Rex's Perpetual Hydroponics, LED, 4x4 Tent Using TBC 10 Gal System: All Are Welcome, Come Learn & Help

[Rexer]

Thats a dam fine fridge mucker.
Bill

Thank you! Not sure how I'll squeeze the SuperSkunk in there

Looks like an easy seven oz in there. May be bumping half an elbow.

Lol all I know is that I think I hit my harvest goal. An elbow = pound?

What's a full elbow?

REX! They're sooo pretty! Looking back on the grow do you think the Bucket Company was worth the purchase and hassle in the beginning?

Congrats on that harvest. Just wow.

Thanks Copperrein! It's been quite the journey!

I still like the Bucket Company buckets. I just think there was a design flaw in their 10 gallon buckets, with having too small of a drain. I'll fix that and add an overflow (hopefully overflow for next round if budgeting allows....covid is still screwing with building materials prices).



And thank you for the kind words everyone. And the support, this place is too awesome

 

[DonkeyDick]

What's a full elbow?

What Rex said.
Lb=elbow

 

[copperrein]

What Rex said.
Lb=elbow

Ooohhhh! Y'all OGs should put together a lingo post. Could be fun.

 

[013]

Damn dude with a fridge like that…. I’ll bring lunch! Nice work Rexer!

 

[Rexer]

Tossed some trim into the oven to decarb, I'll be finally trying out my fancy magic butter machine tonight

I took out all the bags from the fridge and gave them a shake before putting them back in.

I was able to do a rough count. I say rough as I only lost my count once or twice

Anyhow there's 42 bags or so in there of flower. Most of the first plant isn't in that count as it's in a jar sitting at 72% RH. One jar is stubbornly sitting at 80%.

What Rex said.
Lb=elbow

Lucky guess!!!...I'd count myself lucky indeed if that's in the ballpark of what I've got

Damn dude with a fridge like that…. I’ll bring lunch! Nice work Rexer!

Your welcome anytime! Bring trimmers lol



And on a side note. I'm tempting fate, I turned the pump back on last night for continuous feed, no flooding yet

 

[XiwsX561]

Nice intro! I’m a big fan of Hlg lights and you got a beauty there! I’ve messed around with hydroponics a bit so it will be fun to follow along!

Fire lamp i got 10 , I seen over weekend at Detroit Cannacon their newest lamp looks like Spyder but black and smaller but with the power of the 650 I don't care for bar lights because I'm not vertical or rack growing but this is no ordinary lamp. No name yet and websites messed up it's actually 630 watts

 

[XiwsX561]

A little background to start. This is my legal medical garden. I could never grow anything, even chives would die on me in soil. Then I started learning Hydroponics using the Kratky method. I grew regular lettuce, zucchini, squash, etc. Using this method. It was the easiest way to get a good grasp on Hydroponics and how root systems can adapt to environments. It was developed by professor Kratky.

I designed and built a small grow cabinet with a flood and drain system that was able to get me roughly 80-100g per plant.

Now, fast forward and here I'm starting my dream setup. I'm doing very little DIY in this system, they'll be plenty of that further down the line.

So- let's start with the environment, as it's one of the most important. I'll be starting this journal using a 4x4 Gorilla grow tent. I have an 8 inch vivosun fan for extraction which will be vented directly outside (filtered during flower). I also have a 6 inch Ipower intake fan for an active intake system. Oscillating fans inside to keep air movement extremely high (I'm a big believer that this is an extremely important part that many don't invest enough attention to.). High air movement inside prevents a lot of mold (PM), makes branches stronger, creates an environment that some pests hate, and keep temperatures evenly distributed.

I'll be using a 10 gallon system I bought from The Bucket Company. Yes you could build your own, but I really love the way they did it and decided it was the one for me. It allows me to do various forms of Hydroponics (top drip, ebb and flow, coco, aeroponics, etc). And I intend to experiment a lot using this system. It even is built to do/handle soil.

A trellis system is also going to be used.

For keeping my reservoir temps optimum I'll be using a chiller.

Light: Well, we all know how important this is. I over spent and did it knowingly. It was the only criticism I could see for this light. I'll be starting this journal under a HLG 650R. It's designed more for a 5x5 (and that was the plan, but I would have to wait several months more thanks to covid to get a Gorilla one). "Each HLG 650R uses 4 custom designed full spectrum high efficiency white light quantum boards with Samsung LM301H and Deep Red LED 660nm . This unit is dimmable, with wattage output from 60 to 610 watts".

Water- I'll be using a reverse osmosis system to have a clean slate for adding nutrients. This keeps it very simple and easy to control.

Sensors- I love my gadgets and they make life much easier with my disability. I have several Inkbirds that will control temp (a portable AC, fans, etc). Different ones will control humidity (humidifier and dehumidifier). A smart power bar keeps my lights and watering systems fully automated.

Nutes: TBA, most likely MC for now with additives.

PH pens and TDS pens are critical equipment for growing Hydroponics (IMO). Or something to monitor these numbers to keep things in check.

A camera system will allow me to remotely view everything. I'll be using Wyze cameras, they're cheap and amazing.

Some of what's listed above I have on hand already, the rest is now ordered and on the way.

But the clock starts now. Auto NL x Big Bud dropped a few minutes ago.

In the event this journal gets long- feel free to skip ahead!

650r is actually 630 I know website says that but it's more

 

[XiwsX561]

i've never bought a rdwc system. only ever built them. i started with top feed hydro yrs ago. when i joined here i built a system that i was used to, then after some reading here mothballed it.

if i was to go with rdwc again, it would be in an undercurrent system. they are all pretty much diy, built with uniseals, and custom fit to the grow space. it solves piles of issues.

New system I seen at Detroit Cannacon far superior then undercurrent and btw people back in 2018 my second grow ever had 4 single site dwc and was goin on an 8 day trip, had 5 days to build and water test bluter here gave me a design I had to modify a bit, but HLG fans with a 550v1 refurbished as a noob
pulled one of my biggest at harvest just under 3lbs at 2.85g/watt the move was multiple genos on one system but didn't start that way but some 10 weekers I cut too early would have yielded alot more.

I'll get back with u later and show u the new system. Plus this new medium. That's unlike hydroton can be reused 1000 n 1 times because roots and salts won't build up or stick.

Only 1 grow under 650s I'ma try and auto in dwc Next bc of this

 

[XiwsX561]

Hey Rexer looks good!
Looks like we are treading the same water. Age, old farm house, weather changes, more projects than one cares to think about. But, find joy in growing....time....we make time!
Enjoy brother!

Time I have no time it's inside it's outside it's auto it's soil it's coco it's clones lol

 

[XiwsX561]

Hellz no, been there- ain't going back to living in the concrete zoo till I have too. I went from country to big city to small city to small towns to finally back in the country. That's not a cycle I care to repeat Now to make myself feel old I'll toss in a "that's a young person's game".

So I've been tinkering away in the tent. Remembered to actually take a few pics of inside.

(The RO system is almost done)

Are the linkage between the buckets just do they don't move?

 

[XiwsX561]

Perlite is of the devil. At least with the hydroton the sediment just sits in the bottom of the grow tubs and minds its own business. I’m glad you figured out the flooding problem.

I need to go back and see your products and nute strength because your pH rise is perplexing. We expect to see a slow rise in pH in DWC/RDWC/whatever as the plants eat the nutes but that is extreme.

Can have huge rises do to low ec / ppm, plants eating alot, AirStones will make it ri

 

[XiwsX561]

Which did best hydroton or perlite? Rexer u know u can get the chunk perlite so no small pieces. @bluter what's this new system u use that can do all those types of hydro?

 

[Rexer]

650r is actually 630 I know website says that but it's more

Yup, I have a kill a watt meter and can confirm that.

New system I seen at Detroit Cannacon far superior then undercurrent and btw people back in 2018 my second grow ever had 4 single site dwc and was goin on an 8 day trip, had 5 days to build and water test bluter here gave me a design I had to modify a bit, but HLG fans with a 550v1 refurbished as a noob
pulled one of my biggest at harvest just under 3lbs at 2.85g/watt the move was multiple genos on one system but didn't start that way but some 10 weekers I cut too early would have yielded alot more.

I'll get back with u later and show u the new system. Plus this new medium. That's unlike hydroton can be reused 1000 n 1 times because roots and salts won't build up or stick.

Only 1 grow under 650s I'ma try and auto in dwc Next bc of this

Hi XiwsX561 and welcome to my journal . Always interested in seeing other systems, but will be a long while before I buy another.

Are the linkage between the buckets just do they don't move?

The linkages are to allow more training. I just have lots and used them to help stability and spacing.

Which did best hydroton or perlite? Rexer u know u can get the chunk perlite so no small pieces. @bluter what's this new system u use that can do all those types of hydro?

The perlite was ditched early in the grow, so hydroton for the win! And I'm aware of the different types of perlite now. But the hydroton is working fine and I think for now I'll just be running with three buckets to keep my ac and dehumidifier in the tent.
I'm happy with my yields to say the least and am looking forward to seeing how the SuperSkunk auto finishes

 

[NuttyProfessor]

Hope all is well

I might try the water growings robot thingie migiggie thing you do just to see if I can do it , one hydro one not , im thinking it through this last few weeks , a quick set auto, just for the fun and games of growing and to see if I can do both first time or fail on both more like

Have a good one

 

[Rexer]

Hope all is well

I might try the water growings robot thingie migiggie thing you do just to see if I can do it , one hydro one not , im thinking it through this last few weeks , a quick set auto, just for the fun and games of growing and to see if I can do both first time or fail on both more like

Have a good one

You can do it! you've been on the edge of it for some time, well technically you have been doing it with your organic coco!!
You could do a flood and drain- and after done your grow it can be used to bottom feed your plants.

 

[Rexer]

Day 109
Flower Day 63

Tent temp: 23C avg
Tent RH%: ~30-40% (had one spike)
Previous PPM: 859
Current PPM: 943
Adjusted PPM to: 862
PH: 6.1 reset to 5.8
Res temp: 21C
Water level: down/falling

So not a whole lot of changes..the one plant that is left will have a major defoliation in next day or two and I expect will be ready for chop within the week. I didn't get around to checking her under the microscope yet.

The larger BBxNL is still paper bagged in the fridge. I checked earlier and she's still around 70 % RH....now that's a slow dry . I'm going to have to finish drying and curing her soon.

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

SuperSkunk Autoflower

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

SuperSkunk Autoflower

 

[Fredwak]

Hi rexer, Super Skunk looking fat and frosty!
Just stopped by to say high. Smile and stay stoneder.

 

[Furcifer]

 

[Rexer]

So those were the lights off pics (flash used), and now is the lights on pics before doing any defoliation.

Hi rexer, Super Skunk looking fat and frosty!
Just stopped by to say high. Smile and stay stoneder.

Hey Fredwak! Thanks for dropping by!
Next for you!

She's not quite done yet I'm thinking?,

after some pics in the light and a better look I still see lots of white pistils....

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

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• Rexer
• Jul 5, 2021

 

[Furcifer]

I agree "with a little more time"...