MVortex's Perpetual Thread For A 4x4 Tent & RDWC

Well here we go, or went, as the case may be. We're done here. :D

I made the mix at 3.2g/gal. Why? Well, two fold. The primary reason is that after sucking out the last mix as best I could, there was still about 2-3 gallons of the previous mix in the bottom of 3 of the buckets. There just isn't a real easy way to get it all out 100%, and it isn't going to be any easier once the roots really take off.

So the primary reason to mix it just a tick heavier was to compensate for that.

The second reason? I was tempted to go to 3.5g/gal, as the change last week would have been 3g/gal. So just a little compensation for not digging that change last week.

The end result is a PPM of 945 (the Blue Lab keeps bouncing between 940 and 950) with that mix of MegaCrop, calmag, and protekt. This is about right what I would expect to see, and tells me the mix is right about 3.115g/gal.

The previous mix was 100% 2g/gal of MC (plus 2ml/gal of calmag and protekt) and was 610ppm. At a straight 3g/gal mix, I would have expected a ppm of 915, and at 950 that puts it at the 3.115g/gal mark mentioned. Wait, shouldn't 3g/gal of MC be somewhere like 610? Yep, give or take. But add on the calmag and protekt and it gets a little higher. It might freak some out, but I'm ok with it (til I'm not, :laughtwo:) for now. The promix girls got the same ratios and didn't skip a beat.

At 3g/gal we're sitting right between the recommended seedling (2g/gal) and veg (4g/gal) amounts. We'll call it early veg. :D

The pH settled in for the initial at 5.7 after 40ml of pH down (0.8ml/gal, so not a ton) and if the last change history repeats, I'll be adding another 5ml (total) in the next day or so as the mix drifts itself up to the mid 6 range. I'll let it drift to about 6.2, then bump it down to 5.8ish. Rinse, repeat, until the next change.

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So, how are the girls?

They're all doing fine. Humidity in the tent is a bit low (45%) but it is what it is. They don't seem to be bothered with it yet. I have the humidifier running in there, but it's mostly getting sucked out, even with the exhaust on a low 44 CFM.

It's off for the time being though. It needs more water and well, it's being made after some jackass used it all up. :laugh:

Everybody is developing their roots well, and that's good. The Durban Poison has the most at the moment. I have a feeling she may be a big girl to contend with down the road.


Going to have a sammich, veg a quick tick, and then have some general space cleanup and maintenance stuff in the Lab tent to do.
 
So this morning the pH was up to 6.3 already. Gotta be a buffer somewhere, as it was 5.7 when I last checked right before lights out. So in about 10 hours it jumped.

I’ve given 3 shots of pH down so far, all at 5ml. It’s getting there, but may need one more.

I’ll have to look back and see how many/much I used on the last batch, but so far seems about right. If it takes a little more than last time, then I am pretty sure on the what part.
 
It may have, I dunno. I guess I can check my top off res. It's only 1g/gallon, but it was obviously ph'd as well.

I have it down to 5.8 last I checked. That was with an additional 20ml of pH down, on top of the initial when I mixed it.
 
I'd experienced this after a bucket change recently ...I was afraid that too much ph down can never be good so added another dose of a nute I know to lower ph and it stabilized at 6.0 ..good luck!
 
It's fine now. No worries.

I'm not 100% sure which part it is, but something in the nute mix is buffering it back up a tick. The last shot took it from bouncing between 5.9 and 6.0 to 5.7, and that's fine. Nothing really to sweat over, just an observation. Could also be a combination of the nute mix and all the O2 in the system, I guess. I'm leaning towards something acting as a bit of a buffer though.

Nute mix: MegaCrop, CALiMAGic, and Pro-TeKt.

O2: 4 stones (1 per bucket), 1 diffuser (in res), main system pump has a venturi, 1 mini circ pump (50gph) w/ venturi in res (keeps return from going straight into supply), and the supply to each bucket is via "waterfall" effect.


I guess I could run a res change with some GH trio, cal mag, and protekt to see what happens. Hate to do that just to tinker around. I dunno, plants are happy so far. Who knows. Could be something in the water supply that the RO isn't getting out, I guess.

Either way, it's more a curiosity than an issue. The pH down bottle says 1ml/gal should bring it down 1 full point. My initial dose (0.8ml/gal) on the mix takes it from 7.8ish to 5.7 or 5.8. That's 2 full points with .8/gal, so not bad. Even after the round this morning of 20ml, that's still 1.2ml/gal compared to 2ml/gal by the label.


Definitely a far cry from the 7oz it took on the very first batch with straight tap water.
 
Just a note that it has crept back up to 5.9 from this morning when it was down(ed) to 5.7 about 9 hours ago.

Obviously in range, and more of a curiosity than anything.


I was in the garden(s) this evening and did remember to check the pH of the top off res. It was up to 6.4, so I dropped it down to 5.7 and will check it again tomorrow.

I may conduct a small experiment tomorrow, if I have time. I would like to take 4 separate quart containers:

- RO
- RO | 1g MegaCrop
- RO | 1g MegaCrop | 1ml Cal Mag
- RO | 1g MegaCrop | 1ml Cal Mag | 1ml ProTeKt

I would then pH to the same reading on all 4 samples, then check it the following morning.

The first sample to raise higher, like the main res water is doing, we know what is raising it up.

Not sure I'll have time to do this tomorrow, but maybe I can squeeze it in. I'll have to see how things go tomorrow with the other things I have to get rolling.



And now for something completely different. A shot from the front this time.

CCE182DC-B3C9-460E-A525-0E7399994B90.jpeg



Yep, we're veggin. Growth is taking off, and the girls are bigger every day it seems.

Node spacing isn't bad. Blue and Durban could maybe be a hair closer, but considering the light has only been running at 40%, and 26" above the plants, not bad at all. I did go ahead and bump the light to 45% and will begin 5% increases every few days until we hit 60%. This light has such a nice, even coverage (even at shorter heights from the canopy) that I'm content with a lower height and lower power. All ends up the same for the most part. They'll be up to 100% by flip time, so no worries.


Humidity and keeping it up in here has been a slight chore. The funny thing is if the humidity of the two tents would just swap, we'd be just fine. :laugh:

So the RH has been running low 40's, which isn't great for the girls in early veg. If you look closely at Bluei n the back left, she has a leaf or two complaining about it. I had the humidifier going, but had to turn it off yesterday morning as it was all but out of water and "somebody" used up all the RO for a res change.

Now that we've made more, it's back and the RH was back above 50% with only being on a few minutes when I left the space.



Now, take a gander at that runt. :rolleyes:

Dropped into the perlite and hempy style and she's looking to make a go of it all. Which, of course she is. It's probably out of spite. :laughtwo:

Now... where to put her for the longer term. She can't sit on top of the bucket for much longer. I may rig up a little platform in the tent between the buckets, which would get her down the road a bit. After that is a good question. She can't stay in that tent for too long, as there won't be space for her as the others grow. By the time she needs moved, there may be at least one space in the Lab tent with the rest of the autos. That's where we run into the fun, and block the next batch of autos going in once the others are done. So, where to flower the poor girl?

Well, I haven't thought it through completely yet, but I'm considering grabbing a 2x2 tent and using the backup blurple for her. I could set it on top of a res, and recirculate. Ventilation? I'd chain it so the exhaust from the 2x2 goes into the intake of one of the 4x4's and through the carbon filter. Haven't thought it all through yet, but that's what I'm thinking for now.

I do have a 4" carbon filter, but no fan to pair it with. I had a new AC Infinity, but that went with my 4x2 tent, along with some 5gal fabric pots, and other odd and end supplies. Too bad those bathroom "fart fans" probably don't have the testicular fortitude to push some air through a filter. I could cut the vent line from the bathroom downstairs (that's my RO/sprouting/washup room) and just use that room as the temporary grow spot. Sure would make watering easier, and temps would be set. :laugh:

The only downside to that is my ambition to keep a small mother garden. With the upcoming toppings of the girls, it would be a good time to start some mothers. If I find a gem, then I'll have it. If not, or if they're average, then I can cull them (or flower them) and try again. My idea for that was originally my 4x2, but that's out, obviously. I've thought about one of those multi-compartment tent setups, but more than I really want to spend. Guess we'll see what I can come up with.
 
The pH was at 6.0 when I checked this morning, and has remained there all day. Good enough.

Didn't have time today to set up any tests, was too distracted with putting together the irrigation for the other tent. It works, just took a while to get setup right and dialed in.

Wednesday is Z7 day, so I'll be doing that first thing in the morning. I'm trying to change the res mid-late afternoon on Saturday, then dose Z7 again on Wed mornings That puts it about 3.5 days, and they recommend recharging it every 3-4 days.

Other than that, nothing to really report about. Things are in that "leave it alone" stage, and they're just growing. Looming on the horizon before long will be the start of topping season. I think I may go with quadline training, and then add a net above for support. I've considered getting a 2-tier net. The bottom tier for scrogging, the upper tier for support. I have 2x2 scrog frames (pvc), but I would have to modify their design for this setup to work around the plumbing.
 
And has remained at 6.0 on the nose all day today.


2019's been a good year in this neck of the woods, and 2020 will continue to build on that! It's soooo nice to no have to look over your shoulder any longer, and I am so very thankful for that!


So I want to wish everyone following along a prosperous and happy new year as we usher in yet another new decade!

My how far we've come in this one, and I can't imagine what we will see with the next!
 
multiVortex said:
And has remained at 6.0 on the nose all day today.


2019's been a good year in this neck of the woods, and 2020 will continue to build on that! It's soooo nice to no have to look over your shoulder any longer, and I am so very thankful for that!


So I want to wish everyone following along a prosperous and happy new year as we usher in yet another new decade!

My how far we've come in this one, and I can't imagine what we will see with the next!
Click to expand...
Happy New Year
 
Well, shit (same thing diff thread, lol.)

I have to be gone for 4 days coming up in a couple weeks. Right as the girls will be starting their training.

I can do a water change a day early, and we'll be good. No worries on that part. But man, early on and especially when they're growing so quick... Hoping the training won't end up too fucked up. I guess if I have to I can super crop a little if something needs it.


Speaking of which, here are the girls today.


CD66531D-0ED7-4C5C-BA8E-D9C0F2572DA6.jpeg



They're all doing pretty well. Blue has a low fan with semi-wilty looking fingers, but humidity is at 52% with temp running about 75F, which is in the right zone for a good VPD. New growth on top of that looks just peachy, so whatever. Not worried about it right this minute, as the bottom 2 nodes will be getting stripped in a week or two anyway.

GDP is still behind the curve, but she's growing now. Still no idea what to do with her. I put a nursery flat under her right after the pic. It will work as a temporary spot for now.


Durban is flying. She's double the height of the Strawberry Lemonade's up front, and got a couple inches on the Blue.

All look good though. Nice and... verdant. :D
 
I'm sure they will, but that won't make me less nervous the whole time I'm gone. :laugh:

But yeah, they should be ok one way or another.
 
They look great.

I'm also leaving in a few weeks for 4 days. Thankfully mine are in a state where little or no attention is needed.
 
Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it. :D

Was messing a bit a few minutes ago, and managed to get a root shot. This is from the Front Left Strawberry Lemonade.

75537534-1BEC-44B1-99C1-AFD317A1D132.jpeg



They're all nice and bright white, just like they should be. :)
 
those roots are gorgeous multi
 
Thanks, bluter. If I had a reason to get into the back of the tent, I'd get a shot of DP's roots. I bet they're double that, or close.


Oh, and yes I dry my paper towels in there. Waste not, want not. :D

I use em to sop up my spills, and well, I spill a bit here and there. Dry em in the tent, get a little humidity boost, voila.
 
multiVortex said:
Thanks, bluter. If I had a reason to get into the back of the tent, I'd get a shot of DP's roots. I bet they're double that, or close.


Oh, and yes I dry my paper towels in there. Waste not, want not. :D

I use em to sop up my spills, and well, I spill a bit here and there. Dry em in the tent, get a little humidity boost, voila.
Click to expand...
lol. i dry and re-use my paper towels for cleaning grow equip too.... :p
 
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