JigFresh's Grow #2 : Vertical Scrog - closet diy dwc - 650w - Headband + Casey Jones

jigfresh said:

Please... keep talking. We don't have to stay on subject. It all just gets the creative juices flowing.

I finally ordered my buckets. I got 3 tubs and 3 lids. No messing things up.

Also took a couple pictures just for fun... not much more progress, sorry.

I am thinking I'll have the lights pointing down, so the base will be above the bulb... any reason this is wrong?

Also I'm going to have the fan after the lights... I'll need to think about the airflow stuff. Thanks again to all for their input... it's much appreciated.

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That thing is crazy man what kind of fan are you using for the light tube? I was reading about what you said earlier about most vertical grows being drip systems. I know someone who is currently building a vertical aero system.

The problems I see with active hydro and large plant numbers is a few things:

1. Cost, Heath's system is simple but even my set-up was not cheap to build
2. Maintenance
3. Complexity of design, I've tried all kinds of hydro set-ups and it is the simple systems I go back to time and time again.

Try building a 75+ plant custom vertical hydroponic set-up on a budget . . . . it's not easy.

I kind of see what you are putting together now and its looking good.

Oh and as far as fan placement I think it is better to blow air through a cool tube rather than suck it out. Why put extra wear on a fan by pulling hot air through it?

That said set it up in whatever way gives you maximum air-flow through the tube.

Thanks for the input NG. I completely agree about fan placement. The reason I am thinking of having it up high is mainly floorspace. The fan below the lights would put the fan around the buckets, taking up valueable space around all the business. Up above it is just so out of the way of everything. Plus I'm hoping the sound is less up there surrounded by (small) walls, and not a door.

I don't want to kill the fan early with all the heat... but than again, I only spent $80 on it.

Onto the disappointment... I ordered my buckets on tuesday and never heard anything. I guess I confused them by putting a street address and a po box. Anyways, he said he would look up the shipping price for me... $25 to ship me 3 buckets. So basically they would be $20 buckets. The total would have been about 60. I guess I'll try to find other buckets I like at a better price. Maybe just the plain old round home depot type buckets.

So... with that money not spent, I'll order lights. Woo hoo. I'm also going to stop by the local hydro store for net pots and see if they have anything else I need. I'm thinking of useing 3" net pots this time. The first time I used 6" ones and I really can't imagine why you would actually need a 6" net pot.

Alright, more progress soon. I'm about to stain half the deck, then I'll have 3 days or so while that dries work on the grow op.

jigfresh said:

Thanks for the input NG. I completely agree about fan placement. The reason I am thinking of having it up high is mainly floorspace. The fan below the lights would put the fan around the buckets, taking up valueable space around all the business. Up above it is just so out of the way of everything. Plus I'm hoping the sound is less up there surrounded by (small) walls, and not a door.

I don't want to kill the fan early with all the heat... but than again, I only spent $80 on it.

Onto the disappointment... I ordered my buckets on tuesday and never heard anything. I guess I confused them by putting a street address and a po box. Anyways, he said he would look up the shipping price for me... $25 to ship me 3 buckets. So basically they would be $20 buckets. The total would have been about 60. I guess I'll try to find other buckets I like at a better price. Maybe just the plain old round home depot type buckets.

So... with that money not spent, I'll order lights. Woo hoo. I'm also going to stop by the local hydro store for net pots and see if they have anything else I need. I'm thinking of useing 3" net pots this time. The first time I used 6" ones and I really can't imagine why you would actually need a 6" net pot.

Alright, more progress soon. I'm about to stain half the deck, then I'll have 3 days or so while that dries work on the grow op.

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Sorry jig. My experience was very good with that dealer. Quick and cheap shipping. I had a thought to try and remedy the situation though. You have cat's right? Well i know there's a cat litter that comes in a large 5 gallon square bucket like the ones you were trying to order. Tidy Cat maybe..??? Its yellow. Any way I'm sorry again and wish you luck in the search for the right parts.

A note about the fan, i've always been under the impression that fans in general have an easier time pulling through obstructions then pushing through them. I read it some where and most of my hands on experience has lead me to the same conclusion.

Later

I used those for a soil grow and they worked quite well...No leaks after a 3 month grow!

Well, except through the holes for drainage of course...

If you are going to store a MASS of roots in one with an airstone on the bottom....

I would be worried it would clog eventually for sure....

But you know what I do...and I have 0 experience with hydro. So take it with a grain of salt, or, if you get better info, the whole damn shaker...

Thanks for the advise fellas... but it's too late. I left this morning to go grocery shopping and made a stop at the hydro store.... Hahaha... the guy who owns it was completely baked. He didn't say anything to me, but I heard him saying on the phone to someone how the brownies are out of this world... he started describing what he felt like until he realized he was talking too loud, haha.

Anyways, to support the store and save myself a trip to Home depot, I just bought my buckets there. They are 5 gallons and black. Got lids for both and some new net pots as well. I bought 4 - 3.75" pots, and 2 - 5" pots. Don't ask why the number of the different ones... just thought 2 and 4 sounded right.

I think I might use the 3.75 inch if I can. The reason being it's shorter, so I can fill the rez higher when I leave without soaking the rockwool to bad.

I also picked up a liter of DM Silica. Never gone without it, so no comparison, but I love it and credit it with helping me have such healthy plants.

All that for $40... not too bad.

I'll be taping the buckets with metal tape to make sure they are completely light proof.

Jesse... I plan on having things so I can change airstones if need be.

Smoote and Tom... thanks for the help, but I would just be dumping that litter out. For one we don't use scoopable litter, becuase it is bad for your cats (we love our little ones). Also we don't use regular sand/ clay litter at all... we use this system called the Breeze. It uses clay pellets (look like rabbit food pellets). Those sit over a grate then there is a drawer below with a pee pad. Haha, the shit you learn on my thread. Anyways, the poo stays on top, while the pee drops below and somehow it makes things smell a lot less. Also the cats don't track the pellets on their feet. Before we had litter through out the house, but now not at all.

On the cat note... while we love them a lot we are not the kind of people who buy fancy ass food, or crazy toys and outfits and stuff. They don't even get wet food or treats. Just dry food, water, and a bunch of love.

Oh and they absolutely love to lay under the HPS... the MH too, but the HPS especially.

I'm going to take pics later, actually have a cat on my lap asleep right now (little columbia)... I guess I'll make a new post for that when I take them.

EDIT: Not really based on much... I think I read it and seemed to make sense to me, but I think fans have an easier time blowing over sucking. So there... you wanna fight, haha.

jigfresh said:

Oh and they absolutely love to lay under the HPS... the MH too, but the HPS especially.

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Hahaha... you should see ME... come Wintertime and no Sun up in the sky....

I totally turn the Reggae up and and enjoy some "sunshine" with the girls...

EDIT: Not really based on much... I think I read it and seemed to make sense to me, but I think fans have an easier time blowing over sucking. So there... you wanna fight, haha.

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Jig... any kind of propeller or impeller will be more efficient when the air is denser (colder)... there are more "air molecules" per square inch for the blades to grab...

Also worthy of note is that an electrical fan will have a longer life if kept cooler... VS. a shorter life if kept warmer...

So by blowing colder air, you are allowing better efficiency and longer life to your fan...

With that said... in all reality, the difference is probably measurable, but negligeable...

So go with what works best for you.. it's not like you are gonna kill your fan in a week or anything...

That's awesome about your artificial sun you got going on... I've come to miss the orange glow a little, but the sun doesn't really leave us down here like up there.... so I can only imagine you.

I took a few pictures. Nothing exciting. Just the stuff I bought and what I'm doing to the buckets.

These buckets are actually 100% light proof... however they are black, so they will soak up all the heat, not good. So I was tossing around either painting them white or covering with aluminium tape. I chose the tape for no good reason. I guess because I could do it while watching cricket.

I really need to get myself in gear... this grow should be starting soon according to plan... hopefully my lazy ass won't delay things.

I miss plants growing in my closet.

Oh, and I took a picture of my race number thing. My wife and I went to the annual 5k walk around the local lake this morning. It was so nice... except for the wild fire smoke in the air (nasty).

Also included a pic of my dumb ass checking for light leaks... as well as one of my cat 'Big boy', he plays like a dog.

And a Dodgers fan too....!!! Can this build get any better?!?!

Um.... I have no idea where you would get the idea I care about the Los Angeles Dodgers...

Not pictured are the 3 game used bats I have (one of which I got signed).

I also used to have around 30-35 LA hats... however since growing out my hair none of them fit (all fitted). And yeah... if any of you know how much fitted caps cost you can tell just how crazy I was for buying all of them.

I also have an autographed 8" x 10" glossy of Me and Ceasar Izturis... the picture is of him handing me the bat he signed... it was his bat he used in a game.... A fellow collector friend took the pic, had it blown up, and got it signed by ceasar. Frikin incredable of a thing to do for a complete stranger. Thanks Akira.

I remember whe I gave Iztuis the bat to sign he gave me a look like 'how on earth do you have one of my bats'.

It helps to have connections, haha.

Thanks for saying something renegade... I had fun pulling that stuff out.

Jig that head-in-bucket is a good look for you....

Very nice!!! I'm not even mad... I'm impressed!

You continue to one up! I grew up around Bear, and worked at Bear Mountain for 3 years. I miss it everytime I see your pics. Judging from some of your pics I think I stayed right near you last season. I love it up there...

I just picked up a set of official Dodger Stadium box seats a few months back. They are from the 2005 renovation. Nothing like drinking beer in dodger stadium seats, watching the game in your own garage! I got really lucky. I looked at alot of sets, most through the evil craigslist, and most were in really bad shape. I drove 5 hours to pick these up. They are in amazing condition.

Been rough since the all-star break, but we'll see I have confidence. Stay blue buddy....

That is so sweet. I'm jealous.

Here are some grow room pics. Slowly but surely.

I will only have the two shiny buckets in there for most of the grow. I will leave room for the extra buckets for when I go away.

Also, the metal ducting standing up is just representative... there will be something that curves and gets to the door, still not sure exatly how it will be.

I curved the left screen about how they will be. It's pretty awesome, looks like I will be able to get the screen about 10" off the glass 2/3 of the way around. So i will have 240 degrees of optimum light. I think there is still room for the extra plants on the door idea to, that would fill in the gap where the light would reflect.

I can see how heath gets such a high g/w, with such use of the light. It would be pretty hot if I could push 1 g/w on this. That would be a lot of pot.

Oh, and instead of that metal in the middle of the two glasses... I am going to put another glass to match. So there will be 3 of those things in a row. This is going to look really cool I think.

Sweet, I'm along for the ride.

it already does .... and it gonna get even kewler ... hahahaha! great work man!!

jigfresh said:

That is so sweet. I'm jealous.

Here are some grow room pics. Slowly but surely.

I will only have the two shiny buckets in there for most of the grow. I will leave room for the extra buckets for when I go away.

Also, the metal ducting standing up is just representative... there will be something that curves and gets to the door, still not sure exatly how it will be.

I curved the left screen about how they will be. It's pretty awesome, looks like I will be able to get the screen about 10" off the glass 2/3 of the way around. So i will have 240 degrees of optimum light. I think there is still room for the extra plants on the door idea to, that would fill in the gap where the light would reflect.

I can see how heath gets such a high g/w, with such use of the light. It would be pretty hot if I could push 1 g/w on this. That would be a lot of pot.

Oh, and instead of that metal in the middle of the two glasses... I am going to put another glass to match. So there will be 3 of those things in a row. This is going to look really cool I think.

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Thanks a lot tahoe. Dude... I had no idea you were a gear head. We have more in common. However I like the roar of a V8 over the scream of a V12. That's not to say I wouldn't take a Zonda. It's not a super car, but I have a serious crush on the Lexus F, but my dream is to one day have a '98 Skyline R34. (i have modest tastes, haha).

You watch racing too? People think I'm crazy for watching every minute of TV coverage when the 24 of Le Mans is on. That is just the best.

And RobotNinja... good to see you man. Glad to have you along.

jigfresh said:

Thanks a lot tahoe. Dude... I had no idea you were a gear head. We have more in common. However I like the roar of a V8 over the scream of a V12. That's not to say I wouldn't take a Zonda. It's not a super car, but I have a serious crush on the Lexus F, but my dream is to one day have a '98 Skyline R34. (i have modest tastes, haha).

You watch racing too? People think I'm crazy for watching every minute of TV coverage when the 24 of Le Mans is on. That is just the best.

And RobotNinja... good to see you man. Glad to have you along.

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Looking good jig. I cant get over how big those screens are!

Make sure you attribute for the way the cool tube is going to swing out when you open the door. I don't think you will get 4 buckets in there because you will need the bucket space on the left front for the cool tube. Maybe you can try making an "L" of sorts to allow the ducting to hug the door until it is above the height of the buckets. Better yet, I bet you could make the cool tube stationary and attach a quick disconnect dryer coupling and some flexible ducting. That way there's no swing of rigid ducting but a stretch of flexible ducting. Does any of that make sense?

Anyway keep up the good work, later.

It does make sense. Love the input. What I am thinking is having the lights stationary, the swing would be tough to account for, plus it would be in my way when the door was open, so this is actually the best for me working in there I think.

To connect to the door, I'm thinking of having a 'bar' or peice of wood go across the doorway butted up against the door on the inside. I can have the light attach to this (as it would be stationary), then match up openings with the door, so when the door shut the openings would mate nicely.

How's things smoote? All well in the hood?

jigfresh said:

It does make sense. Love the input. What I am thinking is having the lights stationary, the swing would be tough to account for, plus it would be in my way when the door was open, so this is actually the best for me working in there I think.

To connect to the door, I'm thinking of having a 'bar' or peice of wood go across the doorway butted up against the door on the inside. I can have the light attach to this (as it would be stationary), then match up openings with the door, so when the door shut the openings would mate nicely.

How's things smoote? All well in the hood?

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Sounds good but, I think I'm still a little lost. How are you then going to reconnect the cool tube and ducting to the fan and ducting to the roof when you open and close the door? ....soft coupling?

Hoods good. Life's been real good too. Its hot as shit here though, hows good 'ol cali?

I'm starting on the second grow pod today and i'm taking a little lesson from you. I'll be using the same 100w of mh for veg, though its on a new ballast. Then for flower I'll be using one 150w hps and then a second 100w mh with the old ballast. I'm really excited for the increase in wattage but more so to be using a more full spectrum to flower. All the benefits that i've been reading about sound perfect for ScrOGing. Less stretch and denser more potent buds, plus richer coloring and much more UV light.

I cant wait. I was taking pics of it for you the other day but then opted not to because of how shitty the phone pics are. The wife will be back this upcoming weekend so i'll get you better shots then... unless you don't mind the phone pics?

I'd try to explain, but think I would just confuse you and everybody even more than they already are. Short story, no flex ducting anywhere, nothing will ever move, just the door, nothing else.

Cali is great. Cooling off a bit (not that it gets too hot at my place). The bear has been by to say hello. The mama racoon and her baby have taken to climbing trees lately.

Big fun is that me and my wife are working on getting her pregnant (by me hopefully). So my grow #3 may have a little set of hands to help trim, haha. Man, you guys are going to be sick of me gushing about my beautiful pregnant wife when it happens. Prepare now.

As for the dual light. I don't have anything to compare it too, but I beleive it does wonders for having nice 'well rounded' herb. Biggest plus in my head is that it's closer to nature.

Thanks again for stopping by.