GP's 600w Vert V-Scrog in CoCo (Smartpots and Blumats)

[GreenPassion420]

Hey all, been a few months absent here and just got some spare change to throw a new setup together. Bought a nice large steel storage cabinet, a 600w Apollo ballast and light combo with cooltube, 6" Can-Fan with 6"x24" carbon scrubber and some blumats.

This is the preliminary write up, in the process of assembling everything and gathering research on correct EC for coco with blumats. I'm new to the precision game and just bought a Hanna 98130 combo meter, with complicating the nute setup, im hoping to gain in yield and what not. Just hope I don't fuck it up haha, but thats where yall come in to give me a hand!

So basically, I'm going to have a 2 plant V-scrog, probably in 5gal Smartpots, and im wondering how to keep the coco from mass salt/nute build-up while at the same time, having no waste. Should I just keep a lower EC/ppm while adding Drip Clean to the regiment? The nutes I'd like to run is the Lucas Formula for coco, with supplemental cal-mag and like i stated, Drip Clean. Does that sound feasible?

Parts and supplies are in transit, so im trying to figure out my nute solution asap, should have it assembled this weekend and would like to get growing! Thanks for any inquiries!

eace:

-GP

 

[GreenPassion420]

So have decided to go With 2 - 5g smartpots for flowering. with this vert setup ill have 2 screens running from the top of the grow box to the bottom right next to the pots, so it'll essentially be a wall of screen, probably in the shape of a V. then ill just train them up until flower. The strains are nothing too special, some Kush n' Cheese i picked up from attitude a while back, havent heard much on em, but we shall see.

Still waiting on parts in the mail, but should start to take off this weekend as far as setup. Might be a while til pics, if any. im so slow on updates it might be start photos end photos lol. Im a stoner like that haha.

 

[Mantra]

Hey man. I'm having a go with blumats in airpots for the first time, so I will be very interested to see your grow. Please do update more often than just start and end. Ha. We need well documented coco/smartpot/airpot/blumat grows! Your proposed setup sounds really interesting and I'd be following for sure.

 

[GreenPassion420]

For sure man, got all my supplies today, just have assembly and test runs to go through before popping any ladies. I believe I'll be starting with 2 Kush n' Cheese by Dinafem. Start in solo's > 1gal > 3gal > flower in 5 gal.

Any one have tips for my coco mix? Just planned on regular Canna Coco with some Coco Wet. Like i stated, I'll be running Heads modified Lucas Formula for nutes, in a 10gal res for my blumats, placed on top of the Cab (which by the way is 4x2x7). I'm newer to the hydro scene but I think 10gal should be alright for a few days at least no?

 

[otis33]

I would get a larger res pumping solution up to the 10 gal with an overflow back to the bottom res. That 10 gallon will empty faster than you think. Also, you want the same amount of water to keep constant pressure in the lines or you blumats will be erratic. I've found the best results keeping the ec low. 1.2 works for most strains, maybe 1.6-1.8 for super hungry ones. Drip clean is a must. It works, use it @1ml/gal. Try not to mess with the carrots after you set them, unless they are extremely dry or overflowing, let them do their thing. It will be hard not to micro manage at first, but they really work best if left alone. It took me using them at a remote grow where I only visited once our twice a week to get this. My remote blumats that went un- adjusted had way less dry overflows/dry outs than the ones in my basement that I was constantly tinkering with. Check pout ths blumat auto watering thread for an ideas for the upper/lower res set up...our I could pm you some pics of mine, I have a couple.

 

[otis33]

One more thing, I ran a couple 5 gal smarties last run and while one carrot did ok, I think if I did 5 gal again I would go with 2 carrots per pot. Good luck!

 

[GreenPassion420]

Thanks otis! Some pics of your setup would be great! What kinda pump do you think that would take and what size res would you recommend?? Ive got the drip clean for sure. I also planned on 2 carrots per pot so thank you! I'll try to keep the tinkering to a minimum, its the reason i went blumats, so i wouldnt have to dick around haha.

 

[otis33]

I'll snap some pics in a bit when I go down stairs to give you an idea

 

[GreenPassion420]

Leavin me hangin on those pics and pump suggestion!

 

[GreenPassion420]

Things are moving right along. Got most of it assembled minus the intake and reservoirs. I snapped some pic but the woman snagged the cam this morning. Pics later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Only ran into a few snags, had the whole cab fall apart on me, leading me to bolt everything up this time (shitty sheet metal tabs cant hang haha, shoulda known.) which resulted in a MUCH more stable cab. I can also see that the way I have my Carbon filter hooked up to my cooltube may cause a hassle later when I switch to my HPS. Other than that she's lookin real good. Dumped a couple hundred bucks on her so I hope this time around things will be better! This will be my third run and third cab build so I hope I've learned a bit!

Alrighty guys, sorry tis a slow moving thread. Hopefully we shall have a bit more excitement in the weeks to come! Can't wait to get my screen all filled!

Peace out!

-GP

 

[otis33]

Sorry gp, I did drop the ball on those pics, I work allot plus family and a few grows to look after I get overwhelmed. I will try my best to remember to get some up tonight when my lights come on. I don't think there are any of the res I'm my album but you are welcome to look. Don't hesitate to remind me in one of my threads if I don't get to it right away. I check my vert experiment thread every couple days.

 

[otis33]

Alright, res pics...finally:


This is the upper and lower. I use a though box (?)tote from Lowes for the lower bulk res, its super rigid for a tote. I can stand on it and it doesn't flex at all. The elevated res is another rigid tote-like box I got from work. Its made of even harder plastic than the bottom container.

 

[otis33]

This is the upper res. The hoses coming out of the bottom are connected through with flood and drain bulkheads and have ball valves to shut off water to the drip lines if necessary. These are the hoses that make the"loop manifold". The top hose on the left is the one that feeds the top res via a pump that runs constantly. All three of those are 1/2" black poly tube available at hydro shops. The hose on the left is 1"and is connected through the side wall by a 1"flood & drain bulkhead; its purpose is to allow the top res to fill up to that point and the overflow back to the bottom res. This is to ensure the water level is always the same which means the pressure in. the loop manifold and drip lines is always the same-very important for the blumats to operate optimally. This set up also creates a constant waterfall from water pumping up then flowing out and back down to the bottom res oxygenating the nute solution and also keeping the nutrients in solution.

 

[otis33]

 

[otis33]

And finally, the bottom res. I'm thinking of making this bigger. This one is 25 gal, I think, and had to be refilled a couple times a week-every two days in late flower when they are really drinking. You can see my pump and if you look close you can see the hole on the lid with the 1"return line on the right of the lid.

I have also used a pump connected to a float valve in the upper res to keep it filled. Iwould just time the pump to run a few times a day and it kept the water level pretty constant. However, I like the pump-overflow set up better.
Hope this helped, and sorry it took me so long to get this to you. If you want top see the plants this set up feeds look in my album our look in. my vertical experiments thread. Good luck with your grow!

 

[GreenPassion420]

Thanks for the info otis! No problem about the timing haha, I understand completely. I'm only currently running a 2 plant scrog so idk if ill need as much water as you, but I did like the idea of the constant water level, so, I bought another 10gal res (13, but ill only use 10) to top off weekly(i hope). I know they might get up to 1.5 - 2 gal/day, but idk about anymore eh?

I'll get some pics up tomorrow of what i've got done. It's taking me longer than expected, but I want everything right this time, no sight, sound, or smell while keepin it safe and simple. A bit nervous running this 600w all the time, but idk why. Mostly due to temps I suppose, although I think I'll be alright. Its also my first HID grow ha, and in an apartment none the less

 

[otis33]

If you can exchange the air 2x/min, at least, you should be able to keep temps in line

 

[GreenPassion420]

Hey all, I know it's been quite a while since anything's happened and let me be the first to say its my fault! I kinda ran out of funds! So I've been brainstorming on how exactly to get this up n' running!

Basically I hit a few snags that I hadn't anticipated, one, I still have the issue of exhaust fan noise, and only limited space to work a solution out with. I have pics of the setup im working with and you'll see what I mean, In total I have 11 1/2" clearance on top and 16" clearance on the right side which is the only other direction I can go seeing as the back is only a few inches and the same with the left side, I'm also trying to keep it from being blatantly obvious when you walk in the door, although that might already be shot The only things I've come across so far are exhausting it into a bigger diameter, so I was thinking of just getting some 8 or 10 inch insulated and just running it along the top and hang it off the edge, maybe into a big cardboard box with some padding inside to quiet it? it'll be tight but it seems the only option.

After that comes the next problem. Saying the above works, and even if it doesn't, the room its exhausting into gets fuggin hot, quick lol. I have central a/c, and was thinking since its summer, I could run some duct from the house vent, possibly hook up a booster fan, and run it to one of the intake holes to not only cool the grow, but hopefully reduce some of the heat factor in the room. I believe I might HAVE to do this somehow, can't afford a portable a/c (keeping eyes open at thrift), and if the exhaust is blowing the hot air not only into the room but towards the intake holes, it'll need to be cooled somehow anyway.

Aside from that, it seems to be all good. Just a few other nuts and bolts to tighten up such as a few light leaks, blumat configuring, and germination! I was wondering, if anyone could help, what a better scrog setup would be, either V from top left and right corners to the bottom middle, or cylinder shape? I just don't know if I have the clearance to do a cylinder.

Thanks Guys!