First Grow - 2600 + watt CFL!!!!

[low_rdr]

Um -

Been awhile (HA!) Bubble originally tasted like asparagus. Its been curing for awhile, and the taste is currently tolerable, but the effect is short lived (about 30 minutes) I'm contributing this to the fact that it was harvested about 2-3 weeks earlier than it should have, and the flavor to the horrible drying it received.

Now, on the positive side, I harvested fiona (pineapple express) and she yielded just over 8 ounces before the dry, just under 3oz after the dry, used a water cure. Flavor is mild to sweet, smells almost like fruity pebbles when ground, and the effect.... Well, we've gone from about an ounce a week to a quarter a week, and I haven't had time to post much lately.... So the effect is very, loving I don't know how else to describe it. And my wife who is preggo and always feels aggravated, nauseated or hungry, just feels calm and relaxed - So as you can imagine, this harvest came at the perfect time.

FYI - Water Cure Rocks.

Final bud weights: The top colas each came in at about 8 grams, there were 4 of them, about the size of a bottle of tylenol (the big one). Smaller bud sites, there were about 42 total, I had to harvest about 16 early to make more room for light - each small one came in at about 2-3 grams, and about the size of a small bic lighter. The undergrowth popcorn came in at about 1/4 oz total, and the largest ones were about the size of my thumb.

All in all, this harvest was what I expected, I did expect denser nuggets up top, however I feel that my initial stunting of fiona and the lack of knowledge played a huge part in the under developed parts. I do have to say, that I'm extremely happy with my overall harvest, I've continued the cycle, and I'm only a few weeks away from my next harvest. Just got the replacements in today - So we'll have a monthly perpetual harvest

Clones and veg stage is looking good, I've got 5 healthy clones vegging, 6 healthy clones rooting, and 1 healthy new sprout in the seedling stage

[Tol]

Holy Smokes! That is an awesome set up! I had just figured out that you did attach some photos on my thread. lol sorry about that as I am still a newbee on this forum. Great work with all the details you've stated.

[billydakid6812]

ill be back soon guy, with some berry ryder auto's, got a quarter pound from the last harvest ik i never posted pics of the final product but i will soon i was really impressed for my first grow, im gonna go with the diy approach for a grow tent this time, keep an eye on me, pc

[qwisoking]

Hey I had the same issue with the green bars, go into settings from your profile and turn it on. It comes turned off. Aren't green dots awesome!
By the way saying you have 2600 watts is a bit misleading, that's the equivallant watts anyway sorry it didn't work out quite as planned next time try to have it setup to where you can raise and lower the lights it will make a huge difference in bud density

[low_rdr]

Um. It worked out great... Read the thread before posting Bud density was also just fine, as far as raising or lowering the lights I'm in a 3 ft cab, so yeah, no reason to raise/lower when they start on a pedestal and have to be tied down when they're not on the pedistal, lol - I have a 4' powerbud in there right now imp:

600w powerdraw does put out 2600 watts worth of lumens and I do think I posted the picture from the bottom of my cab showing a 2k output from my lights (on the floor)


Remember, 2k is the max on the lightmeter (unless you get a pro light meter)


Soooo..... :P to your wattage theory


The only thing that didnt work was the bubblicious, and thats because nobody watered it while I was on my cruise

[qwisoking]

Wasn't trying to hate on your thread bro! Sheesh
I was referring to the cruise bit and them dying when I said didn't work quite as planned. And I was merely trying to help as my setup is the equivelant of 2400 watts but that is the equivalant to how many watts an incandescent would need to produce the same lumens and it really doesn't matter what an incandescant can do because we are both using cfl.
Anyway I liked your grow good luck to ya

[low_rdr]

I actually added another 600w flowering cabinet, so its 1200 actual watts, so its closer to a 4k equiv - Im changing styles though, switching to 20 gallon bags to flower in

[qwisoking]

Still cfl right?
I was thinking of expanding also but it seems like it might be better to switch to a hps bulb for cost reasons. How are you liking that much power?
You think I should do like you? I've always loved my cfls seeing as how they don't burn me like some others.. Lol

[low_rdr]

Well, I actually have to rewire and put in new breakers, very touchy at the moment, luckily the wires aren't getting warm.

The power is great - HPS is good if you have the room, can handle the heat and dont mind using the extra power for wasted light. IMO having your light 18"+ above your plant is just a waste of lumens.

Now, I'm expanding my grow area soon in another state - At which point I will be switching to DWC and HPS, however, for my current grow needs and space, Im a hard core CFL guy - In all honesty if I had the patience to setup the new grow room like I've done my current boxes, I would go CFL, however, setting up that many CFL's in a 20x30 area would take me a few weeks if I was smoking! Setting up the HPS is a higher overall cost considering cooling requirements and ventilation, however it wont take me as long to set those up vs wiring all the CFLs.

My current budget is 22k and that includes:
(3) 4x8 solar panels
(8) Battery storage
(1) 5.5k generator
(2) 12k BTU Air Conditioners
(8) 8" 80 CFM inline fans
(8) 12" oscillating fans
(4) 25' 8" ducting
(4) Watering Timers
(1) 175 gallon reservoir
(8) 600 w HPS lamps w/ digital ballasts
(8) Raptor hoods (not sure which yet)
(1) 8" 125 CFM turbo fan
(1) 6'x3' Carbon Scrubber 8" intake
(2) 300 gph pumps
(2) 60 watt air pumps
(32) 4" air discs
(32) 5 gallon buckets w/lids
(2) 400 sqf 2mm mylar
(2) 400 sqf 5mm lining (floors)

The Air units will all be ran off the power grid while all the lighting will be solar powered. 1 of the inline fans is for a fresh air intake, while 1 is for the AC units. The carbon scrubber will be placed under the grow room and will be recycled into the home heating ducts. I'm building the carbon scrubber much like a machined silencer for a firearm, so it will be a self contained unit rather than venting out the sides, it will vent out the end.

I'm starting with 4 plants per 600 watt light, I'll be focusing primarily on 2 strains until my strain is stable to breed. My current setup will be used for vegging only and placed inside this room, using less than a 10 sqft footprint. In the vegging area I'll be using a 20 watt pump and a 32 site dwc utilizing 2" netpots

The plan is to run the pumps from the 175 gallon res for 2 hours per day (lights on) and let the airstones do the work from there. Each 5 gallon pot should only have roughly 2 gallons of water in it, the measurement won't be exact because I'll be doing the holes myself, and I don't really care how accurate I am, within a quart or two.

Without the solar equipment, this can be built for about 6k buying in bulk - However I know the light bill would be roughly 800 per month, and it is much more sensible to spend extra money on the battery system/generator instead of having a huge bill month after month. The AC system will only be used to keep the temps at a steady 72 degrees, which shouldn't be an issue unless I have a fan out or the outside temps reach 75+ (Should only be about 30 days out of the year at over 75)

So yes, HPS is good if your lazy

[billydakid6812]

Whats up Buddy I'm having some very small issues, spots again, really want to figure out what these spots are.Drop by my page if you could bro, thanks.