Amy Gardner’s High Brix Dreams

[Graytail]

Wait a minute. 25.5 x 27.5 is 4.87 sqft * 35 = 170.4 watts

You have roughly 175?

 

[InTheShed]

Tents tents tents...no clue. Photography yes. If your camera is an SLR then it will do long exposures and since it's digital you will know immediately if the shutter was open long enough to record the leaks. So all you need is a tripod or some other way of keeping the camera rock steady for what could be many many seconds. Minutes even depending on aperture.

 

[Derbybud]

I love my Mars. More green up front for more green harvesting. No light leaks, well built, and when things go wrong you have Sara here on 420

 

[Amy Gardner]

Thanks you guys, this is great.

This gets confusing to me because of cm in some places and ft in others, so ill do more precise conversions to inches this time:

The tent I have now is exactly the right size. It’s just a bit crap. It is 80 x 80 x 180cm (2’ 7” x 2’ 7” x 5’ 11”).

There are not many tents these dimensions except short ones (5’ or less).

But, there is a Gorilla that is 91 x 91 x 172cm, which, in ft and inches is 3 x 3 x 5’ 8”. So 3” shorter than what I have now.

I’m trying to decide if that 3” is a great loss. I’m not sure that it is.

So @Graytail - your answer before, saying I would end up wanting more light with a broader tent; it sounded like you were also saying I could still grow one plant under this light successfully by just having lots of room around it, yes? Just containing its girth within the light area. If so, I’m ok with that, and it would mean that if, in a few years, I wanted to expand the indoor thing a bit, then I’d be well set up for that.

Main thing then, is the height - is 5’ 8” enough? Perhaps. Even if 6’ is better, 3” ain’t a lot (It is possible that i could add another gorilla extension section on top, down the track. I’ll have to enquire about that.) Gee the Gorillas are pricey but I feel like I’m in for the long haul with growing so i can justify... plus the idea of having some space to move in there would be good, mobility wise.

I love my Mars. More green up front for more green harvesting. No light leaks, well built, and when things go wrong you have Sara here on 420

What height is it Derb? I looked at lots of Mars tents and all the ones I’ve seen at the ideal square footage (2.5 x 2.5) are short, like 5’ only. I’ll have another look at their range

 

[Graytail]

So @Graytail - your answer before, saying I would end up wanting more light with a broader tent; it sounded like you were also saying I could still grow one plant under this light successfully by just having lots of room around it, yes? Just containing its girth within the light area. If so, I’m ok with that, and it would mean that if, in a few years, I wanted to expand the indoor thing a bit, then I’d be well set up for that.

Yep! Just don't plan on packing it wall to wall.

 

[Amy Gardner]

I’m thinking 2, 3 at most, and littlies, and down the track a bit.

I really like Stage’s grows how he does those 2 huge plants with all that room and air around them - that looks the goods to me. So for now I’m aiming for that with jus one plant at a time (at maybe a slightly smaller scale), and maybe down the track with a bit of experience ill be able to do some micro runs like your recent one, Gray, for variety
if I expanded i’d only add one panel and space them out a little bit more, step up the driver just enough etc. AT that time I would (will...) get some 2700k panels maybe and have a mix, and use the remaining panel with a couple more in another little veg panel... I see there’s a longer term plan happening here... ...hadn’t noticed that developing! Well it’s out now, and will probably change. For now, one at a time is just fine.

 

[weenmeoff]

Those gorilla dimensions are odd, are you saying its 5'8" WITH the 1' extension? That would be very od, heck 5'8 is odd, the 3x3 I found online is 83" tall which is 5'11". I couldn't find a 2.5x3.5 so mine must be 2x2.5, hmmm. It kid looks like you can add more than 1 extension kit. For the pic, maybe try aiming your light right at the leak area....? What shed suggests is a good idea but needs more instructions but that's a great thing to know, it's been a while since I've done it so maybe she'd can elaborate....? It even helps to have a remote so you don't shake the camera when you push the button.

 

[JustMeds]

Been a bit busy but dropping in. Your gal is looking real good. She is going to fill out nice looking at that short inter-node spacing. Also, glad you liked the video.

 

[Amy Gardner]

Those gorilla dimensions are odd, are you saying its 5'8" WITH the 1' extension? That would be very od, heck 5'8 is odd, the 3x3 I found online is 83" tall which is 5'11". I couldn't find a 2.5x3.5 so mine must be 2x2.5, hmmm. It kid looks like you can add more than 1 extension kit. For the pic, maybe try aiming your light right at the leak area....? What shed suggests is a good idea but needs more instructions but that's a great thing to know, it's been a while since I've done it so maybe she'd can elaborate....? It even helps to have a remote so you don't shake the camera when you push the button.

I’m reading a bit more about the camera thing and one technique i was practicing with over summer is using the time delay to do longer exposure shots, to eliminate shutter blur from pushing the button so I should be good. I’ll give it a go tonight and report back. I was too tired last night. Actually, it’s 430 in the morning now, and lights come on on an hour - I’ll see how I feel and maybe give it a go then, before the sun comes up.

So that 5’8” tent is the SHORTY range which comes with a 9“ extension kit included as standard. Seeing as they’re a sponsor, I can link to it; Gorilla SHORTY Indoor 3x3 Grow Tent

I could also put a different extension unit on it down the track and end up w 6’ 11” if I wanted... or use the included extension plus an extra one and go up as far as 7’8”. (There’s a 2’ extension available seperately, and a 1’ extension comes standard in the bigger kits and is sometimes available second hand...). SO the Gorillas are very modular, as ween adn others with them would know.

Also the SHoRTY range is the same quality and build as the GGT range.

THeres also the regular version of that size that comes standard at 6’ 11” - but it’s a lot more spendy, and is maybe too high for my spot - there’s room above it but the higher it goes the less light i get into my room so, I’m thinking about it... I was thinking about contacting the Gorilla rep here to ask about it - but I cant find one...

THanks everyone for your input. I’ve still got a bit of time, I cant go ahead until I have to refund confirmed on the current one (so post getting the pics to the retailer).

In the meantime - anyone who happens by that knows of a 2.5x2.5x6’ quality tent - please let me know!

. Also, glad you liked the video.

I really did thanks for that!

 

[InTheShed]

What shed suggests is a good idea but needs more instructions but that's a great thing to know, it's been a while since I've done it so maybe she'd can elaborate....? It even helps to have a remote so you don't shake the camera when you push the button.

I don't own a digital SLR but did make a living as a photographer in the film days. We had shutter release cables that screwed into the middle of the shutter button to prevent camera shake. Those exist for digital?

If the camera is controlling the amount of time the shutter will be open then I don't think that's necessary when shooting in that kind of very dim light. The fraction of a second shake when you trip the shutter is a tiny percentage of the amount of time the shutter will be open. Any blur happening in that time wouldn't register on the sensor. But if you're using the "bulb" setting to keep the shutter open as long as you held down shutter it will show movement. Then you would need some remote way of triggering the opening and closing of the shutter.

 

[Amy Gardner]

There really seemed to be something in the air yesterday - I got a few things sorted out and was really riding a very nice wave for the day - and then, to top it off, packages full of love and other goodness arrived courtesy of a couple of 420 buddies... not one, but two! How good is that?

One contained, among other things, this awesome card ...

View media item 1593616Quite prophetic it was - as I was having a marvellous day when it arrived



There was also those...

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DDA outside this summer! I’ve seen a few folks growing them outside and the look wonderful in the sun. The seeds are incredible looking too - really dark, most of them. I forgot to photograph them and they’re in the seed box in the fridge now so that will have to wait unti I drop them around mid October for a midsummer harvest !

I do nearly all my shopping online so I’m used to packages in the mail - getting them from people is a whole other thing. And 3-3 the non-shopping things I’ve received by post this year have been from 420 friends... what a great thing I did joining up here.

SPeaking of mail, I recently wrote a ‘snail mail’ letter to a friend and it was such a great thing to communicate off screen. She has a super busy life (we used to work together when I had a busy life too, back in the day), nad we have trouble hooking up so I finally decided to initiate writing letters. It’s a lovely thing to do, no screen, no editing, just thoughts and wishes on paper... and it stretches time in a way I havent felt for a while. I like it and I’m going to do it more.

 

[Amy Gardner]

We had shutter release cables that screwed into the middle of the shutter button to prevent camera shake.

Ooh I remember those! My dad had one (he was a prof. botanical photographer) and I used to love pressing it - such a great feeling ‘action’

In fact all of what you described there brought back memories, I remember the b\’bulb’ setting by your description too. Thanks Shed

 

[Amy Gardner]

@InTheShed the ‘bulb’ setting still exists I went one step past the end of the long exposure options and it said Bulb. I didn’t use it though. I used some 20 and some 30 second exposures.

Do folks think these are indicative enough of some happenening leaks?

FYI - i worked the velcro and the fabric panels inside the zips really carefully, and a lot, to get it as light tight as I could (a whole lot more work that a person should need to do to get things light tight). A lot of what you see is visible to the eye, during the day - but there was so much more than I had seen

lightleaky.jpg

• Amy Gardner
• Aug 15, 2018

lightleaky2.jpg

• Amy Gardner
• Aug 15, 2018

lightleaky3.jpg

• Amy Gardner
• Aug 15, 2018

Hopefully that will be good enough for the guy to be able to refund me - once I get back better one.

Thanks to everyone who’s been offering their help here.

 

[InTheShed]

That sure as heck ain't light-proof! Beyond the holes is the general spread of light leaking down the sides of the panels.

 

[weenmeoff]

I don't own a digital SLR but did make a living as a photographer in the film days. We had shutter release cables that screwed into the middle of the shutter button to prevent camera shake. Those exist for digital?

If the camera is controlling the amount of time the shutter will be open then I don't think that's necessary when shooting in that kind of very dim light. The fraction of a second shake when you trip the shutter is a tiny percentage of the amount of time the shutter will be open. Any blur happening in that time wouldn't register on the sensor. But if you're using the "bulb" setting to keep the shutter open as long as you held down shutter it will show movement. Then you would need some remote way of triggering the opening and closing of the shutter.

Yeah I used to shoot film too and had one of those shutter releases and I a have a little wireless remote control for my DSLR. Your right, it's probably not needed for what AMY needed to do but it also looks like she already had the needed pics.

 

[Amy Gardner]

already had the needed pics.

Not already... just took them now! After shed said tripod - 30 seconds... and then the light game on in the the tent so I just got up and did it

 

[Amy Gardner]

Do ya think they’re good enough?

general spread of light leaking down the sides of the panels.

Ya that’s where the Velcro is, and I smoothed and rubbed that flat as much as possible. I’ll tel you one thing too, with the physical challenges I have I can’t be doing that kind of thing all the time to secure the tent every night!

 

[InTheShed]

Pretty sure it's not your physical challenges making it leak. It's the tent's!

 

[Amy Gardner]

Yeh - I just mean all the physical effort involved to try to reduce them - cant be doing that. My arms are cooked nowfor a while... Can’t be doin that!

 

[Derbybud]

You shouldn't have to.