid of the light mover. If your light is too small to cover your intended lighted tray space, add another light.
Light movers are a bodge which allow you to minimise the signs of insufficient lighting (stretchy plants with poor bud development/density) but they don't improve yield. When the light is over one end of the traverse, it's not over the other, meaning you must de-rate the amount of light being received on average by the plants. Aim for about 50W of HPS per sq ft in flowering.
Cooltubes are very helpful in controlling air temps, especially in small spaces.
Spend up on cooltubes but give the movers a miss.