MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Excellent. Been a while since I have looked at their offerings. I just checked it out. Cool light. Best of luck with that beast.
My Magical Mobile Micro Medical Marijuana Machine
- Thread starter MrFlatbush
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MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
This post is about my side lighting cable management.
If you have been following along you are aware that I have 4 QB288's for side lighting, two on each side, magnetically attached to the side walls.
I had many design goals beyond just growing great weed (and I am still chasing that one...). I wanted Nostromo to look amazing. She didn't always look like the pictures you see here. As they say, form follows function. First I got her working and growing, then I started working on making her look as good as I could. I'm continually tweaking her.
The 4 QB288s that power my side lighting are wired in parallel. Each QB has a custom cable terminated with a male, right-angle DC connector. The right angle allows the cable to hang straight down vs stick out (and taking up valuable space). At the top rear of Nostromo are 4 female DC connectors, one for each QB. Each cable is just long enough to allow each QB to be adjusted up or down but no longer.
The parallel wiring of the 4 QBs occurs in a fabricated project box, magnetically attached to the back of Nostromo. Each QB plugs into one of the 4 female DC connectors on the side of the junction box. The Meanwell LED driver also plugs into the box.
Cheers
If you have been following along you are aware that I have 4 QB288's for side lighting, two on each side, magnetically attached to the side walls.
I had many design goals beyond just growing great weed (and I am still chasing that one...). I wanted Nostromo to look amazing. She didn't always look like the pictures you see here. As they say, form follows function. First I got her working and growing, then I started working on making her look as good as I could. I'm continually tweaking her.
The 4 QB288s that power my side lighting are wired in parallel. Each QB has a custom cable terminated with a male, right-angle DC connector. The right angle allows the cable to hang straight down vs stick out (and taking up valuable space). At the top rear of Nostromo are 4 female DC connectors, one for each QB. Each cable is just long enough to allow each QB to be adjusted up or down but no longer.
The parallel wiring of the 4 QBs occurs in a fabricated project box, magnetically attached to the back of Nostromo. Each QB plugs into one of the 4 female DC connectors on the side of the junction box. The Meanwell LED driver also plugs into the box.
Cheers
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by.
That's a great question. I wasn't sure and had to go back to my notes. As with all things, it depends on a few factors, mostly the extent of the preflower training I choose to do, and of course, the strain.
I usually veg and train my plant outside of Nostromo for around 2 months. So, two months, in general, from dropping a seed into damp perlite to placing the flattened/trained plant into Nostromo to begin flowering. During those two months I am using the training platform to flatten, bend, and shape the plant to best fit my tiny space. Much depends on the branching structure of the plant, whether I top (I usually do), etc.
Once placed inside of Nostromo it depends on the strain. The WWBB freak in the first photo flowered for 79 days. I'm still very new at this but I have never had one finish to my liking in less than 70 days. I'm sure it's possible.
The plant below is roughly 2 months from having dropped the seed into damp perlite. The photo was taken on day 0 of flowering, the day I placed her into the box.
Hope that helps.
That's a great question. I wasn't sure and had to go back to my notes. As with all things, it depends on a few factors, mostly the extent of the preflower training I choose to do, and of course, the strain.
I usually veg and train my plant outside of Nostromo for around 2 months. So, two months, in general, from dropping a seed into damp perlite to placing the flattened/trained plant into Nostromo to begin flowering. During those two months I am using the training platform to flatten, bend, and shape the plant to best fit my tiny space. Much depends on the branching structure of the plant, whether I top (I usually do), etc.
Once placed inside of Nostromo it depends on the strain. The WWBB freak in the first photo flowered for 79 days. I'm still very new at this but I have never had one finish to my liking in less than 70 days. I'm sure it's possible.
The plant below is roughly 2 months from having dropped the seed into damp perlite. The photo was taken on day 0 of flowering, the day I placed her into the box.
Hope that helps.
LoC Tha Token
Member
Damn, I have to learn how to do stuff like this. I don't have the designers mind, it takes a true artist to come up with things this beautiful. I have to work on that though because I need to make a cabinet that is bigger than the space bucket.
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I appreciate that
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
So if my math is right, you're getting about an ounce per cubic foot.
This device is amazing; it reminds me a bit of the old Phototron units I started with some 35 years ago. Those used U shaped florescent tubes in the sides. I never got results anything like you've gotten.
The attention to detail is amazing. Your OCD has served you well! Lol
Did the Nostromo begin life as a wine refrigerator?
I'm really impressed!
This device is amazing; it reminds me a bit of the old Phototron units I started with some 35 years ago. Those used U shaped florescent tubes in the sides. I never got results anything like you've gotten.
The attention to detail is amazing. Your OCD has served you well! Lol
Did the Nostromo begin life as a wine refrigerator?
I'm really impressed!
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by. Yes, Nostromo is a converted wine fridge.....from wine to weed. Good eye.
Your math is slightly off
.....I have just under 1.5 cubic feet of growing area. My last run was my best, a bit over 5 ounces. With improved training and a good strain I am hoping to squeeze out one more ounce. I think 6 will be the physical limit of Nostromo. My initial goal 4 years ago was 1-2 ounces. Cheers, and thanks again
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
A tad over 3 ounces per cubic feet......and a bit over 5 ounces per square foot.Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by. Yes, Nostromo is a converted wine fridge.....from wine to weed. Good eye.
Your math is slightly off
Cheers, and thanks again
amneziaHaze
Well-Known Member
you got any grow diaries?
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
I don't, unfortunately.....I was always afraid I would fail to properly maintain it...
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
I have a puny, untrained, and rather fried plant finishing up inside of Nostromo at the moment. I will post a picture of her fried but frosty self later. I overfed her early on. She will finish frosty but definitely won't win any sugar leaf beauty contests.
Until then, here is the next plant that will be entering Nostromo soon. Here she is, only a week or two above ground. The white acrylic is the training platform which you have seen before. The gray tub is a simple flood and drain tray sitting in another room. This is where I start plants or root clones before they go into Nostromo
If you look close at the white acrylic you can the bolts where the upper acrylic training cage screws into it. The mesh of fishing line, the eye bolts and the J bolts around the perimeter, and the upper training cage, are all essential for producing decent yields in such a small space. Training has to happen in 3 dimensions for me to achieve my goals. My cage makes training super fun. Also, since the entire thing is made up of custom, laser cut parts it's also super fun to tweak and customize.
In another week or two I will screw in the upper acrylic training cage. I will use it to spread her out and train her within the small 1+ cubic foot space.
From here on in all I should need to do is focus on keeping here well trained........and her reservoir full. She needs to be kept low at every opportunity. The only thing I want above ground is bud, not stem or stalk. When she ultimately stretches, growth that would normally grow vertical needs to be pulled horizontal, where possible.
Oh yeah, this new one is a Gelato (f) from Nirvana.
Thanks again for stopping by. Hopefully I will be able to add some progress images........
Until then, here is the next plant that will be entering Nostromo soon. Here she is, only a week or two above ground. The white acrylic is the training platform which you have seen before. The gray tub is a simple flood and drain tray sitting in another room. This is where I start plants or root clones before they go into Nostromo
If you look close at the white acrylic you can the bolts where the upper acrylic training cage screws into it. The mesh of fishing line, the eye bolts and the J bolts around the perimeter, and the upper training cage, are all essential for producing decent yields in such a small space. Training has to happen in 3 dimensions for me to achieve my goals. My cage makes training super fun. Also, since the entire thing is made up of custom, laser cut parts it's also super fun to tweak and customize.
In another week or two I will screw in the upper acrylic training cage. I will use it to spread her out and train her within the small 1+ cubic foot space.
From here on in all I should need to do is focus on keeping here well trained........and her reservoir full. She needs to be kept low at every opportunity. The only thing I want above ground is bud, not stem or stalk. When she ultimately stretches, growth that would normally grow vertical needs to be pulled horizontal, where possible.
Oh yeah, this new one is a Gelato (f) from Nirvana.
Thanks again for stopping by. Hopefully I will be able to add some progress images........
TrichDaddy
Well-Known Member
Seen a lotta micro cabs but none with this much thought and detail put into it. Very impressive.
Do you run a carbon filter externally I suppose? Or no need for one?
Do you run a carbon filter externally I suppose? Or no need for one?
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Thanks for stopping by, TD.
When things get unbearably stinky, I keep things simple and just place a carbon infused pad over the exhaust port. It helps reduce but definitely does not eliminate odor.
My cab sits directly under a window and exhausts upward through a small AC Infinity blower-fan mounted on the middle of her back. Natural airflow carries most of the stink out the window.
What saves me is my glass door. I'm able to stare at my plant all day and never open the door. The smell is relatively contained. And I will admit, I spend an unhealthy amount of time staring at my plant through that glass door.....
MrFlatbush
Well-Known Member
Attempting to maximize every inch within a micro grow space.
If you have been following along, you know I have a tiny space. It is just over one cubic foot. Yes, I have grow-space envy.
Since I don’t have to worry about watering I am able to focus my attention on more pressing matters, LST and plant shaping.
Space is a premium for me. The only thing I can afford to be growing above "ground" is bud. Empty space for me is a waste. All empty space should have flowering bud in it. Elongated stems that don’t contain bud and are the enemy. Lengthy internodes kill my jam. Well, in a perfect world....
My goal this run is simple. I'm going to grow her as flat/horizontal as I can. Hopefully only bud-producing nodes will end up occupying my cubic grow space, not bud-barren stems and stalks.
You saw the little gizmo that allows me to do L/HST along any axis within my grow cube (U/D/L/R). I love it but I haven't gotten the most out of it yet. On this run I am trying to do a much better job of growing her completely flat from the get-go.
On my last run I didn’t start hardcore training early enough. I did a fairly good job of pulling branches down as they got tall (typical LST). However, in hindsight I could have and should have been much more aggressive from the start. As much training as I thought I did, I still had areas with no bud. I had too much empty space at the bottom of my grow, space that could have been producing.
My latest run is going well. I have been aggressively training my Gelato to grow flat. So far, so good. Her vegging plate (aka Flatbush) is about 50%. Once I reach 100% I will move her into Nostromo and begin flowering. If I have trained her well at that point I will welcome the stretch. The stretch is a beautiful thing to watch in a plant that has been heavily strapped down…….bud sites everywhere and every single bud on every part of the plant gets full light.
At the moment she is vegging in a little flood and drain setup in my bathroom. She will likely be here for another 2-3 weeks.
During this time, I love watching the "lower" and "secondary" branches catch up to the primary grow tip. The are no longer subordinates. This plant has never been topped so it naturally wanted to assume its preordained Christmas tree shape. Tying her flat, however, allowed no one branch to really dominate. It allowed everyone to catch up. Small shoots that would have otherwise been somewhat shaded are turning into nice little colas on their own. All branches now have an equal shot at the sun and will each reach their own potential.
Here are a few photos….a top down, a side shot of the vertical growth I was rambling about above, and a cool shot of the roots.
Cheers
A Top down view. Her training system and root basket are a single integrated pot. This is a fully portable, automatic watering, hydroponic plant. Here she is on the kitchen floor.
Here is a shot of the side shoots I was rambling on about above. Secondary shoots are now independent colas.
A nice healthy, white root system. As roots peek out I trim them. This causes new roots to spread out. This plant doesn't get topped, it gets bottomed. I'll let myself out
If you have been following along, you know I have a tiny space. It is just over one cubic foot. Yes, I have grow-space envy.
Since I don’t have to worry about watering I am able to focus my attention on more pressing matters, LST and plant shaping.
Space is a premium for me. The only thing I can afford to be growing above "ground" is bud. Empty space for me is a waste. All empty space should have flowering bud in it. Elongated stems that don’t contain bud and are the enemy. Lengthy internodes kill my jam. Well, in a perfect world....
My goal this run is simple. I'm going to grow her as flat/horizontal as I can. Hopefully only bud-producing nodes will end up occupying my cubic grow space, not bud-barren stems and stalks.
You saw the little gizmo that allows me to do L/HST along any axis within my grow cube (U/D/L/R). I love it but I haven't gotten the most out of it yet. On this run I am trying to do a much better job of growing her completely flat from the get-go.
On my last run I didn’t start hardcore training early enough. I did a fairly good job of pulling branches down as they got tall (typical LST). However, in hindsight I could have and should have been much more aggressive from the start. As much training as I thought I did, I still had areas with no bud. I had too much empty space at the bottom of my grow, space that could have been producing.
My latest run is going well. I have been aggressively training my Gelato to grow flat. So far, so good. Her vegging plate (aka Flatbush) is about 50%. Once I reach 100% I will move her into Nostromo and begin flowering. If I have trained her well at that point I will welcome the stretch. The stretch is a beautiful thing to watch in a plant that has been heavily strapped down…….bud sites everywhere and every single bud on every part of the plant gets full light.
At the moment she is vegging in a little flood and drain setup in my bathroom. She will likely be here for another 2-3 weeks.
During this time, I love watching the "lower" and "secondary" branches catch up to the primary grow tip. The are no longer subordinates. This plant has never been topped so it naturally wanted to assume its preordained Christmas tree shape. Tying her flat, however, allowed no one branch to really dominate. It allowed everyone to catch up. Small shoots that would have otherwise been somewhat shaded are turning into nice little colas on their own. All branches now have an equal shot at the sun and will each reach their own potential.
Here are a few photos….a top down, a side shot of the vertical growth I was rambling about above, and a cool shot of the roots.
Cheers
A Top down view. Her training system and root basket are a single integrated pot. This is a fully portable, automatic watering, hydroponic plant. Here she is on the kitchen floor.
Here is a shot of the side shoots I was rambling on about above. Secondary shoots are now independent colas.
A nice healthy, white root system. As roots peek out I trim them. This causes new roots to spread out. This plant doesn't get topped, it gets bottomed. I'll let myself out
Stealthgroguy
Member
That's an awesome little box you got there. massive nuggs too beautiful job I wish I could have 12 of them
Mellow old School
Well-Known Member
Just nice
pahpah-cee
Well-Known Member
Nice build
harrychilds
Well-Known Member
It's really nice