Wanna Ask The Old Farts A Question?

[whitewidow47]

HK,

hey i remember you said there are vets of aeroponics on here, who would you suggest i pm because i have a good amount of design questions and other specific questions?

also a question for you is do you think i would be able to grow 12 24'' plants in a 20"x12"x25" cab space? 4 troughs with 3 plants each. the troughs are 5"x12" so each plant has a 5"x4" space

thanks

 

[HempKat]

HK,

hey i remember you said there are vets of aeroponics on here, who would you suggest i pm because i have a good amount of design questions and other specific questions?

also a question for you is do you think i would be able to grow 12 24'' plants in a 20"x12"x25" cab space? 4 troughs with 3 plants each. the troughs are 5"x12" so each plant has a 5"x4" space

thanks

Unfortunately I'm not sure who they are or if they're still currently active. When I said that it was just based on seeing posts over the years by various people talking about their experiences with that style. I just did a search on Aeroponics and came up with this link:2k watt 12 bucket (10gal) Aeroponic!~KUSH~ started by a guy named Weedsmoke4life.

As for your question it's doable but if the plants are 24" tall and your space only 25" tall that doesn't leave much room for error. You're sort of describing a SOG style setup where the goal is to produce plants with pretty much just the cola and few if any other buds. Now since I'm not familiar with aeroponics I don't know if the way they grow is significantly different but the general rule of thumb is that plants will double, even triple in size during the stretch phase of flower (approximately the first 3 weeks of flower. So assuming the worst, that they triple in size you would have to start them off flowering at around 8" tall since you can't really afford for it to go above 24". Also that only leaves 1" of space for your light and the space between the light and the plants. So I don't see how that would work unless you hung the light(s) vertically but then that would eat into some of the space you intend for your plants.

 

[whitewidow47]

well im building in a gun safe, hoping to turn it into a perpetual medicine cabinet with the aeroponics, what has been the best way to do things in cabinet grows? the whole cab is HxLxD 60x22x13

 

[downtoearth]

Why a gun safe? That will be a little difficult if not impossible cutting out ventilation holes won't it?

 

[HempKat]

well im building in a gun safe, hoping to turn it into a perpetual medicine cabinet with the aeroponics, what has been the best way to do things in cabinet grows? the whole cab is HxLxD 60x22x13

Well again that's not really something I'm real familir with because my grow space is a small room rather then a cabinet. I like the idea of a gun safe from the security point of view but as someone else already observed that would make it difficult to cut holes for ventilation and minue that you would need to leave it open which defeats the security aspect.

I'm not sure if there is a best way overall for micro grows as alot depends on your goals. I've seen ones done in spaces as small as a computer case and as large as a standard refrigerator. I guess what could be said universally of micro grows is that given their small size the best styles are SoG, ScrOG or heavy LST (Low stress training). I would tend to lean towards ScrOG (Screen of Green) being the best because you train one to four plants to a screen that helps keep everything at a uniform height.

 

[GreenPC]

hey hk, not sure if the thread is still going or not but ill throw a post out here,

im trying to run a 5 plant perpetual system in a pc case, i want to have a little freedom as far as watering goes though (3-4 days with out having to top off res.) so im running a 1 gal res. and a drip system. i know plants need different things for different stages of flowering, so my question is what is a practical way to give each plant what it needs nute wise with one res.?

im fine with checking on the ladies every day 90% of the time but i would like to be able to go out of town for a few days and not have every thing fall to shit.

thanks,
GreenPC

 

[HempKat]

hey hk, not sure if the thread is still going or not but ill throw a post out here,

im trying to run a 5 plant perpetual system in a pc case, i want to have a little freedom as far as watering goes though (3-4 days with out having to top off res.) so im running a 1 gal res. and a drip system. i know plants need different things for different stages of flowering, so my question is what is a practical way to give each plant what it needs nute wise with one res.?

im fine with checking on the ladies every day 90% of the time but i would like to be able to go out of town for a few days and not have every thing fall to shit.

thanks,
GreenPC

Well that's a really unique situation, first of all I wouldn't recommend running one plant in a computer case let alone 5 and definitely not as part of a staggered perpetual harvest. Marijuana for the most part is meant to grow in excess of 3 feet at least (in other words much bigger then a computer case). There are some exceptions like Low Rider that only grows about 1 foot tall but what you gain by having a smaller size you lose in potency and overall quality. That being said I do realize not everyone can run a grow closet or a grow tent in the corner or even a wardrobe type closet converted into a grow space. If for some reason I had to do it and the plants had to have different formulas I'd likely try running an individual res for each plant using something like those glass globe things with the long end you stick in the soil that's supposed to help keep your house plants watered (Aqua Globes I think they are called). There are also other devices I don't recall their name but it had a spike that you stuck in the soil and a hose attached to the spike that you would feed into some container that held your water and/or nutrients. The spike would then draw the water from the container via the hose using the suction created by the plants roots depleting the water currently in the spike. I never had one myself but seen someone demonstrate their use on another site and it seemed to work well.

I don't particularly like those systems either though, except when it's either that or let the plants go dry while you're gone and hope they don't die. The reason I say that is standing nutrient solutions or even just plain water can see their ph levels fluctuate. I've ph balance water to 6.3 ph and come back a day or two later and retested before using and found it to be almost 8.0 ph even though the water was about 5.8 ph before I brought it up to 6.3 ph. That was just plain water, I've seen nutrient mixtures left standing do worse.

This looks similar to the spike/hose contraption I was talking about http://compare.ebay.com/like/140577471672?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

 

[Dr. Purpur]

Good to see You HK!

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

Good to see You HK!

Yea that!

 

[HempKat]

Good to see You HK!

I haven't gone anywhere, just been over in the Toker's Den waiting for people to ask some question here.

 

[alk_loid]

how do i wire this thing ? im guessing its only ballast so i need capacitor and ignitor for this too right ?

this is meant for 220V system, any universal wiring diagram for it ?

thank you kat, havent been here couple years but nice to see this thread is still here .

 

[LyryC]

Farmers Almanac

Farmers Almanac

Hello to all the OG's providing love knowledge patience and help to the community.

I purchased the 2014 farmers almanac but being a 24 year old idiot who never even heard about it until a month ago - I was wondering I if I could get some guidance - tips - points - anything to help me understand this confusing literature.

Respect and appreciation.

Much love - good vibes and blessings everyone!

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

Hello to all the OG's providing love knowledge patience and help to the community.

I purchased the 2014 farmers almanac but being a 24 year old idiot who never even heard about it until a month ago - I was wondering I if I could get some guidance - tips - points - anything to help me understand this confusing literature.

Respect and appreciation.

Much love - good vibes and blessings everyone!

The Farmer's Almanac is a novelty item that's been published in Maine for decades. The fun of it is to figure it out. All the planing tables etc are based on old school information, some lore, some fact. It's accuracy is about 50/50 which is about all you can expect from something that tries to predict the future a year at a time.

mgk

 

[LyryC]

The Farmer's Almanac is a novelty item that's been published in Maine for decades. The fun of it is to figure it out. All the planing tables etc are based on old school information, some lore, some fact. It's accuracy is about 50/50 which is about all you can expect from something that tries to predict the future a year at a time.

mgk

Will it merrit any value for me growing cannabis? Found the How to Use it section

Too bad it wasn't so religious - and a sell out - literally 50% of the book is advertising...



Thanks MGK!!!

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

Will it merrit any value for me growing cannabis? Found the How to Use it section

Too bad it wasn't so religious - and a sell out - literally 50% of the book is advertising...



Thanks MGK!!!

It might be applicable for outdoor growers.. Yes, the advertising has gotten pretty thick, but it always has been. It's the way they survive.. it's still a lot of fun for the couple bucks it costs. I have not purchased one for years. My mom is an avid vegetable gardener and you would not have caught her without one in years past. She just said she hasn't purchased on for a few years, but she's cut her gardening back to a low roar at the age of 89.

mgk

 

[HempKat]

View Image


how do i wire this thing ? im guessing its only ballast so i need capacitor and ignitor for this too right ?

this is meant for 220V system, any universal wiring diagram for it ?

thank you kat, havent been here couple years but nice to see this thread is still here .

Sorry I wasn't here sooner and the pic no longer shows but in general my answer to wiring questions is that if you have to ask how to do it then you shouldn't mess with it. I know everyone likes to cut costs and save money, especially in a bad economy but some cheap options cost you much more in the long run. Your lights and your ventilation are the two most important element of your grow and as such I personally don't recommend cutting corners on either of these things. Shop wisely but remember when you buy cheap you get cheap. In the long run a slightly pricier but well made solution will usually outlast a cheaper solution and ultimately become cheaper over time.

 

[HempKat]

Will it merrit any value for me growing cannabis? Found the How to Use it section

Too bad it wasn't so religious - and a sell out - literally 50% of the book is advertising...



Thanks MGK!!!

There are quite a number of publications available providing marijuana specific information about growing. Frankly though growing marijuana, generally speaking is not that hard. With that in mind I say it's better to just follow a grow diary here on the site until you feel you got it down or better yet start a grow and a grow diary and learn while doing it. People will chip in and offer help along the way when/if you ask for it. Experience in my opinion is the best teacher.

 

[alk_loid]

ive noticed some wires are rated 300V others 500V or 600V .
im in 220v system, but what size wires should be used for connecting ballast ignitors etc. ive read that starting power is much higher.

 

[HempKat]

ive noticed some wires are rated 300V others 500V or 600V .
im in 220v system, but what size wires should be used for connecting ballast ignitors etc. ive read that starting power is much higher.

Well again I don't mess with doing my own wiring, from what I've looked into what you save in expense over buying a decent light or hiring an electrician to re-wire a room, you lose in worry, effort and frustration. If you shop around you can find good, well made, affordable ballasts designed to work with the electricity in your region (I believe in Europe it's 220v while here in the US it's 120v mostly and 220 is reserved mainly for heavy duty appliances like dryers or electric oven/stoves) and at reasonable prices. Now given what we do, things like guarantees won't protect you unless you live where growing is allowed. However if something has a solidly state guarantee or warranty then chances are good it won't give you trouble since the manufacturer loses money honoring them they tend to only give good ones to items they're confident will only fail rarely.

So with this you have peace of mind, you don't have to worry about a fire starting in your grow because of an electrical failure due to faulty wiring. A fire you don't want to have to call the fire department on in some states because what your growing will be blamed as the cause and you'll go to prison for many years and likely never live a decent life because of the record that will haunt you. That peace of mind is worth so much more then the few dollars you save with do it yourself deals.

Then there is another consideration, an old saying goes, "If you buy cheap, you get cheap" and what that generally refers to is while cheap solutions may seem to work okay for someone who is desperate to grow and in the long run often end up costing more. To give you an example I'll site one of my own experiences. I used to promote a cheap way to set up a separate veg/clone/seedling table where you could cover sufficient light for a 2'x4' area for $20. Basically Walmart had/has these 4' shop lights for around $7. They claimed to work with both T-12 and T-8 tube flouros. T-8's use less energy and put out better energy for the plants then T-12's so using T-8's would be preferable for growing. Walmart also had a package of 6 40W T-8 flouros for $5. So two lights and the bulbs came to $19. Each light held 2 tubes so that gave you 4 x 40W or 160W of light and if you put them next to each other but a foot apart you would have a good light source for small, young, plants on a 2'x4' table. The alternative was to go to Home Depot or Lowes and get similar but better built shop lights for close to $30 each. Well as it turns out the cheap Walmart lights were made with cheap componants and after one or two grows running these lights on an 18on/6off schedule, they would burn out. One even literally burned out as in catching on fire, fortunately it happened at a time when I was there and able to unplug the failing light within seconds of the flames appearing. After that experience I tried going with the more expensive Home Depot and Lowes lights and I've used them now for dozens of grows and they're still going strong. To cover the same length of time with the Walmart lights and assuming no fires started would end up costing me more then the more expensive lights. Moral of the story, cheaper per unit costs don't always equal cheaper operating costs. Better to spend a little more in the short term in order to save over the long term.

One final thought, the human heart can be stopped with current as low as 200 milliamps (.2 amps) a 1000W lamp running on 120V draws about 9.5 amps or around 50 times the amount needed to be lethal. That's why I say that when it comes to wiring, if you have to ask how, then you shouldn't be doing it.

 

[alk_loid]

okay thankyou you are right absolutley.

if electrican wires all up, where can i put/fit my ballast and ignitors capaticitor etc, some kind metal box? or can i screw them to some piece of wood and hook it on the wall?


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