Mini-Me Quasi F D

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Grow Journals' started by Peflora, Sep 4, 2014.

  1. #1 Peflora, Sep 4, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 4, 2014
    I haven't been on GC in 3-4 years after some nasty characters made me lose interest. Hope they all got the Obama Care help they needed
     
    My first ever indoor grow was 2 twin tub F & D with a bilge pump attached to a 10g jug rez
     
    It was amazing, but my then wife refused to replensih the 2-3g per day the 2 monsters were consuming while I was on the road a week at a time
     
    We divorced after only 13 months. She took all the furniture. I rented that room out
     
    Did not get back into hydro until about 4 years ago with a drip system that clogged all the time. Most likely due to not using hydro nutes
     
    I then tried fogging which damn near killed my already on shaky ground plant
     
    I quickly shifted to High Pressure Aero (what was I thinking?) but harvested ~ 1.5oz dry
     

    Actually in winter hpa worked quite well, but 8 months out of the year the humidity is a huge issue, turning the root chamber into a sauna
     
    I then started a DIY top feeding with micro mist heads. Alas, too much of each spray did not make it into the net pots, but I still managed a decent yield.
     
    Fast Forward 2 years: Iast year I bought Hydro Halo drip rings. Nutes were pumped via 160 gph pump into 2 @ 4 liter Air Pots filled with lava rock. This worked pretty well. Subsequent grows the LR was replaced with polished ornamental stone (Dollar Store) which is Da Bomb- cheap,  no residue, and easy to clean and reuse.
     
    The last 2 plants dominated my 2 x 4 grow area- one more than the other. Prepping for my next grows I bought 2 tents (3 x 3 & 4 x 4). The plan is one big pheno plant per tent. The 4 X 4 tent will have a BML SPYDR 600, which I had an excellent first harvest with. The 3 x 3 will have a Solar Spec panel, yet to be determined
     
    I needed a different feeding system, but plan to feed from the same rez off the same timer
     
    One thing I have learned is-  hyro plants don't need big pots, and the only time a large F & D tray is needed is when growing 4-6 large plants. What to do?
     
    A DIY Mini-Me F & D
     
    Since i already own the HH rings and several gph pumps there was no reason to spend ~$60 for a bilge type pump that serves to both pump to the tray, and return water/nutes to rez. If you're starting fresh a bilge pump further simplifies the set up. No need for HH rings
     
    I tested it with a Med-Man Blueberry Cheesecake that I had harvested and put outside to die. After a week of heavy rains it was barely holding on so I decided to use it as my Guinea Pig to test the new system.
     
    First pic is from Aug 9th.  The last 2 pics (root and plant)  taken today
     
    Tray is ~ $4 ~ 4g storage tote
     
    Bulkhead from marine supply ~ $4
     
    Due to fast draining media, I flood/top feed for 36 seconds every hour!

     

    Attached Files:

  2. #2 Peflora, Sep 6, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 6, 2014
    My typical seed popping technique is to simply drop them in water and put the jar in a dark cabinet for 24-48 hours.
     
    Usually after 48 hours most are cracked and have 1/4"+ (~6mm) taps
     
    Not so this time; only 2 did, but most cracked
     
    However, after 2 days there was no tap growth. I tossed more seeds into a second jar; after 48 hours same issue
     
    The seeds were harvested in early July from this plant that I am revegging
     
    Nothing to lose, I put them into starter cubes then in my south facing window
     
    24 hours later the 2 are > 1" but the rest are questionable
     
    Late yesterday afternoon, I decided to put them in my starter tent under 2 white ufos (3500/5000)
     
    This morning, 5 more have broken through- yeah
     
    I am hoping for 2 Big Mex (BM) phenos which yielded 222 dry gms under my first grow using the S600, but was compromised, sharing the 2 x 4  space with the Blueberry Cheesecake (BBCC) that I am revegging. My heavy smokers love the knock-out effects from the Big Mex pheno.  I can barely handle the Blueberry Cheesecake. I plan to take a couple clones from her and finish the mother in my small tent
     
    Be interesting to see how well BM does in its' own 3x 3 & 4 x 4 tent. One under the S600, the other under a yet to be determined Solar Spec.
     
  3. #4 Peflora, Sep 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 9, 2014
    We're off and running

    I moved seedlings from plastic egg crate into net pots filled with polished rock


    If need be I can use a meat baster to wet from the top until rot find the bubbles

    I lowered the amount of water so they don't get overly saturated at this stage

    Currently under 2 ufos (3500/5000)

     
    Might have Solar Specs by end of next week
     
    I also took 3 clones from the BBCC mother.
     
    Found a use for my 1 liter APs, turned upside down they make great clone holders
     
    cut the clone stems long enough to clear the top of the AP plus long enough to be slightly submerged
     
    insert the clone stems into the upside down AP as it has a grid like bottom.
     
    Covered with a 4 liter plastic jug (cut bottom off). Fits great over the AP.
     
    Day 2 and zero wilt
     
    Pics tomorrow
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Both tents are up.
     
    The 50 x 50 x 78 is huge. I will subdivide it until I get a SS 1000 to fill it with light
     
    Seedlings are doing well- more than I need, but that lets me pick the best
     
    Clones look fine, too
     
    FYI: SS guide is the McCree Spectral Graph
     
    par_light_mccree_curve.jpg IMG_2397.JPG IMG_2398.JPG
     
     

     
     
  5. I've been thinking about the pumps I have.
     
    It occurred to me they should be fine as a 2 way.
     
    Once the pump is off the nutes should drain back into the rez from the supply tubing = a true F & D

    I found nothing in the pamphlet they come with, so I tried it this morning.

    YEP

    Anybody know whether this might hurt the pump?

     
  6. #7 Peflora, Sep 12, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 12, 2014
    Seedlings/clones tent

    I changed nutes (still ~ 250) and cleaned up the
    algae

    I replaced the large cylinder air stones with new flat disks to cover more surface area with bubbles

    While I was there, I saw larger volume net pots, which could replace the need for 4 liter AP to stabilize, but will require a lot more stones

    Roots already exiting the fastest plant to show a tap root

    Late to the game, in the 1" net pot, dangling above the nutes has a nice tap

    Reveg is taking off again. Needed higher ppms

    Conversion to an actual F & D works great

    It is now a super simple DIY system

    Magnets now affect nutes in and out

     
    IMG_2399.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

  7. #8 Peflora, Sep 17, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 17, 2014
    It's a new day. It's a new dawn, and I'm feelin good[​IMG]

    According to USPS 2 Solar Spec panels will be delivered today

    I took a pic of the seedlings and clones which have been doing well under the 2 white ufos I was gifted last November. Together they are probably 100w

    One of the SS panels is 150w. It will go into the seedling/clone tent. Depending on how much light it has I may disconnect the 2 ufos

    The other panel is a SS260 which I will use over one of the seedlings once it is big enough to go into the 3 x 3 tent

    I will probably keep the BBCC Reveg under the S600 for now. She is much fuller than when I first harvested her. Reveg seems to have agreed with her
     
    But once I need the tents for new plants I will move the reveg to the small tent under the 150 + 2 BML flowering bars
     
     
     
     

     

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  8. #9 Peflora, Sep 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2014
    You can count on USPS to get it wrong. On the 15th USPS track said delivery on 9/17- didn't happen
     
    10am this morning USPS Track updated to say delivery tomorrow
     
    They came today!
     
    Here are a couple pics of the Amare Technologies Solar Spec 150
     
    It comes nicely packed with power cord, hanging hooks AND adjustable hangers- nice touch
     
    However the piggyback cord was missing. Yes, I only got one panel but how will shipping know?
     
    Well packed with cut foam for safe shipping
     
    I put the SS 150 in place of the 3500K ufo  (Edit: Just realized I have a SS 100, not the 150)
     
    Interesting that the pics show more red than I see with both switches on
     
    Will put up the SS 260 later- no immediate need
     

    Attached Files:

  9. #10 Peflora, Sep 19, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2014
    BBCC is now showing pistils

    Moved her to the larger tent

     
    Unpacked the SS 260 from laptop computer type packing
     
    Note all the goodies
     
    Hung the SS 260 and took pics.
     
    This one is chrome, which is no longer available due to inconsitent plating
     
    Alas, the power cord is right angle and directly over the 2 light buttons
     
    Hopefully, this minor issue can be corrected in production

    Again, the light does not look this red to my eyes

     
    The SS 260 is much brghter than the SPYDR 600 :cool:
     
     

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  10. Looking good, sir!  Can't wait to see the results.
     
  11. #14 Peflora, Sep 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 21, 2014
    UPDATE

    SS 100

    This little rascal is intense.

     
    Yesterday, I lowered the plants again. Now ~ 18" below the light
     
    Clones are looking good- all tops look perky, one has 2 roots coming out
     
    Seems like a great clone light, too
     
    S600
     
    I increased ppm from ~ 550 > 650 and will bump to ~ 800 today
     
    I have slowly reduced o/o now at 12/12
     
    Stretching like crazy now, so I incorporated the Cube
     
    Working in a 50 x 50 tent sure makes life easier

     
     
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Reveg update

    BML SPYDR 600

    this plant (BBCC) was half the size of the bigger plant (Big Mex) that I harvested 2+ months ago (first time using the S600)

    Due to the size of the larger plant blocking some of the light (and being > 1ft taller) this one did not get as many umoles to the canopy, and so did not reach her full pheno potential

    As you can see, she is loaded with branches and bud sites now

    Bumped nutes from ~ 650> ~ 850 2 days ago

    Buds are setting up nicely

     
    SS 100
     
    I hooked up the SS 100 on the afternoon of 9/18

    6th day update

    PPMs have been ~ 200 throughout

    I had to raise the light on the 19th as lower leafs were yellowing due to intensity

    At that time I had 3 clones, none of which had roots after ~ 2 weeks under the 2 ufos

     
    I am lovin this little Engine That Could
     
    Can't wait to get one the seedlings under the SS 260. Based on how they look now, how much longer before I can safely transition?
     
     
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Plants are doing great under the SS 100

    May well be sufficient to go from it directly to the 260, making for an awesome tag team (perpetual) set up

    The young plants will be ready to move under the big tents by Wednesday, or thereabout

    While I would like to move the reveg under the anticipated arrival of 2 x 150s, to the 2 x 4 (thus freeing up the tent with the SPYDR 600), that tent lacks height- only 5ft tall

    BE AWARE that F & D requires the tray drain to be higher than the rez when full in order to drain back fully, and the rez needs to be deep enough to not go dry throughout the feed cycle

    I would need to raise the 2 x 4 up 2 feet which would require ~ 2 stacked concrete blocks per corner. Doable, but, I may just order a taller 2 x 4 tent

    Pics tomorrow

     
  14. While there's no denying the reveg under the Spydr600 is doing great, you can see how much she is stretching
     
    I am still working out lowering the flood tray to gain some needed head room, but may just need to snap a few branches, which is what I had to do on the previous run
     

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  15. I will not be updating this thread as I am now focusing on the Amare Tech panels in my other thread
     
    Hope to see you there.
     
    Link in my signature
     
  16. SJ, apparentlly you did not read my post, but shit happens
     
    BBCC reveg is going bonkers now, budding like a mofo, so...
     
    I may keep it going
     
    Fresh nutes at 1000ppm
     
    Zero tip burn
     
    I may bump to 1200 for ~ 5 days
     

    Attached Files:

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