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5Lbs/1Kw Challenge-The Quest for 80 Zips with Galactic Grape
- Thread starter aerokrafter
- Start date
One more week to go? Can't wait for the next update...
Thanks so much for endorsing my Aeroflo build out! Look for some great updates this week...
R.Fortune
Thanks so much for endorsing my Aeroflo build out! Look for some great updates this week...
R.Fortune
Day 63 Bloom Update
Unit:
Side:
Bud Tip:
Track Plant:
Data:
Hard to believe we only have one week left! It’s been such a roller coaster ride - and there’s only one more little hill before we bank into the station.
The buds are getting quite dense - not yet the rock hardness of the test plants. I’m scheduled for one more week, but I may add a couple days. I don’t have a lot of room to wiggle on this - next in line is ready to go in 12 days. Aero normally takes 4 - 7 days off the bloom time, so in dirt they would be an 80 day variety. Sounds like a long time, but I’m pretty dam sure the cost analysis would come down on the side of Galactic Grape!
In the bud tip shot you can see the trich formation and that ripening is coming along. A sweet grape funk smell rolls off the buds. After handling the plants, you are stuck with grape bubblegum perfume as your manly aroma!
The plants continue to eat lightly. I will start the flush in a couple days. I do a gentle flush - I will start with about half to a third strength nutes, then just add water to the end. I found that plants in the Aero flo do not like or need a drop to plain RO to flush. In fact I have on more than one occasion killed plants this way.
Gonna jump to the next page to add more pix
Unit:
Side:
Bud Tip:
Track Plant:
Data:
Hard to believe we only have one week left! It’s been such a roller coaster ride - and there’s only one more little hill before we bank into the station.
The buds are getting quite dense - not yet the rock hardness of the test plants. I’m scheduled for one more week, but I may add a couple days. I don’t have a lot of room to wiggle on this - next in line is ready to go in 12 days. Aero normally takes 4 - 7 days off the bloom time, so in dirt they would be an 80 day variety. Sounds like a long time, but I’m pretty dam sure the cost analysis would come down on the side of Galactic Grape!
In the bud tip shot you can see the trich formation and that ripening is coming along. A sweet grape funk smell rolls off the buds. After handling the plants, you are stuck with grape bubblegum perfume as your manly aroma!
The plants continue to eat lightly. I will start the flush in a couple days. I do a gentle flush - I will start with about half to a third strength nutes, then just add water to the end. I found that plants in the Aero flo do not like or need a drop to plain RO to flush. In fact I have on more than one occasion killed plants this way.
Gonna jump to the next page to add more pix
Day 63 Continued
I will have an extensive analysis of the grow next week, but I want to show a couple things and get your input on potential improvements.
Runt Row:
My track plant that I selected on the assumption it would show the average growth of the grow - turned into the runt of the grow. This whole side of the cube was cooked by the CO2 generator and stunted as a result. So much for my plan to plop my ace in the hole right next to the challenge grow! In fact I have left it off since the debacle, as I’m reengineering the system and that its hotter than hell out.
Sucker Leaves:
The center plant buds are massive chunks with sucker leaf spikes on top. I’ve adjusted the light rail all the way out to a 15 count stop to no avail. The light is simply too close. I see shorter plants in my future.
Speaking of the future, I have procured yet another unit and its only task will be to grow this plant. This plant has shown me that it really is that good.
Fresh Galactic Grape Clones:
Once again I thank you all for your comments. If you can, please take a moment and look over the grow. If you have any ideas for potential improvements, please share them. I would like to get as much input as possible before I begin the final grow analysis next week.
As always, your comments and questions are welcome.
-AK
I will have an extensive analysis of the grow next week, but I want to show a couple things and get your input on potential improvements.
Runt Row:
My track plant that I selected on the assumption it would show the average growth of the grow - turned into the runt of the grow. This whole side of the cube was cooked by the CO2 generator and stunted as a result. So much for my plan to plop my ace in the hole right next to the challenge grow! In fact I have left it off since the debacle, as I’m reengineering the system and that its hotter than hell out.
Sucker Leaves:
The center plant buds are massive chunks with sucker leaf spikes on top. I’ve adjusted the light rail all the way out to a 15 count stop to no avail. The light is simply too close. I see shorter plants in my future.
Speaking of the future, I have procured yet another unit and its only task will be to grow this plant. This plant has shown me that it really is that good.
Fresh Galactic Grape Clones:
Once again I thank you all for your comments. If you can, please take a moment and look over the grow. If you have any ideas for potential improvements, please share them. I would like to get as much input as possible before I begin the final grow analysis next week.
As always, your comments and questions are welcome.
-AK
burns1n209
Member
Bad ass, lookin good can't wait to see results next week
abellguy
Member
Everything is looking really nice, you surely did make it through your near derailment that is very commendable. Do you feel like you are on track for your 5 p? I am going to put my guesstament at 2.5 pounds, which is a very respectable grow but am eagerly awaiting to be proved wrong for sure 
About the only thing I might be able to add that may be of worth is about your flush. I am not sure what your total nute regime is but I like to add enzymes and sugars to my flush solution, I have found it really helps in the taste of the finished smoke in areo. I would usually tapper my EC down a little from like .9 - 1.0 or so to like ~.8 and then do just a two day flush while I would put them in the dark and maybe change the rezi like 3 or 4 times over those 2 days to bring EC down to .5 or so. I believe it was Heath that originally said feed at low EC and go all the way to the end and get your best yields.
To minimize on nutrients I would put the rezi on an angle so the pump would take less water to be submerged and work during the flush so I wasn't using so much fresh nutrient. On yours though I think your pump is outside the unit so not sure how that might work. Anyway really looking forward to see your outcomes, much respect on a fantastic grow
About the only thing I might be able to add that may be of worth is about your flush. I am not sure what your total nute regime is but I like to add enzymes and sugars to my flush solution, I have found it really helps in the taste of the finished smoke in areo. I would usually tapper my EC down a little from like .9 - 1.0 or so to like ~.8 and then do just a two day flush while I would put them in the dark and maybe change the rezi like 3 or 4 times over those 2 days to bring EC down to .5 or so. I believe it was Heath that originally said feed at low EC and go all the way to the end and get your best yields.
To minimize on nutrients I would put the rezi on an angle so the pump would take less water to be submerged and work during the flush so I wasn't using so much fresh nutrient. On yours though I think your pump is outside the unit so not sure how that might work. Anyway really looking forward to see your outcomes, much respect on a fantastic grow
Wow! Looking great AK!
I don't know, but those runts look pretty big to me! I just have a few questions.
Can you speak to the importance of bud density? Some people get confused by size and weight.
I'm sure you have told us, but what relative humidity level do you try and maintain during flower?
Have you ever thought about switching to MH lamps the last week or 2 of flowering? I heard that it can improve final flower output, or is this just a myth?
Are you sure that you have the best hood for your space? How close are you getting that hood?
Thanks!
R.Fortune
I don't know, but those runts look pretty big to me! I just have a few questions.
Can you speak to the importance of bud density? Some people get confused by size and weight.
I'm sure you have told us, but what relative humidity level do you try and maintain during flower?
Have you ever thought about switching to MH lamps the last week or 2 of flowering? I heard that it can improve final flower output, or is this just a myth?
Are you sure that you have the best hood for your space? How close are you getting that hood?
Thanks!
R.Fortune
only thing I could think of was 2 600's instead of the 1k for your area more even light distribution for only 200w more
looking forward to the report and round 2
peace
looking forward to the report and round 2
peace
Swampwater
Member
Very nice Ak! If i had to guess....i'd say total will be 3.6.
As for improvements....hmm....hard to improve on such a dialed system....
1. To combat the height issue, I'd go with a switchable/digital ballast and run a MH in veg & the first 2 weeks of flower.
Or if your room/amps/Ac allow it, hang a couple vertical 150w MH's around the outsides, or even some big blue compact flouros.
2. Keep that co2 at 1000ppm. My best results with co2 have been when i've run it at 1000-1100ppm. I recall reading in jack's thread(jackmayoffer) he doesn't go over 1000 either(and that fella know's his craft).
3. If you really need to finish em up a few days earlier you could always increase the dark period by an hour in the last 1-2wks. I've only done it with 18+wk sat's so I can't say for sure if it will make a difference, but in theory it should work.
Thats all I got. Once again, great thread, 5 stars for sure.
As for improvements....hmm....hard to improve on such a dialed system....
1. To combat the height issue, I'd go with a switchable/digital ballast and run a MH in veg & the first 2 weeks of flower.
Or if your room/amps/Ac allow it, hang a couple vertical 150w MH's around the outsides, or even some big blue compact flouros.
2. Keep that co2 at 1000ppm. My best results with co2 have been when i've run it at 1000-1100ppm. I recall reading in jack's thread(jackmayoffer) he doesn't go over 1000 either(and that fella know's his craft).
3. If you really need to finish em up a few days earlier you could always increase the dark period by an hour in the last 1-2wks. I've only done it with 18+wk sat's so I can't say for sure if it will make a difference, but in theory it should work.
Thats all I got. Once again, great thread, 5 stars for sure.
Speculation is part of the fun of this thread. Feel free to share your guesses. I’ll just stir the pot and watch.
To help you guesstimate, here are some final day shots of other grows I have fully documented here on icmag.
Grand Doggy Purps Shakedown Run:
These plants went in too small and never got a full canopy. A split chop between 63 and 65 days netted a total of 27.8 oz.
Galactic Grape Shakedown Run:
3 sister phenotypes of the plant we are growing here were tossed together in one unit. At 62 days the total yield was 38 oz.
Galactic Grape Test Run:
4 Phenotypes in a test run. Only 12 plants - the total yield was 34.5 oz.
- abellguy
Do you have any suggested products for flush? I tried sugars and ended up brewing things. I fade out the nutes as well. Dropping to RO puts them in shock. I only take a few days to flush - having no medium helps! Thanx
- R.Fortune
I try to keep it under 60% humidity. Kinda hard to do with a room full of mist making machines. I have a lot of fans running 24/7 with a high room volume exchange.
Bottom Fan:
The next addition to my ventilation protocol will be adding box fans on dollys for every unit. The dolly makes it easy to push it into position in the middle while keeping the gap hieght from the floor about perfect. That bottom up ventilation has helped this grow tremendously. Prolly the biggest bang for the buck discovery of this grow for me. My air is filtered and the room is clean, make sure yours is too before trying this peanut gallery folks!
My hood is crap. For my new unit I’m looking for something nicer. I’m planning on going with a switchable ballast to experiment with. I’ll consider the last week test, but will need more convincing.
Keep up the great work with your DIY Aero flo thread! I look forward to hosting a grow together thread for flo rookies. I will personally help all participants to ensure their best chance for success. So if you are on the fence about trying an aero flo, here is your opportunity to build one on the cheap and get a helping hand to hold after you fire it up.
Lets get together and see what we could do to make this happen. It would be a lot of fun for all involved.
- roll it large
I agree. I think 2 600s on a mover would be the optimum light coverage for the space. My next bloom haus will use this strategy.
- Swampwater
I plan on trying MH for the first two weeks soon. I’ve always used 1400 ppm as my CO2 target in the past. I’ll check out that thread tho, thanx for the tip.
- mack 10
No offence taken
Thank you all once again for your comments and suggestions. Keep em comin so I can consider them for the final report.
-AK
To help you guesstimate, here are some final day shots of other grows I have fully documented here on icmag.
Grand Doggy Purps Shakedown Run:
These plants went in too small and never got a full canopy. A split chop between 63 and 65 days netted a total of 27.8 oz.
Galactic Grape Shakedown Run:
3 sister phenotypes of the plant we are growing here were tossed together in one unit. At 62 days the total yield was 38 oz.
Galactic Grape Test Run:
4 Phenotypes in a test run. Only 12 plants - the total yield was 34.5 oz.
- abellguy
Do you have any suggested products for flush? I tried sugars and ended up brewing things. I fade out the nutes as well. Dropping to RO puts them in shock. I only take a few days to flush - having no medium helps! Thanx
- R.Fortune
I try to keep it under 60% humidity. Kinda hard to do with a room full of mist making machines. I have a lot of fans running 24/7 with a high room volume exchange.
Bottom Fan:
The next addition to my ventilation protocol will be adding box fans on dollys for every unit. The dolly makes it easy to push it into position in the middle while keeping the gap hieght from the floor about perfect. That bottom up ventilation has helped this grow tremendously. Prolly the biggest bang for the buck discovery of this grow for me. My air is filtered and the room is clean, make sure yours is too before trying this peanut gallery folks!
My hood is crap. For my new unit I’m looking for something nicer. I’m planning on going with a switchable ballast to experiment with. I’ll consider the last week test, but will need more convincing.
Keep up the great work with your DIY Aero flo thread! I look forward to hosting a grow together thread for flo rookies. I will personally help all participants to ensure their best chance for success. So if you are on the fence about trying an aero flo, here is your opportunity to build one on the cheap and get a helping hand to hold after you fire it up.
Lets get together and see what we could do to make this happen. It would be a lot of fun for all involved.
- roll it large
I agree. I think 2 600s on a mover would be the optimum light coverage for the space. My next bloom haus will use this strategy.
- Swampwater
I plan on trying MH for the first two weeks soon. I’ve always used 1400 ppm as my CO2 target in the past. I’ll check out that thread tho, thanx for the tip.
- mack 10
No offence taken
Thank you all once again for your comments and suggestions. Keep em comin so I can consider them for the final report.
-AK
I am with Mack on this one. The grow looks good man you pulled it through but there is no where near 5. If you let me trim dry and bag that I think it would be right around 1.3# or less would be my guess. I would love to see final weigh in, with the buds inside 1 gallon ziplocks stuffed on the scales. Not trying to be an ass either, good grow.
I will do that and more as I document from fresh chop throughout the process. I think its pretty obvious that I don't think there's 5 there either, considering how many improvements can be made. This was a quest to see how close to a theoretical goal I could get - not a claim that it has been achieved.
I haven't found many grows documented here that come close to the amount of detail and even daily data sheets that I have put into this thread. I certainly will continue that tradition through the funnest part!
I plan on showing the track plant and another average plant through the steps with scale shots. I will also stack up the QP bags for a group shot.
There is no way to prove anything definatively across the web, no matter what I do. I promise to do my best.
Thanks for the suggestion!
-AK
I haven't found many grows documented here that come close to the amount of detail and even daily data sheets that I have put into this thread. I certainly will continue that tradition through the funnest part!
I plan on showing the track plant and another average plant through the steps with scale shots. I will also stack up the QP bags for a group shot.
There is no way to prove anything definatively across the web, no matter what I do. I promise to do my best.
Thanks for the suggestion!
-AK
Arriving late, but better than not finding this thread at all, right?
That looks like way over 1 GPW, that's for sure. 3 years ago I pulled 24 oz from a single plant Scrog, under 1K, and you have as many colas as I did but they're twice as big. I set up a buddy recently and he broke the gpw barrier with a 600w, almost 2 lbs with blumats. Too bad only 1/4 was mine. Setup fee. Pretty much using this super-prune method, but not as radically. ripping off the lower shoots is severely underrated.
Have you ever thought of moving the outer 2 rows into the center and putting the inner rows on the outside around day 13 of flower? Even out the stretch along with allowing more light to those outside buds?
Personally, I have my chemD dialed the fuck in, and am on day 8 of a 1K, 9 plant grow. Exactly 8 colas per plant. Also have an additional 6 plants outside of the trellis, they are some sd IBL S1's and 2 lemon kush. Light pattern is 5 x 5. Using blumats, w/ promix +25% perlite, and 1c lime per cubic ft. Some may call bs, but the growth is nearly as rapid as hydro.
10 grams per cola in the trellis, or 720g. Shoot for 50g per plant in the 6 babes outside of the screen, for 300g. 1000g + I am shooting for.
And regarding the dry buds on the hanger. I believe ya. I see no larf, or any buds smaller than a tennis ball for that matter. That really makes a difference. If that was a pic of day one of drying, then I would say no, but you say they be dry and crispy.......
DHF, a person I have lots of respect for and is extremely knowledgable, claims he knows dudes doing #'s like this, and he has no reason to lie.
plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, etc, etc, etc.........
I'm predicting 3.2 -3.7 lbs.
Good luck, I'm here for the grand finale.
RBDF
That looks like way over 1 GPW, that's for sure. 3 years ago I pulled 24 oz from a single plant Scrog, under 1K, and you have as many colas as I did but they're twice as big. I set up a buddy recently and he broke the gpw barrier with a 600w, almost 2 lbs with blumats. Too bad only 1/4 was mine. Setup fee. Pretty much using this super-prune method, but not as radically. ripping off the lower shoots is severely underrated.
Have you ever thought of moving the outer 2 rows into the center and putting the inner rows on the outside around day 13 of flower? Even out the stretch along with allowing more light to those outside buds?
Personally, I have my chemD dialed the fuck in, and am on day 8 of a 1K, 9 plant grow. Exactly 8 colas per plant. Also have an additional 6 plants outside of the trellis, they are some sd IBL S1's and 2 lemon kush. Light pattern is 5 x 5. Using blumats, w/ promix +25% perlite, and 1c lime per cubic ft. Some may call bs, but the growth is nearly as rapid as hydro.
10 grams per cola in the trellis, or 720g. Shoot for 50g per plant in the 6 babes outside of the screen, for 300g. 1000g + I am shooting for.
And regarding the dry buds on the hanger. I believe ya. I see no larf, or any buds smaller than a tennis ball for that matter. That really makes a difference. If that was a pic of day one of drying, then I would say no, but you say they be dry and crispy.......
DHF, a person I have lots of respect for and is extremely knowledgable, claims he knows dudes doing #'s like this, and he has no reason to lie.
plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, plant numbers dictate yield, etc, etc, etc.........
I'm predicting 3.2 -3.7 lbs.
Good luck, I'm here for the grand finale.
RBDF
Something to be said for smaller(-2K) dialed in monocropped runs. Also, the light mover allows the buds to receive light from different angles all through 12/12. Allows the bud to fill out nicely. I know a member on IC that gets 2.5+ lb per 1K w movers.
I think I'm gonna get a mover next cycle, after a clear up a few debts. finally convinced.
RBDF
I think I'm gonna get a mover next cycle, after a clear up a few debts. finally convinced.
RBDF
D
DHF
Plants on different levels up the walls with vertical stacked bare bulbs are the yield machine with increased plant numbers compared to limited sq ftg on the floor runnin flat grows with air-cooled hoods......but....
All things are possible once setups and specific strains are dialed....all a matter of whether yas haveta veg for canopy coverage , or flip mega fully rooted cuts from the get for the same canopy that finishes faster and grows budsicles....so....
Good luck AK...I like your ambition....Respect....and...waitin patiently for honest return numbers.....Improvement comes from runs under yer belt and you`ll get there.....
Peace...DHF....
.....
All things are possible once setups and specific strains are dialed....all a matter of whether yas haveta veg for canopy coverage , or flip mega fully rooted cuts from the get for the same canopy that finishes faster and grows budsicles....so....
Good luck AK...I like your ambition....Respect....and...waitin patiently for honest return numbers.....Improvement comes from runs under yer belt and you`ll get there.....
Peace...DHF....
.....
