Oaksterdam t-5 veg 600w hps flower

ReelFiles said:

I don't get why you added molasses now? Molasses is only to help microbes strive which in turn lets the roots uptake nutes better. At this stage I think you're wasting your time. Cool brewery pics.

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Whaaaaa?!? Yes molasses does feed microbes, but the plants also absorb the sugar out of the molasses if watered in for a few weeks before harvest. This is what Sweet Leaf, Florilicious I think it is, Canna Boost, Roots Organics Trinity I think it is, etc, etc is used for. Personally, I mostly just use straight horticultural grade organic molasses because it's the cheapest.

I don't think it does absorb any sugar from the molasses itself, but I might be wrong. My understanding is that the molasses has very little nutritional value for the plant but the vigor of microbes makes the nutes in the soil easier to uptake. The whole point of flushing is to clean the soil. So why add more crap to it afterwards.. seems kinda backwards to me.

ReelFiles said:

I don't think it does absorb any sugar from the molasses itself, but I might be wrong. My understanding is that the molasses has very little nutritional value for the plant but the vigor of microbes makes the nutes in the soil easier to uptake. The whole point of flushing is to clean the soil. So why add more crap to it afterwards.. seems kinda backwards to me.

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Well because the whole point of flushing your soil is actually to get rid of any built up fertilizer salts or over-abundance of nutrients in the substrate, not to 'clean the soil'. Dirt can be dirty, just not filled with nutes that the plant is going to uptake until you chop it down. You flush to remove the nutes so that the plant will use what nutes are left in it's own body, and when those are used up, there are no nutes left in the plant material when you chop making the smoke a lot smoother and better tasting.

I think you know that I meant exactly that, when I called it clean your soil. Next time I'll add quotation marks like so: "clean".

yeah, i definitely want to start using the molasses earlier next time, after the first flush in bloom, so itll give them a full month of sweetness!

i've had these two 150w hps with included ballast that i was gonna run an experimental bloom room, and i decided to get more serious. i exchanged them today for a 400w hps, i also picked up two phresh 6" carbon filters, guaranteed two years. i really feel like a reward is deserved, seeing as how im totally dialed in and self sufficient now. by getting the growing and cloning skills down, to my liking, i feel like why not do another?

im gonna turn my veg closet into the bloom room #2. im gonna use the extra 20 amp breaker in the garage, and run a romex cable (house wiring black white green 14 ga soilid copper wire,) into the attic, and shoot it down to the closet into a box, and install a 110 outlet, (any electricians out there, i need your help. i build elevators, but i don't know home tech too well, still learning!) to plug everything in. everything will be surge and gfi protected. im gonna try to keep the closet cool by air cooling the light with a 4" exhaust ran through the light. if it doesnt keep it cool enough im prepared to install a window air unit in the closet, 8000 btu, (thanks boomer). this is very exciting.

the veg closet will move to still in the same room, but outside the closet. im gonna frame the closet with 2/4" planks. and wrap it in the white/black visqueen tarp. basically it'll look just like the closet it's in right now.


ok so, i just realized im in veg day 41 today! they arent as tall as they were last time, I only vegged them like 25 days last time. Im looking at them, comparing to last time, its crazy to see how dense they are this time. it really shows you how YOU can change the fate of your plants!

Don't worry I wired up all my own circuits, just ask if you're unsure of anything. The plants are looking real good brother.

thanks reel, the only questions on wiring i would have are, from the breaker is should have it run in flex pipe until it gets into the attic right? if i didnt put it in flex, it would just be exposed, and i'd have to strap it to beams with staples or something, the right way to do it would to put the romex in some flex pipe, or through an existing flex pipe, not just exposed wiring right?

i just dont want any fires, everythings gonna be run with GFI's and surge protectors. i feel my method is correct, just need some backing!

Drella said:

i've had these two 150w hps with included ballast that i was gonna run an experimental bloom room, and i decided to get more serious. i exchanged them today for a 400w hps, i also picked up two phresh 6" carbon filters, guaranteed two years. i really feel like a reward is deserved, seeing as how im totally dialed in and self sufficient now. by getting the growing and cloning skills down, to my liking, i feel like why not do another?

im gonna turn my veg closet into the bloom room #2. im gonna use the extra 20 amp breaker in the garage, and run a romex cable (house wiring black white green 14 ga soilid copper wire,) into the attic, and shoot it down to the closet into a box, and install a 110 outlet, (any electricians out there, i need your help. i build elevators, but i don't know home tech too well, still learning!) to plug everything in. everything will be surge and gfi protected. im gonna try to keep the closet cool by air cooling the light with a 4" exhaust ran through the light. if it doesnt keep it cool enough im prepared to install a window air unit in the closet, 8000 btu, (thanks boomer). this is very exciting.

the veg closet will move to still in the same room, but outside the closet. im gonna frame the closet with 2/4" planks. and wrap it in the white/black visqueen tarp. basically it'll look just like the closet it's in right now.


ok so, i just realized im in veg day 41 today! they arent as tall as they were last time, I only vegged them like 25 days last time. Im looking at them, comparing to last time, its crazy to see how dense they are this time. it really shows you how YOU can change the fate of your plants!

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Awesome, man... I am so envious! That sounds rockin' - no wonder you're tying one on. I'm really looking forward to some upgrades too -- getting out of my "complete" system and into one of the new generation digital / adjustable ballasts, at least 600W, better reflector, better ventilation. Gonna set up a cloner in another closet.. I'm right behind ya!!

Is it safe to run 1000W at 110v in the same room / circuit with conventional home circuitry? Seems a little dicey.. but you figure the manufacturers would warn you about that..

wow, you got some high hopes bro. 1000w uses like 9 amps, wow, that's a lot! you find this out by dividing watts-1000 by volts-110vac, or 1000/110. if you had a inline fan, a/c, etc, the amps would rack up greatly. i, personally, would never suggest 1000whps. shes a hot bitch, you gotta leave the light like 2ft away, 600whps is the way to go. if you want more yield than a 600 can put out, add side lighting, like t-5's.

glass sealed hood reflectors, that air air cooled, are the way to go. i heard digital ballasts suck, not on this website, but all my buddies. IMHO i heard permanent magnet, old school, ballasts are more energy effiecient, and longer lasting. what are the perks that youve heard from digital.

good luck on the cloner, things sound like they're moving up for you, im way stoked!

Drella said:

wow, you got some high hopes bro. 1000w uses like 9 amps, wow, that's a lot! you find this out by dividing watts-1000 by volts-110vac, or 1000/110. if you had a inline fan, a/c, etc, the amps would rack up greatly. i, personally, would never suggest 1000whps. shes a hot bitch, you gotta leave the light like 2ft away, 600whps is the way to go. if you want more yield than a 600 can put out, add side lighting, like t-5's.

glass sealed hood reflectors, that air air cooled, are the way to go. i heard digital ballasts suck, not on this website, but all my buddies. IMHO i heard permanent magnet, old school, ballasts are more energy effiecient, and longer lasting. what are the perks that youve heard from digital.

good luck on the cloner, things sound like they're moving up for you, im way stoked!

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Thanks for the inputs; some great info / suggestions. I guess the 1000W in one room idea came from running the new 600 and my old 400 in the same room. But hey, I'd be totally juiced just to have a nice 600W with legit ventilation, and a quality reflector.

Here's what I had in mind on the ballast..

http://www.nehydro.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38_45&products_id=876&zenid=10188682aefc725c66ed890849fd2d1a

So, I guess "electronic ballast" was what I meant.. if there's a difference.

Drella said:

wow, you got some high hopes bro. 1000w uses like 9 amps, wow, that's a lot! you find this out by dividing watts-1000 by volts-110vac, or 1000/110. if you had a inline fan, a/c, etc, the amps would rack up greatly. i, personally, would never suggest 1000whps. shes a hot bitch, you gotta leave the light like 2ft away, 600whps is the way to go. if you want more yield than a 600 can put out, add side lighting, like t-5's.

glass sealed hood reflectors, that air air cooled, are the way to go. i heard digital ballasts suck, not on this website, but all my buddies. IMHO i heard permanent magnet, old school, ballasts are more energy effiecient, and longer lasting. what are the perks that youve heard from digital.

good luck on the cloner, things sound like they're moving up for you, im way stoked!

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IMO id run 240v to save urself sum electricity over time. i ran 10gauge wiring and added a subpanel (but thats cuz i have 4x600w) i use all digital ballasts and from wat i understand the old school ballast are larger and produce more heat, also the digitals start up way faster (old school takes like 15 mins for full warmup which is loss of lumens and still wasted power consumption for those 15 mins) -i know it does sound like much but add it up over a two month cycle. thats a lot of wasted power ure still paying for and not full strength. the digis run more quiet as well. ive used both mag ballast and digi and am happy with my digis. not to say theyre the best but everything has pros and cons. u just need to weigh ur options. plus uve already got a ballast so why go out and spend more money if its not broke? just my 2cents. be seeing u shortly brotha at the Hemp convention!

I hope that I don't seem like too much of a jackass posting this link.I know you guys want digital ballasts,but I just wanted to throw this one out there. http://www.bestgrowlights.com/product/FBGL902500 It's not switchable and a tiny bit less efficient but less than half the price of a 1000w digital ballast.
I'm probably gonna ditch my two 400w and go with a 1000w for my flowering area.This is the ballast that I'll probably buy,I don't need 1000w for veg(yet)so this one works for me(especially for $150).

Sorry,that was supposed to be from hydrofarm.I just went and looked the one from hydrofarm up and found an even better deal.Sweet,I'm gonna have the hydro store match the price.
http://cheaphydroponics.com/store/ballasts/hydrofarm-sg-1000w-hps-ballast/prod_693.html

Kriegs said:

Thanks for the inputs; some great info / suggestions. I guess the 1000W in one room idea came from running the new 600 and my old 400 in the same room. But hey, I'd be totally juiced just to have a nice 600W with legit ventilation, and a quality reflector.

Here's what I had in mind on the ballast..

http://www.nehydro.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38_45&products_id=876&zenid=10188682aefc725c66ed890849fd2d1a

So, I guess "electronic ballast" was what I meant.. if there's a difference.

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yeah if ur gonna go digital, then lumatek is the way to go, it's all i see out there. i just heard they dont last as long.

BooMeR242 said:

IMO id run 240v to save urself sum electricity over time. i ran 10gauge wiring and added a subpanel (but thats cuz i have 4x600w) i use all digital ballasts and from wat i understand the old school ballast are larger and produce more heat, also the digitals start up way faster (old school takes like 15 mins for full warmup which is loss of lumens and still wasted power consumption for those 15 mins) -i know it does sound like much but add it up over a two month cycle. thats a lot of wasted power ure still paying for and not full strength. the digis run more quiet as well. ive used both mag ballast and digi and am happy with my digis. not to say theyre the best but everything has pros and cons. u just need to weigh ur options. plus uve already got a ballast so why go out and spend more money if its not broke? just my 2cents. be seeing u shortly brotha at the Hemp convention!

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yeah that hempcon was kinda bunk. no real sound advice, or new grow techniques. considering it was at la convention center, it was a wast of money.

i feel you on the waste of power. i just heard that digital doesnt last as long, and actually make the bulbs last less time. idk, like you said if it aint broke, dont fix it! i know someone who has been running a magnet ballast for ten years, no hiccups! but you know me,im always down to try new things!

Huh?? said:

I hope that I don't seem like too much of a jackass posting this link.I know you guys want digital ballasts,but I just wanted to throw this one out there. http://www.bestgrowlights.com/product/FBGL902500 It's not switchable and a tiny bit less efficient but less than half the price of a 1000w digital ballast.
I'm probably gonna ditch my two 400w and go with a 1000w for my flowering area.This is the ballast that I'll probably buy,I don't need 1000w for veg(yet)so this one works for me(especially for $150).

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sounds like a good deal brotha, good luck on the purchase, its cool ur hydro store will match the price! i just heard the 1000 is way hot, you gotta keep it farther away, and you gotta cool it. if you could, i'd consider doing two 600's, that was my next step up idea. good luck!

veggies look great drell.. how are the flowers?

haha ya the convention was not wat i had hoped but shit happens wont go again but next time we meet up well def swap samples.

and im not sure if the digi lasts any longer or not but that would def be sumthing worth considering when buying a new setup. after talkin with u today seems like u got everything u need to make it legit so do work and ill b along for the ride

Drella said:

yeah if ur gonna go digital, then lumatek is the way to go, it's all i see out there. i just heard they dont last as long.


i feel you on the waste of power. i just heard that digital doesnt last as long, and actually make the bulbs last less time. idk, like you said if it aint broke, dont fix it! i know someone who has been running a magnet ballast for ten years, no hiccups! but you know me,im always down to try new things!



sounds like a good deal brotha, good luck on the purchase, its cool ur hydro store will match the price! i just heard the 1000 is way hot, you gotta keep it farther away, and you gotta cool it. if you could, i'd consider doing two 600's, that was my next step up idea. good luck!

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Thanks all, for the inputs. I'll bear it all in mind as I decide.

Shrubs First said:

veggies look great drell.. how are the flowers?

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thanks shrubs, they really look denser and stronger this round! the flowers are the most intimidating nugs ive seen, ok maybe im just saying that because im the father, but they grow up so fast!

BooMeR242 said:

haha ya the convention was not wat i had hoped but shit happens wont go again but next time we meet up well def swap samples.

and im not sure if the digi lasts any longer or not but that would def be sumthing worth considering when buying a new setup. after talkin with u today seems like u got everything u need to make it legit so do work and ill b along for the ride

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sample swap next time for sure! yeah, i gotta do some research on those digis, it'd suck if you bought 6 of em, and they took a crap in just two years! im sure someone's gonna come out of the wood work and say their's has lasted 10 years!

im doing work as we speak, but i really feel like next runs gonna be legendary, two different bloom rooms, and healthier clones, dialed in, who dares ride along? but yeah, for sure gotta get together soon for a sampling, id be honored for someone on here to sample my goods!

Kriegs said:

Thanks all, for the inputs. I'll bear it all in mind as I decide.

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im sure youll make the right decision, i know you always think things through, maybe after you cure that queen, she'll help you make a sound decision! getting the right setup is key. last week i had two, still in the box, 150w hps's. now they're exchanged for a 400w with a 4" inline, and 6" 550cfm phresh carbon filter. i splurged, but i feel it's gonna give me ridiculous results, let's see!