first_time_aeroponics_grow

[aerohead]

this_is_my_first_grow_and_i_am_using_aeroponics._s orry_bout_the_underscores_my_space
bar_doesnt_work._it_is_basically_a_cab_set_up_in_a _small_closet_in_my_room._i_built_the
door_to_seal_the_door_and_housed_the_inlet_fan_in_ the_bottom_of_it._the_outlet_fan_is
built_in_to_the_top_of_the_cab_and_the_whole_thing _is_covered_with_mylar._the_light_i
am_using_is_a_sunlight_systems_T5_w/_4-2'_bulbs._the_tubs_are_rubbermaid_that_i_cut
to_work_together._my_pump_is_rated_at_396_gph_and_ is_feeding_9_180degree_misters
the_air_pump_a_Million_Air_400_w/_two_outlets_each_going_to_a_stone._the_interior_f an
is_hung_with_hemp_slip-knots_so_its_fully_adjustable._i_have_plans_to_SCR OG_so_i_still
need_to_build_a_device_for_this._since_i_dont_have _clones_yet_i_have_been_doing_some
dry_runs_on_the_system_to_see_how_it_works._so_far _temps_have_been_between_68-75F
with_on_and_off_light_cycles._the_water_seems_to_a ct_as_a_heatsink_which_keeps_the_cab
warm_while_the_light_is_off._and_there_doesnt_seem _to_be_any_problems_with_the_pump
or_misters._any_advice_would_be_greatly_appreciate d_and_questions
answered_as_promptly_as_possible.__peace__

pictures_are_attached

[aerohead]

sorry_heres_the_pics.<__lil_stoned__>

[ElDust]

Oh my bad.

[drbosco]

looks cool

[aerohead]

i_was_wondering_if_anyone_could_help_me_out_with_w hat_kind_of_water_timer_to_run_if_any.
i_have_heard_that_i_can_run_it_24/7_but_also_have_heard_of_some_people_using_1_on/3_off.
But_that_would_cost_more_money_for_a_digital_timer _and_ive_been_having_a_hard_time
finding_one_anyway._what_should_i_do?

the_system_is_pretty_much_ready_im_just_waiting_fo r_clones_which_my_buddy_is_having
troubles_with_but_im_super_excited_to_see_some_gre en_in_there.

[SmokeyMcBlunt]

$15 digital timers can be found at Wal-mart, Home Depot, etc. They really shouldnt be that hard to locate. As for timing, you can run 24/7 if you have good oxygenation in the water. But I cant make out how your system works?

[aerohead]

i_think_im_just_gonna_run_them_24/7._here_are_some_more_pics_that_might_make_the_sys tem_more
clear._Im_gonna_put_two_or_three_plants_in_it._i_c ut_the_hole_for_one_basket_to_get_the_idea.
_the_water_pump_is_connected_straight_to_the_PVC_m anifold_i_built_which_houses_9_180degree_
misters._i_was_able_to_get_an_action_shot_of_the_m isters_by_lifting_up_the_lid._they_spray_like_
mad._my_buddies_clones_are_looking_way_better_so_i _cant_wait_to_get_them_in_there.
for_my_scrog_set-up_im_planning_on_making_a_frame_and_then_weaving_ it_with_hemp_so_when_
i_harvest_all_i_have_to_do_is_cut_the_strands._i_w as_wondering_how_rigid_the_scrog_screen_needs_
to_be._i_kinda_want_to_build_the_frame_and_then_ju st_hang_it_from_top_of_my_box._itll_be_able_to_
move_around_a_bit_but_the_plants_wont_be_able_to_l ift_it_up_would_they?_definitely_have_read_
the_scrog_stickies_but_would_like_any_personal_adv ice_that_you_could_give.

much_appreciated

[SmokeyMcBlunt]

Ahh took me a minute to figure it out but I got it. 24/7 should work fine *if* you keep your water oxygenated and at the proper temps....64-68.
If you dont mind a critique of your design, I see a thing or two that you need to change or improve upon plus a question or two.

You better be growing some small plants because it looks like they will be on top of each other. Why not go with the same idea and cover 3/4 (or all?) of the res with spots. Space them out some...plus add a hole or two for more plants. Speaking of which...

You are gonna have a bunch of roots in the small tub so make sure its big enough to handle a bunch of roots without totally covering your sprayers. It just doesnt look big at all. I pulled out 5 pounds of roots from *one* sativa last harvest in my aero. Roots can go wild in a good aero setup. I really suggest a bigger tub for the plants. Speaking of which....

Since you are only running 3 plants get feminized seeds or female clones. With only 3 spots you could easily get all males. That 17gal res is way too big for only 3 plants IMHO. I cant stress enough to make sure your res temps are proper which is harder the bigger the res is. Speaking of which....

Are you going to cover the res somehow to make it light proof? If you can keep your water temps in line its not a big deal but if your temps are higher than 70 you *really* need to lightproof it. Algae will go nuts in there otherwise. Do yourself a favor and get Hydroguard and Hygrozyme to keep your roots healthy and fend off root rot.

Hope this helps!

[aerohead]

thanks a lot Smokey

i have a dual output air pump running two stones. should that be oxygenated enough? the reason i was plannig to put all the baskets on one side is so i can SCROG or lst then across to the other side. about the roots... im kinda worried now that you mentioned it. i was looking last night at a lst/scrog technique that gator01 used on this site. he used single plants in 5-gallon dwc w/ T-5s. he got quite a yield out of a singel plant. would running a single plant in this system be a better idea? i have roughly a 2' x 2' area to work with. the T-5 set up i have has 4 24" bulbs so roughly 100 watts all together which prolly would be better suited for one plant.

as for the reservoir... with the lights on the temp in the cab reaches 75.5F maybe a little warmer if my room is warm since that is where the fans are pulling air from. the heat of the cabinet warms up the water and it seems to drop to a minimum of 69-70 usaully staying around 72F. this also keeps the cab warm while the light is off as well. is this a tolerable temp range for the water? also i do have a cover for the reservoir. it is the rest of the lid with a little flap which covers the cut i made in it. so very minimal light gets in there especially once a plant is in there. the container is slightly translucent, light shines through it but you cant see through it, will that be all right?

i am getting clones from my friends last grow. it will either be one of their nothernlights x big bud or a maple, which is super dank. all the plants were females so the clones should be.

thanks for all the help hopefully soon there will be some green in there

[SmokeyMcBlunt]

Originally Posted by aerohead

thanks a lot Smokey

i have a dual output air pump running two stones. should that be oxygenated enough? the reason i was plannig to put all the baskets on one side is so i can SCROG or lst then across to the other side. about the roots... im kinda worried now that you mentioned it. i was looking last night at a lst/scrog technique that gator01 used on this site. he used single plants in 5-gallon dwc w/ T-5s. he got quite a yield out of a singel plant. would running a single plant in this system be a better idea? i have roughly a 2' x 2' area to work with. the T-5 set up i have has 4 24" bulbs so roughly 100 watts all together which prolly would be better suited for one plant.

as for the reservoir... with the lights on the temp in the cab reaches 75.5F maybe a little warmer if my room is warm since that is where the fans are pulling air from. the heat of the cabinet warms up the water and it seems to drop to a minimum of 69-70 usaully staying around 72F. this also keeps the cab warm while the light is off as well. is this a tolerable temp range for the water? also i do have a cover for the reservoir. it is the rest of the lid with a little flap which covers the cut i made in it. so very minimal light gets in there especially once a plant is in there. the container is slightly translucent, light shines through it but you cant see through it, will that be all right?

i am getting clones from my friends last grow. it will either be one of their nothernlights x big bud or a maple, which is super dank. all the plants were females so the clones should be.

thanks for all the help hopefully soon there will be some green in there

This might be a little long but I want to help you so Ill break it into sections.

No problem, happy to help. The NLxBB is a good choice of female clone (yes the clones off a female plant are always female btw). I just ran some NLxBB myself and was happy with the result. You can yield several ounces of quality smoke from a single plant. Low smell too. Im running clones now and they are nice too. Not familiar with maple so no comment there. Btw, if the clones were taken from a flowering plant you MUST reveg them. Find out from your friend if the clones were taken in veg or flower...it makes a big difference in how to handle them. Is he rooting the clones for you first? Lots of questions there regarding the clones....

As for your setup....72 is so so....64 to 68 is better. Throwing some frozen 2liter soda bottles (water) in there every 6 to 12 hours will help. Lightproofing the res will help even more. With 72 and light penetration you have a good chance of algae and root rot problems. My advise is to lightproof the entire res (and the tub the plants are in) and use the soda bottles plus the supplements I advised before (Hygrozyme is expensive but worth it). Get a water thermometer if you havent already. The cheapy Eco Plus floating ones at the pet store work fine.

Regarding oxygenation (commonly called DO...Dissolved Oxygen) the air stones will help but if you allow the water to waterfall into the res from the plant tub that will help A LOT. Agitating the water surface is the best way to raise DO. You should be ok in that department. The key with hydro is to maintain proper water temps so you can maximize DO as well as inhibit growth of bad stuff like pythium and algae.

I cant speak on your lighting choice since Im not familiar with T5. Im an HID guy
One plant is up to you but thats not a lot of yield (esp. first grow) for months of work. See if you cant make some changes to maximize your plant count. That could help with the light penetration of the res too. The canopy of leaves blocks light from the res. Just something to think about.

Feel free to ask any more questions you may have. Btw, glad you got a working keyboard

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by SmokeyMcBlunt

This might be a little long but I want to help you so Ill break it into sections.

No problem, happy to help. The NLxBB is a good choice of female clone (yes the clones off a female plant are always female btw). I just ran some NLxBB myself and was happy with the result. You can yield several ounces of quality smoke from a single plant. Low smell too. Im running clones now and they are nice too. Not familiar with maple so no comment there. Btw, if the clones were taken from a flowering plant you MUST reveg them. Find out from your friend if the clones were taken in veg or flower...it makes a big difference in how to handle them. Is he rooting the clones for you first? Lots of questions there regarding the clones....

As for your setup....72 is so so....64 to 68 is better. Throwing some frozen 2liter soda bottles (water) in there every 6 to 12 hours will help. Lightproofing the res will help even more. With 72 and light penetration you have a good chance of algae and root rot problems. My advise is to lightproof the entire res (and the tub the plants are in) and use the soda bottles plus the supplements I advised before (Hygrozyme is expensive but worth it). Get a water thermometer if you havent already. The cheapy Eco Plus floating ones at the pet store work fine.

Regarding oxygenation (commonly called DO...Dissolved Oxygen) the air stones will help but if you allow the water to waterfall into the res from the plant tub that will help A LOT. Agitating the water surface is the best way to raise DO. You should be ok in that department. The key with hydro is to maintain proper water temps so you can maximize DO as well as inhibit growth of bad stuff like pythium and algae.

I cant speak on your lighting choice since Im not familiar with T5. Im an HID guy
One plant is up to you but thats not a lot of yield (esp. first grow) for months of work. See if you cant make some changes to maximize your plant count. That could help with the light penetration of the res too. The canopy of leaves blocks light from the res. Just something to think about.

Feel free to ask any more questions you may have. Btw, glad you got a working keyboard

thanks Smokey all the info you have given me has been very useful

my friend has already rooted the clones for me and i will be putting them into my cab today or tomorrow. i will just be getting a single clone and it will be the maple. it is somewhat of a local strain that was given to my friend by a grower who had been growing around here for about 25 years. it is super dank and smells like nothing ive smoked before.

anyways i am planning on spray painting my container and lids so they will be light proof.

gotta go ill post more later

[aerohead]

long, long time no post. very sorry but school, work and having my first clone die discouraged me from posting for a while. now i have a new clone that is a NLxBB clone. which i know a lot of you (smokey) have had success with. my friend could only spare one this go but it should be enough to get me started. so about the clone... he took them very late in flowering and they all turned out really weird. his are going crazy under a 1000 watt HPS and basically have ball at the base with crazy growth coming all out of it. theyre really freaks and mines the runt of the group. anyways...

smokey ive been putting a frozen 2liter in the reservoir every day and its been staying around 64-70. that should be pretty good

-the first picture is the first day i got it
-the second is of the roots the first day
-the third at day 6
-fourth today (day 9) roots
-today

[aerohead]

little more work i did today.....
put down a metal mesh to tie down to since im planning to lst. also i put mylar under it along with on top of the rest of the container.

is this too early to start training the plant. it is only about 6 inches tall but is coming perpendicular to the stem. it is a really odd clone.

any advice on how the plant looks is greatly appreciated. this is my first plant and im really excited

[SmokeyMcBlunt]

Your clone is growing like that because it was taken in flower. I think I mentioned before that you MUST reveg clones taken in flower before you even think about switching to 12/12. It *will* take a month at least for it to grow back into normal veg. Make sure your nutes are supplying a bunch of N (grow formula) and keep them on an 18/6 light schedule. You will also have to do a bunch of trimming later on in the grow but for now just worry about getting your clone back into veg state. On the good side, a revegged clone will grow a bunch of nice colas! Everything sounds good, keep it up. I wouldnt worry about training until you start getting normal 3 and 5 finger leaves.

Send me a PM if you want to see what a revegged NLxBB clone will do!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by SmokeyMcBlunt

Your clone is growing like that because it was taken in flower. I think I mentioned before that you MUST reveg clones taken in flower before you even think about switching to 12/12. It *will* take a month at least for it to grow back into normal veg. Make sure your nutes are supplying a bunch of N (grow formula) and keep them on an 18/6 light schedule. You will also have to do a bunch of trimming later on in the grow but for now just worry about getting your clone back into veg state. On the good side, a revegged clone will grow a bunch of nice colas! Everything sounds good, keep it up. I wouldnt worry about training until you start getting normal 3 and 5 finger leaves.

Send me a PM if you want to see what a revegged NLxBB clone will do!

well i just got back from vegas yesterday and was astonished by the growth while i was gone. the girlie is looking pretty healthy but a little yellowing on the tips is worrying me. i am using the general hydroponics three part nutes so i added a lil more Micro which is 5% N. is a nitrogen deficiency the cause of the yellowing??

anyways my box has been getting a little hot but the plants dont seem to affected by it. the temp range is from 75-85F during the day. and a lil above 70 at night. i am running co2 in the box so that is why i am not running my vent fans continously so i can get a co2 buildup in there. should this temp range be fine? i have been keeping my water under 70F too.

these are some shots i took yesterday when i got home. then i tied down the two main "branches". any critique on their health or my ideas is greatly appreciated.


day15-04.jpg

day15-03.jpg

day15-01.jpg