DWC. Seedlings, Autoflower, lighting. Questions.

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by pickles2.0, Oct 12, 2013.

  1. What's up. I have a lot of questions actually so please try to bare with me, this is the best site I could find for research before I get started. 
     
    Ok first I'll list my set up. 
     
    First set up- Autflower adults/flowering
    600w grow light with reflector and timer
    5'x5' "closet" with reflective mylar lining the inside
    Ph up&down, ph test kit, grow&bloom nutes, overdrive bloom nutes
    4 plant DWC "box" (20 gallon tub with 4, 3.5" net pots) x2 12" air stone, commercial air pump for BOTH tubs
    rockwool cubes, hydroton pellets 
    Digital thermometer and calculator.
    Fan
     
    Second setup- Seedlings/veg photoperiod plants
    Same DWC set up as above but with 2 13w 336 bulb LED grow lights and the tub is 30 gallons.
     
    Seeds- x1 Ultra Lemon Haze Auto (auto seeds), x1 Purple Kush Auto (buddha seeds), x1 60 day Lemon Skunk, x1 Original Amnesia Auto (dinafem seeds), x1 Purple Wreck (reserva privada), x1 Chocolate Heaven (Chocolate Thai x Haze G13 Labs), x1 Master Kush (nirvana seeds)
     
    Now the plan, then on to questions.
     
    The plan is to start the 4 autos in the first DWC setup directly under the 600w. They only take 60-80 days from germ to harvest, I plan on doing this because they will be in flowering stage and assume they will need more light (and the 600w will probably "spill" off some light on to the vegging photo plants anyway). After about 2 months the autos should be, in theory, ready to harvest. At that point the photos will hopefully be ready to be moved from veg under the LEDs and moved under the 600w with the LEDs on the sides for extra light, and I can enjoy the autos while they finish up.
     
    Now the questions are, first, will the 60-80 days be enough for my photoperiod plants to germ, go past seedling and finish veg and be ready to start flowering? Will they be ready to be put on a 12/12 light cycle at 70 days, because ideally I want to keep all the plants on a 20/4 light cycle for the first 2 months because that's what the autos need from germ to harvest and I have limited space.
     
    The second question, will the lights from the 26w LED grow lights give enough light to vegetate my photoperiod plants for 2 months? (keep in mind they are in the same room with the autos and may be getting some of the light from the 600w, although it will be an hps bulb because the autos are flowering). I know they will probably veg either way but will I need to get a t5 2' 2 lamp light as an extra light source for the vegging plants? I would like to keep it as simple as possible and cost effective as possible, I guess the main question is will it take a serious hit on my quality/potency or yield? 
     
    The last question would be, how damaging will it be for quality and yield to keep the 4 adult/flowering photoperiod plants in the same 30 gallon DWC tub, keep in mind that they may if not probably grow entirely different sizes seeing as the chocolate heaven is a strong sativa hybrid strain (Chocolate Thai x Haze) while the Master Kush is a mostly indica/bushy hybrid. Should I move them in to their own 5 gallon DWC buckets? 
     
    Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this, if I think of anymore questions I'll ask. I may change the title after all my questions are answered and turn this in to my grow journal. 

     
  2. #2 pickles2.0, Oct 12, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2013
    Also sorry 1 more question, will the 26w LEDs on the sides and the 600w hps even be enough for the 4 photo adults?
     
    Another one, this one is probably what I should have though about first haha. Would it be more simple to just grow all autos on this run? That way they can all grow under the 600w with the LEDs on the side? It would definitely be quicker with 8 plants that are most likely 1 ounces dry a piece with these strains being harvested in 2-2 1/2 months.
     
  3. Wow that's a lot of questions, if you bullet pointed or numbered them it would be a lot easier to answer. I have no faith in LEDs so I don't think they would be suitable for vegging for that long. 70 days vegging is a very long time, they are going to be huge. But if you have the height to match it should be ok I guess. 4 plants in a 30 gallon tub will be fine, wait, is that America gallons or normal gallons? American gallons are smaller. If I was you I would not mix lamp types you will just get arse-ache from some lamps having to be closer than others and therefore the fixture actually shading the light from other lights. Are you able to just trade in your fluorescents and LEDs for another 600w hid? It would make things a shit ton easier for you
     
  4. GoldGrower why the lack of faith with LEDs?
     

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