Dr. Seeds' Granddaddy Purple: Coco Grow In Mars Hydro Tent Under TSW-2000

Getting Mars Ready...

The first thing I did is bring the tent into a living space, and put a sheet of Styrofoam insulation between the tent and outside wall of my home. This approach has proven effective in preventing condensation on the wall of my tents.

Next was adding the ventilation. I used two 4" - 5" (10-12.5cm) diffusers to pull the exhaust from the tent. Due to space restrictions, I had to include a 180° bend. Less curve would have been better, but there was no way to do that. I used male to male gender benders on both ends of the flexible ducting. These came from the chimney section of the big box store, as they didn't have them in the HVAC section. The flexible ducting was run over the top of my 7' (210cm) tall 2' X 4' (60cm x 120cm) tent, and run to a tee. Both tents will share a carbon filter, and inline fan. This will be built after everything else is ready. The second tent is also fit with air diffusers. Adjusting the diffusers will allow me to balance the air flows from the two tents.

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Air Diffusers to Extract Air From the Tent


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Duct Work on Top of the Tent


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Flexible Duct Meets the 'Tee'​


Now the lights presented a problem. I've mounted the drivers remotely. The extension cable I ordered through e-Bay does not mate with the LED panels. It seems like the center conductor's is too narrow for the pin on the Mars Hydro connector. I'll drill them out tomorrow. If that works, I'll be able to recsue my plants from the basement. It's too cold down there (14°C/57°F) to grow well.
 
I traded the SP-250 back to Mars for the TSW-2000. This was partly due to Mars looking for more people to grow with the TSW-2000, and that the the TSW-2000 takes less vertical space. I also like the larger LED boards, as the light is spread out more and the light can be closer to the canopy, and still cover the entire tent. Even coverage over the canopy was one of the issues that led me to build my own COB array.

I think the light chosen should fit your style. The SP-250 with it's closer LED spacing across the width, puts the light in a smaller footprint. It is great for folks with deeper vegetation. If the vegetation is shorter, such a a SCRoG, or indicas, the TS series of lights is probably better.

Unless you desperately need the light right now, I'd wait a few months before buying. There are rumors of an updated version coming soon with drivers that will make it easier to control the LED intensity. The SP series of lights have a screwdriver adjustment located under the driver, so it must be removed to change the intensity. With the TS series, except for the TS-600 which is not adjustable, you still need to use a screwdriver to adjust the drivers from the top. This is awkward in many grow areas unless you move the drivers away from the light.
 
Old Salt said:
I traded the SP-250 back to Mars for the TSW-2000. This was partly due to Mars looking for more people to grow with the TSW-2000, and that the the TSW-2000 takes less vertical space. I also like the larger LED boards, as the light is spread out more and the light can be closer to the canopy, and still cover the entire tent. Even coverage over the canopy was one of the issues that led me to build my own COB array.

I think the light chosen should fit your style. The SP-250 with it's closer LED spacing across the width, puts the light in a smaller footprint. It is great for folks with deeper vegetation. If the vegetation is shorter, such a a SCRoG, or indicas, the TS series of lights is probably better.

Unless you desperately need the light right now, I'd wait a few months before buying. There are rumors of an updated version coming soon with drivers that will make it easier to control the LED intensity. The SP series of lights have a screwdriver adjustment located under the driver, so it must be removed to change the intensity. With the TS series, except for the TS-600 which is not adjustable, you still need to use a screwdriver to adjust the drivers from the top. This is awkward in many grow areas unless you move the drivers away from the light.
Click to expand...
that's one thing I haven't messed around yet with. My lights get stronger in each stage of growth for me so adjustment isn't needed for me anyway. Id like to see something added to help with multiple lights. I was debating on adding another TSL 2000 or adding the Sp250 to my current. The 3000 is too big for my flowering footprint sadly. I was even debating on getting the red spec light Budget has and do a side by side with the TSL 2000 as they are right around the same price.
 
Close Enough for the Move...

I had to re-mount the drivers on the Mars Hydro TSW-2000. The extensions wouldn't fit the LED boards. I'll need to contact Mars Hydro and source the extensions through them.

GDP #2 was up-potted again. The container has about five gallons (20l) of coco/perlite. I chose the pot for aesthetics rather than its size, but it will be educational to see how she'll compare to the caged grow bags I used for her sisters. She was up-potted about two weeks ago, from a one gallon to a three gallon pot, and her roots filled it. She's in the Mars Hydro 3' X 3' tent, under the Mars Hydro TSW-2000.

GDP #1, and GDP #3 were moved into my 2' X 4' X 7' (60 X 120 X 210cm) tent, under my COB array. The array is set to 315W.

All three plants will need to be trained to take advantage of the extra room. GDP #1, and GDP #3 will be switched to flower tomorrow. I'll wait a week or so before flipping GDP #2.


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GDP #2 Under Mars Hydro TSW-2000, in the Mars Hydro 3' X 3' Tent


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Left: GDP #1 , Right: GDP #3 Under DIY COB Array in 7' Tent​
 
JollyRodger said:
I’m gonna follow along. I’ve been running RDWC, and I’m sick of monitoring/adjusting/adding to the reservoir daily. I love the growth, but it’s seriously denting the old personal life. Most likely I’ll be moving to coco next grow. You’re hand watering right? Ever do or consider an automated system?
Click to expand...

That gets set up soon. This was my initial design. I updated the drippers as shown here.
 
JollyRodger said:
I’m interested to see that in action. Why did you decide on a DC pump? Everything I’ve seen so far has used your typical AC sump pump. What are the advantages/disadvantages?
Click to expand...

I only needed a low volume pump. I like to water each plant at a rate of about 250ml (one cup) per minute. For eight plants, that works out to 2l or quarts per minute. I usually grow less than this. DC motors are easy to control the speed of, simply decreasing the voltage will do this. That's why I have the step down voltage converter. Finally there's price. I don't know of a single AC pump that will fit the requirements for the price of this one. The total for the pump, step down converter, and 12VDC wall wart was less than $10 CAD.
 
Old Salt said:
I traded the SP-250 back to Mars for the TSW-2000. This was partly due to Mars looking for more people to grow with the TSW-2000, and that the the TSW-2000 takes less vertical space. I also like the larger LED boards, as the light is spread out more and the light can be closer to the canopy, and still cover the entire tent. Even coverage over the canopy was one of the issues that led me to build my own COB array.

I think the light chosen should fit your style. The SP-250 with it's closer LED spacing across the width, puts the light in a smaller footprint. It is great for folks with deeper vegetation. If the vegetation is shorter, such a a SCRoG, or indicas, the TS series of lights is probably better.

Unless you desperately need the light right now, I'd wait a few months before buying. There are rumors of an updated version coming soon with drivers that will make it easier to control the LED intensity. The SP series of lights have a screwdriver adjustment located under the driver, so it must be removed to change the intensity. With the TS series, except for the TS-600 which is not adjustable, you still need to use a screwdriver to adjust the drivers from the top. This is awkward in many grow areas unless you move the drivers away from the light.
Click to expand...
Agree wish my ts was easier to adjust
 
Vegging Out, 77 Days after Germination

I went to work on GDP2 this morning. A little training, and a lot of pruning. I think I pruned away 40% of the plant. I'm looking forward to her finish sometime in January.

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GDP2 After Pruning and Training

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GDP2 After Pruning and Training- Front View​


I've reduced the STS for GDP1 to once per day. It has been twice a day for the past week.


I order ONE horizontal mount power bar. This is what arrived today:

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Ordered One Power Bar, Received One Case of Four​
 
Vegging Out, 80 Days after Germination

I saw a little leaf damage on Granddaddy Purple #2 while feeding her today...

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Leaf Damage on Granddaddy Purple #2​

I took a closer look under the microscope. I don't think it's caused by pests, but I could be wrong. I'll keep a close eye on her for a few days, I think the damage may have occurred while up-potting her. It could also be due to water droplets on the leaf. Up-potting at this stage is not something I usually do. I usually up-pot into their final containers from the 4" or 10 cm pots I start them in.

Those hairs with their bulbous ends remind me of something :hmmmm: :hmmmm: :hmmmm:
 
Old Salt said:
Vegging Out, 80 Days after Germination

I saw a little leaf damage on Granddaddy Purple #2 while feeding her today...

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Leaf Damage on Granddaddy Purple #2​

I took a closer look under the microscope. I don't think it's caused by pests, but I could be wrong. I'll keep a close eye on her for a few days, I think the damage may have occurred while up-potting her. It could also be due to water droplets on the leaf. Up-potting at this stage is not something I usually do. I usually up-pot into their final containers from the 4" or 10 cm pots I start them in.

Those hairs with their bulbous ends remind me of something :hmmmm: :hmmmm: :hmmmm:
Click to expand...

Gotta love the microscope!!!


0_191119 GDP2 Leaf Damage.jpg

Anyone else see a face there :)​
 
I went to my daughter's today. I came home with 30lb of salt herring, and now I'm busy canning again. Solomon Gundy is on the menu again! Love it!
 
84 Days after Germination, All Plants in Flower


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Front View of the Tents

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Granddaddy Purple #1 (DIY 8 COB Array)
_______________________________________________________________​

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Granddaddy Purple #2 (Mars Hydro Tent & TSW-2000)

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Granddaddy Purple #3 (DIY 8 COB Array)
_______________________________________________________________​

It's been a busy week. All of the plants have had a light defoliation, and had the sucker shoots removed. They are all sharing the same batch of Mega Crop, at 6.5gm / gallon.

GDP #1 has had a daily dose of STS on the branch being reversed. This will be droped to every second day for the next week. It drinks about 2l per day.

GDP #2 was put on a Lazy Susan and flipped this morning. This plant is HEAVY. I won't be pulling it from the tent for photographs any more. The Lazy Susan will let me get at the entire plant for maintenance. She's a heavy drinker at 4l per day. I've got to increase this as I'm getting very little, if any run off at this rate.

GDP #3 continues growing, happily drinking its 2l per day.

I saved the cuttings from GDP #3 for a neighbor. They are sitting in from of GDP #2. I didn't save those from GDP #1, as some were sprayed with the STS. The twenty or so cuttings should be more than plenty for my neighbor.

I need to build an enclosure for my carbon filter, as the dank will soon make itself known. I've temporarily connected the in-line fan to the plenum, keeping the humidity under control. It's currently varying between 58% and 73%. The room with the tents is at 54% - 58%. These levels will drop as soon as the outdoor temperature does. Soon I'll have to fight to keep it above 50% in the tents.

I bought a piece of sheet metal to form the sides of the filter housing. It will be interesting to try roll this into a cylinder. I'm going to try use 5 gallon pails as a form.
 
Old Salt said:
84 Days after Germination, All Plants in Flower


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Front View of the Tents

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Granddaddy Purple #1 (DIY 8 COB Array)
_______________________________________________________________​

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Granddaddy Purple #2 (Mars Hydro Tent & TSW-2000)

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Granddaddy Purple #3 (DIY 8 COB Array)
_______________________________________________________________​
It's been a busy week. All of the plants have had a light defoliation, and had the sucker shoots removed. They are all sharing the same batch of Mega Crop, at 6.5gm / gallon.


GDP #1 has had a daily dose of STS on the branch being reversed. This will be droped to every second day for the next week. It drinks about 2l per day.

GDP #2 was put on a Lazy Susan and flipped this morning. This plant is HEAVY. I won't be pulling it from the tent for photographs any more. The Lazy Susan will let me get at the entire plant for maintenance. She's a heavy drinker at 4l per day. I've got to increase this as I'm getting very little, if any run off at this rate.

GDP #3 continues growing, happily drinking its 2l per day.

I saved the cuttings from GDP #3 for a neighbor. They are sitting in from of GDP #2. I didn't save those from GDP #1, as some were sprayed with the STS. The twenty or so cuttings should be more than plenty for my neighbor.

I need to build an enclosure for my carbon filter, as the dank will soon make itself known. I've temporarily connected the in-line fan to the plenum, keeping the humidity under control. It's currently varying between 58% and 73%. The room with the tents is at 54% - 58%. These levels will drop as soon as the outdoor temperature does. Soon I'll have to fight to keep it above 50% in the tents.

I bought a piece of sheet metal to form the sides of the filter housing. It will be interesting to try roll this into a cylinder. I'm going to try use 5 gallon pails as a form.
Click to expand...


Those looks amazing os!

And I luv the lazy Suzan idea,
Guess I got lucky mine spins like that cause same issue no way coming out !
Gets heavy quick eh

Also I hear ya on the weather. Learning that myself, temps just fell off and so did humidity. I was out buying a humidifier today as the old trick of a bucket of water and rags didn’t quite cut it ha

But think I’m the opposite side of you, west coast, so we’ll get rain indefinitely once the cold stops lol
 
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