The Shack's AeroGrow

FoxCompany426 said:

An HPS has a very broad spectrum already, that is why there is no need for different color temp bulbs.

Here's a picture of a HPS color spectrum.

Click to expand...

Oh! I had no idea! That's very cool! thanks for the share fox!
just assumed it was the warmer, red spectrum, no clue it was so broad.



at any rate.. got some photos to share..
here are my CO2 bottles..


tucked in nicely in the back corners. hope these make a difference. most successful CFL grows i've seen involve some sort of setup like this, so we'll see!!

and an overall look at the garden.. nice job training if you don't mind my bragging


the attachments are a few preflowers, and my thermometer, any concerns about my temperature or humidity level??


Shack

Shackleford.R said:

they're flowering.. haha they showed pre-flowers just a few days ago. ladies have been on 12/12 for a good while now. a sum total of 242W of CFL goodness, swapped out two of the 23W 2300K for 2 14W 6500K to even out the spectrum.

i've heard broadening the spectrum is crucial for CFL growing.. unlike HPS which is so powerful it does need a broad spec.

how much truth is there in that?

also added two DIY CO2 bottles, one on either side of the garden.. have people had success with DIY CO2? clearly a tank and solenoid and valves and blah blah, is VERY effective and produces a notable difference i would assume. but the difference made by DIY CO2 is it noticeable??


Shack

Click to expand...

HELL YEA MAN THE BROADER SPEC IS NEEDED CAUSE THE INTENSITY OF cfl LIGHTING IS NOT AS MUCH AS hidS..
diy cO2 WILL WORK IF DONE PROPERLY..you need a lil meter to see the co2 content circulating..i know that the plants can take alot more heat with co2

I would hesitate to use that DIY CO2 method, I have heard of nothing but horror stories.

It is a chemical reaction and I highly doubt you are using 100% sterilized equipment so you aren't JUST pumping out CO2, and those other contaminants are bad for the plant, the CO2 is good, but anything other than compressed CO2 is not worth your efforts.

you can also do this,,use dryice in a shoe box with holes in the top..Again..not sure how much to use but i know it is effective.

my mind is made up... these yeast bottles are AWESOME! i've already noticed a certain perkiness in the plants since adding it, as well as several new flowers after adding it in the cab. granted the flowers may have already been on their way, they showed up in large numbers the day after the bottles were added. i'm convinced, and adding a large two liter size to my closet grow tomorrow!!

recieved a good question from cardinal7syn, thought i'd post it here to answer some questions, and start up an AG LST discussion!!

cardinal7syn said:

I was wondering how you did your LST.

Did you add anything to the top of the AG Base?

My baby sprouted her leaves today. So proud of her. But i have a small space like you and was wondering how to LST it.

Click to expand...

i used garden ribbon, thin green ribbon, cut strips and taped down with painters tape at either end. when branches stretched up, i lifted one piece of tape and increased the tension, pulling it tighter to hold the plant down. as they stretched horizontally i added slightly looser tie down pieces the same way, but allowed a little give for it to continue to grow and stretch, till it it tensioned the ribbon naturally, itself.

the top of my AG was covered with a trimmed to fit sheet of mylar before i planted. i used double sided mounting tape to attach each corner. as i began taping the LST ribbons down, the tension of the plant pulled the mylar up, so i added mounting tape under these points to keep the mylar in place.

hope this answer your question, feel free to finish the discussion on my thread..


Shack

thinking about adding an UV bulb to the grow.. i've found these 3 any recommends on spec? or what 2.0 5.0 and 10.0 mean? which is better? your thoughts RIU?
(click images to view info)

Shackleford.R said:

thinking about adding an UV bulb to the grow.. i've found these 3 any recommends on spec? or what 2.0 5.0 and 10.0 mean? which is better? your thoughts RIU?
(click images to view info)

Click to expand...

Get the 10.0, it has the most UV output. Can't explain it right now, I'm way too high!

Yeap. Answered it fully. Tomarrow i am gonna head out and find some ties like you stated.

oooo pretty... i like the fan.. and the lights.. and just wow! be sure to top that girl after a few nodes THEN start with the LST. if you only have one plant, you'll definitely want to top so she branches out and makes LST worthwhile.. or make my dream come true, and train her in a clockwise circle around the the entire AG surface!

FoxCompany426 said:

Get the 10.0, it has the most UV output. Can't explain it right now, I'm way too high!

Click to expand...

thanks for the quick reply! i had a feeling the numbers referred to UV output.. just wasn't sure if 10.0 was TOO much. if that is what you're using, that is what i will use.

any chance you could guess the spec of the bulb?


Shack

just noticed.. i don't see air hose going into your res.. it will make all the difference down the road, once those roots hit the res. aerating your solution and adding O2 is a definite must have for a successful AG in my opinion. used it for culinary herbs before marijuana, and i didn't experience 1/2 the growth i get with the airstone i added in for this.

Hey Shack...

How many watts are burning now?

4-42W 2-23W 2-14W . . . 242W roughly.

what say you gypsy?

I was just curious... I read that you may be adding UV lamps...

When I finished my AG grow, I had almost 400w around the thing...

And that is when I decided that it was silly to burn the same electricity as a 400 HPS and get lesser results...

But that is just what I was thinking... I'm not implying anything.. just thinking...

Shackleford.R said:

Any chance you could guess the spec of the bulb?


Shack

Click to expand...

The UV bulbs are very low kelvin, but I am not sure exactly what the number would be.

Yeap, i have a 7inch airstone in there. Its covered up :> Dont want light leaking through to the basin.

The air stone is sitting underneath the roots.

i have read alot of material promoting 24 hr light on for vegative stage vs the normal 18 hr on, 6 hr off. Any opinions on which one works better? and won't leaving the light on for 24hours stress the plant?

tbundy81 said:

i have read alot of material promoting 24 hr light on for vegative stage vs the normal 18 hr on, 6 hr off. Any opinions on which one works better? and won't leaving the light on for 24hours stress the plant?

Click to expand...

i went 24 hour for my clones, just because they were cloning. given their focus was root development, i felt that 18/6 would stress the plant more, rather than leaving it in a constant photosynthetic state. once i saw roots i went 18/6 (and i regret it, should have just started 12/12 and flowered, these bitches STRETCH!!!)

good discussion though, you should start a thread about it.. or find one hahaha.


Shack

they won't stop stretching!! haha

she is about to overgrow the cabinet, probably by the end of the week, and the girls are just barely flowering..

i don't know what i'm going to.. i might trim back until she fits.. i don't know.

i'm in over my head!! haha


Shack

(time to check everyone else's threads)

Shackleford.R said:

they won't stop stretching!! haha

she is about to overgrow the cabinet, probably by the end of the week, and the girls are just barely flowering..

i don't know what i'm going to.. i might trim back until she fits.. i don't know.

i'm in over my head!! haha


Shack

(time to check everyone else's threads)

Click to expand...

Man, I had the same problem. I had to knock out the top shelf that my AG was sitting on just so they wouldn't hit my lights on the ceiling of my tent.