New setup ok?

[elskeetro]

SocialistPete is giving some good info.

Like he said...Make sure there is plenty of bubbles. The more the better. Looking at the second video you posted, it looks like you've got a fair amount already but consider adding another airstone when you can. I've lost several plants due to root suffocation in DWC. Just ask Pete, he's told me countless times to get better airstones. So listen to him, he's good at DWC.

Your water level looks very low. Raise it until it's just touching the bottom of the pot. Once you have more (much more) roots then the waterline can drop, but until then keep it close to the netpot.

Is your pH in check? That plant, aside from being droopy, looks like it's got some health issues causing those cabbage looking leaves. Start with pH and we'll go from there.

keep it up.
Skeet.

elskeetro Reviewed by elskeetro on 04-14-2009. New setup ok? i just wanted to check to see if this setup will work. im having some problems with my plants and i dont know whats wrong Video of setup 1 video of setup 2 Rating: 5

[socialistpete]

SocialistPete is giving some good info.

So listen to him, he's good at DWC.

Thanks buddy

[fred666777]

Yes that would be much better space. what type of bulb do you plan on flowering with?

i was planning on flowering with a cfl i dont know how well it will work.
any suggestions?

[fred666777]

Your water level looks very low. Raise it until it's just touching the bottom of the pot. Once you have more (much more) roots then the waterline can drop, but until then keep it close to the netpot.

Is your pH in check? That plant, aside from being droopy, looks like it's got some health issues causing those cabbage looking leaves. Start with pH and we'll go from there.

keep it up.
Skeet.

ph is ok 6.0
new leaves look ok to me
moved water level up to about 1/2" under basket.
Water level video

[socialistpete]

Looking good man!! I forget what the lummens you would need are, Skeet will prob chime back in he just set our buddy up with a sweet cab and he's using cfls.

[elskeetro]

Yeah man. Those pics you just posted look good.

Everyone always says you should look at PAR and not Lumens...but fuck that...lumens is way easier to calculate and it's right on the box.

Anyways...The bare minimum you want for good growth is 5000 lumens per square foot. The cab i just built (as pete mentioned) uses 26w CFLs. Each bulb puts out 1750 lumens. There are 12 bulbs for a total of 21,000 lumens. The cab is 30"x15" for 3.125 square feet. That puts us at around 6700 lumens per square foot. we have yet to put plants in the box, but i have no doubt that there is plenty of light in there.

So...if you have just the one plant in a 12"x12" area...i would say a minimum of 3 26w CFLs. That would give you 5250 Lumens per sq foot. Of course at that price you should do 4+ bulbs and see some killer growth. Think about side lighting too. Don't let the plant get too big if you are using only CFLs. Flower when the plant is 8-10 inches. CFLs need to be as close to the plant as possible without burning. About 1 inch away is optimal.

Lookin good fella!
Skeet.

[fred666777]

so for the lower lights do you think like 2 or 3 10-13watt bulbs would work and then 4 26watts near the top?

[elskeetro]

Yeah, i think that would get you going pretty well. When you buy the bulbs, look on the package and check the lumen rating just to be sure you have enough. I find that the best deal is at lowes. There's a 6 pack of 26w/2700k/1750 lumens for like $11. I would say 4 of those bulbs on top and 2 below/middle for side lighting.

Of course i would say the best bet with CFLs is some kind of training, LST or ScrOG and put all the bulbs just above the canopy. Everything below the screen/not in direct light gets trimmed off 2 weeks into flowering.

CFLs work fine, you just gotta maximize your canopy and efficiency.

Skeet.

[fred666777]

ill have to set that up when i get all of the stuff to set up the new room.
how big do you think the roots should be before lowering the water level?

[elskeetro]

Hell yeah! That is looking great!

Technically, if you have enough bubbles/oxygen at the root zone, you could leave the water level where it is and it'll be fine.

The way it's looking now, another few days and i imagine you'll have enough root mass to lower the level. I wouldn't lower it too much, maybe 1-3 inches below the pot. You want enough so when the bubbles pop at the water line the spray hits the roots hanging in the air. Don't let those dry out or you are headed on your way to trouble.

Dont worry, you'll see how it is. As long as you have bubbles, low res temps (65-72F) , and no light leaks in your res, you'll be fine.

Skeet.