First Time Vert -- Lots of Questions -- Sensi Star 2-6kW+ - Vertical / Colosseum Growing - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

PurplePotion · 08-12-2009, 08:10 AM

Alright guys, this will be my first vertical grow. Budget is growing slim, and good yields MUST be in the future. Between the loss of someone close, plans that were SET going arye, and moving states, money has gotten a bit slim. This is where most of my questions come into effect. I need this grow to be very effecifient.. but without breaking the bank the first time around at the new place. Will be running a Sensi star cut I've had for about nine months now, and have grown out a few different times.

Currently I've got about 34 cuttings nearly rooted, and unfortunately that is the largest number I could grab at this specific time.

I have a Soleusair LX-140 14k BTU portable dual-hose A/C unit. It is also capable of dehumidifying, and heating. I also have an 8" Vortex inline that I want to include somewhere. How can I effectively cool the lights without having them enclosed in cool-tubes? CO2 will be in this room. Being that this is the case, it should allow me to be a bit more lenient on temps during the 'day-time', correct? (~85F vs 77-78F)?

I don't think I will be utilizing cool-tubes to begin with, as this is extra cost that I think I can get away without... but, what will my A/C keep up with in this case without the cool-tubes? I do have the ability of running the lights at the coolest time of the day, but even that can still be a bit warm where I'll be in the end of summer months.

Room is aproximately 8x14 (will have exact measurements when I move in in a few days).

Goal is to have 3 wooden built coliseums. 2 in flower, 1 in veg-- all 3-4 weeks apart.

Electricity isn't a concern, and I can run whatever new breakers need be. House is run off of a 200A main, and the breaker box is one wall away from the future grow room.

Being the number of clones I have available, I kinda need to base my beginnings off of this. I'd like to keep one or two as mothers, so ~30-33 clones is what I should have available.

Here's my dilemma.. Since I'm starting fresh I'd like to use e-ballasts. Problem is the cost.. which ties into the real question: 600's or 1000's?

Original plan was to use 2 1K Lumateks per coliseum, but the price of 1K's is pretty significant. Is it worth it to break the bank for electronic ballasts right now, or should I say screw it and pick up a few cheap 1kW magnetics? I eventually want to get the e-ballasts regardless.. but will I really see much benefit as long as I place the ballasts outside of the room?

What are some thoughts on this situation? Realistically what are my yields going to be with 2 600's vs. 3 600's vs 2 1000's?

With 30 plants, what would be the best configuration for my coliseums? I was originally planning on an octagonal shape similar to a 3kW vert I saw somewhere on here.. this would only leave me with enough cuttings for 4 shelves, which would be 2ft apart (one plant on each shelf essentially). Also, what should I build the circumference of the coliseum to be, or rather how far from the actual bare bulb should the edge of the shelves be?

I will be using Bio-Buzz Coco as my medium with Floranova Bloom. Each coliseum will have pre-plumbed drip lines with a 55Gal drum as a reservoir. Hope to dial it in for little-to-no-run-off, but either way it's not a huge concern right now. Assuming 32 plants under 2 1kW lamps, how large should my containers be?

Assuming the average footprint of a 600W or 1kW lamp is ~4ft, I was going to build the coliseum 8ft tall, with one light 2ft above the floor, and the next 4ft above it (assuming I only use 2 lamps per coliseum).

How long should I veg for? This vertical stuff on this scale is completely new to me, and I really don't have a lot of margin for error here.. but I'm confident that my yields even on my first grow with this will be marginally higher than anything else I could do with the same lights and start-up costs. Every thing's on the line here guys.

Please help me out guys, and let me know where my money is worth spending. Sorry if I left something out.. hard to fit it all in the first type-up.

:1 help:

Carboy · 08-12-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurplePotion

Budget is growing slim, and good yields MUST be in the future.

Here's my dilemma.. Since I'm starting fresh I'd like to use e-ballasts. Problem is the cost.. which ties into the real question: 600's or 1000's?

Original plan was to use 2 1K Lumateks per coliseum, but the price of 1K's is pretty significant. Is it worth it to break the bank for electronic ballasts right now, or should I say screw it and pick up a few cheap 1kW magnetics? I eventually want to get the e-ballasts regardless.. but will I really see much benefit as long as I place the ballasts outside of the room?

What are some thoughts on this situation? Realistically what are my yields going to be with 2 600's vs. 3 600's vs 2 1000's

Assuming the average footprint of a 600W or 1kW lamp is ~4ft, I was going to build the coliseum 8ft tall, with one light 2ft above the floor, and the next 4ft above it (assuming I only use 2 lamps per coliseum).

Please help me out guys, and let me know where my money is worth spending.

First, let me say i've never used these, but i'm going to give them a shot.
W/ being able to dim the 1K, looks to me about any combo is possible.
https://daystarhid.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=54_55
Looks almost too good to be true (5yr warranty, price, dimming, included cords etc) and ya know what they say about that shit.
Have used these https://www.plantlightinghydroponics....st-p-2494.html . I'd take nextgen hands down over lumatek in any watt. Galaxy has been great for me too (not starting argument, personal opinion).
I'd budget for the cool tube and cut back on something else.

Hope it goes well --------- CB

Power13 · 08-12-2009, 08:34 PM

3 600's would outyield 2 1k's for sure. Especially in a vertical. Also, if you look around 600 digitals can be gotten for under 170 shipped. Look even harder, and you can find sellers that include the bulb for cheap too.

PurplePotion · 08-12-2009, 10:42 PM

Carboy- You honestly think cool-tubes will benefit me that greatly first run around?

Power13- What brand ballasts are you talkin about? I'd really like to stick to something name brand.

To both- All the research I've done proves the new Lumatek to have the least amount of problems, least noise, least heat, and seems to be the all around best unit. Any reason you guys would say otherwise?

How about the diameter of the coliseum? This is where I'm really stumped :/. I'm pretty set on how the 4 shelves, and 8 sides is gonna work, and I think with that number of plants under 1800-2000W 3 week veg will be plenty to fill in the canopy. Comments?

Carboy · 08-12-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurplePotion

Carboy- You honestly think cool-tubes will benefit me that greatly first run around? I do. For me to get the full advantage of vertical i want those plants to "kiss" that tube. You've got a big plus w/ that AC, so that does change the equation.

Power13- What brand ballasts are you talkin about? I'd really like to stick to something name brand.

To both- All the research I've done proves the new Lumatek to have the least amount of problems, least noise, least heat, and seems to be the all around best unit. Any reason you guys would say otherwise? The only hydro shop i use quit carrying them because of # of returns. Supposed to have fixed problems, but then they've had more that one round of problems that were supposed to be fixed. Galaxy didn't disappoint. Trying nexgen b/c of versatile power input, output, bulb type/wattage plus price Made by C.A.P in US and i trust them. I use HIDHut for bulbs.

How about the diameter of the coliseum? This is where I'm really stumped :/. I'm pretty set on how the 4 shelves, and 8 sides is gonna work, and I think with that number of plants under 1800-2000W 3 week veg will be plenty to fill in the canopy. Comments? Diameter, veg time and variety all interact. I have 5' dia 5' tall 8 sides 16 tubes 5-8 plants/tube 2-600w. veg some up to 2wks, others flip 'em when go in.

Don't know if Power means this one -- HTGSupply.com -- but if you go that route, almost universally everyone says upgrade on the bulb.

CB

ItsAllOver · 10-06-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurplePotion

What are some thoughts on this situation? Realistically what are my yields going to be with 2 600's vs. 3 600's vs 2 1000's?

I can't help myself...
I'd say, try out each configuration, starting at 3x 600w setups.
Like a poster said before, they can be gotten cheaply. Maybe you could come up with some interesting data for IC.

And as far as when to flip, you're going to have to know your strain a bit.

Has anything come of this plan?

08-12-2009, 08:10 AM	#1
PurplePotion Purple Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 321	First Time Vert -- Lots of Questions -- Sensi Star 2-6kW+ Alright guys, this will be my first vertical grow. Budget is growing slim, and good yields MUST be in the future. Between the loss of someone close, plans that were SET going arye, and moving states, money has gotten a bit slim. This is where most of my questions come into effect. I need this grow to be very effecifient.. but without breaking the bank the first time around at the new place. Will be running a Sensi star cut I've had for about nine months now, and have grown out a few different times. Currently I've got about 34 cuttings nearly rooted, and unfortunately that is the largest number I could grab at this specific time. I have a Soleusair LX-140 14k BTU portable dual-hose A/C unit. It is also capable of dehumidifying, and heating. I also have an 8" Vortex inline that I want to include somewhere. How can I effectively cool the lights without having them enclosed in cool-tubes? CO2 will be in this room. Being that this is the case, it should allow me to be a bit more lenient on temps during the 'day-time', correct? (~85F vs 77-78F)? I don't think I will be utilizing cool-tubes to begin with, as this is extra cost that I think I can get away without... but, what will my A/C keep up with in this case without the cool-tubes? I do have the ability of running the lights at the coolest time of the day, but even that can still be a bit warm where I'll be in the end of summer months. Room is aproximately 8x14 (will have exact measurements when I move in in a few days). Goal is to have 3 wooden built coliseums. 2 in flower, 1 in veg-- all 3-4 weeks apart. Electricity isn't a concern, and I can run whatever new breakers need be. House is run off of a 200A main, and the breaker box is one wall away from the future grow room. Being the number of clones I have available, I kinda need to base my beginnings off of this. I'd like to keep one or two as mothers, so ~30-33 clones is what I should have available. Here's my dilemma.. Since I'm starting fresh I'd like to use e-ballasts. Problem is the cost.. which ties into the real question: 600's or 1000's? Original plan was to use 2 1K Lumateks per coliseum, but the price of 1K's is pretty significant. Is it worth it to break the bank for electronic ballasts right now, or should I say screw it and pick up a few cheap 1kW magnetics? I eventually want to get the e-ballasts regardless.. but will I really see much benefit as long as I place the ballasts outside of the room? What are some thoughts on this situation? Realistically what are my yields going to be with 2 600's vs. 3 600's vs 2 1000's? With 30 plants, what would be the best configuration for my coliseums? I was originally planning on an octagonal shape similar to a 3kW vert I saw somewhere on here.. this would only leave me with enough cuttings for 4 shelves, which would be 2ft apart (one plant on each shelf essentially). Also, what should I build the circumference of the coliseum to be, or rather how far from the actual bare bulb should the edge of the shelves be? I will be using Bio-Buzz Coco as my medium with Floranova Bloom. Each coliseum will have pre-plumbed drip lines with a 55Gal drum as a reservoir. Hope to dial it in for little-to-no-run-off, but either way it's not a huge concern right now. Assuming 32 plants under 2 1kW lamps, how large should my containers be? Assuming the average footprint of a 600W or 1kW lamp is ~4ft, I was going to build the coliseum 8ft tall, with one light 2ft above the floor, and the next 4ft above it (assuming I only use 2 lamps per coliseum). How long should I veg for? This vertical stuff on this scale is completely new to me, and I really don't have a lot of margin for error here.. but I'm confident that my yields even on my first grow with this will be marginally higher than anything else I could do with the same lights and start-up costs. Every thing's on the line here guys. Please help me out guys, and let me know where my money is worth spending. Sorry if I left something out.. hard to fit it all in the first type-up. :1 help: __________________ Any posts under the name PurplePotion are completely made-up fiction, and the pictures have been taken from the web.
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08-12-2009, 10:42 PM	#4
PurplePotion Purple Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 321	Carboy- You honestly think cool-tubes will benefit me that greatly first run around? Power13- What brand ballasts are you talkin about? I'd really like to stick to something name brand. To both- All the research I've done proves the new Lumatek to have the least amount of problems, least noise, least heat, and seems to be the all around best unit. Any reason you guys would say otherwise? How about the diameter of the coliseum? This is where I'm really stumped :/. I'm pretty set on how the 4 shelves, and 8 sides is gonna work, and I think with that number of plants under 1800-2000W 3 week veg will be plenty to fill in the canopy. Comments? __________________ Any posts under the name PurplePotion are completely made-up fiction, and the pictures have been taken from the web.
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08-12-2009, 08:34 PM	#3
Power13 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 101	3 600's would outyield 2 1k's for sure. Especially in a vertical. Also, if you look around 600 digitals can be gotten for under 170 shipped. Look even harder, and you can find sellers that include the bulb for cheap too.
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