AfricanGrower's 1st Hydro Journal - Ebb&Flow - Bubblelicious 2013

[AfricanGrower]

I'm sure I will find the need to build a sound box when I implement two fans in my grow space. It can get loud and annoying at times when I want to enjoy a serene and peaceful smoke session!

On another note,

To all who requested (TheCapn) I post a tutorial of my methods on using ONA Gel, well here you go: ONA Gel. A simple, efficient alternative to a carbon filter.

 

[Light Addict]

Hey my friend. Informative reading as always. Best of buds to you my friend!

 

[TheCapn]

AG, did you re-do your exhaust fan set up yet?

Currently, I am only running one fan. Starts with carbon intake, goes thru all lights, then hot air out the chimney. I'm thinking about separating the HOOD ducting and use the heat to heat my house. Then use another fan to just suck into the carbon and push it outside.

 

[Skybound]

AG, did you re-do your exhaust fan set up yet?

Currently, I am only running one fan. Starts with carbon intake, goes thru all lights, then hot air out the chimney. I'm thinking about separating the HOOD ducting and use the heat to heat my house. Then use another fan to just suck into the carbon and push it outside.

Great idea Capn. Since you're consuming the energy, why limit the consumption to just growing? You'll get double bang for your KW/h

 

[AfricanGrower]

>>>AG, did you re-do your exhaust fan set up yet?


I'm going to be rearranging my ventilation today after work. I will have an update with the results.

 

[AfricanGrower]

Update will be coming along tomorrow evening. There is quite a lot to report on pH observations since switching over to pure synthetics and the efficiency of the new fan placement. I will be including them all in tomorrow's update. But for now, I have some bud porn. My monthly stock-up of buds have brought me some Purple Train Wreck! This is definitely a Sativa dominant by its intense head high, with absolutely no body stone. I get urges to clean things randomly as well as over-focus on the most simplest of tasks. It took me no shorter than 1 hour to get some of these close-up trichome shots. Guys I really recommend a pocket microscope, 60X, with the cell phone case to go along. I get some really good shots with it I can say I AM STONED FOLKS

Some bud porn

 

[stealthgrow]

Hi AG.

 

[b.real]

please help! is this guys telling me true? or am I thinking I will run cooler with a hanging 125 watt cfl and 6 side 20 watt cfls? (250 watts of cfl)

the unit says 120 volts @ 3.2 running amps and startup is like 4.3 amps or something. if you do 120 * 3.2 that's like running 400 watts

"With alternating current, the equation Wattage = Voltage x Amperage doesn’t exactly apply. You have to take the power factor into account, which essentially represents the efficiency of an electrical device. The Mini Sunburst isn’t quite as efficient as other higher wattage HID systems, therefore the higher amperage rating. The 150W Sunburst will produce about 180W of heat (150W to bulb, around 30W to the ballast).

How I understand it, you must compare wattages. 250W of CFL lighting will produce more overall heat than a 150W HID. 250W CFL will produce about the same overall heat as a 250W HID. While different lighting systems have different efficiencies and light output, all energy used eventually ends up as heat (light dissipates as heat, otherwise a room would stay lit after you turn a bulb off). That being said, the 150W HID system actually draws more like 180W (therefore putting out 180W of heat).

im currently running 180 watts and running it without burning the house down.

im torn man.

lovely buds by the way. Harley and potchimp love their purple.. good to hear good to hear. im starting to think purple and gdp is "purple haze" looks like a fluffishy haze

 

[Skybound]

I don't doubt they create the same heat signature, but what are the lumen outputs of each setup? Just my guess, but I'd think the HID would give off more lumens. I have my HID running @ 300watts now and my very small closet clocks out at 83º at canopy level with bulb about 14" up.

Edit - Also wanted to say that when running full 400 watts, my ballast is rated to draw 8.6 amps @ 120V or 4.3A @ 220V.

 

[B A R]

It took me no shorter than 1 hour to get some of these close-up trichome shots

. Well worth the time.

 

[Light Addict]

looking great my friend loving the pics! If I may pick your brain, I have a few quick questions on plant health. Ok firstly my Flux girl looks nice and green and now bushy as hell. She has matured and is showing sex and Offset noding. I have last couple of days noticed new growth being clawed. Its only the new leafs coming through. They bend under at sides and claw towards tips. They sort themselves out as they grow out.
Sorry I will post pics later today for better diagnosis. It's just after your wise words on OZ's thread other day I though I'd give you a shout. Many thanks my friend! in advance.

 

[AfricanGrower]

Hi AG.

Hey there Stealth, glad to see you around

please help! is this guys telling me true? or am I thinking I will run cooler with a hanging 125 watt cfl and 6 side 20 watt cfls? (250 watts of cfl)

the unit says 120 volts @ 3.2 running amps and startup is like 4.3 amps or something. if you do 120 * 3.2 that's like running 400 watts

"With alternating current, the equation Wattage = Voltage x Amperage doesn’t exactly apply. You have to take the power factor into account, which essentially represents the efficiency of an electrical device. The Mini Sunburst isn’t quite as efficient as other higher wattage HID systems, therefore the higher amperage rating. The 150W Sunburst will produce about 180W of heat (150W to bulb, around 30W to the ballast).

How I understand it, you must compare wattages. 250W of CFL lighting will produce more overall heat than a 150W HID. 250W CFL will produce about the same overall heat as a 250W HID. While different lighting systems have different efficiencies and light output, all energy used eventually ends up as heat (light dissipates as heat, otherwise a room would stay lit after you turn a bulb off). That being said, the 150W HID system actually draws more like 180W (therefore putting out 180W of heat).

im currently running 180 watts and running it without burning the house down.

im torn man.

lovely buds by the way. Harley and potchimp love their purple.. good to hear good to hear. im starting to think purple and gdp is "purple haze" looks like a fluffishy haze

Well considering CFL ballasts are inductive, you should have an average power rating right around .8. So doing the math: 0.8 x 3.2Amps x 120V = 307.2Watts

I think that is quite a bit much for a 125W CFL to run on, so maybe 'this guy' might be telling you some truth. I can say, from my own experience, running 3 extra 23 watt CFLs in my tent, brings overall temperatures up by 2 degrees, which is quite a lot considering the size of my space in comparison.

>>> Just my guess, but I'd think the HID would give off more lumens.

The HID will always produce more lumens in comparison to a CFL bulb.

>>>. Well worth the time.

Reg, I was so satisfied after taking over 100 pictures with my phone! I might enter this guy in NotM with all these shots I can choose from

 

[Light Addict]

AG for the win NOTM !!!

 

[AfricanGrower]

looking great my friend loving the pics! If I may pick your brain, I have a few quick questions on plant health. Ok firstly my Flux girl looks nice and green and now bushy as hell. She has matured and is showing sex and Offset noding. I have last couple of days noticed new growth being clawed. Its only the new leafs coming through. They bend under at sides and claw towards tips. They sort themselves out as they grow out.
Sorry I will post pics later today for better diagnosis. It's just after your wise words on OZ's thread other day I though I'd give you a shout. Many thanks my friend! in advance.

Hey Light, I'm glad to help!

Now I am still not picturing 100% in my head. Are new new leaf edges 'curling' upward (like a kayak?) or downwards like a claw? I'll be waiting for some pics, as I though my imagination with this TrainWreck would spark some holographic images on my screen

 

[Light Addict]

Cheers my friend. I'll go get some pics now and post em up on my flux thread in a min. many thanks for your input. Your very gracious with your time!

 

[B A R]

Reg, I was so satisfied after taking over 100 pictures with my phone! I might enter this guy in NotM with all these shots I can choose from

Don't play yourself. Go ahead, with shots like that you could be making butter by January.

 

[AfricanGrower]

Don't play yourself. Go ahead, with shots like that you could be making butter by January.

Well I decided to go ahead and give it another go this month. We'll see how things go, there is some good competition this month as always! On another note, I think NotM might be my favorite of the competition, just because it gives anyone, grower and stoner, to try their hand at winning a contest, and just overall forum traffic increases. Anyway, let's get to this update.


7/12/13

FLOWER DAY 38

Hello 420. Here with another update and I can say things are going fairly well in the AG tent!

After a few adjustments to setup and a supplement substitute, I can report that somethings went as planned and others did not.

For the exhaust fan readjustment, I have noticed very little difference in efficiency. In fact it took me a few hours to find the right position in order to replicate my 79-81F average temperature I had with the previous arrangement. Having the ducting pull from right under the cooltube gives me the most efficiency, but any other position gives me less pressure, and lets temperatures get to the 90s.

The fan has been placed on the left, after the cooltube. It is pulling hot air in from the grow room ducting on the right, and expelling it out through the top of the tent.

The Bubb is starting to build in girth as well as in height. Though I think I may be on the verge of a slight K deficiency. In reaction, I added 1ml/gal of KoolBloom (0-10-10), bringing the PPM from 800 to 849. This was yesterday.

Today however, the interesting thing I have noticed though is that only the top-most foliage is showing early signs of leaf tip spotting and burnt leaf edges. About 6+inches below the top foliage level, there are no signs of k deficiencies on any leaves. And another point to consider, the humidity is 20% higher and temps are 7-10F lower at this level of foliage. This leads me to believe that the lack of humidity up top could be the cause of the K deficiency. More than likely it is because Pottasium is known to be poorly absorbed in low humid environments.

Due to my instinctual mistake of 'adding more' nutrients to try and solve a problem, I emptied my res early (usual res change is on Monday)and mixed my solution to a PPM of 950. To further update you all on my pH dilemmas, since switching over to General Hydroponics CaliMagic, I have noticed slower pH rise throughout the day. My pH will start off at 5.9 and by the end of the day, the pH will be steady at 6.5 (instead of the usual 6.9-7.3). Although the pH is still rising, I have eliminated one factor that definitely HAS been contributing to my pH fluctuations. I have also noticed, since switching of to CaliMagic, I can use 25% less pH down/vinegar in order to adjust my res for the next mornings feedings. Overall there is less film and bacteria related foam on the surface of my res solution. So all in all it is is a step forward in the right direction in terms of pH.

I'll keep you all updated on the progression of the K deficiency. So if the problem is solely a humidity factor, this will prevent a nutrient buildup of K and P, preventing a lockout, and potentially making things worse. For now I have put a humidifier on a timer (30min on every 3 hours) to bring the humidity up to a steady 50%

Now for some bud pics of the Bubb. She is really showing signs of increasing density, but I still am not a fan of her high leaf-to-calyx ratio. It's going to be a hefty trim job!

The Bagseed is really such a excellent bud producer, spitting out calyxes left and right compared to the Bubb. But sadly I have to remember that she is actually a percentage male, which just never feels the same anymore. On the bright side, no new signs of male organs since last week. I pulled her out two days ago from under the trellis with some injuries. Just to be safe, i did a thorough 45 minute inspection of all 3 major branches.

So I have decided to do these weekly trichome closeup videos because of how much I am digging this new pocket microscope. I will be posting videos weekly of the trichome maturation, and hopefully I will gain a few more eyes on to help conclude a perfect harvest

THE WEEKLY TRICHOMES

Here is the Bubb. She has a fair amount of cloudy trichomes, some clear ones, and no amber as of yet. I might have to reduce my harvest time from when I predicted an extra 10 days to the advertised 60 days.

[video=youtube_share;HesTII-t2sc]

[/video]

Here is the Bagseed. It has WAY more of a concentration of trichomes in an area compared to the Bubb. A lot of milky white trichomes (cloudy) and some clear ones here and there. No amber as of yet.

[video=youtube_share;BzME9GTns60]

[/video]

 

[VictorVonDoom]

Hey AfricanGrower,

Real nice

 

[b.real]

Looking good! Harvesting early may decrease yield

 

[AfricanGrower]

Thanks you guys on the words of encouragement. Much appreciated

>>>Harvesting early may decrease yield

True, but harvesting too late can decrease potency as well. So it's a matter of finding the PERFECT balance of the two. That's why I'll be making an extra effort to post hose weekly trichome updates in order to get the majority consensus on this one :high-hive: