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sneakers · #**147** (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 04:14 AM

I am starting a grow using CFLs. I went and bought a bunch of stuff today. Waterfarm guts and 5 gallon buckets, 10" baskets/lids for the buckets., Hydroton growing medium, Flora nutes etc. I didn't have anything to start with and got stuff to make 2 buckets.

For lights I have 2 of those clampon lights with reflectors rated at 150 watts each. I bought 2 of those plus Y sockets so I can put 2 bulbs in each one. I have 4 75 watt CFLs (75 watts each) so each fixture will have 150 watts of light output in the light spectrum at 6000k. I wasn't able to find any 100+ watt output rated bulbs that told me the color spectrum so I got a couple of 100 watt bulbs (unknown color) that I probably won't use. I will go looking for more bulbs tomorrow. I plan on adding at least 2 100 watt bulbs per plant that will come from the sides. A couple of lamps found at walmart wont work so they will be exchanged for something else tomorrow. Perhaps just use those same clampon fixtures without the clamps or reflectors and hang them from above down beside the plant when they grow some.

When I was getting all of the hyrdo stuff, the place I was at had some nice CFLs. Huge ones. One was 95 watt power usage and another was 125 watt power usage. From what I have seen on the others would make these as bright as a bulb rated at 300-450 watts. They cost $125-$140 (for bulb and fixture w reflector) and came in both color spectrums. I will have one of those to flower with. They also had some double fixtures for the 95 watt bulbs.

I took everything that would be exposed to my plants and put it in the bathtub. Using a weak solution of clorox everything was sterilized, rinsed and dried. I rinsed the Hydroton and dried it. I assembled everything, tested it to be sure it all worked (it did) and mixed up 5 gallons of nutes in distilled water and divided it between the 2 buckets. Everything was placed in a closet that is about 2'X6'X8".

The place had sold me some peat cubes to use for germinating seeds. I thought about it and figured there had to be a better way. It might take a week to realize there was a seed that wasn't going to germ right and I prefer to do them in paper towels. I had even started some earlier this week of some bagweed that wasn't anything special and placed a couple of those babies under some of the Hydroton, turned on the airpump and 2 of the 75 watt lights (1 hanging over each bucket) as close as I can get them to the Hydroton. The lights are basically hanging from the clothes rod to about 1" above the bucket with the reflectors attached.

Then I remembered the PH. I tested it and it was below 5.5. It was adjusted and is close to 6 now, maybe a little higher..

Here is what I don't like about the Waterfarm system. The concept is great but the ring that the nutes drip from onto the growing medium is too big. It goes around the outside edge of the 10" basket. When I place a sprout or seedling in the very center, I'm not real sure it will get the nutes rights. It may take a week or more to develop roots out that far so I moved them closer to the edge.

I am going to see if I can find tubing to use to make another smaller drip ring out of to use when seedlings are first planted then use the bigger one when they get larger, maybe the smaller one may work fine for the entire grow. I am seeing this first grow will be more of a learning experience (hopefully with a little benefit).

I plan to LST these plants. Considering seeing if I can find some styrofoam about 1'X1' to put a hole in (for the plant) and have a good surface to push wire or pipe cleaners into. I also want to do a square LST. These 1'X1' square pieces of styrofoam will be set on top of the bucket to hide everything below and make a good surface for my square LST.

I'm sure there is a lot that I am doing wrong. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be appreciated. For now I am just waiting to see if these will peek through the Hydroton in a couple of days. If so then we will probably be ok.

How big and expansive can I expect the root system to get inside of each bucket?

#147 (permalink) 06-03-2007, 04:14 AM
sneakers Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 626	I am starting a grow using CFLs. I went and bought a bunch of stuff today. Waterfarm guts and 5 gallon buckets, 10" baskets/lids for the buckets., Hydroton growing medium, Flora nutes etc. I didn't have anything to start with and got stuff to make 2 buckets. For lights I have 2 of those clampon lights with reflectors rated at 150 watts each. I bought 2 of those plus Y sockets so I can put 2 bulbs in each one. I have 4 75 watt CFLs (75 watts each) so each fixture will have 150 watts of light output in the light spectrum at 6000k. I wasn't able to find any 100+ watt output rated bulbs that told me the color spectrum so I got a couple of 100 watt bulbs (unknown color) that I probably won't use. I will go looking for more bulbs tomorrow. I plan on adding at least 2 100 watt bulbs per plant that will come from the sides. A couple of lamps found at walmart wont work so they will be exchanged for something else tomorrow. Perhaps just use those same clampon fixtures without the clamps or reflectors and hang them from above down beside the plant when they grow some. When I was getting all of the hyrdo stuff, the place I was at had some nice CFLs. Huge ones. One was 95 watt power usage and another was 125 watt power usage. From what I have seen on the others would make these as bright as a bulb rated at 300-450 watts. They cost $125-$140 (for bulb and fixture w reflector) and came in both color spectrums. I will have one of those to flower with. They also had some double fixtures for the 95 watt bulbs. I took everything that would be exposed to my plants and put it in the bathtub. Using a weak solution of clorox everything was sterilized, rinsed and dried. I rinsed the Hydroton and dried it. I assembled everything, tested it to be sure it all worked (it did) and mixed up 5 gallons of nutes in distilled water and divided it between the 2 buckets. Everything was placed in a closet that is about 2'X6'X8". The place had sold me some peat cubes to use for germinating seeds. I thought about it and figured there had to be a better way. It might take a week to realize there was a seed that wasn't going to germ right and I prefer to do them in paper towels. I had even started some earlier this week of some bagweed that wasn't anything special and placed a couple of those babies under some of the Hydroton, turned on the airpump and 2 of the 75 watt lights (1 hanging over each bucket) as close as I can get them to the Hydroton. The lights are basically hanging from the clothes rod to about 1" above the bucket with the reflectors attached. Then I remembered the PH. I tested it and it was below 5.5. It was adjusted and is close to 6 now, maybe a little higher.. Here is what I don't like about the Waterfarm system. The concept is great but the ring that the nutes drip from onto the growing medium is too big. It goes around the outside edge of the 10" basket. When I place a sprout or seedling in the very center, I'm not real sure it will get the nutes rights. It may take a week or more to develop roots out that far so I moved them closer to the edge. I am going to see if I can find tubing to use to make another smaller drip ring out of to use when seedlings are first planted then use the bigger one when they get larger, maybe the smaller one may work fine for the entire grow. I am seeing this first grow will be more of a learning experience (hopefully with a little benefit). I plan to LST these plants. Considering seeing if I can find some styrofoam about 1'X1' to put a hole in (for the plant) and have a good surface to push wire or pipe cleaners into. I also want to do a square LST. These 1'X1' square pieces of styrofoam will be set on top of the bucket to hide everything below and make a good surface for my square LST. I'm sure there is a lot that I am doing wrong. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be appreciated. For now I am just waiting to see if these will peek through the Hydroton in a couple of days. If so then we will probably be ok. How big and expansive can I expect the root system to get inside of each bucket?