im only shying away from it this summer because i heard high temperatures are a problem. what is the temperature of the room your hydroponics is set up at? i might start after this winter. what are your reasons for staying with hydroponics?
My temps are 79 degrees f. high 70 degrees f. low,but I had to buy a window a/c unit to keep my temps in check.I got it pretty cheap on craigslist ($60) brand new.In hydroponics you get faster growth and bigger yields.No hand watering,no soil spills,and bugs aren't as much of a problem.
hey i downloaded that hydroponics book and just flipped through it. amazing book, straight forward and easy to read. i still havent decided what system i want to try, id like to try an aeroponics system
Yeah I made 1 of those aeroponic systems with the tote and spray bar from the book.They work great ,but I recommend a battery backup for your pumps if you go aero,plants can die super fast since roots have no medium to keep them saturated.In aero you get even faster growth than generel hydroponic systems.You also need one of these timers for aero http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=TICCARTDNE
keep a spare reservoir next to the aeroponics container that has a valve that stays shut when it is energized. when the power goes out it will fill up the aeroponics container and saturate the roots
Yeah flood and drain.I start in rockwool cubes,I only use hydroton in the flowering room,pain in the ass to clean though.I clean after every harvest (the hydroton).I've been thinking about trying out that new stuff Sure to Grow, it's pillow stuffing used as growing medium.Check out this video http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=TICCARTDNE Wouldn't mind having that ebb and grow system either.
Nice ^^^^^^^ That is a small space for 2k,but that is the beauty of scrog ,.,..,.,., must be a pain to get to when it's time to harvest.Those cfl ReptiGlo Uv b lights??
yeah - it was a small space... its a pain in the ass to get to at any time... i keep the res all the way at the end, and around the corner, where the ceiling is only 3' tall... but harvesting is a joy. i usually cut each branch off in the room when i do it - but i could easily just cut the plants off below the 1st node, and carry the whole screen out.. they stick in there good
i have 2 airstreams through the room... the one is for the plants, which takes my house air (heavily air conditioned, and hopefully co2 rich) into the grow room - filters it, and blows it out.
the 2nd is for the lights - which takes air from my garage - cools both off the ballasts - then both of the lights - then is exhausted back into the garage... subsequently, i ventilate my garage (which also has its perks). Here's how i rigged the ballasts... just piped in 2 rubbermaid containers into the ductwork.
those are indeed the reptisun uvb bulbs... 2 of the big CFs and 1 of the 18" fluoro tubes...
i used these charts to estimate the strength... i move the CFLs around to get coverage... I estimate the uv coverage to be at uv level 10 or more for about 50% of the garden... the rest is somewhere between uv index 2 and 8... but they get it everyday... during the peak 8 hours of the day.
and here's the screen...
its plastic - is got about 2" x 2" square holes in it...with a frame made of 1x2's
but i moved the 2KW out and am now only using 1.2KW - its still more light than it needs, but i put my 1Ks somewhere they will be used more efficiently (in a space that is 4x8, instead of a 34" x 84" room with a slanted ceiling.
i like your style bloodshot420. nice grow room, havent heard of using the uv lights. where did you read about the uv lights? i have a couple spares sitting around my house, i have a snake, a tortoise and a turtle. here is a picture taken 7 days ago, they have really swelled up beginning week 5. i will post some more here in a day or so.
i ran flex duct from my central heating and air conditioning vent to right under my plants. i dont have an output yet tho :/
how many plants you have under there? how long was veg? strain? nutrients?!
Krazy exhaust bro,the ballast are in those totes so they don't build up heat in your room right?,.,.,...,.,,.,.,.,.,.,I'm running 1k right now also.too much heat in summer,just picked up a NO Holes Bar set up off Craigslist for $100,it's pretty nice,you can adjust it for any hydroponic system.Now all I need is a the light mover and I'm set.Ohh yeah got me some of those Uv b lights as well,been using them my last 4 grows.
my last run i went out and bought $800+ worth of advanced nutrients, the whole line... all the additives too - it went well... but pretty much just as normal... i didnt get an extra $800 worth of herb i dont think... I usually use General Hydroponics with some choice additives (liquid karma, calmag plus, and some hydroguard - which i understand they quit making). I'll probably stick with GH from now on, but i still have another grow or 2 of Advanced Nutrients left... i used pure blend pro organic once, but found that i sneezed like a mofo anytime i would get near that herb... pretty sure it was the nutes.
i use a homebrew ebb&flow system with hydroton as a medium.. i have 3 planters, and 1 45 gal res... i usually do about 6 plants from seed, veged for about 3 weeks - everything in my room is controlled with a PLC instead of timers, the lights, water pumps, everything. I even rigged up a door switch, so that when i open the door in the dark, a little incandescent green light bulb comes on so i can see my babies
I had my house AC hooked up to the grow room with non-inulated ductwork... i found that it was so hot above the grow room it would make water condense on the ductowork in the ceiling... i ripped that out and went with the passive air intake, active exhaust using a CAN filter and a 6" inline fan on a speed controller... never gets above 80F with the 600s and a slow quiet fan
I myself use Botanicare line products and now some of humboldts gravity and purple maxx as well,but have been wondering about Advanced Nutrients and their additives,so you say there was no noticeable difference???
i have maxi grow, maxi bloom, kool bloom, and the pineapple sweetener...all from GH. They seem to be doing what i need them to. Im gettin ready to harvest in a couple weeks, any tips? I will read up on those uvb bulbs, put em to use.
i have maxi grow, maxi bloom, kool bloom, and the pineapple sweetener...all from GH. They seem to be doing what i need them to. Im gettin ready to harvest in a couple weeks, any tips? I will read up on those uvb bulbs, put em to use.