Newbie 2 x PC CFL

[bloodlock]

Hi people!

I have been a lurker at this forum for a while now, admiring all the wonderful projects you guys have going on. The inspiration simply got too overwhelming, so now I have started a little grow on my own.

Hope you can give me some advice and pointers along the way, hopefully I will get some bud for personal enjoyment in 2-3 months time!

I wanted a PC-grow because of stealth and limited space in my apartment. I also wanted to try hydroponics after seeing some of the results people are getting with it.

PC 1: This one is self-built from a leftover PC-case I had.
- Insides covered in mylar
- 1 x 120mm exhaust fan
- 1 x 80mm intake fan
- 1 x 125w 6400k CFL (+ 1 x 125w 2700k CFL for bloom)
+ water tank and cheap airpump. :=)





The one on the left are "Greenhouse The Church", and the one on the right a "White Widow". they are 6 days old and came as freebies together with some Easy Ryder (lowryder #2 x Ak47). I was planning to only do the Easy Ryder with 1 plant in this case, but could resist germinating the freebies as well. The Easy Ryder is a autoflowering strain with 20/4 throughout the whole process. That will probably not work with these 2 ladies..



This is the first autoflowering Easy Ryder (lowryder #2 x Ak47), 1 week old now. Roots have come out of the rockwool and netpot and into the water.

PC 2: This one I bought from HG Hydroponics in the UK.
http://www.hg-hydroponics.co.uk/pc-grow-room-pro-92-p.asp
- 2 x 250mm fans in sidepanel for intake
- 1 x 120mm fan in rear for exhaust (added this one myself)
- 1 x 125w 6400k CFL for vegging (+200W 2700k CFL for bloom)

I wouldnt really recommend this PC case, it is not light proof and the sidepanel doesnt fit right. And its fucking expensive as well!



Here I have room for 2 water tanks and my plan is to grow 2 plants. Inside are 2 x Easy Ryder one week old.


The left one is on steroids, it is alot bigger than the other ones.


Some nice root action here


Plant on the right - Still a piece of the shell attached to the leaf.

I am planning to install a DIY custom carbonfilter to both cases.

-------------------------------

Ok, thats one week into the project.

And I have some issues, the first is regarding PH levels. I live in a hardwater area with PH around 7,4. So what I have been doing is adjusting the PH down to 5,5 and add it into the tanks. But the PH goes up very fast, after 12 hours its suddenly 6,5!! Is there any way to stabilize this? BTW: I am not using any nutes yet...

If it is not possible to stabilize the PH, can I still get a decent grow? Now I have been changing water once every day. But tomorrow I am leaving to Barcelona for 5 days, hopefully the plants will not die in the meantime...

Any tips and pointers from the professionals??

Kind regards!

Bloodlock

 

[bigtower]

nice one going to pull up a chair for this

 

[Unforgetable]

nice setup, im nearly on the same, just goin with soil... gonna watch ya

 

[pacoveli]

That's a nice set up for a noob. I will keep an eye on you.Happy growing.

 

[nassos]

great work. nice to see that.

 

[BigHit]

Nice, newbie & hydro pc. Be proud

I'm watching.

 

[ironCELL]

.

 

[stuartambient]

nice, going to watch. I've heard about fluctuations but not sure what causes it. Here in my lettuce Bubbler it stabilized with PH down (i'm in a hard 8+ water area). Maybe more down to the solution ? There is a range though, with 5.5 -6.5 considered well for hydro, I believe.

Also, can you elaborate a bit more on the whole res / pots you have, how they are constructed or what did you use in your own case ?
I'm shopping around right now but haven't seen something yet that I want.

SA

 

[Rouxdy]

Nice setup! I'm a noob as well, but my first grow saw PH fluctuation and my second hasn't. Same water and nutes. Only difference for me was water temps. I fought high water temps on the first one. No idea if that's relevant.

 

[detoneSmoker]

Really great Pc you got going. I would move them a bit closer to the light to minimize the stretch for the light and get all your moneys worth out of that cfl. Have Fun.

 

[BC Chronic]

nice grow! I'll be watching for sure..
detone is right, you want to keep your plants as short as possible so they bush out..
I'm a soil grower so I hope you get that issue under control..
take care.

 

[Aerohead]

And I have some issues, the first is regarding PH levels. I live in a hardwater area with PH around 7,4. So what I have been doing is adjusting the PH down to 5,5 and add it into the tanks. But the PH goes up very fast, after 12 hours its suddenly 6,5!! Is there any way to stabilize this? BTW: I am not using any nutes yet...

Did you soak the hydrotron in PH'ed water before you put them in the system?
Get some nutes in there, and if you still have drifting PH then ditch the tap water and go for R/O or distilled. I would use distilled water anyway especially since you have such a low water volume in there..

 

[bloodlock]

back from barcelona

back from barcelona

Hi guys

I am back from my trip to barcelona and thankfully my three Easy Ryder x ak47 plants are still alive and kicking! The Church and White Widows seedlings had died though...

The PH was around 6,7 when I got back. I have now changed the water and added some "Ionic grow" nutrients.

Here are some updated pictures after 2 weeks from seed:

Homemade cab with single Easy Ryder, updated the tank as well. Now it holds roughly 2,2 litres of water. Also added another intakefan on the front side




Root porn through peekhole!


Now to PC #2, with some Dan Brown books added to get closer to the light.


Plant on the left:


Plant on the right.




Ionic grow nutrients.


Hopefully they look OK?

Cheers,

bloodlock

 

[bloodlock]

Did you soak the hydrotron in PH'ed water before you put them in the system?
Get some nutes in there, and if you still have drifting PH then ditch the tap water and go for R/O or distilled. I would use distilled water anyway especially since you have such a low water volume in there..

Yes I did, but maybe not long enough? The PH seems to stabilize at around 6,3 after 24 hours and it was 6,7 after 5 days. Hopefully it will be ok, what do you think? If not, what are the "sideeffects"?.

 

[bloodlock]

Hopefully it will look like this in the end!

 

[bloodlock]

16 days from seed

16 days from seed

16 days from seed: Are they looking OK? I dont really know since its my first grow!

 

[bloodlock]

Now they are growing fast, I guess they liked the 0,8 ms Ionic Grow I gave them. The the biggest one now smells a little up close. Guess its time to sort out the upcoming odor issue...



Are these preflowers we are seeing here?

 

[MR.Montana]

looking good...gonna keep an eye on this one...
check mine out.


https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=163104&page=2

 

[Paranoid one]

Looking very nice!

Tag'd this thread.

Happy growing.

 

[bloodlock]

20 days from germination and they are growing fast. One of them has got curled leaves, what can be the cause of this? I am afraid it is caused by low humidity...