My Current set up: journal?

Very Nice VV. Very Nice.....

Did you ever get your CO2 machine going ?
How is that working out ?

I did put it in for a little while. Without the rest of the controls, I didn't see that much difference. I will use it again if I get the rest of the stuff. VV

I've been watching a grow on another forum
and his veg phase has been impressive with the CO2.

I got some new lights and can't afford to add co2 right now
but i'm thinking it might be worth a try
when I can spring for the equipment.
.

What device is that providing your RO water? I like the rolling cabinet myself.

tonybanks420 said:

What device is that providing your RO water? I like the rolling cabinet myself.

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Wow. You must be referring to the "Valve set" that I used to use. I bought that at Meijer's in the pet department. Used to distribute air to multiple fish tanks, 5 lines in total can run off of it, cost less than $5.00 at that time. The ro system output is a 1/4" line, very little pressure.

Many changes in the room since those early days, still a lot of DIY. We recently changed nute lines and needed 7 reservoirs instead of the 5 we had been running. As long as your making changes might as well change it all, right?

We 'paired up' the reses, two control buckets per table and a 110ltr/min air pump, 12 lines, it is a beast. It works simple, the air pump goes off on a timer when the pump in the res begins to distribute water to the ebb and flow buckets and comes back on after the controller unit has emptied the water back to the control unit. I can tell it is 9:00 right now because the air pump just came back on and it sounds like a punch of coffee pots peculating.

We have 3 lines from each control bucket the pots, and we just put the air line a little ways into the water line. Slick as whale snot.

I really should have journal-ed all of that, the build was easy. We needed a table for the 2 controllers at each of 3 stations, and we wanted a shelf for the air pump. We made the back legs 60", cut holes in the table top and slid it down to match the 30" height of our tables. a 2x10 across the back legs, air pump sits on that.

We picked up a timer at Menards, it has four circuits controlled by a mechanical timer and four outlets that are well... outlets. Mounted that across the top. Bought 2 3outlet 3' extensions and mounted them on the uprights. This allows us to use the timers we already have for the rest of the project.

We have a digital timer plugged in the the left hand upright that controls the air pump, a two outlet digital timer on the right hand upright that controls the pumps in the reservoirs, and we plugged the pumps in the control buckets to the Timer/Outlet set up.

If we unplug the unit for cleaning, we will have to pay attention, since it is a mechanical timer we will need to adjust it for however long it is unplugged. We will have to take some pictures??

List of expenses

3 air pumps, air line and air stones ...................................$320.00
3 Timer/Outlets 6-3 outlet cords.......................................$ 78.00
10 30 gallon barrels........................................................$ 64.00
Saw blades to cut the barrel tops off.................................$ 20.00 ( get extras)
Lumber 6 2x4's 1 4'x8' 1/2" plywood...................................$ 35.00 2-2x4's per table, table tops and covers for barrels (reses)
Handles for lids..............................................................$15.00
2 additional controller units..............................................$260.00 (this includes 2 pumps, two timers and all necessary plumbing parts)
Miscellaneous VV crap.....................................................$???.?? ( clamps for all cords, etc. safety first)

I guess the change was around $900.00. Guess it better work.lol VV

VictorVIcious said:

I believe in doing business, as much as is economical with the local Hydro Shop. Mine does have a website, has been in business in that location since 1983 which is impressive.
It should cost $340.00 or less out he door with bulbs included, 1/2 red, 1/2 blue. If there is not a local source then by all means contact www.superiorgrowers.com They have always given me excellent advice.



Sorry sometimes my sarcasm misses and I don't make myself clear. If you are talking about mounting them on the sides in addition to the 8 tube at the top then I didn't explain it very well. I was actually kind off trying to drive a point home. I have been saying the t-5 will work as good as the 600 watt hids and some folks just can't believe you can drop your electric use and get the same results. I was trying to be funny and tell them if they just had to have a higher electric bill to be happy they could add more t-5's to get closer to the same electric expense as the 600 watt hid. Now they would be able to see if there is a difference 600watt to 600watt instead of comparing it to my little 440 watt t-5. One person even tried to point out a better grow with a 1000watt hid. So I was really just trying to drive a point home not suggest you would need more than that one fixture for you closet. Remember I have that fixture over 20 plants. You can't put 20 mature plants in that closet. You will have plenty off light. And to start with you can just light 1/2 the fixture. Clones or seedling won't be big enough to need all 8 bulbs to start with. To give you an idea you could check out my DIY clone stand. There are 16 or so clones getting ready for the second transplant soon. Before that they were all in one tray, so you can see they dont take much space.


$340.00 depending on your states sales tax rate ours is 6%. If you have to pay shipping that would probably add about $30.00 to the price. And most of the hanging hardware is already there. Couple small lengths of chain and eye hooks secured at least an inch deep into solid wood, a couple 'S' hooks for raising and lowering it. Plug it in and go. No separate ballast, etc. VV

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Hey guys your best bet on getting a t5 fixture and bulbs for a decent price is looking at your local electrical supplier they will be the cheapest other then buying right from the manufactorer

I am really impressed. You folks are actually reading this thread, wow, thank you. I have another one that starts with new strains from seeds, made a few improvements along the way and our state, Michigan, passed a Medical Marihuana Law. That has kept me busy for the last two years and we really haven't had any time to write a new journal.

Maybe the start of the new year? VV

Hey I have been browsing some journals and stumbled upon this one. Definitely an impressive setup (no doubt about that). I can attest to T5 lighting definitely proving its worth during the vegetative stage. I have the means so I do plan to do a test run on 1-2 girls all through budding. Anyways I was curious as to why those lights cost you $340? There are many cheaper sources via going to the sources to get the same exact bulbs/fixtures etc. If you are just plugging thats fine, but that is a high price.

At the time that this journal was written T-5's had just started being used. I paid $229.00 for the first one. I believe in doing business with local folks when possible, I don't shop around a lot. You can buy them for less. VV

Well hell vv,,, been a spell since I yapped with ya. I still have that n/l tlb for ya from dirtbag. Need to pick yer brain on hydro and tables as I'm about ready to flip the grow over. I'm pullin 2 lbs every 10 days out of soil with runnin sets of 10 but watering this amont is getting ugly. Hey I started a journel here with a topsey turvey with that n/l tlb. You need to check that out as those make great places for our mamas. I also have been breading and have a evil ass purple strain I'd like you to try so shoot me a pm so I can get ya some beans, Earl too..... Lord been so dam long I could prolly wright ya a book hehehehehehe. Clubs still runnin and have 356 members now. Lord what a 2 year run we've had. Busy just dont say enough as ya know...... Free the weed brother,,, free da weed................

Thanks again for all yer help,,, I cant say that enough.............

Well.....sounds like you are doing good, nice to hear from you. Earl has been here a couple of times and always asks about you.

Roger and I still do the radio show, Straight Up,. Mondays from 5-7pm, www.justgoodradio.com

And I still write an editorial for Michigan Medical Marihuana Magazine, December Issue is the first Anniversary for the magazine, Second for when our law became effective, still doesn't seem to have 'taken effect' as you know, folks are still getting arrested.

Hydro would be easy for anyone with your 'boat experience', if you want water to move uphill you have to pump it, gravity will put it back when you stop pumping. Stop by whenever you can, I believe you can see all you need to right here. With that kind of harvest numbers a visit to a local grow shop could accomplish the same thing, but they won't let you medicate.lol VV

Yeah been doing fine on this end, mamas still having issues but we'll get threw it. I keep trying to get the show but it wont run on my computer so will have to get a new box after x-mas.. Yeah numbers are ok this way but watering is killin me. Be a hell of alot easier with a flood table. Did ya ever see good results out of co2 as I read in a ol assed thread where you where trying it. Thinking on adding that too after x-mas.
We need to plan that boat trip this summer as I got another big boat. This ones a 10 meter(33ft) chris craft so plenty of room to fish on. I needed another boat like I needed a hole in me head but this ones big enough for mama to stay on in the summer. 2 bedrooms, large galley and bathroom and a nice sized living room. She's 12.6 ft wide so tons of room to play. Gas will kill me as she holds 250 gallons but when ya own a boat like this ya dont worry about gas. Ya just pass them the plastic and start cry'in

Sounds like a plan. So pretty much you have our camping trailer in your boat.lol We should go over to ChiTown and take Julie Falco for a ride. VV

Oh she'll make the trip thats for sure. Be hard for her not to see us coming with that huge cloud of pot smoke coming off the back deck . Can ya belive it,,,, I finally got my venting done again . Now she's up the chimmy and gone . Runnin 4, 1 kers now in bloom and been having temp issues with it hitting 83. Should be back to 75/78 with the new vortex and venting.1. 6" for the lights and 1 just for venting the room. Temps been pretty good in that small of a spot as I'm only at 7x10 for bloom now with 4 1kers in there and no A/C. Hell of alot brighter in there now then with that silly 600 I started with. Went from that to 5600 watts, 1ker for veg, 600 watter for the breading sex tent and 4k in bloom. Power company just LUVS me now . Lil sand on the bloom room flooor and me beach chair and I'm back on da beach . What snow ????????????

YeP, but I 'started' with 400's, so you did one better than I did. Remember Howard Mark's journal, 600 watt over each set of 6 plants? That is what we are working towards now.
With the plant counts we were running, I had 2-1000's for every 8' of run. Now we are replacing those with 3-600's. Each one will have a 32" by 4' space to cover, 3 points of light instead of just 2.
And we will be going to 8" venting, which according to the old 'pie r square' formula is almost 2 times the capacity of the 6" line.

Here's some pictures we took some time ago. This vegging room was the addition. Enjoy. VV

Here are a few shots of what the flowering room looked like at that time. It looks a little better now.lol VV

Nice work, you've built a Very nice method.
I see you doing well in the future.

Well thanx Mutant, we have been working at it for about a year now. Few more tweaks here and there. VV

wow this is so elaborate.... i am totally new at this. like legit, never been past germination. and i REALLY want to know more. I'll be trollin around this forum for a while ;P

edit:
VV, if you could and wouldnt mind sending me a message? you said you've only been at it a YEAR!? and you have that rediculous of a setup? share your wisdom. lol i just need to get kickstarted with the basics in a way i understand lol, cause idk what the heck a T5 is of half the stuff people have been commenting...